EPL: Man Utd, Spurs Falter Again as Nottingham Forest Maintain Title Chase
On a somber Sunday at Old Trafford, Manchester United suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brighton, overshadowing tributes to club legend Denis Law, who passed away just days earlier.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s struggles continued with a 3-2 loss to Everton, while Nottingham Forest’s unexpected title challenge gained momentum with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton.
The day began with heartfelt tributes to Law, celebrated as the only Scot to win the Ballon d’Or and the third top scorer in United’s history. A piper played “Flower of Scotland” as legends like Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Kidd gathered to honor the iconic striker. However, the mood quickly shifted as Brighton took control of the match.
Kaoru Mitoma set the tone early, assisting Yankuba Minteh for the opening goal within the first five minutes. United managed to equalize just before halftime through a penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes. Yet, Brighton reclaimed the lead when Mitoma scored again on the hour mark, followed by a calamitous error from United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana, who inadvertently assisted Georginio Rutter’s goal, sealing Brighton’s victory.
As Brighton climbed to ninth place, United languished in 13th, now 24 points adrift of the league leaders. The defeat exposed the vulnerabilities in manager Ruben Amorim’s project, even after a recent FA Cup triumph over Arsenal.
Tottenham’s woes deepened, remaining winless in six matches after a 3-2 defeat to Everton. David Moyes secured his first victory in his second stint with the Toffees, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin breaking his goal drought and Iliman Ndiaye netting a stunning individual effort. Although Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison’s late strikes provided a glimmer of hope for Spurs, it was not enough to avoid their 12th defeat of the season.
In contrast, Nottingham Forest continued their unlikely title chase with a vibrant 3-2 win over Southampton. Elliott Anderson, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Chris Wood all scored in a dominant first half, while Southampton’s second-half response, featuring goals from Jan Bednarek and Paul Onuachu, proved too little, too late.
Phil Foden was the star of the day as Manchester City dismantled struggling Ipswich Town with a resounding 6-0 victory, moving them up to fourth place in the league. Foden scored twice, and Mateo Kovacic added another spectacular goal as City showcased their attacking prowess.
Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and James McAtee rounded off a dominant display, leaving City fans optimistic ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures, including a Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
