Manchester United secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday at Old Trafford, lifting some of the pressure off manager Ruben Amorim. In a thrilling encounter, United managed to hold off Chelsea, despite being down to 10 men for much of the second half.
The match kicked off in dramatic fashion when Chelsea’s goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off in the fifth minute for a foul on Bryan Mbeumo. United made the most of the advantage, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the opener in the 14th minute on his 200th Premier League appearance. Casemiro doubled the lead in the 37th minute, but the Brazilian midfielder’s joy was short-lived. Minutes later, he was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Andrey Santos, reducing both teams to 10 men.
Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah pulled one back in the 80th minute with a powerful header, giving Chelsea a glimmer of hope. However, United held firm in the final moments to secure the vital win, propelling them into the top half of the Premier League table.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool extended their perfect start to the season with a 2-1 win against Everton in the early kick-off. Goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike put the champions in a commanding position by the 29th minute. Gravenberch opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a fierce shot from inside the box, and Ekitike doubled the advantage with a composed finish after a well-worked team move.
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Everton responded after the break, with Idrissa Gueye pulling one back in the 58th minute, but Liverpool held on to secure all three points. The victory marked their sixth win from as many matches this season, as they chase a record 21st English league title.
“We needed mentality today in a different fashion than the few times before,” said manager Arne Slot, acknowledging the team’s resilience after Everton’s spirited fightback.
West Ham’s struggling form continues as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, leaving manager Graham Potter’s future in doubt. The defeat, West Ham’s fourth in five matches, sees the team remain firmly in the relegation zone. Despite admitting the tough nature of the loss, Potter remains hopeful of continuing in the role but knows the importance of turning things around soon.
“I have no reason to think not” about having the backing of the club’s hierarchy, he said, but acknowledged that results are crucial in the cutthroat world of football management.
Elsewhere, newly promoted Leeds claimed a 3-1 victory over Wolves, leaving the Midlands club still without a point from five games. Burnley and Nottingham Forest shared a 1-1 draw, while Tottenham, under Thomas Frank, salvaged a 2-2 draw against Brighton.
Arsenal will host Manchester City at the Emirates on Sunday, looking to extend their winning streak to three games against Pep Guardiola’s side. The Gunners will be aiming to prove their title credentials with a strong performance against the defending champions.
