The defending champion, so far imperial with six wins in six rounds, stumbled at Wolverhampton (2-1), and the suspense was totally revived by the success of Tottenham, in extra time against Liverpool (2-1), and that of Arsenal at Bournemouth (4-0).
Between the Citizens and sixth Brighton, knocked out at fifth Aston Villa (6-1), there is only three points difference. Liverpool, fourth, remain in the pack despite their extremely cruel defeat at Tottenham.
The Reds resisted valiantly, nine against eleven, but they finally cracked on a goal against his side from Joel Matip in the 96th minute.
Jürgen Klopp's team again showed incredible resilience, as in its stunning victory against Newcastle (2-1) at the end of August outnumbered. Except this time, the ending wasn't so happy.
Liverpool played at ten after the red card of Curtis Jones (26th), then at nine after the second yellow card received by Diogo Jota (69th), entered at half-time to replace Cody Gakpo, injured by scoring the equalizing goal (45th + 4, 1-1).
Arsenal-City coming soon
Tottenham stretches its invincibility in the Premier League and comes to titillate Manchester City, the giant already sounded Wednesday by its elimination against Newcastle in the League Cup.
"When you win the League Cup four times in a row, plus the Premier League, and a treble (league, FA Cup and Champions League in 2023), it's not enough," said Pep Guardiola at the microphone of Sky Sports, without losing his requirement: "We must do more, and even when we win," insisted the coach of the Citizens.
It will be necessary to remobilize Wednesday in Leipzig in the Champions League, then in London on October 8.
Arsenal will arrive in their Emirates with the momentum of an easy 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday, four days before their trip to Lens in the big European Cup.
Arsenal midfielder Bukayo Saka strikes during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium on September 30, 2023 © Adrian DENNIS / AFP
Mikel Arteta's side easily crunched the Cherries with new goals from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. The icing on the cake, the latter have abandoned their role as penalty takers to allow the recruit Kai Havertz, not very effective since his arrival this summer from Chelsea, to score his first goal.
Newcastle beat promoted Burnley 2-0, four days before hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in C1. The Magpies are eighth, one point behind West Ham who dominated Sheffield (2-0).
Manchester United plunges back
Manchester United bounced back on Saturday, losing 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace, four days after dominating the Londoners 3-0 in the League Cup. The fourth defeat of the Red Devils, a week after a timid brightening against Burnley (1-0), places them in 10th place in the championship.
"We conceded only three chances in the whole game" and, in front, "we put ourselves in good positions but we made the wrong choices", so "it's frustrating", retained coach Erik Ten Hag, struggling for his second season on the Mancunian bench.
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro makes a header against Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Manchester's Old Trafford on September 30, 2023 © Oli SCARFF / AFP
In a clash between low-ranked, the Petit Poucet of the Luton Town championship was the strongest against Everton (2-1). The "Hatters" (hat makers) pocketed a first victory since their return to the elite, a week after a first point won against Wolverhampton.
These four points allow Luton (17th) to get out of the relegation zone for the first time, with a late game to play on Tuesday against Burnley.
At the top of the table, Brighton was completely knocked out by Aston Villa (6-1), five days before its trip to Marseille in the Europa League.
The "Seagulls" totally lost their footing in the first half with three goals conceded in the space of 12 minutes: first by Ollie Watkins (14th, 21st), then a goal against his side Pervis Estupinan on a strike by Moussa Diaby (26th, 3-0). Incoming Ansu Fati (50th, 3-1) hinted at a reversal, but Aston Villa put three goals behind.
© 2023 AFP