Premier League Weekend Drama: City Crush United as Salah Rescues Liverpool Late
The Premier League delivered contrasting emotions this weekend as Manchester City produced a commanding derby display while Liverpool required late heroics to maintain their perfect start to the season.
Manchester City Outclass United in 3–0 Derby Win
The Manchester derby at the Etihad was one-sided, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City dismantling Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United 3–0.
Phil Foden opened the scoring with a composed finish, finally ending his Premier League goal drought after a quiet run in front of goal. Guardiola praised the England international afterward, calling him “a player we missed” for his creativity and sharpness in attack.
Erling Haaland then stole the show, striking twice with trademark ruthlessness to seal the victory. The Norwegian’s brace underlined his status as the league’s most lethal forward, taking his goal tally to double figures across all competitions this season.
United, meanwhile, offered little resistance, with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund largely ineffective against City’s dominant backline. The defeat raises fresh questions about Ten Hag’s tactical approach and his ability to inspire consistency in a squad struggling for identity.
Liverpool Leave It Late Against Burnley
At Anfield, Liverpool were forced to dig deep in a tense battle against a resilient Burnley side. Despite dominating possession, Jürgen Klopp’s men found it difficult to create clear-cut chances, particularly after midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu was sent off in the second half.
The breakthrough came in stoppage time when Mohamed Salah converted a dramatic 95th-minute penalty, handing Liverpool a narrow 1–0 victory. The result means the Reds have won all four of their opening league fixtures, though concerns remain over their lack of fluency in attack.
Burnley, led by Vincent Kompany, were resolute and disciplined for most of the match and looked set to frustrate the hosts until late drama unfolded.
Liverpool’s perfect record keeps them top of the table, but their reliance on late winners suggests room for improvement. Manchester City’s emphatic win re-establishes them as title favorites, especially with Haaland firing on all cylinders and Foden rediscovering his scoring touch.
For Manchester United, the heavy derby defeat is a major setback that could put Ten Hag under renewed pressure, while Burnley can take pride in their fighting spirit despite the loss.
As early as September, the battle lines for the Premier League crown are already being drawn, with Liverpool and City once again setting the pace.
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