City inflict first loss on Chelsea
VILLA STUN UNITED AS LIVERPOOL HELD BY BRENTFORD
Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time this season as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City earned a statement 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge on a day that Manchester United were beaten by Aston Villa and Liverpool were held by Brentford.
City ended a poor run against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea thanks to a Gabriel Jesus goal early in the second half.
In the other early kickoff, Manchester United slumped to a first Premier League defeat of the season as they lost 1-0 to Villa with Bruno Fernandes missing a last-gasp penalty.
That paved the way for Liverpool to go top later, although Juergen Klopp’s side had to be settle for a point as Brentford secured a 3-3 draw in a thriller.
Liverpool have 14 points from six games with City, Chelsea, United and Everton all on 13. Brighton & Hove Albion could go top with 15 points if they beat Crystal Palace tomorrow.
Pep’s comeback
Tuchel had enjoyed mastery over his Man City counterpart Guardiola, winning all three matches against him since arriving at Stamford Bridge in January - a sequence culminating in the Champions League final victory.
But this time Guardiola won the tactical battle as his side dominated possession and barely gave Chelsea, who were joint top before the lunchtime kickoff, a sniff.
Jesus’s low shot on the turn in the 53rd minute earned City the win and but for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy they would have enjoyed a bigger margin. Victory made Guardiola City’s most successful manager in terms of wins with 221 since taking charge in 2016.
Villa went ahead in the 88th minute at Old Trafford thanks to a header by Kortney Hause but his handball then gave United a penalty in a frantic finish. Fernandes blazed over though.
Mohamed Salah scored his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool but it was not enough to earn his side victory.
Ethan Pinnock put Brentford ahead but Diogo Jota levelled and Salah struck in the 54th minute. Vitaly Janelt headed in a rebound to make it 2-2 and although Curtis Jones put Liverpool back in front in the 67th, Brentford snatched a point as substitute Yoane Wissa struck in the 82nd.