New-look Manchester City overcame a spirited challenge from Coventry on Saturday courtesy of an Erling Haaland goal to stay perfect in the Premier League, as blunt Tottenham were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest. Enzo Maresca is now the man in the Etihad hotseat after the emotional departure of long-serving Pep Guardiola, while there has been significant churn among the playing staff. One of the new arrivals, Enzo Fernandez, played a major part in City’s opener, feeding Antoine Semenyo, who crossed for Erling Haaland to head home his third goal of the season.
Former Chelsea midfielder Fernandez arrived on transfer deadline day in a 125 million pound ($170 million) deal, which equalled the British record.
Table-topping City have now won all three of their Premier League matches this season ahead of next week’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford. Maresca handed his former charge at Chelsea a start after Nico O’Reilly sustained an injury in the warm-up, while fellow new signing Iliman Ndiaye also made his debut for the club. They travelled to the City Ground, after defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, to face a team which twice beat them heavily last season, and still searching for their first Premier League goal of the new campaign.
Vitaly Janelt opened the scoring for high-flying Brentford against Sunderland but Enzo Le Fee levelled from the penalty spot late in the game to force a 1-1 draw. Leeds drew 1-1 at Brighton while Tyrick Mitchell scored two goals as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to earn a 3-2 win at Fulham, with Ben Chilwell scoring the winner.
