Arsenal produced a composed defensive display to secure a significant victory at Liverpool, winning at Anfield for the first time in 14 visits. Mikel Arteta’s side protected their lead effectively and refused to be overwhelmed by the occasion, limiting Liverpool to no shots on target. Arsenal therefore moved nine points clear of Liverpool after nine matches, with 24 points at the top of the table.
Liverpool’s defeat highlighted concerns about a squad still adapting after the unsuccessful rebuild of the summer of 2025. Florian Wirtz hit the crossbar but was unable to convert another second-half opportunity, while Alexander Isak struggled to provide the pressing intensity expected by his manager. Bradley Barcola contributed during the spell after Arsenal’s goal but, like Liverpool’s other forwards, faded as the match progressed. Jérémy Jacquet and Trey Nyoni offered encouraging signs of youth development.
Bournemouth are enjoying an impressive run under Marco Rose, having won their last six matches and scored 16 goals without conceding. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has kept a clean sheet in every match since the 5-1 defeat at Chelsea on 10 October. Rose said the difficult opening weeks had forced the team to reconsider its approach, while Petrovic credited the collective commitment of the squad in both attacking and defensive phases.
Roméo Lavia completed his first 90 minutes for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool and followed it with another full match in the 2-0 Premier League win over Manchester United. The midfielder, who has struggled with injuries since joining Chelsea from Southampton, created the opening goal for Morgan Rogers. Lavia said he was feeling good and praised the work being done with the club as he attempts to maintain his progress.
Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over 10-man Crystal Palace also provided an opportunity for academy prospect Luca Williams-Barnett. The 18-year-old made his first Premier League appearance in the 88th minute and immediately impressed with his first touch and passing, setting up a chance for Mohammed Kudus. Manager Roberto De Zerbi said talented young players would continue to receive opportunities under his management.
Brighton strengthened their position near the top of the table with a 1-0 win at Manchester City. The result took Fabian Hürzeler’s side to 19 points, just two behind City. Hürzeler attributed the team’s progress to the connections and culture being developed within the squad, stressing the importance of trust between players on and off the pitch.
Brentford ended a run of four matches without a win by beating Nottingham Forest, recording their first clean sheet since a 3-0 victory over Chelsea six weeks earlier. Igor Thiago scored his second goal of the season, benefiting from intelligent movement to create space before finishing from Jaidon Anthony’s pass. Brentford are playing well and remain in contention for a potential first European qualification, despite the sense that they have dropped points.
Julio Enciso continued to emerge as a key creative force for Ipswich. The Paraguayan, who returned after a year in Ligue 1, has two goals and two assists this season and has created 14 chances, almost twice as many as the next players on Ipswich’s list. His strike from the edge of the area secured a point in a 2-2 draw at Hull after Ipswich had surrendered a 1-0 lead.
Sunderland’s difficult campaign continued, with head coach Régis Le Bris acknowledging that the club’s first season in Europe had affected its league form. Sunderland have five points after nine matches, 12 fewer than at the same stage last season, and their current trajectory would put them at risk of relegation. Crystal Palace have conceded more goals, while only Nottingham Forest have scored fewer.
Coventry, meanwhile, have responded to a poor start by winning three of their last five matches. Their latest victory against a team around them in the table underlined the importance of taking points from direct rivals in the fight for survival.
After nine matches, Arsenal lead with 24 points, followed by Manchester City on 21 and Brighton on 19. Chelsea have 16 points, Liverpool 15, and Brentford 14. Bournemouth, Tottenham and Aston Villa each have 12 points, while Sunderland sit bottom with five.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.