Premier League Recap: Shocks, Late Drama and More on a Topsy-Turvy Saturday

Brentford 3-2 Liverpool: Bees Shock Champions in Thrilling Contest

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence suffered another setback as Brentford stunned them 3-2 in west London, condemning the Reds to a fourth successive league defeat for the first time since March 2021.

Brentford made a dream start inside five minutes when Dango Ouattara volleyed home from close range after Kristoffer Ajer flicked on Michael Kayode’s long throw. Mohamed Salah almost levelled moments later, denied by former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, while Florian Wirtz spurned a golden chance to equalise.

The hosts pushed for more and deservedly doubled their lead before half-time as Mikkel Damsgaard’s clever pass released Kevin Schade, who finished clinically. Liverpool hit back in controversial fashion when Milos Kerkez converted Conor Bradley’s cross deep into stoppage time despite only three minutes being indicated.

After the break, Brentford maintained their intensity. VAR awarded them a penalty after Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have fouled Ouattara, and Igor Thiago calmly slotted home his fourth goal in four matches to restore the two-goal cushion.

Salah pulled one back with a thunderous finish off the bar late on, ending his six-game goal drought, but Brentford held firm to secure a famous victory that lifted them into the top half, while Liverpool’s title hopes took another blow.

Manchester United 4-2 Brighton: Red Devils Hit Form Under Amorim

Manchester United continued their resurgence with a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, sealing a third consecutive Premier League win and their fourth straight home triumph.

Brighton’s Danny Welbeck went close early on, but United took control midway through the first half when Matheus Cunha curled home his first goal for the club. A deflected strike from Casemiro made it 2-0 before half-time.

Bart Verbruggen denied Bruno Fernandes just after the restart, but United extended their lead soon after when Bryan Mbeumo fired home from the edge of the area despite Brighton protests for a foul in the build-up.

Welbeck gave the visitors hope with a superb free-kick against his former side, before Charalampos Kostoulas headed in a late corner to make it 3-2. However, Mbeumo struck again in stoppage time to wrap up the win, moving United into the top four and underlining their growing confidence under Ruben Amorim.

Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland: Talbi’s Late Strike Seals Famous Win

Sunderland climbed to second in the Premier League with a stunning 2-1 comeback win at Stamford Bridge, ending Chelsea’s four-match winning streak in all competitions.

Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring after just four minutes, racing onto Pedro Neto’s pass to fire through Robin Roefs’ legs for his first Chelsea goal. But the visitors levelled midway through the first half when Wilson Isidor reacted quickest to flick home from a long throw.

Chelsea dominated much of the remainder of the half, with Garnacho and Trevoh Chalobah going close, but Sunderland’s disciplined back five frustrated the hosts after the interval. Substitute Estêvão almost made an impact for the Blues, but his deflected shot drifted wide.

As the game entered stoppage time, Sunderland struck the decisive blow. Substitute Brian Brobbey held up play superbly before laying off for Chemsdine Talbi, who swept home the winner to silence Stamford Bridge.

The result extended Sunderland’s unbeaten run in London to 14 league games (W5, D9) and lifted them to second, while Chelsea dropped to seventh.

Newcastle 2-1 Fulham: Guimarães Snatches Dramatic Late Winner

Bruno Guimarães scored a 90th-minute winner as Newcastle United earned a vital 2-1 victory over Fulham at St James’ Park, ending a run of poor form for Eddie Howe’s side.

The hosts were dominant early on, with Nick Woltemade and Jacob Murphy both hitting the post before Murphy capitalised on a defensive lapse from Calvin Bassey to fire Newcastle ahead after 18 minutes.

Fulham improved after the break and levelled just before the hour mark when Raúl Jiménez’s strike came off the bar and Saša Lukić nodded in the rebound. Marco Silva’s men looked the more likely winners for much of the second half.

However, Newcastle’s persistence paid off in stoppage time. After Bernd Leno parried a shot from substitute William Osula, Guimarães reacted first to slot home the rebound and seal a much-needed win.

The result lifted Newcastle to 11th, while Fulham’s fourth straight league defeat left them 16th, only three points above the relegation zone.