Another week of upsets unfolded in the Premier League on matchday 9. It just goes on to show why the English top flight remains the most competitive in Europe, with any team capable of beating anybody on their day. There was plenty of shake-up in the league table as well, with Manchester United up to sixth place behind Manchester City. Bournemouth and Sunderland are among the top four spots, while Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea all dropped points this past weekend.
Key Match Summaries
Starting with perhaps the most shocking result, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City lost 0-1 to Aston Villa. Unai Emery claimed a famous win at home thanks to Matty Cash’s 19th-minute goal. Erling Haaland’s 12-match scoring run came to a halt after a defensive masterclass from Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa, standing tall.
Liverpool slumped to their fourth consecutive loss in the league, losing 2-3 to Brentford. Keith Andrews ensured his side fought fire with fire, and the Reds’ defensive frailties let them down once again. Mo Salah’s stunning goal, along with Miloš Kerkez’s effort, weren’t enough. Igor Thiago, Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara helped the Bees pick up a well-deserved win.
Chelsea also dropped points after losing 1-2 to Sunderland thanks to a stunning late winner from Chemsidine Talbi. Alejandro Garnacho scored a stunning opener after just four minutes, but Wilson Isidor scored the equaliser shortly before the half-hour mark.
Manchester United picked up their third win in a row, beating Brighton 4-2. Bryan Mbuemo is loving life at Old Trafford as he scored a brace, while Casemiro and Matheus Cunha were also among the goals. Danny Welbeck also continued his scoring streak while Charalampos Kostoulas gave the away fans something to cheer for.
League leaders Arsenal eked out a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Not the most convincing result, but Eberechi Eze’s goal gave them three crucial points. Ricardo Calafiori, Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba all suffered injuries and will be monitored.
Meanwhile, Thomas Frank continues to win admirers in North London’s white half as Spurs soundly defeated Everton 3-0. Micky van de Ven scored two headers inside the first half, while both teams had a goal each chalked off by the VAR. Pape Matar Sarr scored a minute before stoppage time to make the scoreline more flattering.
Leeds United were the first team in action this week; they picked up a 2-1 win over West Ham. Mateus Fernandes’ late goal couldn’t avoid a third loss in a row for the Hammers. Bruno Guimarães and Jacob Murphy were on song for Newcastle United as they beat Fulham at St. James’ Park.
Bournemouth jumped to second place in the league table with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Eli Junior Kroupi and Marcus Tavernier helped the Cherries to their second win in their last five games. Wolves suffered a heartbreak against Burnley, losing 2-3 after an injury-time winner from Lyle Foster. Earlier, Zian Flemming scored a brace in the first half, which was cancelled by goals from Marshall Munetsi and Jørgen Strand Larsen.
Standout Players and Performances
Manchester United striker Bryan Mbuemo (9.8) racked up the best SofaScore rating this week thanks to his two goals. Fellow forward Matheus Cunha (8.8) was also on the scoresheet, and so was Casemiro (8.4).
Nick Pope (8.1) made 4 saves and prevented 1.69 goals. Micky van de Ven (9.2) and Matty Cash (8.4) were among the goals, and were the best-rated defenders alongside Rúben Dias (7.8) and Pedro Porro (8.1).
Dominik Szoboszlai (9.1) assisted Mohamed Salah’s wondergoal, while Declan Rice (8.3) ran the show for Arsenal. Zian Flemming (9.2) also registered a brace to earn his place among the best.
League Table & Impact
Arsenal are at the top with a four-point lead over Bournemouth. Spurs rose to third place ahead of Sunderland, with Man City and Man United close behind. Liverpool fell to seventh place, ahead of Aston Villa and Chelsea. Palace, Brentford, and Newcastle occupy the mid-table berths.
At the bottom, Forest, West Ham and Wolves occupy the relegation spots with Fulham and Burnley hovering just above the danger zone.
Injuries and Suspension Updates
Curtis Jones had been taken off due to his injury, giving Arne Slot a fresh headache. Mikel Arteta would be worried about four of his playing XI stars suffering knocks against Palace. Gabriel Gudmundsson would be a worry for Leeds, while Newcastle saw Sven Botman go off injured. Emery would be worried by Emiliano Buendia’s injury, while Lesley Ugochukwu also sustained an injury.
Looking Ahead
Matchday 10 will be headlined by the marquee clash of London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea. Manchester United will be on the road to face Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal will travel to Turf Moor to play Burnley. Liverpool will want to end their losing streak against Aston Villa, while Manchester City will host high-flying Bournemouth at the Etihad.