Paul Merson doubts Manchester City after Sunderland win

Paul Merson did not need much convincing after Manchester City's 5-3 win over Sunderland at the Etihad. He said: "There's no way Manchester City win the league." City had started the Premier League season with five wins from five, but Merson still left the game thinking their defence would cost them.

Merson's title warning

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Merson doubled down on the attacking quality but said the back line is the problem. "You can't keep scoring loads of goals to win football matches. You can't play that kind of football. Top teams will pick you off," he said.

He was even clearer on the balance of the team. "Going forward, Manchester City were good but at the back they were all over the place. It just catches up with you, especially against the big boys." City are three points clear of Arsenal before the international break, so this is not a panic call from the edge of the table. It is a warning from someone who has watched them put together a strong start and still come away uneasy.

Sunderland's part in that is hard to ignore. Merson said they are "not the most high-scoring football team in the country" but still scored three and could have scored more. That lines up with the broader complaint: if a mid-table side can create that much, better opponents will fancy their chances too.

The Brighton dig at Arteta

Merson also turned to Brighton, where Arsenal were beaten 3-0. He said he would like to ask Mikel Arteta "what his thinking was behind playing Bruno Guimarães over Myles Lewis-Skelly at Brighton" and added, "I've got that one wrong."

The point was less about one selection and more about the wider title conversation. Arsenal had won their first seven games across all competitions before that defeat, so Brighton changed the tone quickly. Merson's view now sits in a simple place: City have the points, but the way they are giving chances up makes him think the title race is still open, and not especially secure.