Man City, Brighton, Arsenal share top spot in Premier League

DARREN STAPLES/ AFP

Erling Haaland netted a hat-trick to fire Manchester City to a 4-1 victory over promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday and lift the champions to the top of the Premier League table.

They lead on goal difference from Brighton & Hove Albion, who defeated Manchester United 2-1 with a last-gasp goal, and Arsenal who struck twice late on to earn a gritty 2-0 win at Aston Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur handed last-placed Everton more misery with a 4-0 victory and West Ham earned their first win of the season, 2-0 over Crystal Palace.

Manchester City scored three times in less than four minutes after conceding a shock early goal to crush Ipswich and remain perfect in their quest for a fifth consecutive league title.

Haaland kicked off City's trio of goals in 191 seconds with a penalty in the 12th minute. Kevin De Bruyne netted less than two minutes later and Haaland struck again to all but seal the victory at Etihad Stadium.

"Last season (Haaland) struggled a lot, especially at the beginning," City manager Pep Guardiola said. "He felt tired and niggles most of the time. This time with the rest with no Euros, he has arrived with a good vibe. The numbers are unbelievable."

Brighton earned a dramatic home victory over United at the Amex when Joao Pedro scored in the fifth minute of added time.

Goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey secured Arsenal's win at Villa.

The victory was a measure of revenge after Villa beat the Gunners twice last season, losses that ultimately ended Arsenal's chances of winning the title.

Ollie Watkins missed two gilt-edged chances before substitute Trossard scored in the 67th minute with his first touch and Partey doubled the lead.

"A strong start is always good, especially for the feeling, how you go into a new season," Trossard said.

"It's so early on so it's hard to predict what it's going to be at the end of the season, but it's definitely what we're aiming for, is to win games."

Keeper Jordan Pickford's error and Son Heung-min's brace helped Spurs to a comprehensive 4-0 victory over struggling Everton.

Yves Bissouma and Cristian Romero also scored as Tottenham eased to their first win of the campaign against a visiting side who have conceded seven times in two games.

"The performance was good," Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said. "It's really encouraging for us."

Second-half goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen fired West Ham to victory at Selhurst Park.

The visitors broke the deadlock when Palace struggled to clear the ball and Soucek steered the ball home.

Hammers captain Bowen added the second, latching on to a brilliant pass by Max Kilman before lashing a left-footed shot into the net.

There were more heroics from the goalscorers when West Ham's fans charged down to celebrate Soucek's goal, causing an advertising hoarding to collapse, trapping a ball boy.

Soucek held the hoarding so the child could wriggle out, with Bowen pulling the boy through his teammate's legs to safety.

"I just managed to grab him out as quick as possible, it was just instinct, just to do it," Bowen said.

Leicester City were beaten 2-1 by Fulham and early struggles continued for fellow league newcomers Southampton who lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest.

More from Sports

  • Bencic stuns Rybakina to set up Krueger final

    Belinda Bencic is through to another Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open final after eliminating reigning champion Elena Rybakina in a pulsating contest. The Swiss star will now meet Ashlyn Krueger, who defeated Linda Noskova in straight sets, in Saturday's final.

  • Desert Vipers beat Sharjah Warriorz to reach final

    The Desert Vipers defeated the Sharjah Warriorz in the DP World ILT20 Season 3 Qualifier 2 clash bowling exceptionally well and followed it up with a scintillating batting display to cruise to a seven-wicket win at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

  • Maguire heads Man United into FA Cup fifth round

    Manchester United clawed back from a goal down to beat Leicester City in a 2-1 fourth-round FA Cup victory on Friday at Old Trafford, thanks to a last-gasp controversial header from veteran defender Harry Maguire plus a strike from Joshua Zirkzee.

  • January football transfer spending reaches record levels

    Clubs worldwide spent a record $2.35 billion on international transfers in men's soccer in the January window, nearly a 58 per cent increase from last year, world soccer's governing body FIFA said in a study published on Friday.

  • FIFA suspends Congo Republic, Pakistan

    FIFA has suspended the Congo Republic's football association (FECOFOOT) and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), barring both from international competitions, the world soccer's governing body has said.

News

  • H.H. Sheikh Mohammed to honour Arab Hope Makers

    His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai will meet with a group of young humanitarians at a ceremony on February 23, as part of the Arab Hope Makers initiative.

  • UAE Floating Hospital admits 30 Palestinians since ceasefire

    The UAE Floating Hospital in Al-Arish has admitted around 30 patients from Gaza since the start of the ceasefire and the resumption of medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing, as part of the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.

  • UAE condemns school shooting in Sweden

    The UAE on Friday strongly condemned a shooting at an adult education centre in Sweden that killed 11 people, expressing solidarity with the victims' families.