 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City slumped to a shock 2-1 home defeat against 10-man Leeds United on Saturday, with two-goal Stuart Dallas scoring the winner in stoppage time.
Pep Guardiola fielded a much-changed City side, which struggled to get going in the first half, Leeds taking a surprise lead in the 42nd minute when full-back Dallas drove the ball home off the post with the visitors' first shot.
Leeds's joy was short-lived, however, as a VAR intervention saw their captain Liam Cooper sent off just before the break for a dangerous looking challenge on Gabriel Jesus.
The depleted visitors then defended en masse, with City struggling to break through, but Ferran Torres broke their resistance in the 76th, levelling the score with a fine finish.
The drama was not over, however.
As City threw everything at Leeds in search of a winner, the visitors broke at pace, with Dallas racing through to grab a sensational victory for Marcelo Bielsa's side in the 91st minute.
The result ended City's six-game winning streak in all competitions as they remained on 74 points, 14 clear of second-placed Manchester United at the top of the standings having played two more games, while Leeds moved up to ninth on 45.
"It is a great result for us," Dallas told BT Sport. "It was tough out there. It is hard enough with 11 men, never mind 10.
"We defended really well and kept them to very few good chances. We knew if we could have a bit more composure we could get one chance."
Guardiola made eight changes to the side, which beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at The Etihad in their Champions League quarter-final first leg last week, with the return match on Wednesday clearly in the Spaniard’s mind.
Bielsa described Guardiola, who once said the Argentine was the best coach in the world, as "magical" this week, but it was City’s makeshift defence who looked spellbound late in the first half as Dallas broke the deadlock.
However, the first dismissal Leeds have suffered in the top flight since May 2004, after referee Andre Marriner changed his original yellow card decision to a red having had a look at the pitch side monitor, brought them back down to earth.
With Illan Meslier making several saves in the away goal, City looked like they were in for a frustrating afternoon in front of goal before an incisive pass from Fernandinho split the Leeds defence, Bernardo Silva laid it off, and Torres levelled.
Leeds did not capitulate, however, and continued to commit bodies forward, with their attacking approach rewarded as Dallas still had the energy to outrun the City defence and calmly score to spark scenes on jubilation on the visiting bench.
Late Alexander-Arnold strike earns Liverpool win over Villa
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool fought back to snatch a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa and move provisionally into the Premier League's top four on Saturday.
Juergen Klopp's side collected their first home league win in 2021 after right back Alexander-Arnold scored with a curling effort from the edge of the box at the death.
Having suffered a humiliating 7-2 defeat at Villa Park in October, defending champions Liverpool enjoyed a better start at Anfield as forwards Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota tested visiting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with early attempts.
But Villa, against the run of play, found the breakthrough in the 43rd minute when John McGinn slotted a neat pass into striker Ollie Watkins, whose drilled effort slipped under Liverpool keeper Alisson's right arm.
Liverpool responded almost immediately through Roberto Firmino but his goal was chalked off by VAR as Jota was adjudged to be marginally offside in the buildup.
Yet the hosts deservedly equalised 12 minutes into the second half through a Salah header after left back Andy Robertson's initial strike was palmed away by Martinez and Alexander-Arnold's effort secured all three points.
Chelsea demolish Palace with Pulisic double
Chelsea roared back into fourth spot in the Premier League as Christian Pulisic scored twice in an impressive 4-1 victory at London rivals Crystal Palace.
After boss Thomas Tuchel's long unbeaten run since taking charge ended abruptly against West Bromwich Albion last week, Chelsea responded in emphatic fashion.
Kai Havertz punished some sloppy defending to give Chelsea an eighth-minute lead and Pulisic doubled their advantage two minutes later with a powerful finish.
Chelsea totally dominated the first half and went 3-0 up on the half hour with a Kurt Zouma header.
Palace did improve after the break and Christian Benteke's header gave them a lifeline but Pulisic made the points safe with a close-range finish after 78 minutes.
Chelsea had started the game in sixth place after Liverpool's last-gasp win against Aston Villa.
But Chelsea's biggest margin of victory since Tuchel took charge in January moved them back above Liverpool and West Ham United into fourth place with 54 points from 31 games, two ahead of West Ham, who host third-placed Leicester City on Sunday.
Palace stay in 13th spot.
"The first half an hour was excellent. We were very hungry, very aggressive and got a lot of recoveries in the final third," Tuchel said. "After 35 minutes we dropped a little in position and got a little bit sloppy. We continued like this a little in the second half but it was a good reaction after their goal.
"We put pressure on ourselves to have the right response. It was a step in the right direction."
Chelsea's opener came after Palace winger Eberechi Eze was caught in possession by Mason Mount on the edge of the area. He then fed Callum Hudson-Odoi who in turn played in Havertz to coolly place his shot beyond keeper Vicente Guaita.
Their second was all about their slick passing as Palace were left chasing shadows.
The ball was eventually cut back by Havertz for Pulisic to take a touch and smash a shot high into the net.
Chelsea were in cruise control after half an hour when Mount curled in a free kick and Zouma rose to head home.
Benteke's header snapped Chelsea back into full throttle and Pulisic rounded off a great display when he slid in to convert substitute Reece James's low cross.
