Premier League Roundup: Manchester City Bounce Back Without Haaland As Manchester United Secure Huge Victory Over Arsenal

The Premier League delivered another gripping weekend defined by tactical gambles, late drama, managerial pressure, and shifting fortunes in the title and relegation battles.

‎Manchester City rediscovered their rhythm without Erling Haaland, Liverpool suffered a devastating collapse, and Manchester United continued its resurgence under Michael Carrick.

‎Here is a detailed breakdown of all the major matches and narratives.

‎A Victory Without Haaland

‎Pep Guardiola made the boldest call of the weekend by dropping Erling Haaland to the bench after a poor run of form, and Manchester City responded with a composed and dynamic 2–0 win over Wolverhampton.

‎With Haaland absent from the starting lineup, Guardiola introduced a more fluid frontline. Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo operated as high, aggressive wingers in a slightly altered structure designed to stretch Wolves’ back line.

‎The change paid off almost immediately. Marmoush scored the opener with a clever finish, while Semenyo doubled the advantage before halftime.

‎The Ghanaian winger, who joined from Bournemouth in an $87 million deal, nearly added another when he struck the crossbar in the second half.

‎City were also strengthened defensively by the introduction of Marc Guehi, who made his debut after signing from Crystal Palace. His composure and positioning helped stabilize a back line that had struggled badly during defeats to Manchester United and Bodø/Glimt in the previous week.

‎Haaland entered the match in the 73rd minute but never found a clear scoring opportunity. With a crucial Champions League fixture against Galatasaray approaching, Guardiola now faces a genuine selection dilemma, maintain the dynamic front line or recall the Norwegian striker.

‎The match was not without controversy. Referee Farai Hallam, officiating his first Premier League fixture, denied City a penalty despite a clear handball shout involving Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera.

‎Even after a VAR review, Hallam stuck to his original decision, prompting visible anger from Guardiola on the sidelines.

‎The win moved City within four points of Arsenal and restored momentum after a turbulent run.

‎A Last-Minute Collapse for Liverpool

‎Liverpool’s 13-game unbeaten streak ended heartbreakingly as Bournemouth sealed a 3–2 victory with almost the final kick of the game.

‎The match was a rollercoaster from start to finish, but the final moments exposed the fatigue and fragility that had been lurking beneath Liverpool’s recent results.

‎After falling 2–0 behind, Liverpool mounted a spirited fightback.

‎Virgil van Dijk halved the deficit, and Dominik Szoboszlai produced a superb curling free-kick to level the match with ten minutes remaining. The comeback should have been enough to secure a point, but Liverpool crumbled in stoppage time when Amine Adli bundled in a late winner for the hosts.

‎The defeat revealed troubling issues for Arne Slot’s side. Already depleted in defense, Liverpool suffered another setback when Joe Gomez hobbled off, forcing Wataru Endo to drop into the back line.

‎With long-term injuries to Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni, and Conor Bradley, Slot finds himself with very few reliable options in key positions.

‎Slot attributed the late collapse to fatigue, noting that his players were physically spent in the final stages.

‎Despite spending nearly £450 million in the summer, Liverpool remain thin in certain areas, and Slot does not expect additional signings before the transfer window closes.

‎With the team winless in five league matches and slipping to sixth place behind Manchester United and Chelsea, their Champions League hopes are in jeopardy.

‎Carrick’s Perfect Start Continues

‎Michael Carrick’s return to Old Trafford could not have begun more impressively. After guiding Manchester United to victory over Manchester City in his first match, he followed that with an exhilarating 3–2 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

‎The result not only boosted United into the top four but also pulled Manchester City and Aston Villa back into the title race, halting Arsenal’s march toward their first title in 22 years.

‎Carrick inherited a team that had won just once in seven matches, yet he has quickly instilled structure, energy, and confidence. His tactical approach against Arsenal was bold and effective.

‎United attacked with purpose, pressed intelligently, and stayed compact in defense despite Arsenal’s constant pressure.

‎Although Carrick has urged caution, reminding supporters that two wins are not enough to draw long-term conclusions, the transformation is undeniable.

‎Comparisons to Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s early success are inevitable, but the difference now is the quality of performances. Carrick’s United look organized and intentional, not simply inspired by momentum.

‎With United back in the top four and rediscovering belief, Carrick’s appointment could prove one of the season’s turning points.

‎Survival Momentum Builds

‎West Ham continued their resurgence with a 3–1 win over Sunderland, strengthening their push to climb out of the relegation zone.

‎After ending a long winless streak with a victory against Tottenham the previous weekend, West Ham capitalized on their renewed confidence and produced an energetic first half that effectively decided the match.

‎Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring with a well-taken header, Jarrod Bowen converted from the penalty spot, and Mateus Fernandes added a spectacular long-range effort to make it 3–0 before halftime.

‎Sunderland responded through Brian Brobbey in the second half, but West Ham remained disciplined and ensured the points stayed in London.

‎Despite still sitting in the bottom three, West Ham are now only two points behind Nottingham Forest, who play Brentford next. Momentum is finally building at just the right time.

‎Frank Under Fire

‎The pressure surrounding Thomas Frank intensified as Tottenham were held to a 2–2 draw by Burnley. Cristian Romero’s emphatic header salvaged a point for Spurs, but it wasn’t enough to quell the anger of the travelling supporters, who once again called for the manager to be dismissed.

‎Spurs have managed just two wins in their last fourteen league games, dropping to 14th and leaving supporters increasingly frustrated.

‎Frank maintains that he and his staff are working tirelessly to reverse the slump, but the mood around the club continues to sour.

‎With results showing no real improvement, his tenure now feels dangerously close to its breaking point.