could Manchester United be relegated?, will Michael Carrick be sacked?, Liverpool Arsenal VAR and diving controversy, could Brighton be the new Leicester?, talking points, results, video

Arsenal moved top of the Premier League with a statement 1-0 win at Liverpool as Manchester United plunged further into crisis with a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Brighton could prove to be Arsenal’s biggest challenge to retaining their title after the Seagulls inflicted a second consecutive defeat on Manchester City.

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Arsenal’s drought-breaking win was overshadowed by VAR controversy and an ugly problem that a great believes “must stop”.

While Tottenham might “be back” as Spurs picked up a third straight win to turn the tables on their campaign.

Scroll down for the biggest talking points in the Premier League right now!

COULD MAN UTD REALLY BE RELEGATED?

The last time United were in the relegation zone after August was 40 years ago when Ron Atkinson’s dismissal paved the way for the arrival of Alex Ferguson and a golden era of success.

That may prove the only crumb of comfort for United fans now bunkering down for the potential of a relegation battle over a long winter.

Defeats for Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace ensured the Red Devils remain just outside the bottom three on goal difference.

But United’s downward spiral shows no sign of abating.

A nine-game winless run is United’s longest without victory for 38 years.

The last time United went 10 matches without a win was in 1984 and it has only ever happened six times in the club’s history.

As things stand, this side are still some way off equalling the club’s longest winless run, which was 16 matches in 1930.

But the face a tough run of games as they welcome Roma to Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday morning AEDT before hosting Aston Villa and taking a trip to Anfield in their next two Premier League outings.

“On December 5, they play Coventry. I’d be shocked if they’re not in the bottom three by then,” Arsenal great Paul Merson wrote in his column for Sky Sports.

“That’ll be about a third of the season gone then.”

Michael Carrick was given a stay of execution for Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge but was left with his head in his hands after a second-half implosion from the visitors.

United had enjoyed the better chances of a goalless first half. Any sense of positivity was quickly erased when Morgan Rogers was allowed to rampage unchallenged through the heart of the United defence to open the scoring.

A moment of madness from Lisandro Martinez then did his under-fire manager no favours.

The Argentine was booked for two fouls, committed 83 seconds apart, to leave United down to 10 men and concede a penalty, which Cole Palmer converted.

“When Lisandro Martinez then goes and gets sent off like that, if it was under Ferguson he’d never play for them again,” Merson wrote.

While former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “If I was giving away the goals that he is giving away, I wouldn’t be doing interviews. And to be fair, I wouldn’t be speaking out, because I have to say, I would be curled up in a ball, playing like that for Manchester United.”

The realistic prospect of a club that should post revenues this season in excess of £700 million being relegated remains remote.

However, the fast start of all three promoted clubs, who all sit above Carrick’s men in the table, means it cannot be easily dismissed.

RED DEVILS BOSS BRUSHES OF SACK TALK

Michael Carrick brushed off suggestions he has just two games left as Manchester United boss as he prepares his underperforming side for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Roma.

Carrick’s position at Old Trafford is increasingly precarious following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, which extended United’s winless run in all competitions to nine games — they last had a longer such sequence in 1984.

Former United and England midfielder Carrick was asked at his pre-match press conference on Monday whether he felt he had just two games remaining at the helm — against Roma and Aston Villa.

The Villa match on Sunday comes just before an international break, potentially giving the United hierarchy an opportunity to make a managerial change.

“No, not at all,” said the 45-year-old, in his first full season in charge. “If you look into the future, you never know what’s going to happen.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. That doesn’t change the way I feel, how we’re preparing for the game tomorrow.

“I’m actually really looking forward to the game, can’t wait for the game tomorrow. You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but I genuinely can’t wait.”

Carrick also said he had “no concerns” over the commitment of out-of-form Argentine centre-back Lisandro Martinez, who was sent off in United’s defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The defender had previously criticised club chiefs over a lack of investment in the squad.

“Things happen in football, sometimes you do things, sometimes you make decisions, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but the commitment is not an issue for sure,” said Carrick.

The United head coach insisted the dressing room was in “a good place” despite the club’s terrible start to the season.

