Manchester United relieved the pressure on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag with a 2-1 comeback win against Brentford, while Tottenham bounced back with a 4-1 thrashing of West Ham on Saturday.
Ten Hag, addressing rumors about his future on Friday, had dismissed them as “fairy tales and lies,” insisting his job was safe. However, with United enduring their worst start to a top-flight season since 1989-90, speculation about his position continued to mount.
The Dutchman seemed on the edge when Brentford took the lead just before halftime, as Ethan Pinnock headed in from a corner. Ten Hag’s frustration boiled over, leading to a booking for protesting after Matthijs de Ligt was forced off for treatment on a head injury.
United’s fightback began in the 47th minute, when Alejandro Garnacho volleyed Marcus Rashford’s cross into the top corner. Rasmus Hojlund completed the comeback in the 62nd minute, calmly lifting the ball over Brentford keeper Mark Flekken after Bruno Fernandes’ clever flick.
The victory, their first in six games across all competitions, was just United’s third in eight Premier League matches this season, leaving them 10th in the table ahead of a Europa League clash with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and a league match against West Ham.
Meanwhile, Tottenham turned on the style with three goals in eight second-half minutes against West Ham, bouncing back after a painful 3-2 loss to Brighton. Mohammed Kudus put West Ham ahead, but Dejan Kulusevski equalized before halftime.
Spurs dominated after the break, with Yves Bissouma scoring, followed by an own goal from West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola, and a fourth from Son Heung-min. It was Tottenham’s third win in four league games, piling the pressure on new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui after a faltering start to the season.
“Second half was outstanding from the lads — good energy, good goals, good football,” said Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou.
– Leicester’s great escape –
Brighton moved up to fifth place with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle on a day of mixed emotions for Danny Welbeck, who scored the 35th-minute winner but was later stretchered off with a back injury that left him needing an oxygen mask.
Leicester staged a stirring fightback to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory at winless Southampton.
Cameron Archer struck in the eighth minute before Joe Aribo’s 28th-minute goal increased the lead for the bottom-of-the-table hosts.
But Leicester’s Facundo Buonanotte bundled home in the 64th minute before Ryan Fraser was sent off for conceding a penalty with a foul on Jamie Vardy.
Vardy stroked in the 74th-minute leveller from the spot and Jordan Ayew drilled into the bottom corner in the eighth minute of stoppage-time.
Fourth-placed Aston Villa extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions with a 3-1 win at Fulham.
Raul Jimenez netted in the fifth minute, but Villa’s Morgan Rogers equalised four minutes later.
Andreas Pereira had a penalty saved by Villa ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez before the interval.
Ollie Watkins’ 59th-minute header completed the comeback and Fulham’s Joachim Andersen was sent off for a professional foul on the Villa striker five minutes later.
Issa Diop’s 69th-minute own-goal sealed the win, although Villa had Jaden Philogene sent off for two yellow cards in three minutes.
Everton clinched their first away win in 16 games in all competitions with a 2-0 victory against Ipswich.
Iliman Ndiaye fired into the top corner in the 17th minute and Michael Keane doubled Everton’s lead in the 40th minute to leave fourth-bottom Ipswich without a win in eight league games.
Third-placed Arsenal will go top of the table if they win at Bournemouth in Saturday’s final match.
On Sunday, Liverpool, currently in pole position, host sixth-placed Chelsea, while champions Manchester City travel to Wolves.
