Gameweek 9 of the Premier League may go down as the most defining weekend in the title race in 2025-26. Upsets were the theme across Saturday and Sunday, with the first coming at Stamford Bridge.
After demolishing Ajax in the Champions League, Chelsea came tumbling back down to earth at the hands of newly-promoted Sunderland. The Black Cats stole three points in the 93rd minute at Stamford Bridge and moved onto 17 points, their highest total ever in the top-flight after nine games.
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But that was not the only shock in the capital on Saturday. Liverpool were handed their fourth consecutive Premier League loss at the hands of Brentford, putting more pressure on Arne Slot and the Reds’ title defence.
Elsewhere, Manchester United made it three wins in a row with a dominant performance against Brighton, Manchester City echoed Liverpool with a shock loss, and there were also wins for Bournemouth, Arsenal, Burnley and Tottenham.
On the most unpredictable weekend of the calendar so far, who backed it for their clubs and who bottled it on the pitch as big moves were made in pursuit of the ultimate prize? BOYLE Sports has you covered for the latest round of fixtures.
Premier League Gameweek 9 Recap
Star of the Weekend
Star of the Weekend – Bryan Mbeumo
It may have taken him a few months to settle at Old Trafford, but Bryan Mbeumo is spearheading Manchester United’s most successful run of form under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils emerged as 4-2 victors over Brighton on Saturday evening, moving them above arch-rivals Liverpool and into the European places.
It was a third consecutive win for Amorim in the Premier League, the first time he has managed to lead his side to such success.
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And Mbeumo was the star of the show inside the Theatre of Dreams, bagging a brace and becoming just the third player to reach 20+ goal involvements in 2025, alongside Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
The Cameroon international was simply too hot to handle, and his contributions helped United maintain their incredible record - they have never lost at home in the Premier League when leading at half-time, a record that spans 327 games.
With the winger hitting form alongside the rest of his team-mates, there is a newfound belief in Manchester that the club are finally on the path to redemption after a tough period.
Flop of the Weekend
Flop of the Weekend – Erling Haaland
The formula is simple. Stop Erling Haaland, and you stop Manchester City. Arsenal’s nearest challengers ran out of ideas on the road at Aston Villa, meaning they now sit six points adrift of top spot.
It was the first time in 13 matches that the Norwegian failed to score for club or country, and his toothless display reflected the lack of firepower in general from Pep Guardiola’s men.
The 25-year-old had just 17 touches of the ball at Villa Park, the fewest of any player to start the game.
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Of the four touches he did have inside the hosts’ penalty box, three of them were shots, all of which were on target, but none of them troubled Emiliano Martinez in goal.
Once again, it was a tough day in the Midlands for City, who have now lost three consecutive games at Villa Park.
On days when Haaland is firing blanks, the eight-time Premier League champions must find a more creative way to breach their opponents if they are to keep pace with the runaway Gunners.
Biggest Disappointment
Biggest Disappointment – Liverpool
Before a ball was kicked in the 2025-26 campaign, no one could envisage the downfall of Liverpool. The Reds had just won the title, and Arne Slot backed that up by spending a fortune on reinforcing his squad.
Fast forward a few months and the champions have just become the first side in Premier League history to win their first five games and then lose the following four.
They are only the fourth side to lose four consecutive games the season after winning the title, following in the footsteps of Leicester (2016-17), Liverpool themselves (2020-21), and Manchester City (2024-25).
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Their performance in the 3-2 loss at Brentford was worrying, particularly after it was revealed by captain Virgil van Dijk that he called a players' meeting after last week’s defeat to Manchester United.
The Reds already have as many losses as they accumulated in the entirety of last season, with many now completely ruling them out of the title race.
Of course, there is still time to make amends, but they cannot afford to make any more mistakes if they want to remain in the fight for the title this term.
Performance of the Weekend
Performance of the Weekend – Brentford
Brentford were brilliant from start to finish as they took Liverpool apart at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Few Bees fans will have dreamed of such a good start under new head coach Keith Andrews, but the fantastic recruitment team in west London seem to have struck gold again.
One of Brentford’s biggest weapons has been long throw-ins. They have scored eight goals using them since the start of last season, twice as many as any other club in the top flight.
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And it was in full effect against the champions on Saturday night, with Dango Ouattara getting on the end of Michael Kayode’s cannonball in, although that was not the extent of Brentford’s attacking brilliance.
The hosts outplayed Liverpool in the final third, creating more xG than their opponents (2.75), having more shots (17) and creating more big chances (7).
It was a clinic from a side that many predicted to be in the relegation scrap this season, but as it stands, the Bees are closer to the Champions League places than they are the drop zone.
Surprise of the Weekend
Surprise of the Weekend – Manchester City
It’s unfair to criticise only Erling Haaland after such a poor team display from Manchester City in the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
With Liverpool fading quickly from the title race, expectation turned to Pep Guardiola and Co. to give Arsenal a run for their money. But with three losses to their name already, it is looking less likely every week that anyone can catch the Gunners.
This weekend was the first time City, Chelsea and Liverpool all lost in the same Premier League Gameweek since 2014-15, a stat that highlights the increasingly competitive nature of England’s top flight.
Regardless, it was still a surprise to see City fall at the hands of Unai Emery, who was nursing his players off the back of their shock defeat to Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League.
Despite having 18 shots and the majority of the ball, Guardiola’s formidable attack could only create two big chances and an xG of 1.18.
Perhaps their uninspiring attacking display is a wider reflection of the state of English football currently, which has been coming under criticism for a lack of excitement in recent months.
Moment of the Weekend
Moment of the Weekend – Sunderland Stun Chelsea
Sunderland have been missed during their years away from the Premier League and they are clearly making up for lost time this season.
Last season’s Championship play-off winners pulled off their biggest result of the campaign so far with a 2-1 win at Chelsea on Saturday, and they did it in true Sunderland style.
Chemsdine Talbi’s 93rd-minute winner seemed to surprise the travelling Mackems as much as it did the home supporters inside Stamford Bridge, who fell silent after 90 minutes of frustration in west London.
But for the visitors, the scenes were jubilant. Sunderland finished the day second in the table - although they have since dropped to fourth - and moved onto 17 points, the best return for a promoted club after nine games since Hull City in 2008-09.
It is another iconic memory added to the collection for the Black Cats, who last won away to Chelsea in 2014, ending Jose Mourinho’s famous 77-game unbeaten home run.
Regis Le Bris’ side also extended their unbeaten record away to London clubs to 14 matches, a run that stretches back to April 2018.
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