Crystal Palace moved up to second place in the Premier League table on Saturday thanks to a stunning 2-1 win at home to league leaders Liverpool.
A sensational 97th-minute goal from former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah plundered the points from Liverpool, and Arne Slot’s men had a taste of their own medicine as they have scored very late winners in four of their five league victories so far. But they had no time to respond to Nketiah’s strike and now must taste defeat for the first time this season, as their 100 per cent record went up in smoke.
Ismaila Sarr, who has now scored five goals in eight games against Liverpool, including one in the 2025 Community Shield, gave the Eagles an early lead, which they held on to until the 87th minute when Federico Chiesa thought he’d earned a point for Liverpool with a close range finish.
But Palace weren’t done. And when a long throw from Jefferson Lerma sailed into the Liverpool box, Marc Guehi flicked the ball on for Nketiah to convert at the far post and spark wild celebrations in the home crowd.
In other Premier League 2025 news there were wins too for Manchester City, Brentford, Brighton and Sunderland, and with Arsenal set to play Newcastle United on Sunday evening, the gap at the top could be down to two points. And, while the Premier League 2025 betting odds still back Arne Slot’s Reds for the title, the Eagles have certainly shaken things up.
Sky Blues flex their muscles
Liverpool’s loss will not have gone un-noticed in Manchester, where Pep Guardiola’s City were in imperious form as they hammered Burnley 5-1. In all honesty, while the Sky Blues were superb, the score line was harsh on the Clarets who were at 1-1 on the hour and close to going ahead early in the second period. And at 3-1 on 90 minutes the result seemed about right after Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku had put in a scintillating performance, giving former Sky Blue full back Kyle Walker a hectic afternoon.
Burnley centre back Maxime Esteve had a day to forget too, as he scored two own goals to make it 1-0 and 3-1, while Jaidon Anthony made it four for the campaign with the equaliser. Matheus Nunes volleyed in to take the score to 2-1, on 61 minutes, before the unlucky Esteve got first to a ball in the danger area but, once again, he diverted beyond his own keeper, Martin Dubravka.
This SBOTOP writer, like most Burnley fans would have taken a 3-1 loss at the Etihad but the goal machine Erling Haaland exploited the tired visitors with an injury time double. The Norwegian leads the race for the Golden Boot, now on eight goals from six games, with Anthony tied in second.
Red Devils flop again
Over at Old Trafford, Manchester United boss Ruben Amorin is under increasing pressure after he watched his side lose 3-1 to relegation candidates Brentford. The result leaves the Red Devils down in 14th place with just two wins so far this season, a 2-1 last week over Chelsea, after the Blues’ keeper had been sent off very early in the game, and a 3-2 victory over Burnley, thanks to a VAR constructed 94th minute penalty. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot kick against the Clarets but he missed his second of the campaign with United at 2-1 down early in the second half.
The Bees stunned their visitors with a brutal opening 20 minutes in which Igor Thaigo grabbed a double, but Benjamin Sesko halved the deficit before the break. Another of the Red Devils’ expensive summer signings, former Brentford man Bryan Mbeumo was hauled down by Nathan Collins and the referee pointed to the spot. There was a long VAR delay to see whether Collins should have been sent off and that was enough to un-nerve Fernades who saw his spot-kick saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. Mathias Jensen scored a 95th minute goal to make it 3-1 and give the Bees a deserved victory, while the Red Devils are without a win in eight league games on the road.
Postecoglu still without a win
Having sacked successful manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis watched as his new pick, Ange Postecoglu, booed off after the Europa League side lost 1-0 at home to newcomers Sunderland. There was plenty of controversy surrounding the goal which came just after Forest’s Argentine midfielder Nicolas was clattered by Trai Hume as he cleared a ball on the edge of his own penalty area.
The referee promptly booked Dominguez for simulation and when Omar Aldereta scored from Granit Xhaka’s cross the Black Cats celebrated, though they were probably as confused as anyone.
It’s hard to tell exactly who the Forest fans were booing at the final whistle; the officials for handing Sunderland the game, their players for losing to a side which is likely to struggle for much of the campaign, their new winless manager…or the owner.
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