Mohamed Salah sends Liverpool top

TITLE RACE: Liverpool got their 13th win in 15 games in all competitions under new manager Slot, while Manchester City lost their first Premiership game in 11 months

Reuters

Liverpool enjoyed a perfect day as they came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 and English Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal both suffered defeats on Saturday.

Mohamed Salah secured the points for Liverpool at Anfield to put Arne Slot’s side two points clear of injury-hit champions City who lost in the league for the first time in 11 months, going down to a shock 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth.

Arsenal lost 1-0 at Newcastle United, meaning Mikel Arteta’s side have managed only one point from their last three games.

Nottingham Forest’s dream start to the season continued as they crushed West Ham United 3-0 to move into third place.

Liverpool have 25 points from 10 games with City on 23, while Forest have 19. Arsenal were fourth with 18 points although could slip out of the top four if fifth-placed Aston Villa avoid defeat at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday after press time.

Liverpool fell behind after 14 minutes against Brighton with Turkey international Ferdi Kadioglu rifling in a stunning effort as the visitors seized control.

Slot’s side were struggling to get back on level terms, but got a break when Cody Gakpo’s 69th-minute cross went straight into the net to lift the mood.

Three minutes later Salah curled home a stunning effort from the right side of the penalty area and that proved enough to seal Liverpool’s 13th win in 15 games in all competitions under new manager Slot.

City manager Pep Guardiola had lamented his side’s injury list in the build-up to their game at Bournemouth and his side were off the pace as their 32-game unbeaten run in the Premier League game came to an end.

Bournemouth had lost all 14 of their previous Premier League meetings with City with an aggregate score of 45-7 but ended that miserable run in memorable fashion as City lost for the second time last week after going out of the English League Cup at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Bournemouth went in front after nine minutes with Antoine Semenyo touching in a low cross by Milos Kerkez.

Evanilson doubled the home side’s lead in the 64th minute after more good work by Kerkez before Josko Gvardiol halved the deficit to set up a tense finale in which Erling Haaland somehow hit the post from point-blank range.

Arsenal managed only one shot on target in the early kickoff at St James’ Park where Newcastle striker Alexander Isak’s early headed goal proved the difference between the sides.

Forest won their third Premier League game in a row for the first time since 1999 as they took West Ham apart.

In-form striker Chris Wood gave his side the lead against West Ham who were reduced to 10 men on the cusp of halftime as Edson Alvarez chopped down Anthony Elanga.

Callum Hudson-Odoi doubled Forest’s lead after the break before Ola Aina blasted in a third goal to send the City Ground fans into raptures.

Promoted Southampton celebrated a first Premier League victory of the season as Adam Armstrong struck a late winner to clinch a 1-0 triumph over Everton at St Mary’s.

Ipswich Town thought they had also registered a first Premier League win of the season as they led Leicester City 1-0 at Portman Road thanks to a Leif Davis volley.

However, Jordan Ayew scored deep into stoppage time to salvage a point for Leicester. Ipswich had tried to hang on with 10 men after Kalvin Phillips was sent off with 12 minutes left.