Manchester City's perfect Premier League start lasted seven games. On Saturday at Villa Park it ended in the way Unai Emery's side have made a habit of ending City visits: Nicolas Jackson scored twice, Aston Villa won 2-1, and the champions-elect of August were suddenly only top on goal difference.
By Sunday night the weekend had a second shock. Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick's Manchester United dropped to 16th, and the table after matchweek eight has Arsenal level with City on 21 points. Tonight, in a different argument about the game's best player, London hosts the Ballon d'Or, with Harry Kane the favourite.
Saturday: Jackson, then the champions respond
Jackson opened the scoring in the sixth minute after John McGinn punished a heavy touch by Marc Guehi and played him in. Erling Haaland, scoring in a seventh consecutive league game, headed Iliman Ndiaye's cross past the Villa goalkeeper in the 52nd minute. Parity lasted eight minutes. Ibrahim Mbaye's low cross was met first time by Jackson, and the shot went in under Gianluigi Donnarumma. A late Haaland header was cleared by Ian Maatsen. Attendance was 36,743. It was Villa's first home league win of the season, a fourth successive win over City at Villa Park, and it fell on the fourth anniversary of Emery's appointment.
Arsenal did not waste the invitation. In the rain at the Emirates, Ezri Konsa bundled in Martin Odegaard's corner in the seventh minute, his first goal for the club and Arsenal's first set-piece goal in 13 matches. Gabriel headed the second in the 68th minute on his 200th Premier League appearance, from a Ben White cross on White's 200th appearance for Arsenal. Everton were beaten 2-0 in front of 60,207. Mikel Arteta's side, the defending champions, are level with City on points. Goal difference is all that keeps Enzo Maresca's team above them. City have scored 20 and conceded nine. Arsenal have scored 13 and conceded five.
The late kick-off belonged to Tottenham. At Stamford Bridge, Mike Penders, starting in the league for the first time with Emiliano Martinez injured, punched a corner into his own net in the 77th minute. Cole Palmer was sent off three minutes later, a second yellow for a late challenge on Conor Gallagher. Mathys Tel settled it in the 87th, running from inside his own half and finishing low. Chelsea 0, Tottenham 2. It was Spurs' first league win at the Bridge since a 3-1 under Mauricio Pochettino in 2017-18, and only their second league win in their last 37 visits.
Earlier, Oscar Bobb's second-half strike gave Fulham a 1-0 win at Coventry, a second league win in a row for Marco Silva's side and another bleak afternoon for a team now level on six points with Nottingham Forest.
Sunday: Old Trafford, Anfield, a point for the bottom club
Bournemouth were two up at Old Trafford before the interval. Rayan scored in the 38th minute, Marcus Tavernier in the 43rd, and Evanilson added a third in the 71st. United are 16th, on seven points from eight games. Bruno Fernandes was left out, the club said for footballing reasons. Carrick, appointed to steady a squad that had already been humiliated by Como in midweek Europe, is now being discussed in the language of a managerial vacancy. Eight games is early. Three defeats, four draws and a home thrashing by Bournemouth is a record that chairmen notice.
Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 and moved to fourth, a point behind the Seagulls. Pascal Gross turned the ball into his own net in the 17th minute and Alexander Isak scored four minutes later, set up by Bradley Barcola. Brighton stay third on 16 points, their goal difference still the best in the division, but the free-scoring run that had carried them has a first serious check.
Newcastle won 2-0 at Crystal Palace, William Osula in the 48th minute and Harvey Barnes in the 58th, and climbed into the top half. Hull City and Brentford drew 1-1, Oli McBurnie's penalty cancelled out by Dango Ouattara. Sunderland and Leeds drew 0-0 at the Stadium of Light, attendance 46,182. Sunderland stay bottom on five points. Leeds are seventh on 11.
Premier League After Matchweek Eight
- Manchester City, 21 points, top on goal difference. Arsenal, 21 points.
- Brighton 16, Liverpool 15, Chelsea 13.
- Aston Villa, Newcastle, Brentford and Leeds are packed on 11 points.
- Bournemouth up to 13th on nine points. Manchester United 16th on seven.
- Sunderland remain bottom on five points.
What the table is saying
City are still the team with the most goals. They are no longer the team that does not lose. Arsenal look more like last season's champions: a set piece, a clean sheet, and a game managed rather than chased. Liverpool have a striker scoring again and a place in the top four. Chelsea have a red card, a home defeat to a neighbour, and a goalkeeper making his first league start who will not forget the punch.
The Monday question is at Old Trafford, and it will not wait for the international break. If you want the fixture that set this weekend up, our matchweek preview still reads as a list of the right worries. For the individual prize being handed out in the West End tonight, Kane, Yamal and Mbappe are the names on the card.