Sunderland at the Etihad, and a gap to open
Manchester City face Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 15:00 CEST, the last Premier League game before the international break (1) (2) (3) (4).
Win and you go 15 points from five games and three points clear at the top. Arsenal did you the favour on Saturday.
Sunderland are not turning up for a walk. They won their first Europa League game at the Stadium of Light in midweek against AZ Alkmaar (2) (4).
Get the next Manchester City FC brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Doku back, Foden still out
Jeremy Doku is likely to be available after his calf injury, which gives Enzo Maresca a full squad to pick from (1).
Phil Foden is not in it. He serves the second game of a three-match ban for the red card against Manchester United (1).
Arsenal's Saturday gift
Brighton 3–0 Arsenal on Saturday. Arsenal's first defeat of the season, and Mikel Arteta did not hold back: "Mikel Arteta accused Arsenal of failing to respect the fundamentals of the game after they suffered a 3–0 defeat by Brighton on Saturday" (1) (4) (6).
Do your job against Sunderland and that becomes a three-point lead.
5–0, and the squad is deep
Manchester City 5–0 Norwich City in the Carabao Cup third round. Maresca rotated and City still cruised into the next round (1).
Gvardiol is back at his best
Josko Gvardiol is returning towards his best at left-back after a serious injury disrupted last season (5). His form is one of the reasons this start looks the way it does.
Fan reactions
Matchday starts at 5:45am for the City fans in Los Angeles, and one of them is already up: "absolutely necessary to support the best club in the world" (link). Others are warming up with a tribute to the player who made them fall in love with the club (link).
