(Football news) Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City thrashed Nottingham Forest 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium with new signing Erling Haaland getting a first half hat trick for Pep Guardiola’s team. The Norwegian has now scored nine goals in five appearances with Joao Cancelo and a brace from the other new signing Julian Alvarez securing the three points for City. The victory meant that City remained two points behind league leaders Arsenal who have won every single match in the league so far. 

Speaking after the match, City manager Pep Guardiola said “We have two strikers with incredible quality. They are both incredible finishers and in games like today that is so important. Against teams that will defend deep, having the two guys there who have that incredible smell to score goals will help. I have that feeling that they want to prove themselves to the world in the toughest league in the world. They have that ambition. This is extra energy for all of us." Even him? "A little bit. They change me. They improve me. I have to improve myself in front of them."

League leaders Arsenal maintained their winning streak in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli were enough to secure three points for Mikel Arteta’s team. As for Villa, Steven Gerrard’s team are currently in the relegation zone, having won 1 and lost 4 matches so far and pressure is piling on the Liverpool legend to turn the situation around quickly. The visitors did manage to find the back of the net in the 74th minute through Douglas Luiz but the Gunners struck back just three minutes later through Martinelli.

Speaking after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said “We are winning football matches we deserve to win with the way we are performing and playing. We have to continue. The way we play in the first half, with the amount of chances is really pleasing as a coach. It's the most difficult thing in football to score goals but today we had big chances we didn't put away. The goal of Martinelli is a difficult technique and he managed to hit the target and that gives you a chance. That's the mentality we want to show as a team, to react immediately to disappointments. When you play in front of this crowd that helps because the energy they generate is just amazing."

After a poor start to their season, Liverpool secured back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a narrow win over tricky opponents Newcastle United. All indications pointed towards a 1-1 draw between the two sides as Magpies player Alexander Isak opened the scoring in the 38th minute with Liverpool’s Roberto Firminho getting the equaliser in the 61st minute. However, five minutes of added time was indicated, which was extended by a few more minutes as Nick Pope needed treatment from the physio, which resulted in Fabio Carvalho scoring the winner in the 90 + 8th minute from a corner. Anfield erupted with celebration as Liverpool progressed to the fifth place in the league table but rivals Manchester United are yet to play their game in hand against Leicester City.

Speaking after the match Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said “It's a massive boost from a frustrating night. One of the best nights we ever had, that's how football is. But we have to make sure we use these two days really well. The last two games we got six points, but we have to improve. It will not be that Everton open up for us now. We know it will be tough so we have to be ready. It's a massive result, which we will remember for years and years. We had a 3-2 win at Newcastle once where Divock Origi scored late. I'm not 100 percent sure they all believed until the end – but from now on we have to as we showed again it is possible." 

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