Alexander Isak struck again as Liverpool scraped past Bournemouth, while Manchester City survived an eight-goal Etihad thriller to maintain their perfect Premier League start.
Liverpool may have left the south coast with all three points — but this was hardly a performance to have supporters dancing in the aisles.
Arne Slot’s side edged Bournemouth 1-0 thanks to Alexander Isak’s second-half finish, with the Sweden striker showing exactly why Liverpool invested so heavily in him.
The game was desperately short on clear-cut chances before Liverpool finally found a way through.
Alexander Isak’s goal saw Liverpool edge Bournemouth
|
GETTY
Cody Gakpo did the hard work, battling his way down the right before sending a dangerous ball into the box. Florian Wirtz challenged for it, the ball took a deflection and fell perfectly for Isak.
The striker made no mistake, calmly finding the far corner.
Job done.
But Bournemouth refused to disappear and Liverpool were forced to defend their narrow advantage during the closing stages. Alisson was required to remain alert, while Liverpool’s defence did enough to keep the hosts at bay.
It was not spectacular. It was not vintage Liverpool.
But it was three points.
And on a day when several big Premier League sides dropped points, that could prove valuable.
At the Etihad, meanwhile, Manchester City served up an entirely different kind of afternoon.
Erling Haaland’s goal made sure of the result for City
|
GETTY
Five goals, three conceded and enough drama to fill an entire weekend.
City eventually beat Sunderland 5-3, but Enzo Maresca’s side were made to work for their victory by a Sunderland team that simply refused to surrender.
Brian Brobbey was the star for the visitors, completing a remarkable hat-trick and repeatedly exposing gaps in the City defence.
City raced ahead through Enzo Fernandez before Brobbey hit back almost immediately.
Rayan Cherki restored City’s lead, only for Brobbey to level again after a lengthy VAR check.
Antoine Semenyo then put City back in front before adding another after the break — but Brobbey’s third made it 4-3 and suddenly the Etihad was looking rather nervous.
Antoine Semenyo netted twice in a chaotic eight-goal thriller
|
GETTY
Then came the killer blow.
Erling Haaland, who had earlier missed a glorious opportunity, eventually found the net to make it 5-3 after another VAR check.
Cue the relief.
City had their victory and, crucially, maintained their perfect league record.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had done their business in rather more understated fashion.
One side produced a goal-fest.
The other produced a grind.
Both walked away with three points.
And with the Premier League season beginning to take shape, neither will be complaining.
Liverpool got the job done. City got the job done in spectacular fashion.
The pressure, as ever, is only going to increase from here.
