In a surprising tactical move, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's decision to bench star striker Erling Haaland paid off handsomely as the team bounced back from consecutive defeats with a convincing 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. The Premier League's top scorer, who had managed only one goal in his previous eight appearances, started on the sidelines, allowing City to experiment with a revamped attacking setup.
City's Tactical Masterstroke Against Wolves
With Haaland relegated to the bench, City deployed Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo as high wingers in a tweaked formation. This strategic shift bore fruit in the first half, with both players finding the net. Semenyo, in particular, shone brightly, scoring his third goal in four games since his high-profile $87 million transfer from Bournemouth. The dynamic forward also came close to adding another, rattling the crossbar in the second half.
Defensive Reinforcement and Haaland's Cameo
City's defense, which had looked shaky in recent alarming losses to Manchester United and Bodø/Glimt, received a boost with Marc Guehi making his debut after completing a move from Crystal Palace. Guehi's presence helped shore up the backline, contributing to a clean sheet. Haaland entered the fray as a substitute in the 73rd minute but failed to carve out any clear-cut opportunities. His return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's crucial Champions League clash against Galatasaray remains uncertain, depending on Guardiola's assessment of the team's performance without him.
Guardiola praised his team's energy, stating, "The energy was really good in the first half. The last 20-25 minutes were a bit flat but, considering the amount of games, it was a good result and hopefully we can take good energy for our game on Wednesday." The victory propelled second-placed City to within four points of league leaders Arsenal, who are set to host Manchester United on Sunday.
Liverpool's Heartbreaking Late Collapse
In a dramatic turn of events, Liverpool's woes continued as they conceded a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to suffer a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth. Amine Adli's scrappy winner sealed the victory for Bournemouth, crushing Liverpool's hopes after they had fought back from a two-goal deficit. Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai, the latter a stunning curling free-kick in the 80th minute, had seemingly earned the Reds a hard-fought point.
This loss extended Liverpool's winless run in the league to five games, leaving them vulnerable in fourth place amid a disappointing title defense. The team's inability to close out matches has become a recurring theme, raising questions about their consistency and resilience.
Other Premier League Highlights
Tottenham Hotspur managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against Burnley thanks to Cristian Romero's 90th-minute equalizer. However, the result did little to ease the pressure on under-fire manager Thomas Frank, who faced renewed criticism from fans despite a midweek Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund. Frank remained defiant, emphasizing, "The message to the fans, as I’ve said all the time, is that we’re working very hard to make sure everything is going in the right direction, and that we’ll keep doing that."
Fulham also delivered late drama, with Harry Wilson's strike securing a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Brighton. Meanwhile, West Ham United's bid to escape the relegation zone gained momentum with a 3-1 win over Sunderland. Crysencio Summerville's header, Jarrod Bowen's penalty, and Mateus Fernandes' long-range strike gave West Ham a commanding three-goal lead by the 43rd minute, though Brian Brobbey pulled one back for Sunderland in the second half.
This second consecutive victory lifted West Ham out of the bottom three, leaving them just two points behind Nottingham Forest, who face Brentford on Sunday. The Premier League continues to deliver unpredictable twists and turns, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
