Liverpool conquest marred by Elliott injury
Ronaldo debuts with double as Man United thrashes Newcastle • Spurs stumble • Arsenal nets 1st W
LEEDS (Reuters) – Mohamed Salah’s 100th Premier League goal helped Liverpool cruise to a 3-0 victory at 10-man Leeds United on Sunday in a match that was marred by a nasty injury to teenager Harvey Elliott.
After a lightning-fast start to the game, Salah became the 30th player to join the Premier League’s 100-goal club in the 20th minute, tapping home from close range from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
The visitors missed a host of chances to make it two in the first half, before Fabinho made one count early in the second period to put Jurgen Klopp’s side on course for three points in West Yorkshire.
There was a worrying sight later in the half as Elliott needed lengthy treatment on the pitch following a tackle from Leeds’ Pascal Struijk, with the hosts’ substitute shown a straight red card for the challenge by the referee.
Elliott was taken off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious leg injury, receiving applause from Leeds fans as he was taken down the touchline.
Liverpool regained its composure to add a stoppage-time third through Sadio Mane to put the seal on a victory that moved it above Manchester City into third in the standings, while Leeds sit 17th without a win from four league matches this season.
On Saturday, two goals from returning hero Cristiano Ronaldo sent Manchester United joint top of the league after early season pace-setter Tottenham Hotspur fell to a surprise 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace.
Champion Manchester City made it three wins out of four with a 1-0 win at Leicester City while Arsenal got its first victory of the campaign, with
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on target in a 1-0 win over Norwich City.
Manchester United and Chelsea lead on 10 points with an identical goal difference after four games with Manchester City a point behind along with Brighton & Hove Albion, which won 1-0 at promoted Brentford, and Spurs.
Chelsea beat Aston Villa 3-0 in the late game to register its 600th overall victory in the Premier League.
Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic finally opened their accounts at Stamford Bridge, with the Belgian striker scoring twice, while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy denied Villa numerous times to keep his third clean sheet.
Ronaldo’s return to United from Juventus last month brought with it the promise of excitement and goals at Old Trafford and his second debut certainly lived up to the billing.
The 36-year-old fired his side ahead just before the break, pouncing to slot home from close range after Newcastle ’keeper Freddie Woodman was unable to hold on to a low drive from Mason Greenwood.
After Javier Manquillo brought Newcastle level following the break, Ronaldo
produced a trademark strike. He burst into the box as he collected a through ball from Luke Shaw before drilling it through the legs of Woodman.
Bruno Fernandes made it 3-1 with a wonderful strike from 25 meters out and substitute Jesse Lingard completed the rout.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, the former United captain, was able to put aside his disappointment with his team’s performance to appreciate Ronaldo’s impact on his return.
“If there is a genuine superstar among everyone, then this kid is with what he has achieved. We have witnessed it again today. He is something else.”
Ronaldo was not the only celebrating debutant – Odsonne Edouard scored twice on his debut for Palace as 10-man Tottenham Hotspur fell to a 3-0 loss at Selhurst Park.
Spurs center-back Japhet Tanganga was shown a second yellow card in the 58th minute for a foul on Jordan Ayew, five minutes after the defender was adjudged to have illegally blocked winger Wilfried Zaha.
Matters got worse for the visitors as Palace was awarded a penalty when Ben
Davies handled from a Conor Gallagher cross in the 75th minute, and Zaha dispatched the spot-kick past Hugo Lloris.
Palace scored again six minutes from time through Edouard, who slotted home from Zaha’s cross 27 seconds after coming on, and the Frenchman completed his dream debut in stoppage time following a slick team move.
Another Portugal international, Bernardo Silva, scored the only goal for Pep Guardiola’s City at Leicester.
City striker Ferran Torres had a number of good chances in the first half, but Leicester ’keeper Kasper Schmeichel was alert.
Jamie Vardy had a goal ruled out for offside four minutes into the second half, but it was Manchester City which finally broke the deadlock as Silva pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire home in the 62nd minute.
Leicester piled forward looking for an equalizer and Kelechi Iheanacho and Ademola Lookman both went close, but Brazilian ’keeper Ederson was quick off his line twice.
Brighton’s excellent start to the campaign continued with its third victory in four league games.
Leandro Trossard’s curler from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute secured the three points from Graham Potter’s side, which is now fourth in the standings.
Arsenal moved off the bottom of the Premier League standings and scored its first goal of the campaign after captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s scrambled 66th-minute effort gave the Gunners a 1-0 home win over Norwich.
Mikel Arteta’s side produced an improved performance after three openinge defeats, but was made to work hard by a rugged Norwich side before Aubameyang, who missed two first-half chances, broke the deadlock.
The Gabonese striker fired wide in the 10th minute and was denied in the 20th by a superb save from visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul before Takehiro Tomiyasu volleyed over the bar for the dominant hosts on the stroke of halftime.
Pepe twice hit the post within a few seconds from a flowing move and the second rebound fell kindly to Aubameyang, who was perfectly positioned to tuck the ball into an empty net.