Man. City return to Premier League summit as football mourns Bobby Charlton

Manchester City beat Brighton 2-1 on Saturday to return to the Premier League summit on a day when the action on the pitch was overshadowed by the death of England World Cup winner Bobby Charlton.

Charlton’s family announced that the former midfielder, who scored 49 international goals, had “passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning” at the age of 86.

Tributes poured in from across the football world, with former England captain David Beckham praising the Manchester United great as a “national hero”.

City manager Pep Guardiola also expressed his condolences after the champions held on to beat Brighton at the Etihad.

“I am sorry to the Manchester United family and England,” he said. “Next week, when we go there, we will be present to make a tribute.

“I love this country for many things but one of the things is how they take care of the legends.”

City’s hard-fought win meant they leapfrogged Liverpool, who briefly topped the table after their 2-0 victory against neighbours Everton in the early kick-off.

Arsenal missed the chance to end the day in top spot but recovered from 2-0 down against Chelsea to draw 2-2 and are behind City only on goal difference.

City’s win was their 21st consecutive victory at the Etihad in all competitions, setting a new record for a winning run at home by a Premier League club.

The treble winners, who had lost their previous two league games, dominated the first half, taking an early lead through Julian Alvarez.

Erling Haaland ended his brief drought by doubling City’s lead 12 minutes later, driving home a fierce left-footed shot from just outside the area—his ninth Premier League goal of the season.

But it was a different story after the break. Ansu Fati pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute to heap the pressure on the home team, who held on despite the sending off of defender Manuel Akanji.

Liverpool’s derby dominance

Liverpool had fortune on their side against Everton at Anfield, where Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 2-0 victory.

Everton’s Ashley Young was sent off before half-time for two bookable offences, while Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate escaped a second booking in the second half with the game still goalless.

The home side struggled to make their man advantage count, but finally achieved the breakthrough 15 minutes from time when Salah smashed home from the penalty spot after Michael Keane handled.

The Egypt forward was then teed up by Darwin Nunez to make the points safe deep into stoppage time.

Everton manager Sean Dyche was angry about the decision not to send Konate off and even Klopp said he could understand Dyche’s frustration.

Arsenal travelled to Chelsea in high spirits for the early evening kick-off, without a defeat at Stamford Bridge in the league since 2018.

Chelsea appeared were on course for their third straight league win after goals from Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk put them 2-0 up.

But Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice halved the deficit in the 77th minute, finishing from outside the box after Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez misplaced a pass straight into his path, and Leandro Trossard equalised.

Newcastle, whose early-season struggles are now a distant memory, romped to a 4-0 win against sorry Crystal Palace, with goals from Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson.

The win, their fourth in five Premier League matches, lifts Eddie Howe’s men to fifth in the Premier League.

Brentford beat Burnley 3-0 while Wolves came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Sasa Kalajdzic.

Luton recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United play bottom club Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the late kick-off, in what will be an emotional fixture following Charlton’s death.

Tottenham, who started the day at the top of the table, are not in action until Monday, when they host Fulham.