Liverpool on Saturday equaled the Englsih Premier League’s record win with a 9-0 demolition of AFC Bournemouth, while Erling Haaland’s hat-trick inspired Manchester City’s comeback 4-2 victory against Crystal Palace.
On a remarkable day in the top flight, leaders Arsenal maintained their perfect start with a dramatic 2-1 win against Fulham.
Meanwhile, 10-man Chelsea beat Leicester City 2-1 and Manchester United’s revival continued with a 1-0 victory at Southampton. Brentford drew 1-1 with Everton and Brighton beat Leeds 1-0.
Photo: AFP
Liverpool stole the spotlight as they recovered from Monday’s lackluster 2-1 loss at Manchester United in astonishing style.
After three games without a win, the Reds rebounded by equaling Manchester United’s 9-0 wins against Ipswich Town in 1995 and Southampton in 2021, as well as Leicester’s thrashing of Southampton in 2019.
It took just 3 minutes for Luis Diaz to strike at Anfield as the Colombia winger headed home Roberto Firmino’s cross. Liverpool moved further ahead 6 minutes into the game as Harvey Elliott bagged his first Premier League goal with curler. Trent Alexander-Arnold rifled into the top corner in the 28th minute.
After providing three assists, Firmino scored himself with a close-range volley to put the result beyond doubt by the 31st minute.
Virgil van Dijk headed in Andrew Robertson’s corner on the stroke of halftime as Liverpool scored five in the first half of a Premier League game for the first time.
Chris Mepham’s own-goal from Alexander-Arnold’s 46th-minute cross was followed by Firmino grabbing the seventh in the 62nd minute.
Fabio Carvalho’s first goal since his summer move from Fulham made it eight in the 80th minute, and Diaz notched the historic ninth with 5 minutes left as Liverpool equaled their biggest top-flight margin of victory, set against Crystal Palace in 1989.
“We wanted to show a reaction. Getting to be the best version of ourselves. We scored wonderful goals,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “The game settled and we kept scoring. It was the perfect afternoon.”
Champions Manchester City staged another impressive rally as they came from 2-0 down to beat Palace at the Etihad Stadium.
Palace went ahead in the fourth minute as Eberechi Eze’s free-kick deflected off John Stones into the net for an own-goal.
City fell further behind in the 21st minute when Palace defender Joachim Andersen was left unmarked to head in Eze’s corner.
But City came from 3-1 down to draw at Newcastle last weekend, and Bernardo Silva gave them hope with a 53rd-minute effort that deflected in off Jeffrey Schlupp.
City equalized in the 62nd minute when Phil Foden’s cross reached Haaland and the former Borussia Dortmund striker headed his first home-goal since joining in the close season.
In the 70th minute, Haaland prodded home and the Norwegian sealed his hat-trick in the 81st minute.
“What Erling Haaland has done today he has done all his career. It is nothing special,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.
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