Allan's debut: one goal, one assist, 5–0
Your new Brazilian needed one game. Manchester City 5–0 Norwich in the Carabao Cup third round on Thursday, and Allan scored one and set up another on his debut (1) (2) (3).
He could not hide it afterwards. "Estou muito feliz, mano. Estava bastante ansioso por essa estreia. Nem nos meus melhores sonhos eu imaginava uma estreia assim," he said, which means he could not have dreamed of a debut like this (1).
He arrived from Palmeiras in August for €40m on a five-year deal, one of the biggest sales in Palmeiras history (1). That is the fee City paid, and this is what they got for it in game one.
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Floyd Samba, 17, scored twice
Allan was not the only debutant. Floyd Samba, 17, scored two on his City debut in the same 5–0 win (3).
"Jeg kunne ikke tro det selv, men det er bare begyndelsen, jeg har en stor karriere foran mig. Det var en god debut," he said (3). He could not believe it himself. Two goals, and he thinks it is just the beginning.
City's next Carabao Cup tie is against Brighton (3).
Doku out with a calf injury
Jeremy Doku missed the Norwich game with a calf injury (2). The Belgian winger was not available for the League Cup tie.
That was the one negative on a comfortable night, and it is worth watching before Sunderland.
Next up: Sunderland at home on Sunday
You sit second in the Premier League on 12 points from four games, with five wins from five in all competitions (Premier League table).
Sunderland come to the Etihad on Sunday, September 20 at 15:00 CEST (NEXT MATCH). City's last league outing was the 1–0 win at Manchester United on September 13 (RECENT RESULTS). Win on Sunday and the pressure stays on the top of the table.
Before that, City beat FC Porto 2–0 away in the Champions League on September 8 (RECENT RESULTS).
Richard Dunne likes Liverpool's defensive signings
Ex-City captain Richard Dunne thinks Liverpool made smart moves landing Ronald Araujo and Jeremy Jacquet (4). That is a rival's defence getting stronger, worth noting as the title race develops.
Fan reactions
The mood on r/MCFC is quietly pleased after a 5–0 cup night and a debut to remember. The most upvoted thread is a simple appreciation post, and older fans were trading the club's European history alongside it. You can read the discussion here.
