The Wrap: What's happened in Matchweek 8

The Premier League’s return brought another weekend of drama as Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table and Liverpool’s troubles deepened.

The champions suffered a first home defeat against Manchester United for almost a decade, which dropped them four points behind Arsenal, who had beaten Fulham the day before.

Two more Erling Haaland goals saw Manchester City beat Everton to replace Liverpool in second, while Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to overtake them by losing at home to Aston Villa.

Defeat against Chelsea meant Postecoglou lost his job as Nottingham Forest manager after only 39 days, while Burnley were the solitary club in the bottom seven to emerge victorious, seeing off Leeds United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed to win any of their opening eight Premier League matches for successive seasons.

Here is all you need to know about Matchweek 8.

Postecoglou’s departure as Forest head coach within minutes of this defeat leaves the Australian with the unwanted record of the second-shortest Premier League tenure, relinquishing his post just 39 days after taking the role. 

The Australian did not win any of his eight games in charge at the City Ground. In fact, coupled with the end of his time at Spurs, he has claimed only 35 points from the last available 120.

Forest captain Ryan Yates said: “We’re all extremely disappointed with how recent results are going.

“It’s down to us individually to look at ourselves in the mirror and do everything we can to turn it around.

"We can do more, we can do better. We need to dust ourselves down really quickly. Whatever steps the club take we need to be fully behind it.”

Forest had, in fact, been dominant in the first half against Chelsea. But as before under Postecoglou they paid the price for a failure to take chances, with Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James all scoring for the visitors in an improved second period.

Malo Gusto’s late sending-off means Chelsea players have received four red cards in their last six matches across all competitions.

A Danny Welbeck double ensured the continuation of two contrasting records at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton & Hove Albion are now unbeaten in eight Premier League home matches, with Newcastle United winless in their last seven on the road in the competition.

Just over a month out from his 35th birthday, Welbeck showed he remains as sharp as ever, twice putting the hosts ahead either side of a sublime Nick Woltemade goal.

It took Welbeck’s tally to four goals in his last three Premier League games – more than he managed in his previous 15 appearances in the competition combined.

Watch Welbeck's opener v Newcastle

“If the team plays well, then the individuals will shine,” said Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler of Welbeck. “He is always there for his team-mates and he’s a great goalscorer.” 

Woltemade’s wonderful backheel flick was his fourth goal in five Newcastle appearances.

“Nick has done really well, and we’re delighted for him, but we need more from the rest of the team,” said Magpies head coach Eddie Howe.

While Sunderland fly high, the other two Premier League newcomers are battling it out near the foot of the table, giving this meeting even greater importance.

Great goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna mean Burnley have now beaten both teams they came up alongside from the Championship.

Watch Tchaouna's superb strike v Leeds

It was a victory that never seemed particularly likely, with Leeds wondering how on earth they did not manage to score.

The visitors had 69 per cent possession, took 42 touches in the opposition box, delivered 47 crosses – the most by a team in a Premier League match this season – and took 19 shots to Burnley’s four. Their Expected Goals (xG) was 1.68 to the hosts’ 0.45.

Frustratingly for Leeds manager Daniel Farke, wastefulness is becoming a theme. In three of their four league defeats, they have had more shots and taken more touches in the opposition box than the eventual winners.

“We won each and every statistic, but in football it is also just about goals,” said Farke. “They were more effective than us. Once you miss so many clear chances, the expected goals, shots on target, blocks, we were so clearly the better side.”

A Jean-Philippe Mateta hat-trick denied AFC Bournemouth the chance to go top of the Premier League – albeit temporarily – in a six-goal thriller at Selhurst Park.

The visitors twice looked to be on track for victory; first when teenage striker Eli Kroupi put them two goals ahead by half-time on his first Premier League start, and again when they led 3-2 deep in stoppage time.

But Mateta struck from the penalty spot in the 97th minute to ensure the spoils were shared. It has been quite some period for the Frenchman, who made his international debut and scored his first goal for his country during the recent international break.

Watch Mateta's hat-trick v Bournemouth

He should, perhaps, have scored a winner in the ninth minute of stoppage time but blazed over the bar from close range. Instead, he became the first player to score a home Premier League hat-trick and not win since 2016.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner suggested team spirit was to thank for battling back to draw. “We have created this in the team and in the stands,” he said. “That’s why we were able to come back. It shows the character of this group.”

Bournemouth, who thought they had secured victory through Ryan Christie’s 89th-minute goal, are now unbeaten in seven Premier League matches.

Where will this extraordinary Haaland streak end? With both of Man City’s goals here, he now has 11 goals in eight Premier League games this season, three in two UEFA Champions League appearances, and a ridiculous nine in three for Norway.

Barely halfway through October, he has already notched 23 goals in 13 appearances.

