Brobbey nets hat-trick in 5-3 loss as Haaland ends drought — player ratings for Man City v Sunderland
Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 in a Premier League match on 20 September 2026, with Brian Brobbey scoring a hat-trick for the visitors but ending up on the losing side; Erling Haaland scored late to end a run of not having scored against Sunderland.
Brobbey's three goals were his first of the season for Sunderland, and BBC Sport provided player ratings and commentary for both sides after the game. The match produced several notable individual contributions, including Enzo Fernández's first goal for City from a free-kick and Rayan Cherki's role in creating and finishing an early City goal.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was given a 5 — "Could do little about any of Sunderland's goals but all over the place when coming out for high balls into the box." Matheus Nunes also received a 5 after being criticised for allowing Nilson Angulo to get in behind for Brobbey's finish. Ruben Dias was rated 5; the report noted he was not at his best, was caught flat-footed for Brobbey's opening goal and was beaten in midfield on another occasion, but made a remarkable goalline clearance to prevent an own goal.
Marc Guehi was assessed at 5 with the summary that he "Will have an assist alongside his name but an otherwise uncomfortable afternoon for the England international." Josko Gvardiol took a 6 after failing to close down Enzo le Fee for Sunderland's second goal but providing the cross for Haaland's goal. Elliot Anderson was given a 6; the former Newcastle player was jeered by the travelling Sunderland fans but made more passes than any other player on the pitch.
Enzo Fernández was rated 7, credited with curling in a delightful free-kick for his first City goal and attracting the "Enzo, Enzo" chant from supporters. Iliman Ndiaye, starting in place of the suspended Phil Foden, received a 6 for a lively display that included a near assist to Haaland. Antoine Semenyo earned a 9 after scoring twice — described as his first goals of the season — and helping keep play alive for Rayan Cherki's goal; Cherki himself was given an 8 for his quick feet, trickery and calm finish for City's second.
Erling Haaland was rated 6, with the note that Sunderland had been the only Premier League team the Norwegian had not scored against and that he ended that run with a late finish after missing an easier chance in the first half. Jeremy Doku (on 74, Ndiaye) was rated 6 on his return from a calf injury for his first league minutes this season; Nico O'Reilly (on 85, Cherki) was also given a 6 and was said to have shouldered a very present scoring opportunity seconds after coming on. Subs not used listed for the side included Rulli, Kovacic, Ait-Nouri, Bouaddi, Allan, Khusanov and Lewis.
Robin Roefs was rated 4 and described as likely disappointed to be beaten at his near post for the first goal. Nordi Mukiele took a 5 in a difficult match up against Semenyo; Kevin Danso was given a 5 with a poor clearance cited as contributing to Cherki's goal. Dan Ballard was rated 5 as part of a backline that conceded three times in the first half, while Dayann Methalie received a 5 and was booked inside 10 minutes of his Premier League debut.
Granit Xhaka earned a 6 after helping Sunderland twice to bring the score level during the game. Noah Sadiki was rated 6 after an ambitious forward run that ended in a high shot; Thomas Meunier took a 7 and was noted for laying a pass through for Brobbey to finish. Enzo le Fee received an 8 for supplying the pass that set up Brobbey's equaliser and for a cleverly disguised ball that led to another of his side's goals.
Nilson Angulo was given a 6; he missed a gilt-edged chance early on but later provided the assist for Brobbey's third. Brian Brobbey was rated 10 as the hat-trick scorer with "three finishes from close range" yet still left with no points and the match ball. Substitutes for the side included Malick Fofana (on 60, Angulo) rated 6, Wilson Isidor (on 68, Sadiki) rated 6, and Trai Hume (on 79, Meunier) rated 6, while unused substitutes were Elborg, Talbi, Ridd, O'Nien, Alderete and Ahoka.
Manchester City's 5-3 victory moved them clear at the top of the Premier League, and BBC Sport noted that after the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
