By Robert Wheeler
- Manchester City thrash Liverpool at the Etihad
- Arsenal remains top after beating Leeds United
- Chelsea and Leicester both fired their managers
UK – The Premier League returned last weekend and two managers lost their jobs with Chelsea sacking Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers being fired by Leicester.
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Grealish stars as City thrash Liverpool
Manchester City was without Erling Haaland for this fixture but their team stepped up to dismantle Liverpool 4-1. Jack Grealish who has been on form since the World Cup put in one of his best performances in a City shirt.
The Reds took the lead through Mohamed Salah but that was to be Liverpool’s only positive of the match. Haaland’s replacement Julian Alvarez tapped in from a Grealish cross to level the score.
Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan asserted City’s dominance soon after half-time. Grealish then capped off a brilliant display with a goal which made it four and completed the rout.
Pep Guardiola‘s side is now just eight points behind Arsenal but they do have a game in hand. As for Jurgen Klopp his Liverpool team is now eighth and faces a tough task to finish in the top four this season.
Arsenal put four past Leeds United
Arsenal maintained their run of eight successive league victories as they beat Leeds United 4-1 at the Emirates. The result keeps them on course for their first league title since the 2003/04 season.
Gabriel Jesus started his first game since November when he picked up his knee injury and the Brazilian fired the Gunners ahead from the penalty spot.
Their lead was doubled just after the break when Ben White’s shot went in off the crossbar. Jesus then got his second after he turned in a Leandro Trossard cross.
Leeds got one back through a Rasmus Kristensen strike from outside the box. However, it was too little too late as Martin Odegaard’s long pass was headed in by Granit Xhaka which secured the points for Arsenal.
Newcastle inflict revenge on Man United
Newcastle United may have lost the EFL Cup final to Manchester United but Eddie Howe‘s side managed to get one back on the Red Devils as they defeated them 2-0. The result sets the Magpies on course for a Champions League spot as they moved up to 3rd in the league and above Eric ten Hag’s side on goal difference.
Howe’s side was on top from the get-go with Alexander Isak and Joe Willock forcing David de Gea to pull off a fantastic double save. Willock and Sean Longstaff also had chances but fired efforts wide.
Newcastle finally took one of his chances when Bruno Guimaraes’ cross was headed back across the goal by Allan Saint-Maximin for Willock to give them the lead.
Callum Wilson‘s header past de Gea from a Kieran Tripper free-kick ensured all three points for Newcastle. Ten Hag’s side has now not scored in their last three league games and is in danger of slipping out of the top four.
Potter and Rodgers are both axed
In Roy Hodgson’s first game back for Crystal Palace they defeated Leicester City 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta. The result saw the Foxes sink to 19th in the league and Brendan Rodgers was sacked.
The total number of Premier League managers to be sacked this season then became a record 12 as Graham Potter was shown the door by Chelsea. The Blues had lost 2-0 to Aston Villa with Ollie Watkins and John McGinn on the scoresheet. Chelsea is now 11th in the league which is an extraordinary low for the club.
Predictions vs actual results:
| Rob’s prediction: | Actual result |
| Manchester City 2-0 Liverpool | Manchester City 4-1 Liverpool |
| Arsenal 2-1 Leeds United | Arsenal 4-1 Leeds United |
| Manchester United 1-2 Newcastle United | Manchester United 0-2 Newcastle United |
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