Arsenal End Anfield Curse as Palmer Hits 50 in Wild Premier League Weekend
Arsenal end a 16-game Anfield hoodoo, Cole Palmer reaches 50 goals for Chelsea, and Brighton stun Man City in a wild Premier League gameweek.
Gameweek 9 of the 2026/27 Premier League season has delivered a whirlwind of historic milestones and shocking upsets. From the hallowed turf of Anfield to the Etihad Stadium, the league's hierarchy was shaken as Arsenal broke a decade-long drought and Brighton achieved the unthinkable.
Arsenal Conquer Anfield After 13 Years
In one of the most significant results of the season, Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Liverpool, marking their first win at Anfield in any competition since September 2012. Ending a bleak run of 16 visits without a victory, the Gunners now sit on 24 points—the highest tally any team has reached at this stage of a Premier League season since Arsenal's own 2022/23 campaign.
The victory further cements Mikel Arteta's tactical brilliance. Under his leadership, Arsenal have won 81.1 per cent of league matches where they scored first, a statistic that places him in the elite company of legendary managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, and José Mourinho.
Havertz Makes History
The match was decided by Kai Havertz, whose winning goal didn't just secure three points but also etched his name in the record books. With 46 goals, Havertz is now the highest-scoring German player in Premier League history, surpassing İlkay Gundogan's 45. Interestingly, both of Havertz's goals against Liverpool at Anfield—one for Chelsea in 2021 and this one for Arsenal—have put his team 1-0 up.
Brighton Stun Manchester City at the Etihad
The upsets continued as Brighton & Hove Albion traveled to Manchester and returned with a 1-0 win. This victory marks Brighton's first-ever away win against Manchester City in 18 attempts. Despite City dominating possession and firing 21 shots, they failed to score in a home league game for the first time in 23 matches.
Brighton's defensive discipline has been the story of their season; they have won five of their last six league games without conceding a single goal, leading the league with six clean sheets.
Cole Palmer’s Milestone and United’s Nightmare
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea dismantled Manchester United 2-0, a result that highlighted the contrasting trajectories of the two clubs. Cole Palmer reached a monumental milestone, scoring his 50th Premier League goal in just his 105th appearance. Palmer joins an exclusive club at Chelsea, with only Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (84 games) and Diego Costa (85 games) reaching the 50-goal mark faster.
For Manchester United, the defeat extends a disastrous slump. The Red Devils are now winless in nine consecutive games across all competitions (3 draws, 6 losses), their worst run of form since September 1984.
Spurs' Shooting Frenzy and Other Key Results
Tottenham Hotspur displayed absolute dominance in their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, recording a staggering 34 shots—their highest in a league game since February 2016. This victory marks the first time Spurs have won three successive Premier League games since February 2025.
Other notable stories from the weekend include:
- Bournemouth: A 2-0 win over Leeds United saw Evanilson score in four straight league games. He also became the first Brazilian to score in the Premier League on Halloween since Raphinha in 2021.
- Brentford: Celebrated their 100th Premier League home game with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
- Coventry City: Beat Sunderland 3-1, featuring Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s first Premier League goal, making him the first Asian player to score for the club in the top flight.
- Hull City: Played out a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town. Oliver McBurnie scored his first-ever Premier League direct free kick, the first for a Hull player since Robert Snodgrass.