Football

Chelsea's inconsistent start to the season continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, while Newcastle United secured a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, despite a significant summer overhaul, have managed only one win in their first three league matches. After a disappointing loss to Manchester City in the opening weekend, Chelsea bounced back with a 6-2 triumph at Wolves. However, their UEFA Conference League campaign began with a 2-1 defeat to Servette on Thursday.Despite the inconsistent results, Maresca remains confident in his team's progress. The arrival of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United was the final piece in Chelsea's summer rebuild, and the winger was introduced to the crowd before the Palace match.Chelsea took the lead in the 25th minute when Nicolas Jackson converted a pass from Cole Palmer. However, Palace refused to be disheartened and equalized in the 53rd minute through a superb curling finish from Eberechi Eze.At St James' Park, Newcastle took the lead in spectacular fashion when Harvey Barnes unleashed a sublime volley into the far corner. Tottenham equalized through an own goal by Dan Burn, but Newcastle regained the lead in the 78th minute when Alexander Isak tapped in a pass from Joelinton.Newcastle's second win in three league games condemned Tottenham to their first defeat of the season. The north London derby against Arsenal awaits Tottenham after the international break.Meanwhile, Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford for a highly anticipated clash with Manchester United on Sunday. Reds boss Arne Slot will experience his first taste of the bitter rivalry with United, while Erik ten Hag faces pressure after United's defeat at Brighton last weekend.

Manchester United, seeking redemption after a disappointing loss to Brighton and Hove Albion, will face a formidable challenge against Liverpool in a highly anticipated Premier League clash on Sunday, September 1. Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, has enjoyed a perfect start to the season, securing victories over Ipswich and Brentford without conceding a single goal.Erik ten Hag's Manchester United, on the other hand, endured a setback last week after their narrow opening-day win over Fulham. The Red Devils will be eager to bounce back and prove their mettle against one of the league's most formidable opponents.Liverpool's impressive start has been built on a solid defensive foundation, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker yet to be breached. The Reds' attacking prowess has also been on display, with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz all contributing to their early success.Manchester United, meanwhile, will need to find a way to break down Liverpool's resolute defense. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, will be under pressure to deliver for his team. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford will also be key figures in United's attack.The match will be played at Old Trafford, Manchester, and will kick off at 8:30 PM IST. It will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.With both teams desperate for a positive result, the stage is set for an enthralling encounter that could have significant implications for the Premier League title race.

Manchester City's relentless pursuit of the Premier League title continues unabated, as Erling Haaland's prolific goalscoring form has propelled the reigning champions to the top of the standings. With three games played, City boasts a perfect record and a two-point advantage over Arsenal, who dropped points in a frustrating draw against Brighton.Haaland's impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. The Norwegian striker has netted seven goals in three games, including two hat tricks. His latest treble came in City's 3-1 victory over West Ham, where he showcased his diverse finishing skills. Haaland's first goal was a clinical low shot, while his second was a thunderous strike into the roof of the net. He completed his hat trick with a composed finish after a through ball.Haaland's goalscoring prowess has made it increasingly difficult for opponents to keep pace with City. His eight Premier League hat tricks equal the combined tally of Thierry Henry, Harry Kane, and Michael Owen. Moreover, this was his first away hat trick for City, demonstrating his ability to perform on any stage.Arsenal's title challenge suffered a setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton. The Gunners took the lead through Kai Havertz but were reduced to 10 men in the second half when Declan Rice was sent off for a controversial foul. Brighton capitalized on the numerical advantage and equalized through Joao Pedro.Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was furious with the refereeing decision, claiming that similar offenses had gone unpunished earlier in the game. The draw leaves Arsenal with four points from three games, while Brighton earned their first point of the season.Elsewhere, Everton's dismal start to the season continued with a humiliating 3-2 home defeat to Bournemouth. The Toffees took an early lead but collapsed in the final minutes, conceding three goals in quick succession. Bournemouth's victory moved them to five points, while Everton remains rooted to the bottom of the table with no points.Brentford showed their resilience without Ivan Toney, who completed a move to Saudi Arabia on deadline day. Bryan Mbuemo stepped up in Toney's absence, scoring two goals in Brentford's 3-1 win over Southampton.In other matches, Aston Villa edged out Leicester 2-1, promoted Ipswich earned their first point with a 1-1 draw against Fulham, and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1 at home against Wolves.

