Arsenal stretched their Premier League lead to four points as Eberechi Eze's goal beat his former club Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester City lost 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Bournemouth are now the Gunners' closest challengers in second after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.

After Liverpool's latest defeat to Brentford on Saturday, Arsenal enjoyed the perfect weekend as both their title rivals fell further behind as they go from strength to strength.

Eze left the Eagles to join Arsenal in a £60 million ($80 million) deal in August and his first Premier League goal was decisive as Mikel Arteta's men were again able to lean on their set-piece prowess and a solid defence.

The England international blasted in on the volley after Palace failed to clear Declan Rice's free-kick six minutes before halftime.

Arsenal again failed to hit top gear going forward, but didn't need to as they kept a 10th clean sheet in 13 games in all competitions this season.

The only concern for Arteta was the sight of Rice and William Saliba having to be replaced in the second half due to injury.

Arsenal now lead fourth-placed City by six points and have a seven-point cushion over Liverpool in sixth.

- Haaland streak ends -

City appeared to be emerging as Arsenal's biggest obstacle in the title race after a nine-game unbeaten run.

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But Pep Guardiola's men lost at Villa Park for the third consecutive season as Erling Haaland's 12-game scoring streak came to an end.

Matty Cash's stunning strike from outside the box on 19 minutes secured a fourth consecutive league win for Villa as Unai Emery's men climb to seventh.

Haaland had a late goal ruled out for offside, but City's lack of goal threat other than the Norwegian finally cost the visitors.

No City player other than Haaland has scored in the Premier League for a month.

Bournemouth climbed up to second as Forest's struggles continued despite a change in management.

Sean Dyche got his reign off to a winning start against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, but Forest remain in the bottom three after they were convincingly beaten on the south coast.

Marcus Tavernier opened the scoring for the Cherries directly from a corner as the swirling wind caught out Matz Sels.

Eli Junior Kroupi then blasted in his fourth goal in six Premier League games to double Bournemouth's lead.

Wolves remain bottom of the table after Burnley edged a 3-2 thriller in stoppage time at Molineux thanks to Lyle Foster.

Zian Flemming's double put the visitors 2-0 up inside 30 minutes but Wolves hit back before halftime through Jorgen Strand Larsen and Marshall Munetsi.

Foster's late strike propelled the Clarets five points clear of the relegation zone and left Wolves now six points adrift of safety.

Two headed goals by Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven helped his side to a 3-0 Premier League win over Everton on Sunday as the visitors became the first team to win in the Merseyside club's new stadium.

Tottenham made a sluggish start but took the lead in the 19th minute when Dutch defender Van de Ven nodded in from virtually on the goal line following a corner.

Jake O'Brien thought he had equalised soon after but his powerful header was disallowed for an infringement on Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Van de Ven doubled Tottenham's lead with another close-range header from another corner in first-half stoppage time to leave Everton with a mountain to climb.

Vicario made some superb saves in the second half as Tottenham protected their advantage and substitute Pape Matar Sarr headed a late third to secure the victory that lifted Tottenham to third in the table with 17 points from nine games.

Everton are 14th with 11 points.

Manchester City suffered their first loss since August as Matty Cash's first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory for Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, the hosts' fourth straight win in the competition.

The hosts took the lead in the 19th minute from Emiliano Buendia's corner, as Cash received the ball just outside the box and fired with his left foot into the bottom right corner past a helpless City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Villa's defence survived a chaotic moment near the hour mark as Savinho's shot was scooped over the bar by Pau Torres. Erling Haaland's late strike was disallowed due to an offside in the build-up as the visitors failed to find an equaliser.

City fell to fourth in the standings after their nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end, six points behind leaders Arsenal. Villa rose to seventh, a point below City.

Eberechi Eze scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal as the leaders' set-piece expertise secured a 1-0 win against his former club Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Eze struck late in the first half at the Emirates Stadium to ensure Arsenal took full advantage of the latest losses for title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

The England midfielder had netted just once in 10 previous appearances for the Gunners in all competitions since arriving from Palace in a £60 million ($79 million) deal in August.

Having finished as runners-up for the last three years, Arsenal's seventh win from nine league games added to the growing feeling that this could be the season they finally end their title drought.

Mikel Arteta's side are four points clear of second-placed Bournemouth and, more significantly, six ahead of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool.

Liverpool's 3-2 defeat at Brentford on Saturday left the champions' title defence in turmoil after a fourth successive top-flight loss.

Chasing a first English title since 2004 and a first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, Arsenal have reeled off seven successive wins in all competitions.

The Gunners have only conceded three goals in their 13 games in all competitions this season, a parsimonious run including 10 clean-sheets.

The only concern for Arteta was Declan Rice limping off in the second half after William Saliba was unable to continue beyond the interval due to a potential injury.

With rock star Jon Bon Jovi watching from the stands, Palace threatened to start in a blaze of glory when Jean-Philippe Mateta raced clear, but Arsenal were able to snuff out the danger.

Saliba had to make a last-ditch block to stop Ismaila Sarr in his tracks as the Palace winger threatened to give the visitors a shock lead.

- Eze impact -

Aside from those early scares, Arteta's men dominated possession as they tried to prise open Palace's well-drilled defence.

It took Arsenal 33 minutes to muster their first shot as Leandro Trossard's low drive from just inside the penalty area was well held by Dean Henderson.

But Arsenal's prowess at free-kicks and corners has seen them dubbed "Set-Piece FC" and once again they struck from a dead ball situation.

They became the first team in Europe's top five leagues to score 10 goals from set-pieces this season after tormenting Atletico Madrid from dead balls in the midweek Champions League rout.

They took that tally to 11 in the 39th minute.

Rice curled a free-kick into the Palace area and Gabriel Magalhaes headed down to Eze, who showed impressive technique to meet it on the bounce and guide an agile finish past Henderson from 12 yards.

Eze's celebration, raising his arm to the sky with little expression on his face, was muted out of respect to Palace.

Cristhian Mosquera replaced Saliba at halftime and Arsenal were inches away from immediately doubling their lead.

Gabriel's header smacked off the crossbar and rebounded to Rice, whose close-range shot was well saved by Henderson.

When the ball was recycled to Bukayo Saka on the edge of the area, the Arsenal forward went close himself with a curler that whistled just wide.

Gabriel should have increased Arsenal's set-piece goal total when he headed wide from virtually on the line, a miss that ended painfully as he needed treatment after crashing into the post.

Having delivered his first significant contribution to Arsenal's title charge, Eze departed in the closing stages to a standing ovation that even Palace fans joined in.

Liverpool were tipped to turn the Premier League title race into a prolonged coronation this season, but instead the champions find themselves mired in an unexpected crisis after their latest shock defeat.

The Reds were beaten 3-2 at Brentford on Saturday as they crashed to a fourth successive league loss.

Coming hot on the heels of a first defeat against Manchester United at Anfield since 2016, Liverpool suddenly look more vulnerable than at any time in Arne Slot's reign.

Liverpool are languishing in sixth place after four defeats in their first nine league matches, with leaders Arsenal having seized their mantle as the top-flight pace-setters.

Liverpool have already lost as many Premier League games this season as in their entire title-winning campaign.

It is a remarkable fall from grace after Slot's side romped to the trophy last season, finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal and wrapping up the title with four games to spare.

Fuelled by a £446 million ($593 million) spending spree in the close-season, Liverpool started the campaign as odds-on favourites to extend their reign with a record 21st English title.

But Liverpool's decision to overhaul their already battle-tested squad has backfired.

