PA Media/DPA
London
Chelsea and Manchester City shared an incredible eight-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge as Cole Palmer scored a stoppage-time equalizer against his old club to make it 4-4.
Palmer joined Chelsea from City in September and had the final word in the fifth minute of added time, stroking home a spot-kick past Ederson after Ruben Dias had felled substitute Armando Broja.
A high-quality contest saw City lead in contentious circumstances with Erling Haaland converting from the spot after Marc Cucurella was adjudged to have pulled the Norwegian down.
Chelsea turned the game around when Thiago Silva glanced home Conor Gallagher’s corner at the near post and Raheem Sterling, another City old boy, turned in Reece James’ cross.
But City were level before the break as the unmarked Manuel Akanji headed in Bernardo Silva’s cross.
City went in front again when Haaland scrambled in Julian Alvarez’s cross at the far post two minutes after the restart.
Yet Chelsea again battled back and drew level in the 67th minute, with Nicolas Jackson pouncing after Ederson pushed out Gallagher’s low drive.
Rodri thought he had won it for City when his 86th-minute drive took a wicked deflection, but Palmer kept his nerve to give Chelsea a deserved share of the spoils.
Asked if he had upset friends in Manchester, Palmer told Sky Sports: “Yeah, probably - I know many City fans. But that’s the game, isn’t it?
“Very, very strange, the first time I’ve played against City since I’ve left, but I’ve got the utmost respect for the club that I spent 15 years at.
“It was nice to see some friends. Unlucky not to get the win, but it was another great game.”
Liverpool are up to second, a point behind City, after Mohamed Salah scored twice in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brentford at Anfield.
Salah’s double took him to 200 goals in English football and 10 for the season as the Egyptian claimed a club record by scoring for the sixth successive home game.
The deadlock was broken six minutes before the break when Salah latched onto a pass from Darwin Nunez to finish expertly.
Salah then nodded in from Kostas Tsimikas’ cross just after the hour mark before Diogo Jota rounded off matters with a thumping strike 16 minutes from time.
Aston Villa moved to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham by enjoying a routine 3-1 win over Fulham.
Villa were sent on their way to a 13th consecutive win at home in the top flight for the first time since 1983 when Antonee Robinson deflected Youri Tielemans’ cross into the net.
John McGinn doubled the lead just before the break from outside the box.
Ollie Watkins tapped in substitute Leon Bailey’s cross for his 11th Villa goal of the season before Raul Jimenez’s first Fulham goal provided some consolation for the visitors.
Tomas Soucek grabbed a late winner as West Ham ended a three-game Premier League losing streak by beating Nottingham Forest 3-2 in a see-saw contest at the London Stadium.
Lucas Paqueta’s ruthless finish put the Hammers ahead after three minutes, but Forest levelled moments before the interval when Taiwo Awoniyi tapped into a gaping net after Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort had been pushed out.
Anthony Elanga fired Forest into a 63rd-minute lead before the hosts responded immediately through Jarrod Bowen’s ninth goal of the season.
An entertaining encounter served up more drama two minutes from time as Soucek headed home James Ward-Prowse’s corner.
Brighton were held 1-1 at home by Sheffield United as Adam Webster’s own goal condemned Roberto De Zerbi to his worst league run as Seagulls boss.
Simon Adingra’s brilliant solo run gave Brighton a sixth-minute lead but Mahmoud Dahoud’s 69th-minute red card for stamping on Ben Osborn’s Achilles shifted the momentum.
Five minutes later Webster turned Jayden Bogle’s cross into his own net, and that was enough to take the Blades off the foot of the table at the expense of Burnley.
