Granit Xhaka’s heated exchange, Sunderland penalty appeals and Brian Brobbey’s rare feat – moments missed

Sunderland returned to Premier League action against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium after their historic European night against AZ Alkmaar. Régis Le Bris’ side faced a different challenge on the road, with the fixture coming just days after their Europa League opener.

Alongside the main talking points, there were smaller incidents and details that might have escaped your attention. Here, we take a look at some of the moments you may have missed from Sunderland’s trip to Manchester City.

Régis Le Bris reaches rare Sunderland milestone

Régis Le Bris took charge of Sunderland for the 100th time against Manchester City, reaching a milestone that underlines just how frequently the club have changed managers. Since Peter Reid’s departure in 2002, only Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane had reached a century of games before the Frenchman.

It is a striking statistic across almost a quarter of a century. Having already guided Sunderland to promotion and into European football, Le Bris has given supporters plenty to remember from his first 100 matches, including two derby day wins over Newcastle United.

Dayann Methalie handed Premier League debut

Dayann Methalie made his Premier League debut from the start at Manchester City, replacing the suspended Reinildo. Régis Le Bris trusted the summer signing at left-back rather than switching Trai Hume across, making just one change from the side that faced Arsenal.

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Omar Alderete was fit enough for the bench after fatigue forced him off against AZ Alkmaar. Melker Ellborg and Chemsdine Talbi also returned after missing the European fixture through registration restrictions, while Jules Ahoka was back in the squad.

Five goals in a frantic first half

Sunderland went into half-time trailing Manchester City 3-2 after a remarkable opening 45 minutes. Brian Brobbey twice brought the visitors level with clinical finishes, with Enzo Le Fée instrumental in both goals, but costly errors undermined some excellent attacking play.

Nilson Angulo had an early opportunity after Brobbey held the ball up and Noah Sadiki found Le Fée. The Frenchman’s low delivery missed Thomas Meunier but reached Angulo, who couldn’t sort his feet out and fired wide. Nordi Mukiele also had a decent chance before City struck.

Methalie conceded a free-kick as the hosts broke, with Enzo Fernández opening the scoring and Robin Roefs caught out. Methalie was also booked eight minutes into his Premier League debut. Sunderland responded through Brobbey following a superb Le Fée assist, only for Rayan Cherki to restore City’s lead after Kevin Danso’s pass out of defence was seized upon.

Brobbey’s second again showed Sunderland’s character, but former Black Cats loanee Antoine Semenyo put City ahead for a third time before the break. Erling Haaland could then have made it four, ending a breathless half in which Sunderland had shown both their attacking quality and how quickly mistakes could be punished.

Brobbey hat-trick as the madness continues

The second half carried on where the first had finished. Semenyo made it 4-2 after Danso and Mukiele got in each other’s way, before Xhaka and Elliot Anderson became embroiled in a heated exchange. Sunderland’s captain then responded with his football, playing a superb pass to Angulo, who set up Brobbey to complete his hat-trick.

Amid the chaos, Sunderland supporters also appealed for a penalty after the ball appeared to strike Anderson’s arm in the box. Nothing was awarded, and there was no visible pause for a VAR review, adding another contentious moment to an already frantic game.

It was Sunderland’s first top-flight hat-trick for ten-and-a-half years, since Defoe’s treble away at Swansea. Brobbey’s third brought the visitors back within a goal, with Le Bris then replacing Angulo with Fofana as Sunderland searched for another equaliser.

Brobbey’s hat-trick earned him a place in a remarkably short list. According to Opta, he became only the fourth player in Premier League history to score a treble against the team that started the day top of the table. The previous three were Robbie Fowler against Aston Villa in November 1998, Dirk Kuyt against Manchester United in March 2011 and Romelu Lukaku against United in May 2013. More than 13 years had passed since the feat was last achieved.

Le Bris goes two up front as Haaland scores

Le Bris sent Isidor on for Sadiki as Sunderland chased another equaliser, pairing him with Brobbey in attack. Moments later, Rúben Dias almost scored an own goal, with the ball cleared off the line as the visitors threatened again. From the resulting corner, Fofana had a shot blocked inside the penalty area. Sunderland continued to press, with Le Bris’ attacking change making clear his determination to take something from a remarkable contest.

Hume replaced Meunier with 12 minutes remaining as Sunderland continued to chase an equaliser, but Haaland struck a couple of minutes later to make it 5-3. A VAR check for offside left both sides waiting before the goal was confirmed, putting the game beyond the visitors.

It was Haaland’s first goal against Sunderland, meaning he had now scored against all 25 clubs he had faced in the Premier League. After Sunderland repeatedly fought their way back into the contest, his finish finally gave City breathing space.

Ballard and Fofana had chances late on, but Sunderland finished on the wrong side of an eight-goal Premier League thriller. Even after City’s fifth, the visitors kept pushing, with their attacking intent evident right to the end of a remarkable afternoon.

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