Foxes keep United off pace
MANCHESTER United succumbed to a first away league defeat for 30 games, losing 4-2 at Leicester as Liverpool thrashed Watford 5-0 on Saturday.
Chelsea remains on top of the Premier League after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brentford, while Manchester City eased to a 2-0 victory over Burnley.
The top three are separated by just two points, but the expected title challenge from United after a summer of heavy investment is not materialising, increasing the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United has taken one point from a possible nine and face Liverpool, Tottenham and City in its three league games.
Mason Greenwood’s spectacular strike put the visitors in front against the run of play at the King Power, but they were quickly pegged back by Youri Tielemans’ dinked finish beyond David de Gea. A flurry of four goals in the final 12 minutes then condemned Solskjaer’s men to a first defeat on the road since January 2020.
Caglar Soyuncu put Leicester in front before Marcus Rashford equalised on his first appearance of the season after shoulder surgery.
Straight from kick-off, United’s leaky defence was breached once more as Jamie Vardy smashed home and Patson Daka’s first Leicester goal in stoppage time sealed a much-needed win for Brendan Rodgers’ men.
“We need to look at the whole set-up and balance of the team and maybe something has to give,” Solskjaer said. “Lately, we have not been in great form, we’ve lost too many points and that is something we have to look at.”
Roberto Firmino, meanwhile, scored his first hat-trick since 2018 as Liverpool ran riot at Vicarage Road in Claudio Ranieri’s first match as Watford boss.
But it was Mohamed Salah who again took most of the plaudits for another stunning solo goal to take his tally for the season to 10 in as many games. “In this moment, it is clear that there is no one better than him,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said.
Salah helped open the floodgates with a defencesplitting pass that teed up Sadio Mane to score his 100th Premier League goal.
Firmino tapped home his first goal from James Milner’s cross before halftime and took advantage of another open goal after Ben Foster parried Craig Cathcart’s attempted clearance.
Salah had left four Manchester City defenders trailing to score in the thrilling 2-2 draw before the international break and, here, he pulled off a similar feat before curling into the far corner.
Firmino then completed the rout in stoppage time.
City did not need to hit top gear to see off Burnley at the Etihad as Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne were on target either side of halftime for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Chelsea needed a series of miraculous saves from Edouard Mendy to ensure it was not the latest giant to be stung by newly promoted Brentford, as Ben Chilwell’s goal in first-half stoppage time earned victory.
Wolves produced a comeback from 2-0 down with 10 minutes remaining to win 3-2 at Aston Villa.
Southampton got its first league win of the season thanks to Armando Broja’s goal to beat Leeds 1-0.
Norwich remains winless and bottom of the table after a 0-0 draw with Brighton.