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

They twice smashed their transfer record in the summer with blockbuster deals for Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz and Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.

Slot also brought in Hugo Ekitike, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah were among the notable departures from Anfield.

There were early warning signings that Slot's revamp would not go smoothly when Liverpool were beaten on penalties by Crystal Palace in the Community Shield.

Although the Reds won their first seven games in all competitions this term, they rarely impressed and needed late goals to emerge victorious in six of those games.

Palace gave Liverpool a dose of their own medicine with a late goal in a 2-1 victory that finally exposed the flaws in Slot's team.

Defeats at Galatasaray and Chelsea followed before United emerged from their own crisis to plunder a 2-1 win at Anfield.

By the time Brentford punished Liverpool's sloppy defending to leave the champions in turmoil, Slot was looking increasingly bewildered on the touchline.

'NOWHERE NEAR GOOD ENOUGH' 

Slot's issues are spread throughout the side, with Wirtz looking completely out of sync, while British record signing Isak has managed just one goal in eight appearances.

Mohamed Salah has been anonymous since late last season and Slot has already dropped him twice this term in a bid to spark the Egypt forward into life.

Frimpong and Kerkez have struggled at full-back and even captain Virgil van Dijk has been below par as Liverpool find themselves targeted by a barrage of long balls.

The tragic death of Diogo Jota in a car crash during the close-season has also taken its toll.

But most alarming for Liverpool fans is Slot's admission that he has no answers to the pressure being applied to his crumbling defence by opponents' direct tactics.

"Teams seem have a certain playing style against us, which is a very good strategy to play, and we haven't found an answer yet," he said.

"You cannot even compete, which we don't do at the moment, because we simply concede too many goals.

"It definitely also has to do with if you change quite a lot during the summer, then I think it's not a surprise that it can go a bit like this. But I didn't expect it to go with four losses in a row, let that be clear."

Liverpool are only the fourth reigning champions to lose four consecutive games.

It is also the first time they have lost four consecutive league games since February 2021.

Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson offered no excuses for their struggles ahead of Palace's visit to Anfield in the League Cup on Wednesday.

"In a difficult moment, the only way to get out of it is work even harder, run that bit more and look after yourself that bit better," he said.

"The results have been nowhere near good enough over the last five, six games. We're the only ones who can get us out of it.

"We need to start playing better and we need to start showing a lot more consistency."

Newcastle United's dramatic late 2-1 Premier League win over Fulham on Saturday may prove more than just three points — it could be the emotional spark their season needs, said United boss Eddie Howe.

Bruno Guimaraes' 90th-minute strike rescued the Magpies from what looked like a damaging draw, and Howe believes the timing of the goal could have a ripple effect.

"Late goals don't just affect the game you've won, they affect mood and belief going forward," Howe said.

"It can have a big knock-on effect. We've had heartbreak the other way. This felt like a massive moment for us. We found a way to win."

Newcastle's win was just their third of the season and saw them climb provisionally to 10th in the table.

Howe wants more though after last season's fifth-place finish and a League Cup victory.

The Magpies were looking to get their league campaign back on track after last weekend's disappointing 2-1 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion, but were buoyed by their emphatic 3-0 Champions League victory over Benfica midweek.

Howe had talked of reigniting Newcastle's Premier League push — and his side backed up that ambition with a purposeful start with Jacob Murphy scoring in the 18th minute.

Sasa Lukic drew the visitors level in the 56th minute and the game looked to be heading towards a draw before Guimaraes' late-game heroics.

Substitute William Osula drove to the edge of the box, but his shot was parried into the path of Guimaraes by goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and the Brazilian poked it in from close range.

"It's one I'll remember, that's for sure," Howe said. "You always remember when you win late, and it was a priceless win for us ... a big three points."

Howe had praised Guimaraes' durability in logging thousands of miles to play for club and country in his pre-game press conference on Friday, pointing out that his captain "very rarely lets you down."

The midfielder proved his point at St James' Park.

"I feel unbelievable. We were very tired from Wednesday's game and I think we had to learn how to finish the game," Guimaraes said.

"I'm happy in the end we scored a goal. The last few games we have been punished at the end - by Arsenal, Liverpool.

"Will Osula, he came, he shot and I was ready for the rebound in my 150th start for this club. Now I just want to rest for a bit because I am very tired.

"We cannot play the perfect game every time but we need to find the three points and we did this today. Very pleased for everyone. This is the Newcastle I know, we fight until the end."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the English champions' quality will eventually show if they stick together after a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat to Brentford on Saturday.

The Reds' title defence has collapsed over the past month and they have slipped to sixth in the table.

Leaders Arsenal could open a seven-point advantage over Arne Slot's men on Sunday.

Liverpool were again exposed defensively by Brentford's strength from set pieces and on the counter-attack in a 3-2 defeat in west London.

The Reds have conceded two or more goals in six of their nine league games and are without a clean sheet in nine games.

"It's difficult to say. The fact we didn't keep a clean sheet for nine games," said centre-back Van Dijk.

"It's easy to blame a particular person, the backline or set-pieces, but it's a collective thing in the end. Everyone has to look in the mirror, including myself.

"I am sure we will get out of this, but we won't do it just by talking about it. We will try to improve. We need each other, we need the support, we need the people who were celebrating with us last year to be with us now even more.

"We will get out of this because we have the quality offensively and defensively."

Slot, though, was concerned by what he regarded as the worst performance from his side in any of the defeats so far.

All three previous losses came via late goals scored by Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United.

"You cannot compare all of them but the most concerning thing is that you lose four times in a row," said Slot.

"Afterwards you can judge the performance and today was the worst in my opinion from all the four."

Manchester United's improvement under coach Ruben Amorim continued as Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and two goals from Bryan Mbeumo secured a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, their third successive Premier League win.

Looking to build on last weekend's first victory at Liverpool since 2016, Cunha arrowed home a sublime 24th-minute strike into the bottom corner, the Brazilian's first goal for United.

There was fortune about the second from Casemiro 10 minutes later, his shot taking a huge deflection before finding the net, but Mbeumo's well-taken third just after the hour mark put the hosts in complete command.

Danny Welbeck's sublime free kick against his former club pulled one back for Brighton, before Charalampos Kostoulas's header in stoppage time ensured a nervy finish at Old Trafford.

With Brighton committing everyone forward in search of the equaliser, Mbeumo fired a fine strike into the roof of the net to lift United to fourth in the standings. Brighton stayed 12th.

Man United's new signings are starting to click 🔴🔥

📺 Stream #MUNBHA on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/gaTO3Dk9GD

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

"I enjoy it a lot here," Mbeumo told Sky Sports. "It hasn't been easy at the start. It's a new environment, a new expectation but I think with the link up with the team, everything is going the right way.

"The work we put in, the togetherness we give on the pitch is key. I like the challenges, I came here to a big club and we want to fight for the best places."

BRIGHTON BIG TEST FOR UNITED

The visit of Brighton provided a big test for an improving United, given that since start of 2021-22 season, no team has won more league games against United than their opponents.

Victory at Anfield was the first time Amorim had achieved back-to-back league wins since taking charge 11 months ago, but the United manager insisted the revival would be undone if they slipped to another loss to Brighton.

Welbeck forced a fine save from United goalkeeper Senne Lammens early on as Brighton started brightly, but Cunha's pinpoint finish settled home nerves.

Since the start of last season, Cunha has scored more goals from outside the box than any other Premier League player in all competitions.

