Well, where do you even begin with a day like that? The Premier League has a way of throwing the script out the window, and Saturday was a prime example. We saw a massive blow to Manchester City's title charge with a shock defeat away at Newcastle, and an even bigger story brewing at Anfield where Liverpool completely fell apart against Nottingham Forest. It was pure, unadulterated football drama.
Key Highlights
- ✓ In his 17th attempt, Eddie Howe finally secured his first-ever Premier League win over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
- ✓ Harvey Barnes was the hero for Newcastle, scoring two fantastic goals in a stunning 2-1 victory at St James' Park.
- ✓ Liverpool were left in disarray, suffering a historic 3-0 home defeat to a brilliant Nottingham Forest side at Anfield.
- ✓ Forest recorded the biggest win at Anfield in their club's history, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
- ✓ Manchester City's title aspirations took a huge hit, with key players and the manager showing visible frustration with the referee.
The Upset at St James' Park
Let's start at St James' Park, where something truly special happened. For years, Eddie Howe has been trying to get one over on Pep Guardiola. After 16 winless attempts (14 losses and 2 draws), he finally did it. You could feel the energy as his Newcastle United side dug deep to pull off a 2-1 win over the champions.
The man of the hour was undoubtedly Harvey Barnes, who bagged two fantastic goals. What's so impressive is how Newcastle managed the game. As former defender Jonathan Woodgate pointed out on BBC Radio 5 Live, they were "top drawer" out of possession. They made it incredibly difficult for City to find those little pockets of space they thrive on and repeatedly caught them on the transition. It was a tactical masterclass.
You could see the frustration boiling over on the City side. After the final whistle, Pep Guardiola marched straight onto the pitch to have words with referee Sam Barrott. City’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was so incensed he had to be dragged away. It was clear they felt decisions went against them, but they were also guilty of missing some golden chances. This wasn't just a loss; it felt like a significant dent in their campaign.
A Game of Numbers and Nerves
When you look at the stats, the story gets even more fascinating. City dominated the ball with 68.1% possession and completed 571 passes to Newcastle's 265. But here's the kicker: Newcastle actually had a higher expected goals (xG) rating, clocking in at 2.24 compared to City's 1.88. That tells you everything you need to know about the quality of their chances.
The final moments were pure tension. We had eight minutes of added time, and Newcastle had to grind it out. Joelinton picked up a yellow card for what Woodgate called a "sensible foul" to stop a Savinho breakaway—the kind of tactical play you have to make to win big games. It was a nail-biting finish, but Newcastle held on for a win that will be remembered for a very long time.
Anfield in Complete Disarray
If you thought the drama ended there, you were mistaken. Over at Anfield, something even more shocking was unfolding. Liverpool, the faltering champions, were absolutely dismantled by Nottingham Forest in a 3-0 defeat. This wasn't just a loss; it was a total collapse that leaves manager Arne Slot with a mountain of problems to solve.
Sean Dyche’s gameplan for Forest was described as "exemplary," and it truly was. They were solid, organized, and ruthless. The goals came from Murillo, who was outstanding at both ends, Nicolò Savona, and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White. This result was massive for Forest, lifting them out of the relegation zone on the back of their first clean sheet in 20 league games.
For Liverpool, it was a horror show. They've now lost six of their last seven Premier League games and have slipped into the bottom half of the table. The issues were everywhere: poor defending on set pieces (again), a blunt attack where Alexander Isak was anonymous before being subbed, and a general lack of cohesion. It was so bad that many Liverpool fans were seen heading for the exits long before the final whistle.
A Historic Low for the Reds
Just how bad was this? The last time Liverpool lost back-to-back league games by a three-goal margin was way back in 1965. That single statistic puts the scale of their current crisis into perspective. It's a historic low for a club of their stature. The game was also filled with its own dose of VAR drama.
Forest thought they had a second goal through Igor Jesus, but it was disallowed for a handball that replays struggled to clarify. But even that slice of luck couldn't save Liverpool. Just seconds after the restart, a mistake from Mac Allister led to Forest's second goal, beautifully finished by Savona. It was a day where everything that could go wrong for Liverpool, did.
What This Means for the Bigger Picture
A day of such dramatic results inevitably shakes up the entire Premier League landscape. Manchester City’s loss has thrown the door wide open for their title rivals. All eyes will now turn to the North London derby, where Arsenal has a golden opportunity to capitalize against Spurs and solidify their spot at the top.
Down at the other end of the table, Forest's monumental win gives them a huge injection of belief and momentum. For Liverpool, however, the questions are piling up. Slipping to 11th in the table is a disaster, and Arne Slot has a massive job on his hands to turn things around. The team looks disjointed, and key players seem completely out of form.
Looking at the day's other results, we saw Chelsea and Crystal Palace pick up comfortable 2-0 away wins, while Brighton edged Brentford 2-1 and Fulham secured a tight 1-0 victory over Sunderland. But there’s no question that the two main stories were the seismic shocks delivered by Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Conclusion
What a Saturday. It was a day that reminded us why we love this league. We witnessed a long-awaited managerial triumph for Eddie Howe, a heroic performance from Newcastle, a potential turning point in the title race, and a historic collapse at one of football’s most famous grounds. Both Manchester City and Liverpool were left licking their wounds, while Newcastle and Nottingham Forest will be celebrating long into the night. This is the Premier League at its most chaotic and brilliant best.
