Premier League: Liverpool Stumbles Again as Man Utd Soars to Fourth; Sunderland Shocks Chelsea
Liverpool’s Premier League title defense hit another snag as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Brentford, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the league. Meanwhile, Manchester United climbed into the top four with a convincing 4-2 victory over Brighton, and Sunderland stunned Chelsea with a late winner to rise to second place.
In a match that exposed Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities, Brentford set the tone early when Dango Ouattara scored from a long throw just five minutes into the game. Kevin Schade doubled their lead just before half-time, finishing off a slick counter-attack that left the visitors reeling.
Despite Milos Kerkez halving the deficit for Liverpool, Igor Thiago’s penalty restored Brentford’s two-goal cushion. Mohamed Salah, who ended a six-game goal drought with a stunning late strike, couldn’t salvage a point for the struggling Reds. With this defeat, Liverpool dropped to sixth place and could find themselves seven points behind leaders Arsenal if the Gunners secure a win against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
United’s Momentum Builds
On the other hand, Manchester United celebrated their third consecutive league win under manager Ruben Amorim, overcoming Brighton after previously suffering defeats in their last three meetings. The Red Devils’ new signings, including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, are beginning to show their worth.
Cunha opened the scoring with a curling shot from outside the box, followed by a deflected goal from Casemiro. Mbeumo then scored twice, including a dramatic finish in injury time that sealed the victory. Amorim acknowledged the importance of the performance while also noting, “It would not be Manchester United without suffering a bit.” The win propels United into the Champions League spots, just three points behind Arsenal.
Sunderland’s Stunning Victory at Chelsea
Sunderland continued their impressive return to the Premier League with a thrilling 2-1 win at Chelsea, pushing them up to second in the standings. Chelsea appeared to take control early when Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for the club. However, Sunderland equalized midway through the first half through Wilson Isidor, who capitalized on a defensive error.
The Black Cats held firm throughout the second half and struck decisively in the dying moments when Chemsdine Talbi curled a stunning shot into the bottom corner, sealing the victory. Chelsea’s defeat leaves them in seventh place, with manager Enzo Maresca admitting, “We were not good enough. If you want to challenge for the title, you need consistency.”
Newcastle Edges Fulham
In other action, Newcastle United secured a late 2-1 victory over Fulham, thanks to a dramatic 90th-minute goal from captain Bruno Guimaraes. After Jacob Murphy opened the scoring, Saka Lukic equalized for Fulham, but Guimaraes’ clever finish ensured all three points for the Magpies, lifting them to 11th in the table.
