The [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland?ref=au) conceded two goals in the space of four minutes towards the end of the first half, with Ruben Dias firing home a long-range effort that deflected off Dan Ballard and Josko Gvardiol heading home from a corner.
Granit Xhaka struck the post as Sunderland tried to fight back in the second half, but Phil Foden made Manchester City’s win safe when he headed home Rayan Cherki’s remarkable rabona-style cross.
What were the main talking points from the Etihad?
**BACK TO REALITY**
A reality check? That feels a bit harsh on Sunderland. The Black Cats might have travelled to the Etihad brimming with confidence after winning at Chelsea and drawing at Liverpool, but what this game proved is that Manchester City are currently operating on a different level to either of those sides.
City are purring, and whereas Sunderland had been able to go toe-to-toe with both Chelsea and Liverpool, they could barely get the ball for long periods of today’s game.
City had 67 per cent of the ball in the first half – for long periods, their dominance felt even more pronounced than that – and ended the game having had \*\* per cent of possession.
Sunderland couldn’t live with Pep Guardiola’s side, but they will be far from the only side to be outclassed at the Etihad this season. City’s win means they have closed to within two points of Arsenal at the top of the table. Keep playing like this, and might not be too much longer before they overtake them.
As for Sunderland, they have dropped to \*\*th, but remain a point clear of certain side that play in black-and-white, and that will be visiting the Stadium of Light next weekend.
**A SECOND-HALF RALLY**
Finding themselves two goals down at the break, it would have been easy for Sunderland to have crumbled in the second half.
Instead, to their credit, they took the game to City in the early periods after the interval and almost got themselves back into the game.
Wilson Isidor should probably have done better after stealing the ball off Dias on the edge of the 18-yard box, with his lashed shot flying straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was able to save.
Xhaka just about did everything right moments later, but after receiving the ball at the back post from a corner, the Sunderland skipper drilled a low shot against the base of the right-hand upright.
Had Xhaka’s shot gone in, perhaps things would have been different. As it was, City swept upfield ten minutes later and after Cherki delivered an audacious rabona-style cross, Foden headed home City’s third goal.
**MORE TACTICAL TINKERING FROM LE BRIS**
Regis Le Bris was forced into a defensive change for today’s game, with Reinildo Mandava, so impressive in the midweek draw at Liverpool, unavailable because of a minor groin problem.
Lutsharel Geertruida replaced Reinildo, but that was only the start of Le Bris’ defensive restructuring.
While his side started with a flat back four at Anfield, the Sunderland boss reverted to a five-man backline at the Etihad. Trai Hume has played in a host of different positions in the last few weeks, and here he found repositioned at left wing-back with Nordi Mukiele on the opposite flank.
In previous matches, most notably the win at Stamford Bridge, while Sunderland started with five at the back, they morphed formation regularly, with one of their defenders stepping into midfield. That wasn’t the case today.
Mainly because of the extent to which Manchester City dominated the ball, this was very much a back five, with Hume and Mukiele sticking to their wing-back positions and Geertruida rarely stepping forward into midfield. Sunderland’s focus on defence was understandable, but it meant when they got the ball in their defensive third, their options upfield were extremely limited.
**AVOIDING SUSPENSIONS**
Xhaka and Noah Sadiki both headed into today’s game on four yellow cards for the season. Crucially, they reached the final whistle on the same tally too. As a result, they will both be available for next weekend’s eagerly-awaited Wear-Tyne derby against Newcastle.
Le Bris was never going to leave either player out of today’s game just to avoid a caution, but being deprived of either in next Sunday’s game would have been a huge blow.
So, with his side trailing by three goals at the 73rd minute mark, the Sunderland boss decided enough was enough and took both players off to remove any risk of a derby suspension. At that stage of the game, it was astute management.
In truth, neither player had really looked like picking up a booking, and in a game when they were being outplayed for long periods, it is to the duo’s credit that they retained their composure and avoided doing anything rash.
The same could not be said of substitute Luke O'Nien, whose stoppage-time lunge at Matheus Nunes means he is out of next weekend's derby and will also miss the first two matches when Sunderland's numbers are reduced because of AFCON.