Arsenal opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League, while champions Liverpool slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in a 2-1 loss against Manchester United.
United’s first victory at Anfield since 2016 gave under-fire boss Ruben Amorim a much-needed boost. Arsenal’s stingy defence kept the Gunners top with a 1-0 win at Fulham, while Erling Haaland was again Manchester City’s match-winner with a double to beat Everton 2-0.
Liverpool crisis deepens
Liverpool have suffered four straight defeats for the first time since November 2014, raising serious questions about their summer spending spree.
The vast majority of a near £450 million ($604 million) spend in the transfer market was focused on adding extra firepower to the Reds’ attack.
But club record signing Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are yet to score a Premier League goal for Liverpool, while Arne Slot’s men are suddenly wide open at the back.
Liverpool conceded just five times in Slot’s first 12 games last season as he took a more conservative approach in his early days as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.
At the same stage this season, the English champions have shipped 17 goals. Slot has been keen to use his wealth of attacking options. For the final half hour against United, he played with five forwards.
However, that lack of balance was exposed as, just six minutes after Cody Gakpo had cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s opener, Harry Maguire was left completely unmarked to head in Bruno Fernandes’ cross.
“I think we conceded a very sloppy second goal,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. “We worked so hard to get back into the game and we created great opportunities to score the winner, but if you concede a second goal like that, that is the disappointing part.”