Aston Villa defeated Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday to celebrate Unai Emery’s third year as manager with a memorable victory thanks to Matty Cash’s first-half goal.
Following their shock defeat by the Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday, Villa’s victory was their fourth in a row in the Premier League.
Eze Haunts Palace Takes Arsenal’s Title Defense, READ ALSO.
Villa, who moved into seventh place, won third straight at home over City as a result.
Pep Guardiola’s men went nine games without winning in any competition after falling six points clear of Arsenal.
Tijjani Reijnders fired just over the crossbar from the edge of the area in the sixth minute, almost opening the scoring.
However, Villa began to exert themselves on the field, and the 19th minute saw the turning point.
Emiliano Buendia gave the home side a short corner before releasing a low shot across his body that curled into the bottom corner. The home side controlled the ball until the ball reached the edge of the area.
Erling Haaland, a Norwegian striker for Manchester City, reacts during the Aston Villa vs. Manchester City English Premier League game in Birmingham, central England, on October 26, 2025. (Photo by AFP photographer JUSTIN TALLIS)
After Bernardo Silva beat the offside trap, Bernardo Silva hit too close to Emiliano Martinez, who had almost equalized three minutes later.
That was City’s trip to Birmingham’s highlight, with Villa dominating the rest of the match before failing to increase their lead.
John Stones missed a free header with a header from John McGinn from the edge of the box, and Ollie Watkins saw a header blocked from the corner.
McGinn also had a good chance to score early in the second half after hitting a fine strike that was blocked.
After the final whistle of Aston Villa vs. Manchester City’s English Premier League clash against Manchester City at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, on October 26, 2025, Pep Guardiola (R) greets Manchester City’s Brazilian midfielder #26 Savinho (L). (Photo by AFP photographer JUSTIN TALLIS)
City pressed for an equalizer, but Savinho’s fierce shot on the hour was blocked by Pau Torres, who was on the spot to turn over the Brazilian’s second effort.
In the 69th minute, Jadon Sancho had two efforts from a tight angle saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who came on as the injured Buendia’s opening substitute, who could have doubled the lead.
As Arsenal’s top scorers won 1-0 against his former club Crystal Palace on Sunday thanks to their set-piece skill, Eberechi Eze scored their first Premier League goal.
Eze’s late goal at the Emirates Stadium made Arsenal’s recent defeats against title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City complete.
READ MORE: Cucurella Demands A Frustrated Chelsea to Display Killer Instinct
Since joining the Gunners in a £60 million ($79 million) deal in August, the England midfielder had only scored once in ten of his previous starts in all competitions.
Arsenal’s seventh win out of nine league games, which they finished third in the previous three years, added to the growing suspicion that this could be the year they finally break their title drought.
The Premier League’s Mikel Arteta side are four points clear of Bournemouth’s second-placed team, six points ahead of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool.
Following a fourth consecutive top-flight defeat, Liverpool’s title defense was hampered by their 3-2 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.
Arsenal has won seven straight matches in a row while chasing its first English title since 2004 and its first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
This season, the Gunners have only managed three goals in 13 games, including 10 clean sheets.
Declan Rice’s limping in the second half, which was his only concern, was a potential injury that made him unable to play after the break.
When Jean-Philippe Mateta raced clear, Palace threatened to explode in a blaze of glory while Jon Bon Jovi was watching from the stands, but Arsenal were able to halt the danger.
Ismaila Sarr was forced to retreat in a last-ditch block by Saliba because the Palace winger threatened to shock the visitors into the lead.
Eze impact
Eberechi Eze (L) plays the ball for Arsenal against Crystal Palace in the English Premier League at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 26, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)
Apart from those initial panics, Arteta’s men dominated possession as they attempted to break through Palace’s well-drilled defense.
Leandro Trossard’s low drive from just inside the penalty area was well held by Dean Henderson, who had 33 minutes to make it a success.
However, Arsenal were nicknamed “Set-Piece FC” for their skill with free kicks and corners, and they once more made it happen.
After tormenting Atletico Madrid with dead balls in the Champions League match victory, they became the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to score ten goals from set-pieces this season.
In the 39th minute, they increased that total to 11.
After Rice curled a free-kick into the Palace area, Gabriel Magalhaes headed down to Eze, who exhibited impressive technique and guidance with a quick finish past Henderson from 12 yards.
Out of respect for Palace, Eze’s celebration, which he did by raising his arm to the sky and showing little expression on his face, was muted.
At half-time, Saliba was replaced by Cristhian Mosquera, who had just a few minutes to go to double Arsenal’s lead.
Rice, whose close-range shot was well saved by Henderson, was hit off the crossbar by Gabriel’s header.
The Arsenal forward went close by curling a shot that fell just wide when the ball was recycled to Bukayo Saka on the edge of the area.
When Gabriel headed wide from almost on the line, a miss that hurtled Arsenal because he needed medical attention after colliding with the post, Gabriel should have increased Arsenal’s set-piece goal total.
