Sunday briefing: Arne Slot ponders defeat as Arsenal look to take advantage

Arne Slot believes Liverpool were the architects of their own downfall after the Premier League leaders’ unbeaten start to the season ended with a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Ruben Amorim’s future is back under scrutiny after Manchester United lost 3-1 at Brentford, while a brace for Erling Haaland and two own goals from Maxime Esteve helped Manchester City thump Burnley 5-1.

Reds fail to storm Palace

Arne Slot admitted Liverpool only had themselves to blame after losing their 100 per cent record in a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace.

The Reds, who have made a habit of scoring late winners this season, were given a taste of their own medicine as Eddie Nketiah won it for Palace at the end of seven minutes of stoppage time.

It was all the more gut-wrenching for Slot after Federico Chiesa thought he had rescued a point for the champions when he cancelled out Ismaila Sarr’s early goal three minutes from time.

“We can only blame ourselves,” said Slot. “If one team deserved to win today it was Palace.”

Amorim under pressure again

Ruben Amorim reacted to Manchester United’s defeat at Brentford by insisting his job is “not to protect the players or myself” but to win the next game and create momentum to spark a stuttering season.

United suffered a third defeat in six Premier League games as Brentford beat them 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium with an Igor Thiago double and a stoppage-time strike from Mathias Jensen.

Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko reduced the Bees’ early lead with his first United goal, but a Bruno Fernandes penalty miss – his second of the season – piled on the misery for the Red Devils.

“I am trying to do my best for the club and the team, thinking what is the best to win the next game. Not to protect the players or myself, win the next game and create the momentum,” said Amorim.

Maresca laments Chelsea gift-giving

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca urged his team to stop “giving away presents” after they received a second red card in as many games to lose 3-1 to Brighton in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

They were leading through Enzo Fernandez’s first-half header when Trevoh Chalobah was dismissed for a poor tackle from behind on Diego Gomez, denying a goalscoring opportunity and leaving his team-mates to improvise their way through most of the second half.

Maxim De Cuyper’s header put Brighton into the lead at the start of 11 added minutes at the end of the match before fellow substitute Danny Welbeck added a third – his second – to finish Chelsea off.

“The message (in the dressing room) was clear,” said Maresca. “Against any team in the Premier League you cannot continue to give away presents. We are giving away presents. The red card is a big mistake because the game completely changed.”

Blades find cutting edge

Sheffield United secured their first Championship points of the season as Callum O’Hare scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Oxford.

Last season’s beaten play-off finalists had started the season with six consecutive defeats, a run of which saw new manager Ruben Selles replaced by Chris Wilder.

Despite earning a first victory since May 12, the Blades remain rooted to the bottom of the table, two points behind city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

What’s on today

Arsenal can move up to second, two points behind Liverpool, if they beat Newcastle at St James’ Park in a 4.30pm kick-off.

Earlier, Aston Villa will bid for their first league win of the season when they welcome Fulham at 2pm.

Chelsea travel to West Ham and Liverpool host Manchester United as part of a bumper Women’s Super League schedule, while under-pressure Russell Martin takes his struggling Rangers team to Livingston.