Manchester City maintained their unbeaten record with a fourth straight win at Brentford, while their pursuers Liverpool suffered a shock home defeat to Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the English Premier League on Saturday.
City continued their perfect start after Erling Haaland scored a brace at the Etihad Stadium following the visitors’ fastest goal of the season.
Yoann Wissa opened the scoring for Brentford after 22 seconds to stun the Etihad Stadium crowd but Haaland equalised in the 20th minute when he scored from a tight angle.
Haaland then made it 2-1 when a long ball from Ederson reached him and the Norwegian striker beat defender Ethan Pinnock to place the ball over goalkeeper Mark Flekken for his ninth goal of the season.
As Haaland searched for the third goal that would have made him the first player to score a hat-trick in three consecutive Premier League games, Flecken made a number of brilliant saves to deny the league’s top scorer from scoring more goals, but City ultimately secured the three points that left them alone at the top with 12 points.
In another match held at the same time, Nottingham Forest pulled off a major surprise by defeating Liverpool at home for the first time in the league since February 15, 1969, inflicting the first defeat with the Reds on new Dutch coach Arne Slot, after he began his career as a successor to German Jurgen Klopp with three consecutive victories.
Nottingham owes its second win of the season to substitute Callum James Hudson-Odoi, who scored the goal in the 72nd minute after a quick counter-attack and a wonderful shot from the edge of the penalty area after a perfect pass from Swede Anthony Elanga.
Liverpool dominated the first half and Luis Diaz hit the post in the 17th minute, but the lack of understanding between their attackers was evident on several occasions and the team lacked fluidity and scoring instinct, leaving the team’s tally frozen at 9 points in second place.
In the remaining matches of the fourth round, Manchester United succeeded in returning to the winning track after two consecutive losses, by defeating its host, Southampton, who had a player shortage, 3-0.
The Red Devils’ goals were scored by Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt (35), Marcus Rashford (41) and Argentine substitute Alejandro Garnacho (90+6).
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