Wed | Dec 6, 2023

Wolves end Man City’s perfect start to EPL

Published:Sunday | October 1, 2023 | 12:12 AM
Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips (right), Phil Foden (centre), and Julian Alvarez react after Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan scores his side’s second goal during an English Premier League football match at the Molineux Stadium in Wolverham
AP
Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips (right), Phil Foden (centre), and Julian Alvarez react after Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan scores his side’s second goal during an English Premier League football match at the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England yesterday.

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

MANCHESTER CITY’S perfect start in the Premier League is over after a shock loss to Wolverhampton yesterday, with rivals Tottenham and Arsenal taking full advantage.

City’s lead at the top was cut to one point after it fell to a 2-1 defeat at Molineux, which ended their 100 per cent record in the top flight this season.

Tottenham moved up to second as Joel Matip’s own-goal deep into stoppage time secured a 2-1 win against nine-man Liverpool. Arsenal beat Bournemouth 4-0 and are up to third, behind Spurs on goals scored.

City’s defeat came after Pep Guardiola’s side was knocked out of the English League Cup by Newcastle on Wednesday. It seems the defending champions are counting the cost of Rodri’s three-match suspension in the league after he was sent off against Nottingham Forest last week.

The Spain international still has two more games to serve and will miss the clash with Arsenal at the Emirates next week.

“Rodri is an important player. We cannot count on him,” Guardiola said after Hwang Hee-chan’s 66th-minute winner.

City had gone behind in the 13th through Ruben Dias’ own-goal before Julian Alvarez evened the score in the 58th. But Hwang’s strike secured a famous win for Wolverhampton and ended their four-game winless streak.

That result gave Liverpool the chance to go top with a win at Tottenham later in the day. However, Jurgen Klopp’s team fell to its first loss of the season, after seeing Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota sent off in each half.

Son Heung-min opened the scoring for Spurs in the 36th, but Cody Gakpo equalised just before halftime.

UNBEATEN START

With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Matip put through his own net in the sixth minute of added time to end Liverpool’s seven-game winning run and extend Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten start in the league since taking charge of Spurs in the off-season.

Liverpool also had a goal by Luis Diaz ruled out for offside, prompting referees’ governing body the PGMOL to issue a statement later admitting its mistake.

“This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention. However, the VAR failed to intervene,” it said.

Spurs are looking like the real deal after securing wins against Manchester United and Liverpool at home this season, as well as earning a draw at Arsenal last week.

“We’re still a team in its infancy in terms of the way we want to play, the age and experience of the group,” Postecoglou said.

“Particularly, the manner in which it (the win) happened, it leaves the real impact and impression on everyone involved. Another challenge for us today. We had to cope with a fair few things and show a different side of our game today.”

Yesterday’s Results

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool

Man United 0-1 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-2 Luton

Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal

Wolverhampton 2-1 Man City

West 2-0 Sheffield