A 5-0 start in the English Premier League sounds excellent, and that is what Manchester City is entering the international break after defeating Sunderland 5-3 on Sunday. Now, the team can go home and rest, kick their feet up, and reflect on the international break, three points clear on the table.
Since the start of the season, City is 7-0 overall, and scoring goals seemingly at will. The defense needs to be shored up after allowing three goals to Sunderland, but the rest of the season has seen solid play on the back line. There is no need to panic about what happened on Sunday.
But who were the winners and losers against that feisty Sunderland bunch? Thankfully, there are at least more winners overall.
Manchester City's winners and losers against Sunderland
Winner: Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo scored twice and was simply physically overpowering to those poor Sunderland lads trying to stop him from moving forward. The winger continues to be a brilliant pick-up from January, has fit in perfectly, and already feels as if he has been with City for five years.
When City needed a goal after Sunderland kept pressing in the second half, Semenyo came through. Where would the squad be without him at this point?
Loser: The defense
After a fabulous season to date, the middle of the field and back end were simply atrocious on Sunday. If Sunderland had even two high-end forwards, they might have had far more success than the three goals they scored. Hopefully, what unfolded was simply Brian Brobbey being brilliant, but that seems false.
Anyone watching the game would have seen acres of space for Sunderland, and that can't happen against bigger clubs. That would likely result in a loss for City.
Winner: Enzo Maresca
Pep Guardiola who? (That's a joke, of course.) Still, no one could have been more successful than Maresca because he is undefeated through seven games. Will he stay unblemished? No, but only because no team or coach has never not lost.
The start in EPL play has given City 15 points, three clear of next-best Arsenal. Now, Maresca can enter the break relaxed and feeling really good about where the team is. Can fans feel optimistic about getting back to the top of the table after not reaching that level last season? Definitely.
Loser: Phil Foden
Foden's momentary bout of control of his emotions against Manchester United two games ago cost him three games. He probably would have loved playing against Sunderland, as he likely would have seen several chances to score.
Instead, he has to sit out one more game, which will be when the squad returns from the break. Maybe he will be extra motivated to return to his early form from last season. Since then, he hasn't been of the same quality that he once was, for some reason.
Winner: Erling Haaland
Which English Premier League team has Haaland not scored against? After doing so in the second half against Sunderland, the answer is zero. Of course, he hadn't played much against the northeast club, but he doesn't need to worry about not having scored against them.
Is he the best striker in the world? Maybe, but he is certainly the best in the EPL, and his 1,230 goals in the last several seasons (that's only a slight exaggeration) prove that.
Add us as a preferred source on Google