Matheus Cunha 🎯

This is what Man United's new addition is capable of 👏👏

📺 Stream #MUNBHA on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/0E0ygmRD3o

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Casemiro's deflected strike deservedly put a dominant United further ahead, with more chances coming and going to extend the hosts’ lead before the break.

Casemiro 🇧🇷

Man United's Brazilians are running the show at Old Trafford 🔴✨

📺 Stream #MUNBHA on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/cxp87vKheY

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Mbeumo followed up his goal at Liverpool with the third to put United into a seemingly unassailable position.

Proof they are far from the finished article yet came, however, as mistakes crept in and Welbeck started the Brighton comeback.

United appeared on the ropes when Kostoulas pounced, but Mbeumo made sure of the three points in style, a third United league win in a row for the first time August 2024.

"We put ourselves in a really difficult position," Welbeck said. "We have a great group. We got two goals and were closing to maybe getting a third. It didn't happen but it is a good sign we showed character."

Champions Liverpool suffered a fourth successive Premier League defeat as they lost 3-2 at Brentford on Saturday to continue their miserable run of form in the capital.

Arne Slot's stumbling side fell behind after five minutes when Dango Ouattara volleyed in following a long throw and Kevin Schade went through to make it 2-0 in the 45th.

Brentford's work on the training ground pays off 🐝💥

📺 Stream #BRELIV on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/sgWEtyCA4K

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Milos Kerkez replied for the visitors in first-half stoppage time with his first Liverpool goal from Conor Bradley's cross.

Milos Kerkez gives Liverpool a lifeline just before half-time 💥

📺 Stream #BRELIV on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/2Jdo9KZ3nt

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Liverpool's expected second-half siege never really materialised, however, and Igor Thiago restored Brentford's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot on the hour mark.

Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool hope with a clinical finish in the 89th minute but they had left it too late.

It is the first time since 2021 that Liverpool have lost four successive league games, with three of those matches in London after defeats at Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

They are now sixth in the table on 15 points, four behind leaders Arsenal who could extend that margin on Sunday when they host Crystal Palace.

Brentford's second win in a row moved them up to 10th place, two points behind Liverpool.

BRENTFORD FANS TAUNT SLOT

The home fans took delight in taunting Liverpool manager Arne Slot with chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" and while the Dutchman need not worry about that, the sense of his side's title defence wilting was palpable.

They looked fragile at the back, were often out-muscled by Brentford and doubts about Salah's lack of impact will continue despite him slamming home a fine late goal to end a more than month long scoreless run in the Premier League.

Mo Salah rifles it in to end his recent drought from open-play 🚀

📺 Stream #BRELIV on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/iWOJCOtrJa

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Brentford's threat from long throws could not have escaped Slot's attention but his side were caught cold by the tactic on a chilly night in south west London.

Michael Kayode wound up a long delivery into the box and when Kristoffer Ajer flicked it on Ouattara reacted superbly to hook his volley past Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool responded with chances for Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo but they were not convincing and were undone again as halftime loomed. Mikkel Damsgaard's superb long pass sent Schade away and he kept his composure to beat Mamardashvili.

Kerkez fired home from close range in the fifth minute of stoppage time despite fierce Brentford protests about an infringement.

Brentford earned a penalty when Virgil Van Dijk clipped the foot of Ouattara on edge of the area and after a long VAR check referee Tim Robinson awarded a spot-kick, and Thiago coolly slotted his shot down the middle.

Salah's instant control and finish set up a chaotic period of stoppage time that took the game into its 100th minute but Brentford held on for a thoroughly-deserved three points.

A famous night for the Bees 🐝🔥

Liverpool lose their fourth Premier League game in a row 😲#SSFootball | #BRELIV pic.twitter.com/BgOTryqlXa

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Liverpool lost for the fourth consecutive game in the Premier League as Brentford beat the champions 3-2 on Saturday, while Manchester United climbed into the top four with a 4-2 victory over Brighton.

Man United climb into the top four as Chelsea and Liverpool lose 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️#SSFootball | #SSPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/Jy38P7J7Ag

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Less than a month since starting the season with five straight wins, Liverpool's title defence has come off the rails as the defensive frailties in Arne Slot's side were brutally exposed by Brentford.

Dango Ouattara hooked in from a long throw after just five minutes to set the tone and Kevin Schade added a second just before half-time at the end of a slick counter-attack that cut the visitors wide open.

Milos Kerkez halved Liverpool's deficit before Igor Thiago's penalty restored Brentford's two-goal cushion.

Mohamed Salah ended his six-game Liverpool goal drought in spectacular fashion late on, but could not dig the Reds out of trouble.

A famous night for the Bees 🐝🔥

Liverpool lose their fourth Premier League game in a row 😲#SSFootball | #BRELIV pic.twitter.com/BgOTryqlXa

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Liverpool slip to sixth and could be seven points adrift of Arsenal by Sunday should the leaders beat Crystal Palace.

MBEUMO GIVES UNITED MOMTUM 

It took nearly a year under Ruben Amorim for United to win back-to-back league games but have now won three in a row after ending Brighton's run of success at Old Trafford.

The Seagulls had won on their previous three visits amid a run of six wins in seven league games against United.

There are signs of the Red Devils' £200 million trio of attacking additions in the transfer window, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, beginning to click.

Man United's new signings are starting to click 🔴🔥

📺 Stream #MUNBHA on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/gaTO3Dk9GD

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Cunha curled in his first goal for the club from outside the box before Casemiro's deflected effort doubled United's lead before half-time.

Sesko then teed up Mbeumo to fire in at the near post.

Danny Welbeck's brilliant free-kick and Charalampos Kostoulas' header set up a nervy finale.

But Mbeumo smashed home his second goal to seal the points in the 97th minute.

"The performance was important but it would not be Manchester United without suffering a bit," said Amorim.

United surge ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham into the Champions League places and within three points of leaders Arsenal.

CHELSEA 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH'

Sunderland's dream return to the top flight after an eight-year absence goes on after a 2-1 win at Chelsea lited the Black Cats up to second.

Chelsea looked like they would be the side to go second in the table when Alejandro Garnacho drilled in his first goal for the club after just four minutes.

Sunderland levelled midway through the first half when Wilson Isidor bundled in from close range after Chelsea failed to clear a long throw-in.

The visitors comfortably held the Club World Cup winners at bay in the second period before landing the sucker punch on the counter-attack in the 93rd minute when Brian Brobbey teed up Chemsdine Talbi to curl perfectly into the bottom corner.

It doesn't get any better for the travelling fans 🤩⚽#SSFootball | #CHESUN pic.twitter.com/alxP6S6UJf

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Defeat leaves Chelsea in seventh with their title challenge fading fast.

"We were not good enough and in the Premier League the consequences can be bad," said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

"If you want to be there (challenging for the title), you need consistency."

Newcastle beat Fulham 2-1 thanks to captain Bruno Guimaraes' 90th minute strike at St. James' Park.

Saka Lukic had cancelled out Jacob Murphy's opener for the Magpies.

But Marco Silva's men fell to a fourth consecutive defeat that leaves them hovering just above the relegation zone.

Guimaraes swept home the rebound after Bernd Leno had saved William Osula's initial effort to propel Newcastle up to 11th.

Newcastle's captain fires in the winner ⚫⚪#SSFootball | #NEWFUL pic.twitter.com/D8fmdx2EeZ

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 25, 2025

Sunderland dealt Chelsea a 2-1 home defeat in the Premier League when substitute Chemsdine Talbi curled in a low shot deep into stoppage time on Saturday.

The visitors, who have moved up to second place in the table, had gone behind in the fourth minute when Alejandro Garnacho claimed his first goal for Chelsea.