Erling Haaland's relentless scoring prowess propelled Manchester City to the summit of the Premier League with a second consecutive hat-trick in a 3-1 triumph over West Ham United on Saturday. The Norwegian sensation, who terrorized Ipswich Town last weekend, repeated his treble feat to amass an astonishing 70 goals in just 69 Premier League appearances since joining City from Borussia Dortmund.City's title defense has commenced with an ominous display, leaving their rivals in awe after securing four consecutive league crowns. The English champions stand alone as the only team to emerge victorious in all three opening fixtures, largely due to Haaland's electrifying start."There are no words for him. All we can do is help him improve and provide him with as many chances as possible," said Pep Guardiola, City's manager.Guardiola enjoyed the luxury of resting key players Rodri, John Stones, and Kyle Walker after their Euro 2024 exploits, while Phil Foden missed the match due to illness. In contrast, Haaland enjoyed a summer break from international duty and appears rejuvenated."I feel great, I feel energized. I had a long vacation and pre-season," Haaland remarked. "Only footballers understand the importance of a break. You need to rest your body and mind because it's a long season. It's not as easy as people think. I feel fresh, and that's the most important thing."After scoring in the opening weekend victory at Chelsea and netting his 10th City hat-trick against Ipswich, Haaland has now established a Premier League record of seven goals in the first three games of a season.West Ham's downfall was self-inflicted as they surrendered possession deep in their own territory, allowing Bernardo Silva to set up Haaland for a composed finish past Alphonse Areola. City appeared poised to seize control of the match, but Areola denied Kevin De Bruyne before the Belgian struck the crossbar.However, West Ham's first meaningful attack resulted in an equalizer, aided by a City blunder. Jarrod Bowen drove into the City box and his low cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Ruben Dias.City swiftly regained their composure and restored their lead with an intricate move that culminated in a thunderous finish. Rico Lewis' pass found Haaland, who unleashed a powerful shot past Areola.Haaland could have added an assist before the break, but Lewis squandered his deft lay-off. City's failure to find the elusive third goal left the door open for West Ham in the second half. A swift counter-attack saw Bowen set up Mohammed Kudus, who rattled the post with a fierce effort.Haaland, however, had the final say, sealing the three points with a clinical finish. The 24-year-old was played in by Matheus Nunes and confidently chipped the ball over substitute goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. Fabianski denied Haaland a fourth goal in stoppage time.West Ham's second defeat in three games leaves Julen Lopetegui's side languishing in 14th place.

Arsenal's title aspirations suffered a setback in a 1-1 draw with Brighton, while Aston Villa secured a 2-1 victory at Leicester.Arsenal's Kai Havertz opened the scoring, but Brighton's Joao Pedro equalized after Declan Rice's controversial red card. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed outrage over the decision, calling it "inconsistent."Villa bounced back from their loss to Arsenal with a win at Leicester. Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran scored for Villa, while Facundo Buonanotte netted for Leicester.Brentford eased past Southampton 3-1, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring twice. Everton suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, who rallied from 2-0 down in the final minutes.Ipswich earned their first Premier League point in 22 years with a 1-1 draw against Fulham. Nottingham Forest and Wolves also drew 1-1.Manchester United will host Liverpool in the weekend's marquee fixture at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian maestro, has etched his name among the Premier League's elite. With over 300 goal contributions in just 350 games for Liverpool, Salah continues to mesmerize fans with his prolific scoring and creative brilliance.Despite turning 32, Salah shows no signs of slowing down. Under the guidance of new manager Arne Slot, he remains a pivotal figure for Liverpool, guiding the club through a transitional period. In a recent interview with Star Sports, Salah shared his insights on various aspects of his career and life.Salah's consistency is a testament to his unwavering dedication. "I try to focus on my career and do the right things all the time," he said. "I enjoy my football because this is what I love to do."The arrival of Darwin Nunez has added a new dimension to Liverpool's attack. Salah praised Nunez's unique qualities, saying, "He loves the ball in space and likes to do different things. He knows I really look for that."Salah's versatility is another key factor in his success. "I always try to do both [score and assist]," he said. "I think most of the years I've been here in Liverpool, I've scored goals and assisted more than anyone in the same year."Off the pitch, Salah is an avid chess player. "I like Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, but I would say the best could be Magnus," he said. He also enjoys online chess, but keeps his identity a secret.When asked about his favorite celebration, Salah chose the yoga pose. "I was watching the UFC," he explained. "My father was watching the UFC, and I think Pereira was fighting that night and lost. And yeah, someone actually did a celebration for him."Salah's admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo is evident. "When I was growing up, I loved Ronaldo," he said. "I would say [he is] my dream strike partner."For his Indian fans, Salah expressed his gratitude. "Thank you very much for your support," he said. "It means a lot to us. Keep supporting us because we really love India."