In truth, Haaland might well have had more against Everton, spurning a couple of prime chances for a hat-trick late on.

“Disappointed he did not score four or five,” said Pep Guardiola. “All jokes aside, really pleased, but we cannot rely on just him, we need other players. Wingers, attacking midfielders. They have to make a step up and score. The chances were clear and they have to score.”

Guardiola recognised that City were not near their best against an Everton side unable to convert any of the multiple chances they created. But with Haaland in their team they did not need to be.

Half of Sunderland’s last eight seasons outside of the Premier League were spent in League One, but they continue to do a remarkable job of looking at home in the top flight.

Regis Le Bris’s side now have 14 points from their opening eight fixtures – the most by a promoted club since Wolves in 2018/19.

Much of that joy has come from their Stadium of Light form, which has seen them accrue 10 points at home, more than any other team, with only Arsenal (one) conceding fewer home goals than Sunderland’s two.

A first-half Nordi Mukiele goal gave the hosts the lead before Ladislav Krejci’s late own goal wrapped up victory.

The result leaves Wolves marooned at the bottom of the table on just two points, still without a league win this season. It is the second season running that Wolves have failed to win any of their opening eight league games.

“I understand why the fans are angry,” said Wolves boss Vitor Pereira. “I understand why they’re disappointed. But this is a moment for the supporters to believe in our players, in our team. This is football. Now we must keep working, start scoring and start winning.”

They were not at their brilliant best, but a familiar goalscoring route helped Arsenal open up a three-point lead at the top of the table.

Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked on by Gabriel, for Leandro Trossard to knee home from close range. It was Arsenal’s seventh Premier League goal from corners this season, and their 63rd since the start of 2021/22. No other side have more than 47.

It means Arsenal top the Premier League table with 19 points – the third time in four campaigns they have earned at least 19 points from their opening eight Premier League games.

Ominously, of the eight previous instances they have accrued 19+ points at this stage, they have won the title only once.

Helpfully, Arsenal did not face a single shot on target for a second game in a row, having also done so in a dominant win over West Ham United before the international break.

Fulham have now lost three successive Premier League matches for the first time since 2023.

Ahead of this game, Spurs head coach Thomas Frank had urged supporters to help their team improve their poor form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “We would like our home to be a fortress,” he said.

That ambition remains some way off after his side fell to another defeat, taking their record to just four points gained from four Premier League home matches this season – Spurs’ worst home start to a league campaign since 2008/09.

Rodrigo Bentancur gave the hosts an early lead after just five minutes, as Spurs eyed the opportunity to move second in the table.

But a wonderful Morgan Rogers strike from range preceded a brilliant Emiliano Buendia goal, his third in four matches to complete Villa’s comeback win.

Watch Buendia's superb strike v Spurs

Since the start of last season, Spurs have dropped 19 points from winning positions at home in the Premier League, more than any other side.

Following a difficult start where they failed to win any of their opening five Premier League games, Villa have now won their last five in all competitions, moving into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

A first Man Utd away win at Anfield since January 2016 delivered Liverpool’s fourth successive defeat across all competitions for the first time since November 2014 and sent the champions down to fourth in the Premier League table.

Should Arne Slot’s side lose again against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, it would be the first time Liverpool have lost five straight matches since 1953.

Cody Gakpo hit the woodwork three times before finding an equaliser to cancel out Bryan Mbeumo’s early opener. But Harry Maguire powered home a late header to seal United’s first back-to-back league wins since the final two fixtures of the 2023/24 campaign.

Watch Maguire's late winner v Liverpool

Liverpool’s xG of 2.76 was their highest total in any Premier League game since beating Southampton in March. But, as Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was eager to point out, they are not taking their chances and continue to concede from set-pieces.

Mohamed Salah has now gone seven consecutive Premier League appearances without scoring a non-penalty goal for the first time in his Liverpool career.

“If you lose four times in a row, you need to be concerned,” said Slot. “If we keep bringing in these performances we will have a fair chance of winning more football games. Losing four times in a row definitely does something with the team.”

Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen earned Brentford a 2-0 win at the London Stadium, as new West Ham United head coach Nuno Espirito Santo suffered defeat in his first home match in charge.

Brentford dominated throughout and broke the deadlock after 43 minutes when Thiago beat goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for power, having previously hit the crossbar. 

The Brazilian had a second goal ruled out for offside, and though Brentford saw more chances go begging, Jensen’s stoppage-time strike ensured Keith Andrews’ team earned their first Premier League away win of the season. 

West Ham's Jarrod Bowen went closest, only to be denied by Caoimhin Kelleher, but Nuno's side offered little in return as they fell to a fourth consecutive home loss. 

Brentford's victory took them to 13th on 10 points. West Ham remain second-bottom and three points behind Burnley in 17th.