Three unbeaten sides make English top flight history
However strong Manchester City look in their title defence, Pep Guardiola’s leaders are facing more competition than anticipated in the Premier League.
It’s not coming from Manchester United, beaten 3-1 by City yesterday and 12 points adrift in eighth.
For the first time in 130 years of the English top flight, three teams are unbeaten after 12 games. Liverpool remain two points behind City after beating Fulham 2-0 and Chelsea are two points further back after being held 0-0 at home by Everton.
“When you win 100 points [last season] to win the Premier League, the people can start to think, will we maintain our level? I’m so satisfied we maintained our level,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.
Tottenham are still in the title mix, too. Despite losing three games, the North London club’s best-ever Premier League start means they are only five points behind City in fourth.
“They have numbers to be champions, not just Man City,” Guardiola said of Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham — and Arsenal.
Resurgent under new manager Unai Emery after opening with losses to City and Chelsea, Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions after a late comeback to draw 1-1 with Wolverhampton.
In Liverpool’s six league games at home, Mohamed Salah has now scored in five, the only blank coming against City. The Egypt forward capitalised on some quick thinking for the latest. There were 14 seconds between the flag being raised for a debatable offside, with Fulham having a goal ruled out, and Salah finding the net at the other end of the field.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson took a quick free kick to find right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played in Salah to race in on goal and put the hosts ahead in the 41st minute. Salah now has 34 goals in 36 appearances at Anfield since joining Liverpool in the 2017 off-season.
Xherdan Shaqiri doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 53rd minute, a cushioned volley into the corner from Andrew Robertson’s deep cross, as last-place Fulham slumped to a seventh straight loss.
Having already drawn against the Manchester clubs, Wolves were heading towards the biggest win of their first season back in the top flight since 2012. Ivan Cavaleiro’s 13thminute strike put Wolves ahead after capitalising on a mistake by Granit Xhaka. But Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s inswinging cross in the 86th minute went over everyone in the penalty area and ended in the far corner of the net to rescue a point for Arsenal.
Despite Chelsea failing to score in a match at Stamford Bridge for the first time this season, the draw with Everton was still a landmark for Mauricio Sarri. The Italian has now gone 12 matches unbeaten — a record start for a new manager in the Premier League.