Liverpool have seized control of the Premier League title race after a dominant 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
This win, coupled with Manchester City’s shocking 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, puts the Reds a commanding five points ahead at the top of the table.
Under the guidance of new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have displayed a potent blend of pragmatism and explosiveness.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah provided the goals in a ruthless counter-attacking display against Aston Villa. Nunez opened the scoring after 20 minutes, while Salah sealed the deal late on with a clinical finish.
Manchester City’s woes deepened as they slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Despite taking an early lead through Erling Haaland, the Citizens were undone by a spirited Brighton side. Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley scored the Seagulls’ goals, sending shockwaves through the Premier League.
Following the defeat, a visibly frustrated Pep Guardiola admitted the team is in a “dark place.”
He emphasized the need for reflection and a clear focus during the upcoming international break. This is the first time City have lost four consecutive games in 18 years, raising serious questions about their title defense.
In other Premier League games, Fulham climbed to seventh with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Brentford edged out Bournemouth 3-2 thanks to a Yoane Wissa brace, Wolverhampton Wanderers secured their first win of the season against Southampton, while West Ham and Everton played out a goalless draw.