Manchester City marked Pep Guardiola’s 1,000th game as a manager in style with a 3-0 victory over Liverpool, reigniting their Premier League title challenge on Sunday. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest earned a crucial 3-1 win over Leeds United to boost their survival bid.
At the Etihad Stadium, City dominated from start to finish despite an early setback. Erling Haaland missed a penalty in the 12th minute after VAR ruled that Jeremy Doku had been fouled by Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The keeper redeemed himself by saving Haaland’s spot-kick, but the Norwegian striker quickly bounced back to open the scoring in the 29th minute, heading home from a 20-pass build-up that showcased City’s trademark fluid football.
The goal marked Haaland’s 99th Premier League strike since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and his 19th goal of the season in all competitions.
Liverpool thought they had drawn level when Virgil van Dijk scored late in the first half, but VAR controversially ruled it out for offside against Andrew Robertson. Moments later, Nico Gonzalez doubled City’s lead with a powerful long-range shot that deflected off Van Dijk in stoppage time.
Doku, who was outstanding throughout, sealed the victory in the 63rd minute with a curling strike from 25 yards, completing a statement win for Guardiola’s side.
The result leaves City second in the table, just four points behind leaders Arsenal, who dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Sunderland on Saturday. Liverpool, meanwhile, slipped further down to eighth place, losing seven of their last ten matches across all competitions.
Guardiola, celebrating another milestone in his 17-year managerial career, now boasts 716 career wins spanning his time at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
Forest Revive Survival Hopes
At the City Ground, Nottingham Forest ended their nine-match winless run with a 3-1 comeback victory over Leeds United — their first league win since August.
Leeds took an early lead through Lukas Nmecha in the 13th minute, but Ibrahim Sangare equalised just two minutes later. Morgan Gibbs-White then headed Forest ahead in the 68th minute before Elliot Anderson sealed the result with a stoppage-time penalty.
This crucial win — Forest’s first under new manager Sean Dyche — lifted them to within a point of safety. The club has endured a turbulent season, with Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou both dismissed before Dyche’s appointment.
Elsewhere in the Premier League
At Villa Park, Aston Villa continued their strong run with a 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth. First-half goals from Emiliano Buendia and Amadou Onana put Villa in control before Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen added two more after the break. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo missed a penalty saved by Emiliano Martínez, capping a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.
Newcastle United’s away woes deepened after a 3-1 loss to Brentford. Harvey Barnes put the Magpies ahead in the 27th minute, but Kevin Schade equalised before Dan Burn was sent off for conceding a penalty. Igor Thiago converted from the spot and scored again in stoppage time to seal Brentford’s win. Newcastle have now gone nine away league games without a win since April and sit 14th in the table.
At Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace and Brighton played out a goalless draw, leaving both clubs comfortably mid-table.
