Reigning champions Manchester City regained their balance and lead by beating Brighton 2-0 on Saturday in the ninth round of the English Premier League football.

Spanish coach Pep Guardiola's men decided the result of the match in the first half by scoring goals through Argentine internationals Julian Alvarez (7) and Norwegian Erling Haaland (19).

Manchester City regained the tone of victories with the return of its captain, Spanish international midfielder Rodri, and avoided a third consecutive loss for the first time in 7 years.

City was greatly affected by the absence of star midfielder Rodri due to suspension in the last two games and lost to Wolverhampton and Arsenal, ceding the lead in favor of the latter and his neighbor London Tottenham, but regained it today with 21 points taking advantage of Arsenal's draw with neighbors Chelsea 2-2.

⚽️🥅 Julián Alvarez opens early scoring for the Citizens #English_Premier_League | #ManchesterCityBrighton#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/wiXnfUqN9P

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

Manchester City pressed hard from the start and succeeded in translating its advantage into an early goal scored by Alvarez in the seventh minute, taking advantage of a pass on a plate after a wonderful individual effort by newcomer Belgian international Jeremy Duku (7).

Haaland strengthened when he took advantage of the wrong ball from Cameroonian Carlos Baliba and launched a powerful shot with his left from outside the area to the left of goalkeeper Jason Steele (19).

The goal was Haaland's ninth to cement his position at the top of the league's top scorer this season.

⚽️🥅 Haaland's rocket shot lands in the net against Brighton #Premier League | #ManchesterCityBrighton#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/HqBnlyR5KN

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

City suffered in the second half in front of an improvement in the level of Brighton and succeeded Spanish substitute Ansu Fati loaned from Barcelona to reduce the difference for him after a counter-attack during which he took advantage of a wrong ball from Swiss international defender Manuel Akanji inside the area followed inside the goal (73).

Akanji was sent off in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a second warning.

⚽️🇪🇬 Egyptian King Mohamed Salah settles the Merseyside derby with the second goal against Everton #English_Premier League | #LiverpoolEverton #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/sfxeDRzUzK

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

Salah's brace in the Merseyside derby

The 243rd Merseyside derby smiled for the Reds, Liverpool beat the numerically deficient Everton 2-0 with goals from Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, at Anfield.

And raise the "Reds" tally to 20 points equal with Tottenham to occupy third place after City and Arsenal.

Three days after he asked for "immediate humanitarian assistance" to the people of Gaza in light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Salah scored both goals in the 3th minute from the penalty spot without exaggerating his celebration, and the second in fatal time from a counter-attack.

⚽️🥅 Mohamed Salah opens the scoring for Liverpool from the penalty spot #English_Premier_League | #LiverpoolEverton #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/lwWf56h4xs

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

Liverpool lost once in their last 29 games with arch-rivals, during the Covid period in February 2021 at Anfield 2-0 without fans.

Liverpool got off to a strong start to the season, winning 5 times in 6 games, before losing 1-2 to Tottenham Hotspur in a match that saw a serious refereeing error against him (a correct goal was canceled), and drew at home to Brighton 2-2.

On the other hand, Everton returned to the cycle of defeats, falling for the sixth time in nine games, to stagger on the gates of the relegation zone.

Despite an early header missed by Dominic Calvert-Lewin in front of Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Liverpool were the better side in the first half without finding the back of the net.

Sean Diche's men completed the game with 10 men early, when veteran Ashley Young (38) received his second warning in the 37th minute following a reckless foul on Liverpool Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

🟨🟨🟥 Ashley Young leaves the pitch#English_Premier_League | #LiverpoolEverton #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/vDh9xUIQDF

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

While Diche bolstered his defence early in the second half, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, who is missing injured Dutch striker Cody Khakpo, brought on Uruguayan Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott.

The hosts were awarded a penalty after a cross from Diaz bounced off the hands of substitute defender Michael Keane, which Salah translated into a powerful counter to international goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (75).

Pickford prevented young Elliott from extending the deficit in the final minute when he brilliantly cleared his long-range rocket into a corner, and then embraced a close-range shot from Diogo Jota (90+2).

As the match was breathing its last, Nunez kicked off with a rebound passed by a typical Salah lurking and put it in the net a second goal (90 + 7), to achieve Liverpool the most important and lead full-time to face Toulouse next Thursday in the Europa League (Europa League).

Arsenal draw with Chelsea

Arsenal turned a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with hosts Chelsea and maintain their unbeaten start in the Premier League.

Chelsea advanced after a quarter of an hour from the start with a penalty kick through Cole Palmer after Arsenal defender William Saliba rose to save Mykhailo Modric's attempt to hit a header from the Ukrainian player in the hands of his rival to decide the referee awarded a penalty after reviewing video technology.

Palmer gives Chelsea the lead from the penalty 🥅 spot #الدوري_الإنجليزي | #تشلسي_آرسنال pic.twitter.com/Ra1zDIs93a

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

Modric added Chelsea's second goal three minutes after the break when he put the ball into the top right corner of the goal over the head of goalkeeper David Raya.

Modric adds Chelsea's second goal against Arsenal ⚽️🔥 #الدوري_الإنجليزي | #تشلسي_آرسنال pic.twitter.com/IjOuoynNyv

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

Both Raya and Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made mistakes during the exciting match, and a mistake from Sanchez caused Arsenal's first goal in the 76th minute through Rice, who snatched the ball and sent it into the open goal.

😮 Rice exploits Chelsea goalkeeper Sanchez's lapse and scores Arsenal's first #Premier League goal | #تشلسي_آرسنال pic.twitter.com/6jcBECj4zD

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023

Substitute Trossard silenced the crowd at Stamford Bridge with a perfect shot after a perfect cross from Bukayo Saka in the 84th minute to give his team a point and keep it at the top of the standings (21 points), but on goal difference from Manchester City, who regained the lead.

Trossard ignites the game and equalizes the score for Arsenal 🔥🔥🔥 #الدوري_الإنجليزي | #تشلسي_آرسنال pic.twitter.com/KW1LJSRrqH

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 21, 2023