The English Premier League has entered the international break with Manchester City standing tall at the summit, while Arsenal have suffered a major setback and Tottenham Hotspur remain rooted to the bottom after a dramatic Matchweek Five.
City continued their remarkable start to the 2026/27 campaign with a 5–3 thriller against Sunderland, securing a fifth consecutive victory and maintaining their 100 percent record.
The result gives City 15 points from 15, although conceding three goals will provide plenty for Maresca’s side to discuss during the break.
The biggest shock of the weekend came at the Amex, where Brighton tore apart Arsenal 3–0 to end the Gunners’ perfect start.
Arsenal remain second on 12 points, but the defeat has opened the door for the chasing pack, with Brighton climbing to third on 10 points.
Liverpool kept themselves within touching distance of the leaders after edging Bournemouth 1–0, taking their unbeaten record to five matches and their points tally to nine.
Brentford also made a major statement by hammering Chelsea 3–0, moving to nine points while leaving Chelsea with seven from their opening five matches.
For Manchester United, the struggles continue.
United were held to a 1–1 draw by Fulham, with Matheus Cunha’s late equaliser rescuing a point. The Red Devils have just five points and remain in the bottom half of the table.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the pressure intensified as Aston Villa beat Spurs 3–2.
Tottenham remain without a league victory after five matches and sit at the foot of the table with just two points.
Villa’s victory, however, provided a much-needed boost as they finally registered their first league win.
Elsewhere, Everton beat Ipswich 1–0, Newcastle defeated Hull City 2–1, Coventry edged Nottingham Forest 1–0 for their first points, while Leeds and Crystal Palace played out a 0–0 draw.
Now, the international break
The Premier League’s pause comes at a crucial moment.
Players will now join their national teams, giving clubs time to assess injuries, correct tactical weaknesses and prepare for the next round of fixtures.
Manchester City leave for international duty with a perfect record. Arsenal leave wounded. Brighton leave with growing confidence. Liverpool continue to quietly collect points, while Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham face serious questions before the league resumes.
The season is still young but after five matchweeks, the pressure is already beginning to build.
