Premier League champions Manchester City have clinched a record 17th consecutive home win for the club in all competitions but must have a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.
A superb Julian Alvarez strike sealed the points for Pep Guardiola’s men, but the relief they showed at the final whistle spoke volumes about a strong Newcastle performance.
City’s win lifted them to six points from two games against Brighton and Hove Albion, who earlier in the day had beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 away.
Even so, Manchester United failed to join Man City and Brighton at the top of the fledgling table as they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Ange Postecoglou’s first home game in charge of the London club.
Liverpool came back to beat Bournemouth 3-1 although the game ended with 10 men after Alexis Mac Allister received a red card on his home debut. Brentford are currently unbeaten in 11 consecutive London derbies after they won 3-0 over Fulham, who also finished with 10 men after Tim Ream was sent off after conceding a penalty.
Manchester City have downplayed the absence of Kevin de Bruyne, who had surgery this week after suffering a hamstring injury in their opening 3-0 win over Burnley.
In their first home game since winning the treble last season, City’s superb performance was honored with grandeur before the game kicked off at the Etihad Stadium.
City will be competing for multiple trophies again this season, but Newcastle have shown why Guardiola sees them as one of the contenders for the Premier League title.
That said, City were the better side comfortably in the first half as Alvarez broke the deadlock with a mighty strike in the 31st minute after being saved by Phil Foden.
Newcastle’s confidence increased after the break but they discovered that for all of City’s attacking attributes, they also possess one of the tightest defenders in Europe and Eddie Howe’s side do not. can find a way to score.
Tottenham continued to dispel the clouds of gloom ahead of the new season as they proved there was life behind Harry Kane with a brilliant display against a sloppy United.
Pape Matar Sarr’s first Premier League goal, a header from a deflected cross shortly after half-time, and a late Lisandro Martinez own own goal sealed the win to give Tottenham four points from two battle.
Brighton’s impressive start to the season continues and they are leading City on goal difference after crushing Wolves with three goals in a devastating second-half second-half against nonsensical Wolves.
Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring for Brighton in the 15th minute with a sensational solo and he went on to assist in the first minute of the second half to set up Pervis Estupinan. Solly March then scored twice in four minutes, assisted by Julio Enciso on both occasions.
Liverpool beat Bournemouth 9-0 a year ago but they find the south coast club a harder opponent to crack at this point.
They took the lead thanks to a goal from Antoine Semenyo but responded with goals from Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.
However, the ball was removed when Mac Allister was sent off for a high tackle.
Bryan Mbeumo scored twice and Yoane Wissa also scored as Brentford outplayed Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Fulham lost Ream when conceding a penalty in the 63rd minute to give Brentford a 2-0 lead. “The game is over from that point on,” said Fulham manager Marco Silva.
West Ham United face Chelsea on Sunday with Aston Villa at home to Everton – all four sides looking for their first win.
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