ReutersCody Gakpo celebrates his goal against Brentford together with captain Virgil van Dijk
NOS Voetbal•Saturday, 3:36 PM•Adjusted Saturday, 9:57 PM
Liverpool and Arsenal have achieved an easy victory in the Premier League. Leader Liverpool won 4-1 at Brentford and Arsenal 5-0 at Burnley. Reigning champion Manchester City lost points at home against Chelsea: 1-1.
Liverpool’s lead over number two Arsenal is two points. City, which dropped from second to third place, has four points fewer and played one match fewer.
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After a difficult first fifteen minutes, Liverpool, where Virgil van Dijk played his 250th game, started the match better against Brentford.
A quick breakout gave Jürgen Klopp’s team the lead. Darwin Núñez was placed alone in front of Dutch goalkeeper Mark Fleken and outwitted him with a beautiful marker.
Shortly after that goal, Ryan Gravenberch came on for the injured Curtis Jones. Cody Gakpo also came on at halftime. Portuguese striker Diogo Jota apparently suffered a serious knee injury.
Strong second half
Gravenberch was important in the second half, when he cleverly slipped past his opponent and managed to get the ball to Mohamed Salah. He played well to Alexis Mac Allister, who scored the 0-2 behind Flokken.
Brentford’s resistance was thus largely broken. Liverpool continued to attack happily and a third goal was inevitable.
AFPRyan Gravenberch played along for over an hour
In the 68th minute, Gakpo headed the ball through to Salah, after which the Egyptian scored his fifteenth goal of the season. Brentford then tried to get back on track. Fifteen minutes before the end, Toney saved the honor for the Londoners, but there was no more than that. In fact, shortly before the end Gakpo punished some fumbling at the back and the former PSV player scored his third goal of the season.
Arsenal wins big, City cannot get past Chelsea
Arsenal were supreme against Burnley at Turf Moor. Before half-time, Martin Ødegaard scored with a goal and Bukayo Saka scored from the spot. Afterwards, Saka drove the ball into the roof of the goal, Leandro Trossard found the far corner and Kai Havertz coolly finished an individual action: 0-5.
Manchester City dropped points for the eighth time this season. Chelsea created a dangerous surplus situation in City’s half three times before halftime and once this led to a goal.
AFTERling Haaland (r)
After more than forty minutes, former City player Raheem Sterling picked out Kyle Walker and fired home. The Londoners failed to make it 2-0 twice in the second half, but were still allowed to dream of a stunt due to all the misses by Erling Haaland.
In the 83rd minute the equalizer came via Rodri, who saw his shot fly in via a Chelsea player. Nathan Aké played the entire match for City. With a beautiful sliding slide he prevented an attempt by ex-City player Cole Palmer in the first half.