Manchester City flexed their championship muscle with a commanding 3–0 victory over Liverpool, reaffirming their status as Arsenal’s fiercest title rival in the Premier League race.
The win was doubly special for Pep Guardiola, who marked his 1,000th game as a manager with a performance that mirrored the best of his reign — ruthless, composed, and precise.
City in Cruise Control
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 29th minute, continuing his prolific run in front of goal. Just before halftime, Nico González doubled the lead after a slick move that cut Liverpool open.
In the second half, Jeremy Doku sealed the result with a smart finish from Nico O’Reilly’s assist, capping a display that showcased City’s depth and control. Liverpool, fresh from an impressive European outing against Real Madrid, struggled to find rhythm against a side that suffocated space and dictated tempo throughout.
Arsenal Stumble at Sunderland
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s nine-match winning streak came to an end in a dramatic 2–2 draw against Sunderland. The result also halted the Gunners’ 812-minute clean-sheet run.
Daniel Ballard gave the hosts the lead in the 36th minute before Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard turned the game around for Mikel Arteta’s side. But just when Arsenal looked set for another tight win, Brian Brobbey struck deep into stoppage time to earn Sunderland a well-deserved point.
Villa, Brentford, and West Ham Impress
Aston Villa continued their strong form with a 4–0 rout of Bournemouth. Emiliano Buendía and Amadou Onana struck early to put the hosts in control, while Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen added goals after the break.
At the Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford came from behind to defeat Newcastle United 3–1. Harvey Barnes opened for the visitors, but Kevin Schade equalized before Igor Thiago’s brace — including a penalty after Dan Burn’s red card — sealed the points for Keith Andrews’ side.
West Ham United made it back-to-back wins under Nuno Espírito Santo, edging Burnley 3–2 in another thriller, while Everton eased past Fulham 2–0 thanks to goals from Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane.
Chelsea, Spurs, and United Share the Spotlight
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea brushed aside Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0, with second-half strikes from Malo Gusto, Joan Pedro, and Pedro Neto lifting the Blues back into contention for Europe.
In North London, Tottenham and Manchester United played out an entertaining 2–2 draw, echoing last season’s Europa League final. Bryan Mbuemo and Matthijs de Ligt scored for United, while Mathys Tel and Richarlison netted for Spurs in a game that swung until the very last kick.
Crystal Palace and Brighton cancelled each other out in a goalless stalemate — a result that did little to ease tensions in their long-standing rivalry.
