Manchester United dropped a further two points in the Premier League race to stand at eighth position in the table having earned a possible 15 out of 30 available points. Under Jose Mourinho, United have now gotten off to their second worst start ever in the Premier League era.
In Louis Van Gaal's first season, 2014/15, United had 13 points after 10 games but went on to finish fourth with 70 points.
After a win in the midweek Manchester derby in the League Cup, supporters were left frustrated by their team's inability to convert any of their 37 shots, their highest in any game in the last six seasons, as United old boy Tom Heaton pulled off an incredible 11 saves, four each from Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as newly-promoted Burnley came away from Old Trafford with a spectacular point.
On a day where 20 goals were scored in the other six games, the top three of the Premier League kept pace with each other scoring four goals in convincing wins. Only goal difference separates Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table.
What's wrong with Zlatan?
The 35-year old Swede, prolific for PSG last year, is suffering his worst goal drought in almost 9 years. Having played the full 90 minutes in United's last six league games, Ibrahimovic has now taken 35 shots without scoring or assisting a single goal in that time.
Zlatan appeared selfish at times and frustrated on other occasions, and had chances throughout, starting with the first minute and should have at least hit the target from Paul Pogba's delightful cross in the 90th minute.
United were in general wasteful and Ander Herrera's second-half dismissal for a second yellow just added to Mourinho's woes who was sent to the stands for a confrontation with the officials.
With 72% possession, 37 shots, 11 of which were on target and 19 corners, United had nothing to show for their dominance and watched their team earn only their sixth point in seven games, already having dropped seven points against the likes of Watford, Burnley and Stoke City, the latter two earning draws at Old Trafford.
Liverpool continue on their merry way
There is never a dull moment under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The Reds survived a defensive howler, two occasions of the ball hitting the frame of the goal, Sadio Mane missing a sitter among others as their attacking power proved too much for Crystal Palace to handle in the game of the night at Selhurst Park.
Klopp's men could have had eight or nine goals as Philipe Coutinho put on a majestic show, bagging two assists on a night where the little Brazilian was all over the pitch, pulling the strings for Liverpool to overwhelm the opposition with a blistering first half display.
Emre Can got the ball rolling as he made no mistake stabbing in Alberto Moreno's cross but Crystal Palace equalised as Dejan Lovren's mistake let James McArthur equalise with a header over the head of stranded Liverpool keeper Loris Karius.
Liverpool took the lead again as Lovren atoned for his mistake heading in Coutinho's corner but it was McArthur who put Palace level with a header, out-jumping Lovren on this occasion. Joel Matip put the visitors ahead again with a firm header which flew past Palace keeper Steve Mandanda.
It was Roberto Firmino who had the final say as the Brazilian dinked Jordan Henderson's through ball past Steve Mandanda to seal the three points for Liverpool who have now scored the highest number of goals in the division (24) and conceded the second highest number of goals of the top 10, one less than Bournemouth who have let in 14 goals in their 10 games so far.
Aguero and Gundogan double seals City victory
A pair of goals each from Sergio "Kun" Aguero and summer signing Ilkay Gundogan helped ease the pressure on Pep Guardiola who secured his first victory in the last seven games in charge of Manchester City.
City ran out 4-0 winners over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns as Aguero scored his first from a tight angled finish after Gundogan had passed him the ball inside the box. His second was even better as Aguero received the ball with his back to the goal 20 yards out, and the Argentine let fly as he swivelled with the ball hitting the top right corner, giving Ben Foster no chance.
Aguero repaid the favour by teeing up Gundogan, the German international making no mistake with his finish. His second wrapped up the game for City, driving substitute Kevin de Bruyne's through ball past Foster.
Spurs drop points at home
Tottenham secured a third draw in a row which would have left boss Mauricio Pochettino frustrated with Spurs dropping two points in a 1-1 encounter with Leicester City at home.
Vincent Janssen went close to opening the scoring when he hit the frame of the goal. Minutes later, he was hauled down by Robert Huth who gave away a penalty. Janssen made no mistake with his penalty as Spurs drew first blood before half-time.
Leicester equalised in the second half when Ahmed Musa tapped in Jamie Vardy's cross to level things up for Leicester. Jan Vertonghen, who was immense in defence, hit Leicester's crossbar late on but the defending champions hung on to earn a point at White Hart Lane.
The Scores:
- Sunderland 1 (Jermaine Defoe penalty) lose to Arsenal 4 (Alexis Sanchez X 2, Olivier Giroud X 2)
- Manchester United 0 draw with Burnley 0
- Middlesbrough 2 (Gaston Ramirez, Stuart Downing) beat AFC Bournemouth 0
- Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Vincent Janssen penalty) draw with Leicester City 1 (Ahmed Musa)
- Watford 1 (Michael Dawson own goal) beat Hull City 0
- West Bromwich Albion 0 lose to Manchester City 4 (Sergio Aguero X 2, Ilkay Gundogan X 2)
- Crystal Palace 2 (James McArthur X 2) lose to Liverpool 4 (Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Roberto Firmino)
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