But the Londoners' lead was cancelled out by Wilson Isidor's equaliser in the 22nd minute when the Frenchman stabbed in from close range after Chelsea failed to deal with a long throw.

 

The game appeared to be heading for a draw before Talbi ran onto a pass by fellow substitute Brian Bobbey in the third minute of added time and left Robert Sanchez with no chance.

West Ham United’s horrific run of results in the Premier League this season continued with a 2-1 defeat at Leeds United on Friday, ensuring their worst start in over half a century.

A dismal return of four points is West Ham's worst performance after their opening nine games of a league campaign since the 1973-74 season.

It's a loss in Leeds. pic.twitter.com/Hcgu7a0JKE

— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 24, 2025

They sit second from bottom, but if Wolverhampton Wanderers win at home to Burnley on Sunday, the Hammers will drop to last.

Already they have changed their manager, but the departure of Graham Potter, since appointed Sweden coach, and the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo have not altered their fortunes.

Two goals down in the opening 15 minutes at Elland Road, they only conjured up a late consolation to leave Nuno as the first West Ham boss to fail to record a win from his first four Premier League games since Manuel Pellegrini eight years ago.

Ironically, the Hammers’ only victory this season came in a 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest when Nuno was in charge there.

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

The Portuguese coach sounded a drastic warning after Friday’s game, saying: “We must change our attitude, we must change the way we approach things, we must commit ourselves better, prepare better, work harder.

“We don't expect things to change by themselves. Realising we have time can be a mistake if we don't change things around quickly.”

STARK WORDS FROM CAPTAIN BOWEN

Captain Jarrod Bowen’s assessment was as stark.

"This is the Premier League, and we need to really pull our finger out. As we're in a real situation. We have to face the reality of that. The sooner it starts hitting everyone, it needs to change," the forward said.

West Ham have conceded 20 goals – four more than the next-worst defence in the league – and are not showing much sharpness up front either, with seven scored.

They have looked weak in physical battles, poorly organised defending set pieces and their tactical approach has been criticised by pundits.

Nuno after tonight’s defeat 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/V9XLXzCgl6

— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 24, 2025

"There are many problems in our club, unfortunately," added Nuno. "It is not up to us to hide ourselves behind the problems. Everyone has to be alive and do much more and be in the right position."

Ordinarily, two home games next would offer the possibility of a turnaround, with Newcastle United visiting on November 2, followed by struggling Burnley six days later.

But West Ham go into those games having lost five successive home games in the top flight for only the second time in their history, previously doing so in 1931.

Nuno Espirito Santo's winless start to his West Ham reign has reached four games after Leeds cruised to a 2-1 victory at Elland Road on Friday.

Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon struck for Leeds in the first 15 minutes, with Mateus Fernandes's late reply coming too late to save the lacklustre Hammers.

Second-bottom West Ham are three points from safety after seven defeats in their first nine top-flight matches this season.

Nuno has taken one point from a possible 12, with a draw at Everton in his opening match followed by defeats against Arsenal, Brentford and Leeds.

Hired to replace the sacked Graham Potter, who was only in charge of the east Londoners for eight months, Nuno has been tasked with ensuring West Ham don't suffer a relegation that would leave them outside the top-flight for the first time since 2011-12.

But the last West Ham manager to fail to win any of his first four games in charge was Manuel Pellegrini in September 2018.

Leeds secure their third Premier League win of the season ⚪💥#SSFootball | #LEEWHU pic.twitter.com/unrYq2QPu1

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 24, 2025

Nuno was sacked by Nottingham Forest in September after the break-down of his relationship with volatile owner Evangelos Marinakis following disagreements over the club's transfer policy.

If the Portuguese coach doesn't spark a quick upturn in West Ham's fortunes, he could be in danger of suffering a second dismissal in the space of one season.

Leeds' previous match at Elland Road ended in a 2-1 defeat against Tottenham, shattering their 23-match unbeaten run at home.

But they got back on track on home turf with a dominant performance that laid bare the extent of the problems facing Nuno.

In the third minute, Noah Okafor was left unmarked by teenager Oliver Scarles for a header that was parried by Alphonse Areola towards Aaronson, who stabbed home from close-range as West Ham's flat-footed defenders failed to react.

⚽ 3' Brenden Aaronson
⚽ 15' Joe Rodon

Leeds are two goals clear of West Ham at Elland Road ⚪⚡

📺 Stream #LEEWHU on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQWD1K#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/e1m6CQpnL0

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 24, 2025

West Ham were in disarray and Daniel Farke's men doubled their lead in the 15th minute.

It was a shocking goal for West Ham to concede as Lucas Paqueta's sloppy marking allowed Rodon to rise unchecked to meet Sean Longstaff's corner with a thumping header into the far corner from five yards.

West Ham have shipped nine goals from corners in the Premier League this season, six more than any other side.

Drenched in the ceaseless Yorkshire downpour, the bedraggled Nuno responded by sending on striker Callum Wilson to replace the injured Scarles in an admission that his formation wasn't working.

Nuno's luck wasn't about to change and Paqueta had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside.

Tomas Soucek squandered a chance to give West Ham a lifeline with a wayward close-range header as boos from the travelling fans filled the air.

West Ham had never won a Premier League game when trailing by two or more goals at half-time and their 102nd attempt would be no different.

Fernandes glanced a header into the far corner from Jarrod Bowen's cross in the 90th minute, but Leeds survived four minutes' stoppage-time to leave the visitors marooned in the relegation zone.

Fifth-place Chelsea will try to continue their strong run of form on Saturday when they host a newly promoted Sunderland side that sits seventh after surpassing early expectations.

Chelsea (4-2-2, 14 points) have won four straight matches in all competitions, with half of those coming in the first phase of UEFA Champions League play.

Their league performances have been just as impressive. They dealt a second loss to a Liverpool side that entered Stamford Bridge leading the league, then hammered Nottingham Forest 3-0 in a result that cost Trees manager Ange Postecoglou his job.

Even so, the Blues are ahead of Sunderland (4-2-2, 14 points) only on goal difference. And manager Enzo Maresca says there's nothing fraudulent about the Black Cats, who are contesting their first Premier League season since 2016-17.

"I think they have shown since the start of the season that they are a very good team," Maresca said. "They play together, they work together, and they play as a team. In terms of results, they have the same points as us, so they are showing how good they are. It's a Premier League game, and I don't think any game at this level is easy."

And while Chelsea have been good, they're also decidedly less than full strength. Versatile attacker Cole Palmer (groin) and summer striker signing Liam Delap (hamstring) have both been injured for the majority of the early campaign. Palmer is not expected back until at least next month, while Maresca said Delap could be available next week but will miss Saturday's match.

Back home tomorrow to host Sunderland. ✊ pic.twitter.com/FrKwm3B657

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 24, 2025

Without them, it's been an attack by committee, with three goals each from Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo leading five Blues who have scored multiple times.

Objectively, the quality of Sunderland's results are less impressive, with three of their four wins coming against sides currently in the relegation zone.

But in contrast to sides like Luton Town and Burnley, whose failed recent attempts at Premier League survival featured an attack-minded tactical setup, Sunderland have built their strength through the back, keeping four clean sheets and conceding only six goals.

Five goals against Sunderland back in May 2017. 👊 pic.twitter.com/W4H6y0dPTo

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 24, 2025

"I think it's important to build consistency, especially in this league," Cats manager Regis Le Bris said. "If you are solid, to protect your goal, you don't concede many goals, I think it's better to build confidence and to be able to be competitive."