After failing to defeat Sunderland 2-1 on Saturday, Marc Cucurella has urged Chelsea to show a killer instinct.
This season, Enzo Maresca’s side have wasted eight points on top positions, and Chemsdine Talbi’s stoppage-time winner was stolen at Stamford Bridge.
Also read: Newcastle Beat Fulham, Sunderland Stun Chelsea To Go Second, and Sunderland Stun Chelsea.
Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal since joining Manchester United in the fourth minute with a header in the fourth, but the Black Cats equalized through Wilson Isidor in the 22nd minute.
The Blues produced the most recent toothless display in a growing list of players who had been dominating possession for extended periods of time but were unable to regain the lead.
After ending a four-game winning streak in all competitions, Chelsea are languishing in mid-table in the Premier League.
Before winning the Club World Cup, the west Londoners had hoped to build on the momentum gained from reaching the Champions League and winning the UEFA Conference League last year.
Cucurella said they still have work to do, starting with developing a more ruthless edge.
It’s a really difficult one, Cucurella told the website Chelsea. We must continue to improve in these encounters. I believe better game management is something we need to learn.
We led early, and we won the match, but we then let the opponents win. When we are successful, we must learn to kill games.
We must develop our game better when faced with teams with game plans, like Sunderland, who remain compact and narrow. ”
Chelsea were undone by a long throw-in for the second time this season, when Nordi Mukiele’s launch into the six-yard box wreaked havoc and Isidor fired the equalizer.
We are aware that many teams are attempting to use long throws more frequently, and we need to better manage them, Cucurella said.
We worked on them yesterday because we were aware that Sunderland would use long throws and be direct from set pieces.
With a 3-2 victory over Brentford, Liverpool fell to a fourth successive Premier League defeat.
The Bees, who are now 10th in the table, won thanks to goals from Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade, and Igor Thiago.
READ MORE: Cunha Scores First Man Utd Goal In Brighton’s Win Over.
As a result of their spectacular title defense, Liverpool fall to sixth place and could be seven points adrift of Arsenal’s leaders by Sunday.
With a transfer budget of nearly £450 million ($600 million), Arne Slot appears to be lost for ideas on how to build a cohesive team from a Premier League record spend of nearly £450 million ($600 million). The Reds have lost five of their last six games in all competitions.
On October 25, 2025, Brentford’s German midfielder Kevin Schade (second-left) celebrates scoring their second goal for 2-0 against Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium in London. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)
Alexander Isak missed out on a crucial game due to a groin injury, but Mohamed Salah did so on Wednesday, breaking their four-game losing streak, that was decided by Slot.
The long throw-in tactic, which has become common throughout the Premier League this season, has been a staple at Brentford for a long time.
The opening goal came from Michael Kayode’s throw-ins, which Liverpool struggled to control throughout the entire night.
On October 25, 2025, Brentford’s Italian defender Michael Kayode kicks a long ball in during the English Premier League clash between Brentford and Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium in London. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)
Ouattara volleyed in after Kristoffer Ajer flicked on the Italian’s wicked delivery.
Florian Wirtz should have scored his first goal for Liverpool when the £100 million signing fired wide from inside the area. The Liverpool display displayed lifelike flickers.
Liverpool’s collapse
But they remained the greater goal threat despite Brentford’s lack of possession.
Mikkel Damsgaard’s dipping strike was overshadowed by Giorgi Mamardashvili.
With a brilliant through ball, Damsgaard then gave Brentford the lead before Schade left Ibrahima Konate in front before firing low past Mamardashvili.
In six of their nine league games thus far this season, Liverpool have now conceded at least twice.
Milos Kerkez’s struggles since moving to Liverpool for a $40 million have a significant impact on the club’s decline.
Five minutes into the first half, the Hungarian made amends for another shaky performance by turning in Conor Bradley’s cross.
Brentford grew furious after the referee ordered an additional three minutes.
After the final whistle of Brentford vs. Liverpool’s English Premier League game at Gtech Community Stadium in London on October 25, 2025, Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah applauds the fans. (Glyn KIRK/AFP photo)
However, the home side gained when Virgil van Dijk’s kick on Ouattara on the hour mark was punished by a VAR intervention.
Initial reports suggested the Liverpool captain had a free kick, but replays revealed that he had made contact with the area just inside.
After another disjointed and dispirited performance from the defending champions, Thiago sent Mamardashvili the wrong way, leaving Liverpool without a chance to recover.
Sepp van den Berg’s desire to “throw his body in the direction of his shot with the chance to pull a goal back right away” denied Salah.
In the 89th minute, the Egyptian did end his six-game goal drought at club level in spectacular fashion by dominating Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross and striking off the underside of the bar.
Despite conceding his fourth Serie A goal, Kevin de Bruyne suffered a broken wrist, which allowed Napoli to stop their downward trend and advance to the top of the table.
READ MORE: Cunha Scores First Man Utd Goal In Brighton’s Win Over.
