Liverpool hammered 3-0 as Pep hits 1,000th-game milestone

MANCHESTER, England:

In his 1,000th game as a manager, Pep Guardiola celebrated victory as if it was his first.

Manchester City's 3-0 triumph over Liverpool yesterday was win No. 716 for Guardiola and likely one of the most satisfying of his trophy-laden career.

Not only did City totally dominate the defending English Premier League champions and one of Guardiola's fiercest rivals in a career spanning Spain, Germany and England - but the result firmly established his team as a genuine contender for the title this season.

"Thank you to the players and staff for giving me that incredible present (against) the most important opponent in my time here by far," the City manager said afterwards.

OMINOUS FEEL

City moved up to second in the standings - just four points behind leaders Arsenal, with a well-established record when it comes to chasing down Mikel Arteta's team. It happened in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 and City's momentum has an ominous feel about it after taking advantage of Arsenal's surprise 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday.

"In October, November, you don't win the Premier League. Teams that win the Premier League (are the ones) where everyone in the team is growing. When it grows and grows, you arrive at the end fighting for the title," Guardiola said. "I have the feeling that we are in that way."

By contrast, Liverpool, who were the runaway champions just six months ago, are slipping further adrift.

This was a fifth loss in six games after spending more than $400 million in the offseason. The Merseyside club are down to eighth in the standings and eight points off the top.

A 3-0 win could easily have been bigger, with Erling Haaland seeing a 13th-minute penalty saved before he headed City in front in the 29th.

Nico Gonzalez doubled the lead when his shot deflected off Virgil van Dijk in first-half stoppage time.

Player of the match Jeremy Doku had tormented Liverpool throughout and he got a deserved goal in the 63rd when whipping in a curled effort from outside the box.

NEWCASTLE LOSE

Newcastle fell to back-to-back defeats, losing 3-1 at Brentford.

Having lost to West Ham by the same score a week earlier, Eddie Howe's team once again took an early lead only to squander the points.

Harvey Barnes fired the visitors ahead at the Gtech Community Stadium, but Newcastle were stunned by a second-half fightback from Brentford and ended the match with 10 men after Dan Burn was sent off.

Kevin Schade levelled in the 56th, following Barnes' goal in the 27th.

Burn was sent off when bringing down Dango Ouattara in the box and Igor Thiago converted from the spot.

Thiago got his second in stoppage time to seal the win, which left Newcastle 14th in the standings and just two points above the relegation zone.

FIRST WIN

Sean Dyche got his first league win as Nottingham Forest coach after his team rallied to beat Leeds 3-1 at the City Ground.

Victory came after last week's 2-2 draw with Manchester United and moved second-from-bottom Forest to within a point of safety.

Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead in the 13th minute, but Ibrahim Sangare equalised two minutes later. Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson - from the penalty spot - completed the comeback after the break.

VILLA REBOUND

Aston Villa quickly bounced back from defeat to Liverpool last week by routing Bournemouth 4-0.

Villa endured a desperate start to the season - failing to win any of their first six games in all competitions. But Unai Emery's team has powered back impressively by winning eight of their last 10.

Emiliano Buendia, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen all scored, while goalkeeper Emi Martinez denied Antoine Semenyo from the spot as Villa moved up to sixth in the standings.

Crystal Palace and Brighton drew 0-0 at Selhurst Park.

- AP