Le Bris will be without Paraguayan center back Omar Alderete, who originally returned from international duty with a thigh injury but has since been treated for concussion symptoms.

French striker Wilson Isidor has three of Sunderland's nine league goals.

 Arsenal's miserly defence has conceded three Premier League goals so far this season and manager Mikel Arteta hopes their fortress-like foundation can finally deliver the silverware that has eluded the North London club for so long.

With David Raya in goal and the commanding centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, clean sheets have become Arsenal's trademark in this campaign.

Their defensive solidity even extends to Europe where the formidable back line remain unbreached after three Champions League games and will be put to the test again when the Premier League leaders host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"We hope that these records that we are getting a lot bring silverware at the end and the trophies that we want. But the more we can produce, the closer we are going to be able to achieve what we want to do," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"Our defensive record is very good but we need to be consistent. It's only the start of the season and our aim is to keep improving things, which we can do to keep getting better.

"The teams with the best defensive records, most of the time, apart from the last three seasons in the Premier League, you normally win the title. The stronger we are with the foundations, the more probability we have of winning."

SET-PIECE SPECIALISTS

While Arsenal's defensive wall has frustrated opponents, it's their prowess from set pieces that has been rewriting the record books at the other end of the pitch.

Arsenal have already plundered 10 goals from set plays in eight games, the earliest any side has reached double figures for set-piece goals in Premier League history.

Arteta credited the training ground obsession that has turned dead-ball situations into Arsenal's secret weapon.

"First of all, creating the culture, giving to that part of the game the importance it has," he said.

"Also, understanding that football is evolving and the way opponents are acting against us, we have to maximise certain things that happen very frequently.

"Something that happens very frequently has a lot of value to us, so we try to maximise that and be effective."

ARSENAL SEEK PALACE REVENGE

Sunday's encounter carries extra significance after Palace held Arsenal to a damaging 2-2 draw in April, a result that effectively handed Liverpool the title initiative.

"It's the fourth game in a row that we have played against an opponent that we dropped points against last year," Arteta said.

"This season we've been able to beat them, so our focus is on continuing that."

The match also gives attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze the chance to face his former club after the England international's 68 million pounds ($91.26 million) move in August.

Local boy Eze scored the winner for Palace in last season's FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley as the South London club won 1-0 to lift their first major trophy.

"For Ebs (Eze) we know it is goin

Pep Guardiola on Friday criticised pundits and former players for rushing to judgement after Manchester City's poor start to the season as he targets the Premier League summit.

City are unbeaten in their past nine games in all competitions since suffering back-to-back Premier League defeats to Tottenham and Brighton in August to slip well off the pace.

Guardiola's men, who travel to Aston Villa on Sunday, are now just three points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Crystal Palace on the same day.

The City boss, who has won six Premier League titles at the Etihad, said his team had good momentum but were still searching for consistency.

"Our mentality and our body language is in the right spot and it will make us stable but (we need to) play better during 95 minutes," he said.

City have climbed above champions Liverpool, who have lost their past three Premier League matches after starting the season with five successive wins.

Guardiola gave a sarcastic response at his pre-match press conference when asked if his team were "flying under the radar".

"In the first two games, three games, for sure we are out and Liverpool is already done and now it looks like Liverpool is done and I tell you that they will be back," he said.

"I said many times, I know all the pundits, all the specialists, former players, they know everything that is going to happen after five games. I'm not able to do that.

"I always I wait 10, 15 games to know exactly what is going on but I think obviously Liverpool, Arsenal are there, someone else will be there and hopefully we can be there."

Guardiola said he expected a tough test against Unai Emery's Villa, who have beaten City at Villa Park in the past two seasons.

The Birmingham side started their campaign slowly but have climbed to 11th in the table after three straight wins.

"Always it has been really tough, especially away, against Aston Villa," said Guardiola. "So it's a really good test for us, of how we are."

The Premier League returns this weekend with Matchweek 9 kicking off on Friday night and running through to Sunday evening.

Fans can catch every match live on SuperSport and Showmax Premier League, with adjusted kickoff times, the earliest weekend fixtures now begin at 4pm (CAT).

Leeds United v West Ham United

Having won eight of their nine home league games against West Ham between 1996 and 2005, Leeds are now winless in their last four against the Hammers at Elland Road (D2 L2).

West Ham have won four of their last six league games against Leeds (D1 L1), as many as they had in their previous 37 (D12 L21).

West Ham lost 3-0 at promoted side Sunderland on the opening weekend this season. They’ve not lost consecutive league games against promoted sides within the same season since December 2017 (vs Brighton and Newcastle).

In their last spell in the Premier League between 2020-21 and 2022-23, Leeds United’s only home Friday night game was also against West Ham in December 2020, losing 2-1. In front of supporters, the last time Leeds hosted a top-flight Friday night game was in April 1994 against Newcastle, drawing 1-1 thanks to a Chris Fairclough goal.

Leeds’ 2-1 defeat against Spurs in their last home game ended their 23-game unbeaten league run at Elland Road (W18 D5). They last lost consecutive home league matches in May 2024.

Leeds are averaging 13 shots per game in the Premier League this season, the highest rate by a promoted side since Leeds themselves in 2020-21 (13.7). However, their conversion rate is just 6.7 per cent, their lowest on record in a league season (since 2013-14).

Only Wolves (58 per cent) have been losing for a higher per centage of their Premier League games than West Ham (48 per cent) this season, while the Hammers have been winning for just three per cent of their games, the lowest of any side. 65 per cent of the time they’ve been winning in 2025-26 was against current manager Nuno Espirito Santo when he was manager of Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 win in August.

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

With just four points in eight Premier League matches, this is West Ham’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, while in the top-flight they last had as few as four after eight games in 1988-89 (also 4), eventually finishing 19th and being relegated.

Having created 10 chances across his first three Premier League games this season, Leeds’ Anton Stach has created just four more in his last five appearances.

Nuno Espirito Santo is winless in all three of his Premier League matches as West Ham manager so far (D1 L2). The last manager to fail to win any of his first four in charge was Manuel Pellegrini in September 2018.

Chelsea v Sunderland

Chelsea have won their last three home league games against Sunderland by an aggregate score of 11-3, most recently a 5-1 victory on the final day of the 2016-17 campaign.

Having won four of their first six Premier League games against Chelsea between 1996 and 2001 (L2), Sunderland have since won just three of their 26 against the Blues (D2 L21).

None of the 16 Premier League meetings between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge have been drawn (13 Chelsea wins, 3 Sunderland). It’s the second most played specific fixture without seeing a single draw in the competition, after Fulham at home to Newcastle (17).

Only Manchester City (34) have earned more home points in the Premier League in 2025 than Chelsea (33 – W10 D3 L1), with the Blues sole defeat at Stamford Bridge this calendar year coming against Brighton last month.

Sunderland have 14 points from their eight Premier League games this season, their best return at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1999-00 when they also had 14 points and won their ninth game.

Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 13 away league games against London sides (W4 D9), since a 2-1 loss at Fulham in April 2018. It’s the Black Cats’ longest ever unbeaten league run in the capital.

Chelsea failed to score in their first Premier League game of the season (0-0 v Crystal Palace), but have netted 16 goals in their seven games since. Only Manchester City (17) have scored more in the competition than the Blues this term.

Chelsea have the youngest average starting XI age in the Premier League this season (24 years, 116 days), while Sunderland have the third youngest (25 years, 92 days). The Blues are still yet to feature a single player over the age of 28 under Enzo Maresca, with the Italian the only manager (inc. caretakers) in Premier League history not to use a player aged 30+ in any game.