When AC Milan and Pisa drew on Friday night, the leadership door was open, moving up 17 points.
Following a timely victory at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli are now one point clear of the leaders.
Napoli had been struggling, losing two of their previous three Serie A games, including a defeat against AC Milan, before coming under pressure with a 6-2 humiliation at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
In front of their own home crowd, they responded.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo was brought down by Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the penalty area after 33 minutes.
Before De Bruyne came up to convert the penalty, Mkhitaryan injured himself during the challenge.
The Belgian’s fourth league goal of his debut for Italy came in this one.
He had already converted a free kick and twice from the penalty spot.
The Belgian, 34, was helped off the field before play started and strained a hamstring after scoring.
Kevin De Bruyne, a Belgian midfielder for Napoli, leaves the field after suffering a penalty kick in the Italian serie A game between Napoli and Inter Milan on October 25, 2025, at the Naples’ Diego Armando Maradona stadium. (Photo by Carlo Hermann/AFP)
After 54 minutes, Scott McTominay hit the ball from the edge of the box to double the lead.
Five minutes later, Lautaro Martinez’s cross was blocked by Alessandro Buongiorno, who had an arm blocked Hakan Calhanoglu’s reflexes.
After 67 minutes, Andre-Frank Anguissa added a third for Napoli.
Inter Milan could share the lead with Napoli in the race to earn a spot spot next to Roma when they travel to Sassuolo on Sunday.
As Ruben Amorim’s revitalized side rolled to a 4-2 victory against Brighton on Saturday following Matthew Cunha’s first goal for Manchester United.
READ MORE: Sunderland vs. Chelsea To Go Second, and Newcastle vs. Fulham
After moving from Wolves to start paying off his £62.5 million ($83 million) transfer fee in the first half, Brazilian forward Cunha scored in the first half to start paying his £62.5 million ($83 million) transfer fee. He has now played eight games without scoring in all competitions.
On October 25, 2025, Manchester United’s Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha (left) scores the opening goal for Brighton and Hove Albion in Manchester, north of England, at Old Trafford. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
Before the break, Casemiro doubled United’s lead, and Bryan Mbeumo scored the winning goal.
For Brighton to salvage a point, it was a late goal from Danny Welbeck against his former club and a stoppage-time effort from Charalampos Kostoulas.
Under Amorim’s successor Erik ten Hag, Mbeumo scored a third successive Premier League victory at the death to give United three straight victories for the first time since February 2024.
United’s confident display was in line with their momentum from last weekend’s win over Liverpool and Sunderland, which were their first victories at Anfield since 2016.
Much-Needed Boost
After a difficult start to the season, Amorim had a much-needed boost thanks to that team’s 2-1 victory over the Premier League champions.
Now that United have won the Premier League, they are now in fourth place ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.
In all competitions, Brighton had won in six of their previous eight games against United and had won in three of those three games.
Despite the absence of Harry Maguire, the match-winning hero, in the injured lineup, United put an end to that shocking sequence.
The Portugal midfielder should have scored the opening goal of the game when Bruno Fernandes, who is now in his 300th game for United, should have signaled the occasion.
Unmarked from close range, United’s captain Fernandes dragged his header wide with the only goal available.
United Clinical
In the 24th minute, Fernandes and Casemiro scored a sweet strike that gave Bart Verbruggen no chance as it raced into the far corner, paying tribute to Amorim’s team’s early barrage.
More than any other Premier League player in any other division has scored seven goals outside of the area since the start of the current season.
In the 34th minute, Casemiro added his Brazilian counterpart to the score sheet.
Casemiro needed a little luck to net for the second time this term if Cunha’s goal was superbly crafted and finished.
Verbruggen was caught wrong-footed as it spooked Brighton’s Yasin Ayari with a wicked deflection from Casemiro’s shot as it scurried uncontrollably over the line.
After posting their worst top-flight performance since 1973-74 last year, United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe recently announced that the under-fire Amorim would receive three years to regain control of the organization.
While some questioned Ratcliffe’s commitment to his word if United kept struggling, Amorim would have been happy to see his employer cheering and clapping as the hosts took control.
At halftime, United had a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford, which is never a Premier League loss.
On October 25, 2025, Manchester United’s Cameroonian midfielder Bryan Mbeumo (right) celebrates scoring his second and fourth goals at Old Trafford in Manchester, North West England, to celebrate his goal at 4-2. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
Mbeumo ensured that statistic would continue when the Cameroon forward scored in the 61st minute to Brighton’s dismay, who claimed Luke Shaw had a foul in the build-up.
Mbeumo’s fourth goal came after his close-season move from Brentford, keeping the momentum up from his previous effort against Liverpool.
United’s nerves began to jangle when Welbeck delivered a superb free kick in the 74th minute.
After James Milner’s corner came in the final few seconds, their hearts began to race even faster.
Mbeumo, however, sprinted onto Fernandes’ pass and fired home via the crossbar with the final kick to quench the growing anxiety.
