🔬 The Debrief as Liverpool extend their lead amid Man City slump

Premier League action returned to fans after a European midweek across the continent as six fixtures kicked off the weekend’s festivities, with Manchester City and Liverpool headlining play up and down the country.

Here is what we made of it all.

What happened?

Yoane Wissa continues to lead the line for Brentford after the departure of Ivan Toney, helping Brentford to a swashbuckling 3-2 win against visiting Bournemouth. A brace for the Congolese international booked all three points for Thomas Frank’s men.

Fulham travelled across the capital and paid a visit to Crystal Palace while coming away with all three points courtesy of a pair of goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Harry Wilson.

West Ham United and Everton played out a nil-nil affair at the London Stadium, while Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha helped Wolves to their first full meal of the season in a 2-0 win at home over bottom-feeders Southampton.

But all eyes were on Man City and Liverpool as the Premier League rivals faced off against Brighton (away) and Aston Villa (home) respectively, with the pair separated by just two points coming into the weekend.

Man City are now in a bit of a crisis after a fourth-consecutive defeat in all competitions – a first for Pep Guardiola’s managerial career – after Brighton out-fought the Champions in a 2-1 win at the Amex. Goals from João Pedro, and a first for Matthew O’Riley on his Premier League debut, canceled out Erling Haaland’s record-breaking strike in the first-half.

To close out the night, Arne Slot’s Liverpool did well to make good on City’s shortcomings with a 2-0 win against an Aston Villa side who continue to carry European aspirations. A first-half goal from Darwin Núñez may have been overshadowed by a potential Trent Alexander-Arnold injury.

But the Reds held firm in front of the Kop to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points after Mohamed Salah guaranteed all three points with a late strike in the 84th minute to rubberstamp a critical night of action in the league.

Player of the day

Despite a brace from Yoane Wissa and another record set by Erling Haaland, it’s Brighton’s Danish international midfielder Matthew O’Riley who takes the player of the day honors here.

With the Seagulls down a goal, O’Riley, along with fellow second-half substitute João Pedro, proved decisive to consign City to an extended run of defeats across all competitions while pushing the south coast club up the table and back into the top-four conversation.

A first Brighton goal on your Premier League debut, against the champions? Hard to top that.

Stat of the day

Wissa was once again in the running here after his two-goal display, but given Man City’s misfortunes, this was too good to pass up.

After their 2-1 defeat against Fabian Hürzeler’s Seagulls, City have now lost a Premier League fixture when leading at half-time for the first time since May 2021.

The last time this happened? You guessed it…also against Brighton.

With Guardiola now tasting defeat in more than unusual circumstances, have City’s title hopes already washed ashore before the festive period?

What this means

Liverpool are now clear early favorites to finish top of the pile come May as their form under Slot lays in stark contrast to a Man City side on the cusp of a crisis.

City will remain in second, however, regardless of results tomorrow, while Brighton are temporarily sitting in the Champions League places in fourth ahead of both Chelsea and Arsenal.

Fulham ends the day in seventh, Brentford is still in the top half of the table, and Bournemouth sits just one point behind them in 11th.

West Ham’s poor start to the season sees them down in 14th but six points clear of the drop zone, with Everton two points and two places further down.

Lastly, Wolves remain in the bottom three despite their first win of the season, and Southampton languish at the foot of the table while looking odds-on favorites for an immediate return to the Championship.

What they said

Brentford boss Thomas Frank was ecstatic as the Bees banked yet another win at Gtech Community Stadium, stating: “I’m very happy with the win. I’m very happy we bounced back. I’m very happy that we were such a threat going forward”

“We gave them the first goal, obviously that happens, and then one or two other good chances. But, after that, I thought we really grew into the game. I thought we did well. Scored a good goal. And second-half, I thought there was one team on the pitch. We were clearly better at that stage, creating and scoring two fantastic goals. I’m very happy with that.”

Pep Guardiola cut out a different figure in the wake of Man City’s defeat at Brighton; their fourth-consecutive loss in all competitions and the first time the Spanish tactician has suffered that feat.

“Welcome! There is always time for a first in life..”

When discussing whether or not City is playing poorly overall, Guardiola suggested that it’s a matter of consistency across the full 90 minutes while relishing the challenge to right the ship: “This is my challenge, I love a challenge. I won’t step back, more than ever I want to do it.”

What comes next?

Matchweek 11 of the Premier League continues tomorrow with a headline capital clash as Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to lock horns with a revitalized Chelsea.

Manchester United hosts Leicester City, Ipswich head to north London to face Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest welcome Newcastle United to the City Ground.