LONDON — Manchester City felt the absence of star midfielder Rodri, as the Premier League champion was held to a damaging 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Saturday, before Liverpool went top with a 2-1 win at Wolves.
Meanwhile, Arsenal had to dig deep in stoppage-time to beat Leicester 4-2 and move level on points with City, while Cole Palmer scored four times in Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton, taking the Blues to fourth.
Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season, after undergoing surgery on a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s bruising 2-2 draw with title rival Arsenal.
Josko Gvardiol put City in front at St James’ Park, but Newcastle was well worthy of the point given to it by Anthony Gordon’s second-half penalty.
Guardiola described Rodri, who is unbeaten in his past 52 Premier League appearances stretching back to February 2023, as “irreplaceable”.
City lacked the control and poise so often provided by Rodri on and off the ball.
“It is always difficult here with their physicality,” said Guardiola. “We made bad decisions (with the chances) to make it 2-0.”
Liverpool took advantage of City’s misfortune thanks to Mohamed Salah’s winner from the penalty spot at Molineux.
Ibrahima Konate headed the visiting side in front, but was then culpable in a defensive mix-up that allowed Rayan Ait-Nouri to equalize.
Wolves were only on level terms for five minutes before Nelson Semedo bundled over Diogo Jota and Salah converted the resultant penalty just after the hour mark.
At the Emirates, Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead in the 20th minute with his first goal of the season, before turning provider for Leandro Trossard to make it 2-0 before half-time.
James Justin reduced the deficit with a deflected 47th-minute effort and stunned the Gunners in the 63rd minute, when his thunderous volley cannoned in off the woodwork.
But, Mikel Arteta’s men stole the points four minutes into stoppage-time, when Trossard’s shot deflected off Wilfred Ndidi for an own goal, with Kai Havertz netting moments later to confirm the victory.
“To have that mentality, purpose and perseverance is really impressive,” said Arteta of Arsenal’s response.
Palmer runs riot
Palmer became the first player ever to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match with a stunning display at Stamford Bridge.
Former Brighton duo Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez were guilty of mistakes when Georginio Rutter put the Seagulls ahead in the seventh minute.
Just moments after hitting the post and then having a goal disallowed, it was third time lucky for Palmer in the 21st minute.
Palmer equalized with a clinical finish after Nicolas Jackson seized on Adam Webster’s mistake to tee up his fellow forward.
When Jadon Sancho was tripped in the area by two Brighton defenders, there was never any doubt that penalty expert Palmer would step up to dispatch the 28th-minute spot-kick with ease.
Palmer completed his nine-minute-and-48-second hat-trick in the 31st minute, curling a brilliant freekick past Bart Verbruggen from 25 yards to make it five goals in six league games this term.
“He’s a special player, he’s a simple and humble guy,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. “He doesn’t need to tell people how good he is, because you can see it clearly.”
Carlos Baleba pulled one back in the 34th minute, but Palmer’s incredible afternoon wasn’t over and, in the 41st minute, the England star converted Sancho’s pass with an emphatic strike.
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek rescued a 1-1 draw at Brentford, which made Premier League history thanks to Bryan Mbeumo’s quick-fire opener.
Under-fire Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui saw his side fall behind after just 37 seconds as Mbeumo’s superb volley made Brentford the first Premier League team to score in the first minute in three consecutive games.
Dwight McNeil struck twice in the second half, as Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1 to end its winless start to the league season, just days after the Goodison Park takeover by a group led by American billionaire Dan Friedkin.
AFP