Excluding penalties, no team has scored more goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season than Chelsea (8, level with Arsenal). Six of these have come from corners, just one fewer corner goal than they netted in the whole of last season.

Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs has conceded six goals (excluding own goals) in the Premier League this season, from an xGoT of nine. His record of preventing three goals is the highest of any Premier League goalkeeper this term.

Newcastle United v Fulham

Newcastle lost this exact fixture 2-1 last season – only once have they lost back-to-back home league games against Fulham, doing so in 1950/1951.

After an eight-game winless run against Newcastle in the Premier League between 2018 and 2024, Fulham completed the league double over the Magpies last season.

Newcastle have won just two of their last 10 Premier League games (D3 L5), with both victories coming against sides currently sitting in the relegation zone (1-0 v Wolves, 2-0 v Nottingham Forest).

No side have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Newcastle (5, level with Arsenal). Indeed, the Magpies’ league games have seen fewer goals scored than any other side’s this term (14 – F7 A7).

Fulham have lost each of their last three Premier League games, last losing more consecutively in March/April 2023 (4). The Cottagers have also kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games (1-0 v Leeds last month).

Only Burnley and Sunderland (21 each) have had fewer shots on target than Fulham in the Premier League this season (23), with the Cottagers failing to register one against Arsenal last time out. Indeed, the Cottagers’ average of 2.9 shots on target per game is their lowest ever in a Premier League campaign.

Fulham are – along with Wolves – one of just two teams yet to have a player score more than once for them in the Premier League this season. No side has benefitted from more own goals than the Cottagers this term (2), with six different players scoring their other six goals.

Nick Woltemade has scored four goals in his five Premier League games for Newcastle. The only players to reach five goals in six or fewer appearances for the Magpies are Loïc Rémy (5), Les Ferdinand (6) and Papiss Cissé (6).

As a team, Newcastle have made more line breaking passes behind the defensive line than any other side in the Premier League this season (61), with captain Bruno Guimarães leading the way among players (15).

Fulham’s Alex Iwobi has made 299 Premier League appearances. He would be the first Nigerian to reach 300, and fifth African player overall after Kolo Touré (353), Mohamed Salah (309), Wilfried Zaha (305) and Jordan Ayew (305).

Manchester United v Brighton and Hove Albion

Manchester United have lost six of their last seven league games against Brighton (W1), double the amount they’d lost against them in their first 17 league meetings (W12 D2 L3).

Brighton have won each of their last three Premier League away games against Manchester United – the last side to win more consecutive league visits to Old Trafford were Manchester City between 1968 and 1972 (5).

Thanks to a 2-0 win against Sunderland, and a 2-1 win against Liverpool, Manchester United have won consecutive Premier League games under Ruben Amorim for the first time. They last won three in a row in May/August 2024, while they last did so in the same season in February earlier that year (4).

Manchester United have won their last three Premier League home games, as many as in their previous 13 at Old Trafford (D2 L8). They last won more consecutively between April and August 2023 (8), though that run was stopped by a 3-1 defeat to Brighton.

Brighton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 20 Premier League games, a 2-0 win at Wolves in May. The Seagulls have lost just two of their last 13 league games, however (W7 D4).

Despite winning three of their eight Premier League games this season, and leading in two of their three draws (L2), Brighton have spent a lower share of their game time winning (24.1 per cent) than any other game state this term (38.1 per cent losing, 37.8 per cent drawing).

Bruno Fernandes has just three goal involvements in the Premier League this season (2 goals, 1 assist), though these have been worth six points to Manchester United. Only Antoine Semenyo’s (9) and Jack Grealish’s (7) goals and assists have been worth more points for their side this term.

Man Utd’s Bryan Mbeumo has only been involved in more Premier League goals against Southampton (8) than he has against Brighton (6 – 3 goals, 3 assists), with all six of these coming in his last four starts against the Seagulls.

Matheus Cunha has had more shots following a ball carry than any other player in the Premier League this season (12). However, he’s still waiting for his first goal in Manchester United colours.

Brighton’s Danny Welbeck has scored four goals in his last three Premier League games, more than he had in his previous 15 (3). With braces against Chelsea and Newcastle in this run, this is only the third season in which he’s scored multiple goals in more than one game after 2013-14 (2) and 2017-18 (2).

Brentford v Liverpool

Having lost just one of their first three Premier League meetings with Liverpool (W1 D1), Brentford have now lost each of their last five against the Reds.

Liverpool have scored at least once in all eight of their Premier League games against Brentford, their second best 100 per cent scoring rate against an opponent after QPR (14).

Liverpool have lost each of their last four Premier League away games against London sides – they last lost five consecutive league visits to the capital between March and November 1970.

Brentford have won two of their last three Premier League matches, more than in their previous seven combined (W1 D2 L4). The Bees are looking for consecutive wins for the first time since April/May last season under Thomas Frank.

Liverpool have lost five of their last eight away games in the Premier League (W3), as many as their previous 43 beforehand (W23 D15). The Reds could lose three consecutive league games on the road for the first time since January/February 2023 – a run that included a 3-1 defeat at Brentford, their only Premier League loss to the Bees.

Liverpool have lost their last three Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 39 (W27 D9). They last lost four in a row in February 2021, while they last had a 4+ game losing streak within their first nine games of a league season in 1993-94.

Liverpool have lost each of their last three Premier League games thanks to goals scored in the final 10 minutes of games, and having equalised in each match. No team has ever lost four in a row thanks to goals scored in the final 10 minutes, while only Crystal Palace in November 2016 have lost four in a row having drawn level each time.

Michael Kayode created seven chances for Brentford against West Ham, the joint most by a player in a Premier League match this season. Those seven chances account for 37 per cent of the chances he has created across 20 appearances overall (7/19).

Though he’s still waiting for his first Premier League goal for Liverpool, Alexander Isak has scored in all four of his appearances against Brentford. No player has a better 100 per cent scoring rate against an opponent in the competition.

Brentford’s Igor Thiago has netted five Premier League goals this season, with only Erling Haaland (11) and Antoine Semenyo (6) scoring more. Thiago had the most shots (6), shots on target (3), shots from inside the box (6) and touches in the opposition box (10) in the Bees’ 2-0 win over West Ham on MD8.

Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest

Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Nottingham Forest (W6 D4) since losing both Championship meetings in their 2014-15 promotion season.

Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last 11 away league games against Bournemouth (D3 L7), beating them 2-1 in the Championship in August 2014.

Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games (W4 D3), the longest current ongoing run in the competition. It’s their fourth run of 7+ unbeaten games in the top-flight (with three of those coming under Andoni Iraola), only having a longer run between November and January last season (11).

Nottingham Forest are winless in their last seven Premier League games (D2 L5), with only Wolves currently on a longer run (12).

With Sean Dyche taking charge, Nottingham Forest are already on their third permanent manager this season after Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou. It’s the earliest into a Premier League campaign a side has had three different permanent managers.

Nottingham Forest have conceded the joint most goals in the second half of Premier League games this season (11), while Bournemouth have conceded a higher share of goals after halftime than anyone else (82 per cent - 9/11).

In their first spell in the Premier League from 2015-16 to 2019-20, Bournemouth won just 32.3 per cent of their games against sides starting the day in the relegation zone (10/31). Since their return to the division in 2022, they’ve won 68.4 per cent of their games against sides in the bottom three (13/19).

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has lost his last three Premier League games against Bournemouth, having won six in a row against the Cherries before this. Indeed, his last Premier League match in charge of Everton was a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth in January last season.

