But on the grass, they have made a perfect start, with seven successive league victories marking their best opening to a Premier League season. Erling Haaland starred with a double as Premier League leaders Manchester City beat Ipswich 3-2, while Liverpool came from behind to seal a 2-1 win at Brentford on Saturday. City are in turmoil off the pitch after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules.
City, who are appealing against the guilty verdict after branding it a “Premier League conspiracy”, sit six points clear of champions Arsenal.
Phil Foden put Maresca’s men ahead in the 19th minute with a sharp turn and finish after Jeremy Doku’s incisive run prised open the Ipswich defence. Foden’s first goal this season was followed by an Ipswich equaliser in the 21st minute when Daizen Maeda evaded Marc Guehi to fire home. Haaland restored City’s lead in the 34th minute with a pin-point header from Mateo Kovacic’s cross. Haaland killed off Ipswich in the 69th minute, sprinting onto Iliman Ndiaye’s pass and steering his shot past Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton. It was the Norway striker’s 12th goal in his last eight City appearances. Zian Flemming’s 90th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul by Guehi, set up a tense finale but City held on. Alexander Isak blasted Liverpool’s winner in the 70th minute after Barcola teed up the Sweden striker for his fifth goal this term.
Fulham won for the first time in the league this season as Alex Iwobi’s 33rd-minute goal clinched a 1-0 victory against Hull at Craven Cottage.