“Perception is a funny thing. You can make things look all sorts of different ways and think about all sorts of different things,” he said.

“I’ve said it before, the commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, I don’t question that at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but commitment is not a thing at all.” United are just one place above the Premier League relegation zone after taking a mere seven points from their nine matches so far this season.

And they are 20th in the Champions League table following a dismal 4-1 defeat away at Como last month. Only the top 24 teams will progress beyond the league phase.

But midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, sitting alongside Carrick at Monday’s press conference, said United could turn things around.

“We’ve not had the results we’ve wanted,” Mainoo said. “But we need to look forward now. There’s big, big games ahead and I feel like we’re one win away from changing that.” Carrick has fond memories of facing Roma as a member of Alex Ferguson’s team, scoring twice in United’s 7-1 quarter-final second-leg triumph in the Champions League in 2007.

“It was a magical night, I have to say,” he recalled. “It was one of the best nights, one of the best games, one of the best atmospheres I’ve been fortunate enough to witness.” Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini insisted Carrick’s men should not be underestimated despite their miserable form.

“Obviously Manchester United is struggling somewhat in terms of results in the Premier League at the moment,” he said.

“We can’t get distracted and too hung up on that situation because we know that United is a strong team. We know that they have top players in their squad.

“They make things very difficult for the opposition at Old Trafford, so we’ll be playing as if we’re against United at the top of its form.”

DO WE HAVE A NEW LEICESTER CITY?

Brighton are also dreaming of upsetting the odds but for all the right reasons. The Seagulls have never won a major trophy but have proven they can handle the Premier League’s best.

Fabian Hurzeler’s men thrashed Arsenal 3-0 in September and beat City away for the first time in the club’s history on Saturday.

The Premier League’s top scorers have also now kept six clean sheets in nine games.

“There’s an old phrase – defence wins you battles and wins you championships,” said Hurzeler.

“I said before the game it’s about belief, it’s about having the confidence to come here and win this game.”

Brighton sit third but belief is growing they could do the impossible and emulate Leicester’s shock title triumph a decade ago.

“Brighton have been brilliant to watch this season,” The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast. “The way they dismantled Arsenal was a thing to behold.

“They create in every game, wherever they go. Again it seemed end to end at the Etihad but Brighton put Manchester City under the cosh to begin with and were worthy of their lead.

“They are in that Leicester type of realm now where you’re thinking surely not in terms of being in a title race.

“But, if they go to the Etihad and win, they’ve beaten Arsenal and clearly they’re keeping clean sheets, then they do look strong.

“Yankuba Minteh and Karou Mitoma are not fit, and they’ve sold Danny Welbeck and Carlos Baleba, yet it is remarkable how they are able to regenerate and keep going.”

UGLY ISSUE THAT ‘MUST STOP’

Arsenal’s important 1-0 win at Anfield, which put them three points clear of Manchester City on top of the table, was overshadowed by VAR controversy.

Liverpool felt hard done by that Alexander Isak was not awarded a penalty despite Jurriën Timber pulling his shirt in the box.

Isak did not go to ground, and his manager Andoni Iraola, said post-match that he will be instructing the Swedish striker going forward to make sure that the referee is aware he has been impeded.

“It’s a shame you have to ask me this question, but honestly, yes, we have to tell (the players): ‘Go down, because we are not going to call it otherwise.’ And then the referees complain why they go down, (but it’s) because if you don’t go down, you don’t call it,” Iraola said.

“Then it’s like, you have (players) all the time going down. But I think Alex is honest. He tries to go for the ball. Everyone can see live straight away, there is a clear, clear pull. And even Cody (Gakpo, when he was pulled) in the second one. But I understand the explanation that they give in the second one.

“There are two situations, and they are a little bit related. I think the Isak one is a clear penalty. He’s (Isak) going to head the ball in front of the goal. They grab him where everyone sees the shirt (tug). You don’t need a lot, just to avoid Alex, because the ball just goes in front of him.

“I don’t see the reason why. Probably because he doesn’t dive or he doesn’t go to the floor. It shouldn’t be a reason not to concede a penalty. And then after the Gakpo one, I think it’s a sustained holding.”

While Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk expressed his frustrations with the officials after the match.

“I think it was a clear penalty. I’ve seen it back and I’ve seen it being given. Today it wasn’t meant to be,” the Dutchman said.

“We have 50 cameras. Why does he have to complain when there are so many cameras? Everyone has seen it. In the end it wasn’t given and we lose the game unfortunately, so well done to Arsenal.”

Players going down to get the referees attention was also in the spotlight when Arsenal’s Noni Madueke escaped a second yellow card after his and Alexis Mac Allister’s heads came together in a confrontation.

Mac Alliser went down, but he was booked for starting the melee.

The tensions spilled over into the tunnel post-match with Van Dijk telling Madueke he should have been sent off.

But the England international fired back and said that the Argentine had been trying to get him into trouble.

Reds great Jamie Carragher agreed.

“I want Liverpool to win the game, but I’m delighted he (Madueke) didn’t get sent off,” he said on Sky Sports.

“We have really got to be calling people out and saying ‘this is embarrassing’. It’s ridiculous and it’s got to stop. I can’t stand it.

“If someone puts their head back and butts, then red card. But if it’s head-to-head and they touch, the other one goes down and the player gets sent off, as a game, call your own people out on it. It’s a joke from Mac Allister.

“People are trying to gain an advantage because they can and red cards are being given for it. Whether it’s Howard Webb, the Premier League, the managers getting together, this has got to stop.”

TITLE MIGHT BE ARSENAL’S TO LOSE

There are few feats Mikel Arteta has not achieved since taking charge of Arsenal seven years ago but a Premier League win at Anfield had eluded him until Sunday.

Arteta got the response he desired to an embarrassing League Cup exit to fourth-tier Fleetwood on Tuesday as Kai Havertz gave the Gunners an early lead.

Thereafter, though, Arsenal needed to rely on their renowned defensive resilience.

Liverpool were made to pay for not taking their chances in a dominant spell before half-time, but the Reds were completely snuffed out in the second period once Arteta restored order at the break.

“The way Arsenal defend, everyone does the right thing. When you’re watching top, top players who have just won the league and still defend like they do, it’s a masterclass,” Gunners great Paul Merson wrote in a column for Sky Sports.

“They got away with a couple of things with the VAR and the pull back and things like that but bar that, credit where it’s due. David Raya didn’t really make a save.

“You could call it a mark of champions. Let’s not get away from the situation with Man City, but you just can’t see anything but an Arsenal title. I said at the start of the season they’d win it by double digits and no doubt they will.”

Arsenal’s three-point lead at the top is even more comfortable in the context that City are likely to face a huge points deduction unless they overturn a guilty verdict on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League rules.

ARE SPURS BACK?

After a miserable, winless from six games start to the season, Tottenham have now won three Premier League matches in a row and have jumped into the top half of the table.

Spurs defeated a ten-man Crystal Palace 2-0 at home courtesy of goals from Archie Gray and Jan Paul van Hecke – both coming after Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off in the 13th minute.

Manager Roberto De Zerbi hailed midfielder Sandro Tonali’s display as “unbelievable” with the Italian inspiring Tottenham to a third straight league victory for the first time since February 2025 – under Australian manager Ange Postecoglou.

“We played with two players more. Tonali was the double today,” De Zerbi said of his £100m signing.

The win also sealed back-to-back home victories from the first time since November 2024.

With Tottenham fans hoping a hoodoo may have been broken.

“I think they’re back; I don’t think they’re so back,” Liverpool great Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports News.

“I think they were always going to start picking up results; too many good players, too good a manager.

“In this game (the win over Palace), there were two goals from set pieces; talk about them maybe, still not creating an awful lot in open play.

“You go back to the game they won against Coventry, we did on the last Monday Night Football; again, it wasn’t a great performance, got the job done, again some goals from outside the box, so they probably want to create better chances than what they are doing so far, even in these wins.

“But I think for Tottenham, it’s just about winning, especially at home.

“The home record of late has been absolutely atrocious, so it’s green shoots.”