Only Erling Haaland (12) has been involved in more Premier League goals than Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo this season (9 – 6 goals, 3 assists). The Ghanian has also scored in his last two games against Nottingham Forest.

82 of Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood’s 91 Premier League goals have been scored under either Sean Dyche (49) or Nuno Espírito Santo (33).

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Arsenal have won five of their last six Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace, though the exception was a 2-2 draw in this exact fixture last season.

Crystal Palace have won just one of their last 14 away league games against Arsenal (D5 L8), beating them 3-2 in April 2019 under Roy Hodgson.

Arsenal have only lost two of their 70 home Premier League matches when they’ve started the day top of the table (W52 D16), losing to Hull in September 2008 and Man City in February 2023. They have won seven out of eight (D1) at the Emirates when in 1st place since that loss to Man City, scoring 28 goals in those eight games.

Crystal Palace have drawn eight of their last 14 Premier League matches (W5 L1), including a 3-3 draw on MD8 at home against Bournemouth. Since the start of April, the Eagles have drawn nine Premier League matches – three more than anyone else.

Arsenal have not faced a single shot on target in either of their last two Premier League matches. On record since 2003-04, the only side to go three games in a row without facing a shot on target are Manchester City between May and August 2014.

Arsenal have faced the fewest shots (65), fewest shots on target (18), the lowest xG (4.8) and conceded the fewest goals (3) in the Premier League this season. It’s the joint fewest goals they’ve conceded after eight Premier League matches, along with three in 1998-99, which was also the last time they kept five clean sheets in their first eight matches.

Crystal Palace lead the Premier League for shots on target (43), xG (17.4) and big chances (33) this season. However, they are underperforming their xG by the biggest margin (-5.4) and have missed the most big chances (22) in the competition.

Arsenal lead the way for corner goals (7) and goals from set pieces (10) in the Premier League this season, finding the net with a set piece in six of their eight games so far. It is the earliest into a season any team has scored 10 set piece goals in Premier League history.

Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal’s winner against Fulham on MD8, while the Belgian has netted in each of his last two Premier League starts against Crystal Palace. He’s never ended on the losing side when scoring for the Gunners in the competition (21 games, W17 D4), with only Gabriel Martinelli (38), Cesc Fàbregas (32) and Paul Merson (27) scoring in more without defeat for Arsenal.

Eight of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s last nine Premier League goals for Crystal Palace have been scored in London, and he’s netted five goals in his last eight London derbies. He’s also only the third Palace player to net five goals in their eight matches of a Premier League season, along with Andrew Johnson in 2004-05 and Wilfried Zaha in 2020-21.

Aston Villa v Manchester City

Aston Villa have won their last two home league games against Manchester City, last winning more consecutively between 1960 and 1975 (5).

Man City have won 31 games and scored 101 goals against Aston Villa in the Premier League – only against Newcastle (32 wins, 106 goals) have they done so more.

After a five game winless start in the Premier League this season (D3 L2), Aston Villa have since won each of their last three games. The only team in top-flight history to have a five game winless start then win their next four games are Preston in 1936-37.

Manchester City have won more points in the Premier League than any other side since the start of April (39 – W12 D3 L2). They’ve only conceded the first goal in two games in that time, while they’ve opened the scoring in their last six games, their best run since a run of eight between April and August 2024.

Aston Villa have won their last two Premier League games when they’ve conceded the first goal, beating Fulham 3-1 and Spurs 2-1. Since Unai Emery’s first game with the Villans in November 2022, only Pep Guardiola (14) has more wins after conceding first than Emery (11).

Since their 5-1 defeat at Arsenal in February, Manchester City have kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than any other side (12), while only the Gunners can match City for goals conceded per game (both 15 in 22 games, 0.68).

Five of the last seven Premier League goals Aston Villa have conceded have come via set pieces (1x penalty, 1x throw, 3x corners), conceding from a corner in each of their last three games. The last side to concede from a corner in four games in a row were Newcastle in April/May 2024, while Villa last did so in November/December 2010.

No player in the Premier League this season has more goals and assists combined as a substitute than Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendía (2 goals, 1 assist). The Argentinian is looking to score in consecutive Premier League appearances for the very first time.

Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last five away Premier League appearances for Manchester City. The only player to score in more consecutive away games for City is Sergio Agüero between March and August 2017 (7 in a row).

Man City have scored seven away Premier League goals in 2025-26, with Erling Haaland scoring five of those, netting in all four away games. The only players to score in their team’s first five away matches of a season are Thierry Henry in 2001-02 for Arsenal, Mohamed Salah in 2021-22 for Liverpool and Jarrod Bowen in 2023-24 for West Ham.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley

Wolves have won just one of their last nine Premier League games against Burnley (D4 L4), a 1-0 win in their last home meeting in December 2023.

Burnley’s first two Premier League games against Wolves ended in 2-0 and 2-1 defeats. Since then, they’ve not conceded more than once in any of their 10 meetings with them (6 goals conceded).

Wolves are the only team without a Premier League win this season (D2 L6) and for a second consecutive season have won none of their first eight games. They also failed to win their ninth match of 2024-25, with Bury in 1904-05/1905-06 and Sunderland in 2015-16/2016-17 the only sides to do this in back-to-back top[1]flight seasons.

Both of Burnley’s Premier League wins this season have come against their fellow promoted clubs, beating both Sunderland and Leeds 2-0 at Turf Moor. The Clarets have won just two of their last 44 top-flight games against non-newly promoted sides (D10 L32) and won none of their last 14 (D5 L9).

Wolves have now gone 25 Premier League matches without a victory in the months of May, August, September and October combined (D6 L19) since a 2-1 away win at Bournemouth back in October 2023.Across their last two seasons, they are winless in all 21 games played in these months (D5 L16).

In the Premier League this season, Burnley rank bottom for average possession (34.7 per cent), successful passes (1 908), passing accuracy (75.7 per cent), shots attempted (60), touches in the opposition box (111) and expected goals (5.4), and have played the highest per centage of their passes long (17 per cent).

In March and April 2025, Wolves won the most points of any Premier League side (19 – W6 D1), but, since May, they’ve won seven fewer points than any other ever-present team (3 – D3 L9). Wolves are the only side in English top-flight history to follow up a six-game winning run with 12 winless matches.

Burnley manager Scott Parker has lost all three of his Premier League matches against Wolves, losing all three games by a 1-0 scoreline (one in May 2019, both games in 2020-21). They’re one of four sides he’s faced in the competition and not picked up a point against, along with Man City (L5), Chelsea (L3) and Watford (L1).

Wolverhampton Wanderers have used just one English player in the Premier League this season, with goalkeeper Sam Johnstone playing four times, the fewest Englishmen to play for a club in the division in 2025-26. Only 23.7 per cent of the players Wolves have ever used in the Premier League have been English (37/156), the second-lowest ratio of any side to feature 100+ players, ahead only of Fulham (22.3 per cent).

Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu has netted in each of his last two Premier League appearances, having only scored once in his first 43 games in the competition. With his goal on MD8, he was the first player with the initials LU to score against Leeds United in the Premier League.

Everton v Tottenham Hotspur

Everton won 3-2 against Tottenham in their last Premier League meeting – they’ve not won consecutively against Spurs since December 2012, in David Moyes’ first spell at the club.

Although they’ve only lost one of their last 12 Premier League away games against Everton (W3 D8), Spurs are winless in their last six visits to the Toffees (D5 L1), losing this exact fixture 3-2 in January.

