Premier League: Liverpool’s Struggles Continue After Defeat to Chelsea; Arsenal win to Climb top
In a weekend filled with high-stakes action in the Premier League, Liverpool’s woes deepened as they succumbed to Chelsea, while Arsenal capitalized on the opportunity to climb to the top of the table. Here’s a detailed look at the key matches from Saturday.
Chelsea 2 – 1 Liverpool: Estevao’s Late Goal Sinks Reds
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Liverpool, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory. Brazilian sensation Estevao scored his first goal for Chelsea in stoppage time, ensuring a much-needed win for the injury-stricken Blues and ending their own three-match winless streak.
Chelsea struck first in the 14th minute when Moises Caicedo, a one-time Liverpool target, unleashed a blistering shot into the top corner, giving the home side a 1-0 lead at halftime. The goal was a testament to Caicedo’s skill and determination, especially following Liverpool’s record-breaking signing of Alexander Isak for £125 million, which overshadowed his own transfer fee.
Liverpool fought back after the break, with Alexander Isak’s deft touch setting up Cody Gakpo to equalize just after the hour mark. However, Chelsea had other plans. Estevao met Marc Cucurella’s cross at the far post, sliding in to score deep into stoppage time. The goal ignited wild celebrations from Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, who was shown a red card for his exuberant sprint down the touchline.
With this loss, Liverpool now trails Arsenal by one point, leaving manager Arne Slot with significant questions to address during the international break.
Arsenal 2 – 0 West Ham: Gunners Shine Despite Odegaard’s Injury
In a milestone match for Mikel Arteta, Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 victory over West Ham, moving to the top of the Premier League. The match marked Arteta’s 300th game in charge and was a testament to his managerial prowess, even as the Gunners faced injury woes.
Arsenal took control of the match early on, with Declan Rice scoring the opening goal by blasting a rebound high into the net after West Ham’s goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola, parried Eberechi Eze’s drive. Despite losing captain Martin Odegaard to injury for the third time this season before halftime, Arsenal maintained their momentum.
Bukayo Saka sealed the victory from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf. “We dominated and fully deserved to win this,” Arteta remarked, emphasizing his team’s ability to respond under pressure. With this win, Arsenal solidified their ambitions of claiming their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Manchester United 2 – 0 Sunderland: Relief for Amorim
At Old Trafford, Manchester United handed manager Ruben Amorim a much-needed boost with a 2-0 win over Sunderland. This victory marked United’s third consecutive league win at home, providing some breathing room for Amorim, who had struggled to accumulate points in his previous matches.
Amorim’s tactical decisions paid off, particularly with goalkeeper Senne Lammens making a clean-sheet debut. Mason Mount opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a well-placed finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross, easing the tension among the home fans.
Benjamin Sesko doubled United’s advantage with a clever finish from a long throw-in, marking his first goal at Old Trafford since his £74 million move from RB Leipzig. The match almost took a twist when Sunderland was awarded a penalty, but VAR intervened, ruling insufficient contact on Trai Hume.
Tottenham 2 – 1 Leeds: Spurs End Unbeaten Run
Tottenham Hotspur showcased their defensive resolve under manager Thomas Frank, ending Leeds United’s year-long unbeaten league run with a 2-1 victory at Elland Road. The win marked Spurs’ third consecutive triumph at the ground.
Mathys Tel opened the scoring for Leeds before Mohammed Kudus responded for Spurs, netting his first goal for the club. Frank expressed satisfaction with the performance, stating, “That feeling to get over the line, to get three points, was big.” The victory helped Spurs climb up to third place in the Premier League standings.
