Manchester City dominate Liverpool as Pep Guardiola reaches 1,000th game milestone
Manchester City delivered an emphatic statement of intent in Pep Guardiola's 1,000th game as a manager with a commanding 3-0 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday.
First-half strikes by Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez and a magnificent effort by Jeremy Doku after the interval capped a brilliant City performance against underwhelming opponents.
The outcome not only enabled second-placed City to reduce Arsenal's advantage to four points, but also demonstrated that Guardiola's side are rapidly developing into genuine title challengers again after last season's interruption when they were dethroned by Liverpool.
Earlier, Aston Villa demolished Bournemouth 4-0 to climb into sixth position in a tightly-contested top half in which only four points separate third-placed Chelsea and 12th-placed Brentford.
Newcastle United's disappointing domestic form persisted as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford in a match where they finished with 10 men after Dan Burn received his marching orders.
Nottingham Forest concluded a winless Premier League run extending back to the opening weekend of the season as they rallied from behind to defeat Leeds United 3-1 at the City Ground.
Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion shared the points in a tedious 0-0 stalemate at Selhurst Park.
City capitalize on Arsenal's slip-up
Sunderland's dramatic equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Saturday presented both City and Liverpool the chance to begin applying pressure on Mikel Arteta's side.
It was City who grasped that opportunity by comprehensively outplaying a Liverpool side who have now suffered five league defeats this season.
Haaland had an early penalty denied by Liverpool keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili but City dismissed that setback to defeat Liverpool for the first time in two and a half years and make it a memorable milestone occasion for Guardiola.
Haaland compensated for his miss by directing a header beyond Mamardashvili in the 29th minute and when Gonzalez struck in first-half stoppage time it was effectively settled.
Liverpool did have a Virgil van Dijk equaliser disallowed but Doku's spectacular curling effort just past the hour emphasized City's dominance.
Arne Slot's Liverpool triumphed over Real Madrid during the week in the Champions League but this was a sobering afternoon in the Manchester rain that left them eight points behind Arsenal down in eighth position heading into the international break.
Villa surge with comprehensive win over Bournemouth
Like Liverpool, Villa have 18 points but the atmosphere amongst Unai Emery's side is vastly different after they dismantled Bournemouth, who are also on 18.
Emiliano Buendia netted a magnificent free kick to give the hosts the lead and they doubled their advantage before halftime with Morgan Rogers playing in Amadou Onana to score.
Antoine Semenyo had a penalty saved by Emiliano Martinez as Bournemouth improved after the break but when substitute Ross Barkley headed Villa's third, the points were secured.
Donyell Malen, also off the bench, converted a shot by Youri Tielemans to complete the rout late on.
Newcastle's away struggles continue at Brentford
Newcastle claimed a third successive Champions League victory in midweek but in the Premier League they are faltering, especially away from home where they are yet to triumph.
It looked promising for Eddie Howe's side as they went ahead at Brentford with a Harvey Barnes goal. But Brentford responded impressively after the break with Kevin Schade equalising with a header before Newcastle's afternoon collapsed.
England defender Dan Burn was sent off for a second yellow card for fouling Dango Ouattara in the penalty area and they lost keeper Nick Pope to an injury, meaning Aaron Ramsdale's first act was to try and save Igor Thiago's penalty.
He could not do it and Thiago then wrapped it up with his eighth league goal of the season in stoppage time.
Brentford moved to 12th with 16 points while Newcastle's fifth defeat of the season left them 14th with 12.
Nottingham Forest break winless streak against Leeds
Sean Dyche enjoyed his first Premier League win at Forest since replacing Ange Postecoglou as his side responded to going behind to dominate Leeds.
Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead in the 13th minute but their lead was shortlived as Ibrahima Sangare levelled.
Captain Morgan Gibbs-White headed Forest into the lead and Elliot Anderson's late penalty wrapped it up.
Forest remain 19th with nine points but are only a point behind 17th-placed Burnley.
Palace were without injured captain Marc Guehi and were laboured in a dull stalemate with arch-rivals Brighton -- the result leaving the sides in 10th and 11th respectively.
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