Manchester City rose to the summit of the Premier League after Liverpool and Arsenal settled for a point, while Manchester United’s woeful start to the season continued in contrast to Crystal Palace somewhat ending theirs and in was a goal fest between Brentford and Ipswich Town as the English top flight sailed into the ninth matchday.
Liverpool twice came from behind at the Emirates as they denied Arsenal a chance to cut the gap between themselves, retaining their four-point distance as Sunday’s contest ended in a two-all draw.
Bukayo Saka returned to the Arsenal line-up and returned with a bang as he handed the Gunners the lead inside nine minutes, wriggling away from Andy Robertson and smashing past Caoimhin Kelleher in goal after latching onto Ben White’s brilliant pass – although, Liverpool pegged back as captain Virgil van Dijk headed home, just less than 10 minutes later, from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner which Luis Diaz cushioned from the near post.
Another set-piece brought another goal as Mikel Merino headed home – his first goal since his summer transfer – from Declan Rice’s free-kick with two minutes left to the first 45.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men remained third on the log as they let their lead in the game slip once again as the Reds hit on the counter for Mohamed Salah to score in the 81st minute of the game to help Arne Slot gain a draw and take their season tally to 22 despite dropping to second place.
Taking control of first, a point ahead of the Reds were reigning champions, Pep Guardiola’s City, who defeated Southampton the previous day.
Erling Haaland scored his 11th goal of the league campaign as he netted the only goal of the game inside five minutes to ensure the Cityzens remain unbeaten with 23 points amassed, while their opponents sit at the root of the table with just one point.
Man United meanwhile, failed to get maximum points for the sixth time in nine games this season, dropping to 14th on the table following a 2-1 loss at West Ham United – increasing the pressure on Erik ten Hag.
Jarrod Bowen’s 92nd minute penalty helped the Hammers to a win after Casemiro had equalised on 81 minutes after Crysencio Summerville’s opener seven minutes earlier.
It was the Cole Palmer show as Enzo Maresca’s positive start at Stamford Bridge continued with Chelsea emerging as 2-1 winners against Newcastle United.
Palmer’s beautiful defence-splitting pass to Pedro Neto, who squared the ball to Nicolas Jackson put the Blues ahead in the 18th minute but Alexander Isak levelled matters in the 32nd minute.
The Englishman then scored what would be the winning goal two minutes after the restart to take Chelsea’s points tally to 17 in fifth, a point and a place behind Aston Villa.
Villa could not move above Arsenal as they stayed in fourth following their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth as a late 96th minute equaliser from Evanilson denied what Ross Barkley thought was a winning goal in the 76th minute.
Sixth-place Brighton and Hove Albion fell to a superb comeback as Wolverhampton Wanderers snatched a late 2-2 results from two goals down at the Amex Stadium.
Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson handed the seagulls the lead but Rayan Ait Nouri and Matheus Cunha both scored in the 89th and 93rd minute respectively to earn a precious point on the road.
Tottenham Hotspur dropped to eighth after a 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace on Sunday as Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s goal helped the Eagles to their first win of the season.
Nottingham Forest are seventh following their Friday night 3-1 win at Leicester City against former boss Steve Cooper as Chris Wood kept up his fine form, netting a brace, after Jamie Vardy’s equaliser from a Ryan Yates opener.
Brentford and Ipswich played out a cracking 4-3 encounter as Evertron extended their unbeaten run to five games thanks to Beto’s 94th minute leveller in the 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Comprehensive results of matchday nine
Friday, October 25, 2024
Leicester City 1-3 Nottingham Forest
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Brentford 4-3 Ipswich Town
Brighton 2-2 Wolves
Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth
Manchester City 1-0 Southampton
Everton 1-1 Fulham
Sunday, October 26, 2024
Crystal Palace 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
West Ham United 2-1 Manchester United
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool
