PA Media/dpa
London
Manchester City’s Premier League title defence stuttered again with a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
City twice came from behind to collect a point at Selhurst Park, but the champions have now won only once in six league games - four of which have been lost.
Palace led through full back Daniel Munoz’s fourth-minute goal before Erling Haaland headed City level.
Maxence Lacroix restored Palace’s lead after the break and Rico Lewis fired a fine 68th-minute leveller for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Lewis was later sent off six minutes from time for two bookings and City are eight points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game more than Arne Slot’s side. Liverpool’s derby at Everton was postponed due to a storm.
Aston Villa beat bottom-club Southampton 1-0 to move within two points of fourth-placed City.
Colombian striker Jhon Duran scored the winner on what was his first league start of the season.
Duran pounced for the 24th-minute winner after Taylor Harwood-Bellis had failed to deal with a hopeful ball.
Unai Emery’s Villa side have returned to form with victories against Brentford and Southampton after an eight-game winless run.
Saints are eight points from safety having lost 12 of their 15 top-flight games.
Brentford beat Newcastle 4-2 to maintain the best home record in the Premier League.
Both sides scored in the opening 12 minutes, with Bryan Mbeumo’s opener quickly cancelled out by Alexander Isak.
Yoane Wissa’s ninth goal in eight league games restored Brentford’s lead, but Newcastle quickly levelled again through Harvey Barnes.
But there was no denying the Bees, who have won seven and drawn one of their eight home games.
Nathan Collins converted with a left-footed finish following a 56th-minute free-kick.
Kevin Schade sealed Brentford’s victory by clipping his shot over advancing Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Setback for Amorim
Ruben Amorim suffered the first major setback of his Manchester United reign as Nottingham Forest capitalized on some poor defending and goalkeeping to secure a shock 3-2 Premier League win at Old Trafford.
The head coach warned that trouble was coming at the start of a week that ended in a second defeat and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe talking about the work required to turn around a club that has become “mediocre.”
Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal was compounded on Saturday evening by Forest, with Nikola Milenkovic, Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood securing the club’s first win at Old Trafford since 1994.
United boss Amorim will likely be as frustrated with the manner of the goals as the result.
Corners proved their undoing at Arsenal and Milenkovic headed home from one after just 88 seconds on Saturday, with set pieces continuing to prove a problem after Rasmus Hojlund levelled.
After half-time, United were undone by other issues. Andre Onana was embarrassed by a swerving Gibbs-White strike, with the goalkeeper, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs De Ligt then all failing to deal with a looping Wood header.
Bruno Fernandes pulled one back but there was no leveller as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side saw out a memorable victory just days after losing 3-0 down the road at Manchester City.
It was a first defeat for Amorim at Old Trafford.
Premier League
Saturday Results:
Everton Liverpool postponed
Aston Villa 1 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 2 Man City 2
Brentford 4 Newcastle United 2
Man United 2 Nottingham 3.