Everton have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League home matches (W5 D7), losing 2-0 to Manchester City in April. They’re unbeaten in all four this season, last having a longer unbeaten start on home soil in 2016-17 (first eight).

Since the start of last season, no side has lost more Premier League matches when scoring first than Tottenham (8), while manager Thomas Frank ranks third for this (6 defeats) behind Marco Silva (8) and his predecessor at Spurs, Ange Postecoglou (7).

Although they’ve gone five games without a clean sheet in all competitions, Everton haven’t conceded more than twice in a match since losing 4-0 to Man Utd last December, a run of 37 games. It’s their longest run without conceding three in a game since between May 1987 and February 1988 (46 games).

Tottenham Hotspur have the most away points in the Premier League this season (10 – W3 D1), with 71 per cent of their points this season being won on the road (10/14). Only once in the Premier League era have they won 13+ points in their first five away games of a season, doing so in 2020-21 (13).

Everton have won their last five Premier League matches played on Sundays, all under David Moyes since he returned to the club in January. They’re the only side to play more than twice on a day of the week in 2025 and win every single game on that day.

Tottenham’s goal in their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa was scored by Rodrigo Bentancur via a corner – in the last two seasons, only Arsenal (21) have netted more corner goals in the Premier League than Spurs (13).

Only Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus (64) and Man City’s Jérémy Doku (45) have made more dribbles in the Premier League this season than Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye (39). His 5.2 dribbles per 90 are the most by an Everton player in a season (500+ minutes played) since Moise Kean in 2019-20 (5.6).

João Palhinha has made more tackles (35) than any other Premier League player this season, while his 10 tackles in Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa was the most by a player in a game in 2025-26 and most by a Spurs midfielder since Sandro made 11 against Blackburn in April 2012

Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White said he could "finally breathe again" after the Premier League side ended a two-month winless run with a 2-0 Europa League victory over Porto on Thursday in Sean Dyche's first game in charge.

Gibbs-White put Forest ahead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute before Igor Jesus converted another late in the second half as Forest secured only their second home win of the season.

"I feel like I can finally breathe," the 25-year-old midfielder told TNT Sports. "It's been a difficult couple of months here with all the changes that have happened, the bad performances.

"To do it here at the City Ground on a European night is an incredible feeling and there is no-one that deserves it more than the fans."

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

Forest entered the game on a four-match losing streak and had not won since the opening day of the season, leading to the dismissal of manager Nuno Espirito Santo and the sacking of his successor Ange Postecoglou on Saturday.

"It's only been one game and we've only had a few training sessions, but you can feel the morale within the stadium," Gibbs-White said.

"You can feel the morale within the group, it feels a lot higher, a lot more energetic, a lot more positive and that's the way it needs to be. It needs to stay like that for us to continue and try to push forward. That's credit to the manager."

Forest, who finished seventh last season, are 18th with five points from eight games. They visit Bournemouth on Sunday.

Liverpool must halt their three-game Premier League losing streak with Saturday's visit to Brentford to remain in touch with Arsenal and in-form Manchester City.

City's nine-game unbeaten run will be tested by trip to Aston Villa, while leaders Arsenal welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates.

Manchester United are aiming to build on their long-awaited victory at Anfield last weekend but face a Brighton side that have grown used to winning at Old Trafford in recent seasons.

AFP Sports looks at three of the key fixtures of the weekend:

COULD ISAK INJURY HELP LIVERPOOL?

The loss of the Premier League's most expensive player in Alexander Isak to a groin injury could actually help Arne Slot stumble upon the right formula to turnaround Liverpool's fortunes.

The Sweden attacker's only goal since his £125 million ($167 million) move from Newcastle came against second tier Southampton in the League Cup as a lack of pre-season conditioning has hampered his start to life at Anfield.

Isak was replaced at halftime during Wednesday's 5-1 Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt as the Reds ended a run of four consecutive defeats.

-- NIGERIA ONLY --

With Hugo Ekitike restored as the centre forward and Florian Wirtz able to operate in his preferred role behind the striker, Liverpool suddenly clicked into gear in the second half.

Wirtz, who has been dropped for the last two Premier League games, registered his first two assists since a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite Ekitike's impressive start, that includes five goals in 11 Liverpool appearances, the Frenchman has not started in any of his side's three Premier League defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and United.

Isak's absence should give the 23-year-old the run in the side he craved.

BRIGHTON TRUE TEST OF MAN UTD REVIVAL

"We will see after Brighton," said Ruben Amorim on whether United have turned a corner in the immediate aftermath of the Red Devils first win at Liverpool for nearly a decade.

The most significant win of Amorim's tenure was also the first time the Portuguese has won back-to-back league games, nearly a year into the role.

Heading north next... 🫡🔜 pic.twitter.com/mOFdRRdbbS

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 23, 2025

After Brighton cruised to a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in January, Amorim made headlines by claiming his squad was possibly the worst in the club's history.

But that was just one of three consecutive victories at the Theatre of Dreams for the Seagulls, since they won there for the first time ever in 2022.

In total, Brighton have won six of the last seven Premier League meetings between the sides.

Victory for United would lift them into the top four for a few hours at least and provide tangible evidence finally of some progress under Amorim.

GUARDIOLA SEES SHOOTS OF RECOVERY

City begin the weekend in second, three points off the top, and showing signs they will brush off the malaise that caused an unceremonious fall from grace last season.

Pep Guardiola's men finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal in their first trophyless season for eight years.

Villa Park awaits 🏟️🙌

🤝 #AsahiSuperDryUk pic.twitter.com/UmWFEi94No

— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 23, 2025

Early defeats to Tottenham and Brighton suggested more of the same for Guardiola's new-look squad.

But the signing of giant Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and the unstoppable form of Erling Haaland have dragged City back into title contention once more.

"I have the feeling things are coming back to what we were in the past," said Guardiola after Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win at Villarreal.

"Last season was tough for us, the vibe and how the team are playing now make me feel fine."

A trip to Villa Park, where City have lost for the past two seasons, is a litmus test of their credentials as title contenders.

After a slow start, Villa have won three consecutive Premier League games.

Haaland's 12-game scoring streak for club and country has masked the fact that no other City player has scored in the Premier League for nearly a month.

Global sports company PUMA has today unveiled the Under the Lights Edition of the official match ball of the Premier League. Drenched in a striking, high-visibility colourway, this latest version of the ball is engineered to shine brightest under stadium floodlights - ensuring every pass, strike, and goal is impossible to miss.

The bold new design isn’t just about style - it’s about visibility and performance. The vibrant colourway commands attention on TV broadcasts, in the stands, and on the pitch, allowing players and fans to follow the action effortlessly even on the darkest winter nights.

Built for the professionals on Premier League pitches - and fans everywhere who want to bring that same elite experience to their own games, the new colourway ensures that when the lights are on, it’s your time to shine. So hit that backheel. Take that shot from too far out. Send someone to the shops. When you get the ball, Have a Ball.

“Under the Lights isn’t just a look - it’s a statement,” said Dominique Gathier, Vice President BU Teamsport. “This colourway was developed for maximum visibility during the most electrifying Premier League moments, when the world is watching. We bring the tech, you bring the tekkers, when the lights shine brightest it’s when the true ballers come out to play.”

Officially named the PUMA Orbita Ultimate PL, 12 evenly sized panels ensure precise weight distribution, keeping the ball perfectly balanced. The high-frequency moulding guarantees long-lasting durability with enlarged and deeper seams to improve aerodynamics, shape retention, and a soft touch with every kick, no matter the pitch or weather. You might not be in the Premier League. Yet. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t act like you are.