EPL: Liverpool hit nine pass Bournemouth; Haaland inspire Man City’s comeback
Liverpool equalled the Premier League’s record win with a 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth, while Erling Haaland’s hat-trick inspired Manchester City’s comeback victory against Crystal Palace on a remarkable day in the top flight, where leaders Arsenal maintained their perfect start with a dramatic 2-1 win against Fulham..
After three games without a win, Liverpool rebounded by equalling Manchester United’s 9-0 wins against Ipswich in 1995 and Southampton in 2021, as well as Leicester’s thrashing of Southampton in 2019, taking Luis Diaz just minutes to strike at Anfield as he headed home Roberto Firmino’s cross.
Three minutes later, Liverpool moved further ahead as Harvey Elliott bagged his first Premier League goal with a 20-yard curler with Trent Alexander-Arnold riflling into the top corner from 25 yards in the 28th minute.
After providing three assists, Firmino scored himself with close-range volley to put the result beyond doubt by the 31st minute.
Virgil Van Dijk headed in Andrew Robertson’s corner on the stroke of halftime as Liverpool scored five in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time.
Chris Mepham’s own goal from Alexander-Arnold’s 46th minute cross was followed by Firmino grabbing the seventh in the 62nd minute. Fabio Carvalho’s first goal since his summer move from Fulham made it eight in the 80th minute.
Diaz notched the historic ninth from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner with five minutes left as Liverpool equalled their biggest ever top-flight margin of victory, set against Palace in 1989.
Champions Manchester City staged another impressive rally as they came from 2-0 down to beat Palace at the Etihad Stadium.
Palace went ahead in the fourth minute as Eberechi Eze’s free-kick deflected off John Stones into the net for an own goal.
City fell further behind in the 21st minute when Palace defender Joachim Andersen was left unmarked to head in Eze’s corner.
But the champions came from 3-1 down to draw at Newcastle last weekend and Bernardo Silva gave them hope of a repeat with a 53rd minute effort that deflected in off Jeffrey Schlupp.
City equalised in the 62nd minute when Phil Foden’s cross reached Haaland and the former Borussia Dortmund striker headed his first home goal since joining in the close-season.
In the 70th minute, Haaland got his fifth in four games, prodding home from Stones’ pass after a flowing move. The Norwegian sealed his hat-trick from Silva’s pass in the 81st minute.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal’s three-match winning run was threatened when Aleksandar Mitrovic robbed Gabriel and slotted in his 100th goal for Fulham in the 56th minute.
But Martin Odegaard equalised eight minutes later with a wicked deflected effort before Gabriel bundled over the line in the 86th minute after Fulham’s former Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno failed to hold onto the ball.
Meanwhile, 10-man Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1 and Manchester United’s revival continued with a 1-0 victory at Southampton.
Sterling struck in the 47th minute with the former Manchester City forward’s shot deflecting off Daniel Amartey into the net.
Sterling doubled his tally in the 63rd minute as he tapped in from Reece James’ cross before Barnes squeezed in a low shot three minutes later.
Erik ten Hag said Manchester United have learned from their dismal start to the season after Bruno Fernandes clinched a hard-fought win against Southampton.
Fernandes netted in the 55th minute when he met Diogo Dalot’s cross with a volley from just inside the area.
Vitaly Janelt scored an 85th minute equaliser as Brentford drew 1-1 with Everton, who took the lead through Anthony Gordon’s 24th minute opener.
Brighton beat Leeds 1-0 with Pascal Gross’s 66th minute goal at the Amex Stadium.
