Liverpool shocked by Forest as Erling Haaland scores another brace in Man City triumph.

LIVERPOOL - Both teams with their eyes set on the title faced an early setback as they fell behind at home, but only one was able to rally back and secure the top spot in the English Premier League on Sept 14.

Manchester City went behind in the first minute to Brentford from a Yoane Wissa strike, but a brace from in-form hitman Erling Haaland gave the champions a 2-1 win at Etihad Stadium and a perfect start to the season, while Arne Slot suffered his first loss as Liverpool manager after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal handed Nottingham Forest a 1-0 victory at Anfield.

It was Forest’s first away league win against Liverpool in 55 years.

The shock win, incredibly, lifted Nuno Espirito Santo’s unbeaten side to fourth on eight points, ahead of Aston Villa’s meeting with Everton, and Chelsea’s visit to Bournemouth, with the results of both matches not available at press time.

The Reds dominated the opening half and Colombia winger Luis Diaz hit a post in the 17th minute, but too often the Liverpool attackers found themselves on different wavelengths, and much of their play lacked their usual fluidity as chances went begging.

Two minutes later, forward Mohamed Salah crossed beautifully with the outside of his left boot for midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to head just wide as Liverpool increased the pressure.

In truth though, Salah was being well-shackled by Forest fullback Alex Moreno, who was relentless in his pursuit of the Egyptian before being replaced late on.

Their 14 shots at goal – five on target – were a sign of the home side’s obvious control but, unlike the opening three weeks of the campaign where they scored seven times, they were unable to convert such superiority into goals.

Their wastefulness was punished in the 72nd minute as Anthony Elanga found his fellow substitute Hudson-Odoi with a brilliant cross-field ball, and the 23-year-old winger cut inside before curling a tremendous effort past goalkeeper Alisson Becker from 20 metres.

Having convincingly won all of their opening three league games under Slot without conceding a goal, Liverpool looked bereft of ideas as they sought to stage a comeback. A Virgil van Dijk header from a corner that flew over was the closest they came to an equaliser.

Over at the Etihad, John Stones was recalled by Pep Guardiola for his first club start of the season but the England international’s poor clearance teed up Wissa to open the scoring after just 22 seconds. It was the fastest goal of the season.

However, Haaland restored parity in the 19th minute when he scored from a tight angle with just his second touch of the game.

The 24-year-old Norwegian then made it 2-1 when goalkeeper Ederson booted the ball upfield where Haaland outmuscled Bees defender Ethan Pinnock and chipped the ball past Mark Flekken for his ninth goal of the season.

As Haaland searched for that third goal, which would have made him the first player to score hat-tricks in three straight Premier League games, Flekken made several saves to deny the league’s top scorer but City held on to seal the three points. , AFP