LIVERPOOL’S perfect start to the English Premier League season came to an end today after a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Eddie Nketiah scored with virtually the last kick of the thrilling clash at Selhurst Park to earn Palace the big win and end leaders Liverpool’s five-match winning start to the season.
Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equaliser looked like to have salvaged a point the champions’ dismal display barely merited but Crystal Palace would not be denied.
Ismaila Sarr had given Palace an early lead but just as it looked like they would pay the price for wasting a host of chances, Nketiah pounced at the far post in the seventh minute of added time to lift them up to second in the table.
Palace were outstanding in stretching their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 games, tormenting Liverpool’s rocky rearguard throughout but failing to make their superiority pay.
Ismaila Sarr’s ninth-minute goal, bundled home after Liverpool failed to clear a corner, was scant reward for Palace’s domination in the first half, in which only the brilliance of keeper Alisson and the woodwork spared the champions further punishment.
Brazilian Alisson saved superbly from Yeremy Pino, Daniel Munoz and Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the French forward also hitting the woodwork with a superb effort at the end of a flowing move.
Liverpool, as they had to do, improved after the break with Palace keeper Dean Henderson – who turned Ryan Gravenberch’s powerful drive on to ... – denying Florian Wirtz from point-blank range.
At Stamford Bridge, Brighton came from behind to win 3-1 against an ill-disciplined Chelsea side who had a player sent off for the second Saturday running.
Substitutes Danny Welbeck and Maxim de Cuyper scored during 11 minutes of added time as the visitors profited from Trevoh Chalobah’s 53rd-minute red card.
The Blues had been coasting to victory in the first half when Enzo Fernandez headed in Reece James’s cross, via a deflection off Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma.
However, Mitoma played a key role in the game’s big turning point – as he won possession from Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, on his first Premier League start, leading to Chalobah’s desperate challenge on Georginio Rutter.
After a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check, Chalobah was dismissed – seven days after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off early in their 2-1 defeat at Manchester United.
And Welbeck benefited by scoring twice – getting his first, shorty after coming on, by heading in the equaliser at the far post in the 77th minute.
De Cuyper then headed Brighton in front from a corner in the second minute of stoppage time – before Welbeck finished from close range to seal victory in the ninth.
Chelsea, who drop to seventh place, have not won a Premier League match since the international break, with Liverpool next to visit west London.
Meanwhile, Brighton rise into 10th place after another positive result against big six opposition.
At the Etihad Stadium, Erling Haaland scored twice late on and Maxime Esteve inadvertently scored two own goals to help Manchester City to a thumping Premier League victory over Burnley.
Pep Guardiola’s side were questioned after losing back-to-back games in August, but have responded by winning three and drawing one to return to form and climb up to fourth in the table.
They were given a huge helping hand by French defender Esteve, who scored the first of his unfortunate double by miscuing an attempted clearance into his own net, the goal coming after Jeremy Doku’s low effort was pushed out by Martin Dubravka.
Having been made to defend for most parts of the first half, Scott Parker’s side unexpectedly equalised, with the in-form Jaidon Anthony scuffing in a finish via a deflection off Ruben Dias.
Boosted by the goal, Burnley were out quickly in the second half and Lyle Foster’s low shot was deflected narrowly wide, with Quilindschy Hartman’s long-range drive being batted away by City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But the visitors were made to pay for those near misses as Matheus Nunes superbly smashed home a volley from Haaland’s knock-down.
Minutes later Nunes turned provider by playing a low cross into the area and, although Oscar Bobb poked an effort at goal, the last touch came off Esteve.
But Haaland was not to be denied, converting twice in the closing stages to continue his prolific start to the campaign.
With agency report
RESULTS
Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool
Chelsea 1-3 Brighton
Leeds United 2-2 Bournemouth
Manchester City 5-1 Burnley