Another interesting round of Premier League football has concluded following Liverpool’s surprise 2-1 loss to Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United at Old Trafford. It now leaves Arsenal as the only team with a 100% record, and West Ham as the only team yet to score a point.
Much has been made of Liverpool’s stuttering start to the new league campaign. The Reds have only managed two points from three games so far- a pair of draws in their opening two games, firstly away at newly-promoted Fulham and secondly at home to Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace, followed by last night’s defeat to United. On Sunday afternoon, it was also the turn of reigning champions Manchester City’s turn to drop points over at St. James’ Park. Online bookmakers compared by oddschecker, which looks at betting odds from different sportsbooks and provides free offers on PL football, still have Pep Guardiola’s Citizens listed as the favourites to retain the coveted trophy next May, but the legendary Spanish manager had to come away from the North-East disappointed.
Newcastle are a good side, more so with their recent forays into the transfer market, but one would’ve expected City to get the better of Eddie Howe’s side.
A point gained rather than two points dropped?
It’s rare to ever consider a draw as a good result for Manchester City, but it is a point their fans would’ve happily taken nine minutes into the second half, when the Magpies were leading 3-1. Champions in four of the previous five English top-flight campaigns, the Etihad club are used to sweeping all away before them. It originally looked as though they would be doing the same to Newcastle after just five minutes when Ilkay Gundogan gave the visitors the lead after Bernardo Silva’s sensational pick-out.
The hosts, spurred on by a boisterous home crowd, were made of sterner stuff, however, and simply refused to roll over for their more illustrious opponents. They pushed for an equaliser immediately after falling behind and, after 28 minutes, they got their just rewards when Miguel Almiron bundled home in unusual fashion, somehow managing to knee the ball goalwards and beyond Ederson. 11 minutes later, the Magpies were in front- Allan Saint-Maximin, who was a thorn in City’s side all afternoon, linked up brilliantly with Callum Wilson and the former Bournemouth man poked home with a lovely finish from just inside the area.
Stats from the game (NUFC on left, City on right)
Shortly after the break, the hosts were in dreamland when Kieran Trippier’s thunderous free kick flew past the despairing dive of Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson and into the top corner.
City, however, came roaring back, just as they did on the final day of last season in order to rip the title out of Liverpool’s grasp. Goals from Erling Haaland- his third of the campaign following his move from Borussia Dortmund, and Bernardo Silva ensured the visitors drew level. Silva’s one in particular was a delight to watch- Kevin de Bruyne’s delightful assist to set up the Portuguese star was a brilliant one. Both teams had chances to win it in the half an hour that remained but, in the end, the spoils were shared, and City’s perfect start to the season had ended.