Mohamed Salah’s equalizer on Sunday salvaged Liverpool a 2-2 draw at English Premier League title rivals Arsenal, while Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was sacked yesterday following another damaging defeat at West Ham United.
Cole Palmer inspired Chelsea to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 1-0 at Crystal Palace.
Liverpool began the weekend on top after winning 11 of their opening 12 games in all competitions under Arne Slot, but a draw saw the Reds fall one point behind Manchester City at the top of the table, with Arsenal now five points adrift of the leaders in third.
Photo: Reuters
“We’re in the business where you can be on top one week and then not,” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said. “We are in October and let’s see what it brings us at the end of the season. Enjoy the ride.”
Bukayo Saka recovered from a hamstring injury to start for Arsenal and gave the hosts the perfect start with a stunning touch and finish from Ben White’s pass on nine minutes.
Van Dijk quickly leveled from a corner, but Arsenal led again before halftime through Mikel Merino’s header.
Liverpool improved after the break and got their reward when Darwin Nunez teed up Salah for his eighth goal of the season.
“Credit to Liverpool. We feel like we didn’t play the full 90 minutes,” Saka said. “First half we showed our qualities, gave them nothing and they scored from a set-piece. I can’t think of another chance they had. Second half we weren’t at our best.”
Ten Hag was left to rue a familiar lack of ruthlessness as a 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium led to the club dismissing their manager.
The visitors should have been out of sight by halftime.
Alejandro Garnacho hit the woodwork inside two minutes and Edson Alvarez also headed off his own line, but it was Diogo Dalot who missed the biggest chance when the Portugal international somehow fired over with the goal gaping after rounding Lukasz Fabianski.
Under-fire West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui showed his disgust with the Hammers’ first-half display by making three substitutions at halftime.
Crysencio Summerville was one of those introduced and he slid in to open the scoring against the run of play on 74 minutes.
Casemiro brought United level nine minutes from time with a header from point-blank range, but there was late drama when the video assistant referee intervened for a foul on Danny Ings by Matthijs de Ligt.
Jarrod Bowen smashed in the resulting spot-kick to take West Ham above United, who sank to 14th in the table.
“We created so many chances, played so good football, especially in the first half,” Ten Hag said. “Overall I had not so many criticisms of my team, apart from not scoring.”
Chelsea moved up to fifth thanks to another match-winning display from Palmer.
The England international was the creator for the opening goal, despite not being credited with the assist, as his sumptuous ball over the top freed Pedro Neto, who picked out Nicolas Jackson to slot in his sixth goal of the season.
Newcastle are now winless in five league games as the pressure mounts on Eddie Howe ahead of a rematch against Chelsea in the EFL Cup tomorrow.
The Magpies did get back on level terms before halftime when forward Alexander Isak tapped in Lewis Hall’s cross at the end of a well-worked move, but Palmer took just two minutes into the second half to make the decisive impact with a driving run forward and powerful finish that beat Nick Pope at his near post.
Palace began the day in the relegation zone, but were good value for the three points at Selhurst Park as Tottenham’s struggles on the road continue.
Eberechi Eze’s deft flick teed up Jean-Philippe Mateta to fire home the only goal.
“I’d be very surprised if they [Spurs supporters] were happy right now,” Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said after his side slipped to eighth. “Why would I be happy? If I’m unhappy then they’ll be unhappy.”
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