With the clock ticking toward the 90-minute mark, Darwin Nunez turned what seemed like a mundane afternoon into a dazzling spectacle, netting two late goals to clinch a 2-0 victory for Liverpool at Brentford. A performance brimming with drama brought Liverpool back to the summit of the Premier League, stretching their lead to a comfortable six-point margin this Saturday.
The match almost wrapped up with no goals on the scoreboard, despite a flurry of attempts from both teams. Brentford’s defense stood as firm as a rock until they encountered Nunez’s wizardry. Capitalizing on a sharp low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the dying embers of regulation time, the Uruguayan striker steered the ball gracefully past goalkeeper Mark Flekken, unleashing a thunderous ripple among the fans.
Brentford had admirably held their ground throughout the game, yet that tenacity quickly unraveled after Nunez’s breakthrough. Barely a blink later, he hammered home his second of the day following a deft pass from Harvey Elliott, sending the travelling Liverpool fans into euphoria and sealing a commanding 2-0 triumph.
With Liverpool basking in the glow of victory, the pressure stealthily shifted to Arsenal, poised to welcome Aston Villa under the lights. The Gunners, guided by the charismatic Mikel Arteta, were quick off the mark against their visitors, with emotions mingling in the air as they went head-to-head with Unai Emery, once cherished at Arsenal’s helm.
The electric Gabriel Martinelli, seizing a clever ball from Leandro Trossard, ignited hope at the Emirates with a tantalizing strike in the 35th minute. Arsenal’s dominance only intensified with Kai Havertz doubling their lead as the second half gained momentum, thrusting Villa onto the back foot.
Yet, football, ever the fickle friend, had another twist in store. Just five minutes post-Arsenal’s second, Youri Tielemans launched himself at a pinpoint Lucas Digne cross to hand Villa a glimmer of optimism. And as if that weren’t enough, Ollie Watkins leveled things up with a splendid volley from Matty Cash’s delivery, leaving Arsenal manager Arteta gesticulating wildly on the sidelines.
Could Arsenal reclaim the advantage in this topsy-turvy encounter? There was certainly time, and Mikel Merino thought he’d delivered the final blow for Arsenal. However, an initially euphoric cry quickly turned to despair as the goal was chalked off due to Kai Havertz’s unintentional handball—an outcome that quashed Arsenal’s hopes of clinching the win.
The day began with Newcastle United’s aspirations of a record-setting 10th successive win being rudely squashed by a ferocious Bournemouth side. In a grand showcase of skill and flair, Justin Kluivert tormented the Newcastle defense, notching a dazzling hat-trick and later laying the groundwork for a flashy finish by Milos Kerkez. The match ended emphatically at 4-1.
Kluivert wasted no time, hitting the target just six minutes into the game following a slick play from Antoine Semenyo. Bruno Guimaraes responded for Newcastle with a well-timed strike off a corner, but Kluivert pounced on an error from Guimaraes to restore Bournemouth’s lead before completing his stunning hat-trick in the 92nd minute.
Meanwhile, Leicester City continued their woeful run, suffering a crushing seventh consecutive defeat under the watch of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Their 2-0 downfall at home to Fulham was orchestrated by the deft feet of Harry Wilson, whose crosses created golden opportunities for teammates Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traore to find the net. Smith Rowe’s precision header and Traore’s pleasing volley illustrated Fulham’s clinical edge.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace secured an uplifting 2-0 victory over West Ham, vaulting them ahead in the league table. The hero of the hour, Jean-Philippe Mateta, took center stage, launching a sublime long-range effort from 25 meters, courtesy of a clever pass from Eberechi Eze. As the game lingered in its twilight minutes, Mateta was cool as a cucumber, converting from the penalty spot after Eddie Nketiah was clumsily brought down by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, cementing Palace’s rise and leaving West Ham clutching at straws.
Report by Axadle