After two matchdays, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Brighton remain undefeated in the Premier League. Liverpool's new manager, Arne Slot, has made an impressive start with two wins and no goals conceded.Slot's first major test comes this weekend as Liverpool travels to Old Trafford to face Manchester United. United has had a mixed start to the season, winning their opener against Fulham but losing to Brighton last weekend. Erik ten Hag, United's manager, is under pressure to deliver results after the club's disappointing eighth-place finish last season.Another intriguing matchup this weekend is between Newcastle and Tottenham. Newcastle has four points from two games but has struggled to strengthen its squad in the transfer market. Tottenham has also had a mixed start, cruising past Everton but drawing with Leicester.Brighton, one of the league's biggest spenders this summer, will face a tough test against Arsenal at the Emirates. Brighton has won its first two games, but manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledges the challenge of facing Arsenal, one of the world's top teams.

Arne Slot's Liverpool debut at Anfield was a resounding success, with the Reds securing a 2-0 victory over Brentford. The win propelled Liverpool to the top of the Premier League standings, alongside Manchester City, Arsenal, and Brighton, as the only teams with maximum points after two games.Slot's tactical approach, expected to be more possession-oriented than Jurgen Klopp's, was evident in flashes during the first half. However, Liverpool's opening goal was a classic Klopp-style counterattack. Diogo Jota's perfectly timed pass found Luis Diaz, who raced through on goal and fired into the top corner.Brentford, despite missing Ivan Toney, posed a threat in the second half. Nathan Collins' header forced a brilliant save from Alisson Becker, while Vitaly Janelt and Mark Flekken also made crucial interventions to deny Liverpool.However, the Reds' attacking prowess proved too much for Brentford. Mohamed Salah, assisted by Diaz, timed his run perfectly to remain onside and dink the ball over Flekken, sealing the victory.Slot praised his team's performance, acknowledging that they still have much to prove against top-six opposition. He also noted that Brentford's energy levels waned in the second half, allowing Liverpool to exploit the gaps.The crowd serenaded Slot with chants of his name, a testament to the positive early impression he has made. Despite concerns about the lack of new signings, Liverpool appear well-positioned to challenge Manchester City and Arsenal for the Premier League title.

Arsenal's title aspirations received a significant boost as they secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Gunners, who narrowly missed out on the Premier League crown last season, displayed resilience and determination to overcome a stubborn Villa side.Leandro Trossard, a recent acquisition from Brighton, proved to be the catalyst for Arsenal's triumph. Introduced as a substitute in the second half, Trossard made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch just 10 minutes after entering the fray. His composed finish from close range broke the deadlock and gave Arsenal the impetus they needed.Thomas Partey sealed the victory in the 77th minute with a low strike that found its way past Emiliano Martinez, the Villa goalkeeper who had an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration. Martinez's error allowed Partey's shot to trickle through his legs, handing Arsenal a crucial three points.Arsenal's victory was particularly satisfying given their disappointing results against Villa last season. The Gunners lost both encounters, including a costly defeat in the closing weeks of the campaign that dealt a blow to their title hopes.Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, praised his team's character and ability to adapt to Villa's defensive approach. "We had to change momentum," Arteta said. "We had a 10-minute gap when we didn't get the rhythm and they were on top. They had the big chance and David Raya made an unbelievable save. It was the magic moment of the game."Unai Emery, the Villa manager, acknowledged his team's shortcomings but remained optimistic about their prospects. "We had our chance to score and had even better chances than them," Emery said. "If we score one goal then maybe we win the match. There's still work to do. I accept the result because we are doing our way and trying to improve. The players will stay calm."Arsenal's victory moves them to the top of the Premier League table, while Villa remains in 13th place. The Gunners will face Fulham in their next match, while Villa will travel to Crystal Palace.