The fifth matchweek of the Premier League season has given an early indication of how quickly the table can turn, with Manchester City opening a three-point lead at the top after maintaining their perfect start, while defending champions Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the campaign and Tottenham Hotspur's winless run left them at the bottom of the table.
City maintained their perfect start under new manager Enzo Maresca with a 5-3 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 20.
The eight-goal match saw Sunderland fight back after City took control but Antoine Semenyo scored twice and Erling Haaland added a late goal to help the hosts secure their fifth straight league victory.
The result moved City to 15 points, three ahead of Arsenal. It also means Maresca's side will head into the international break as the only team with a perfect league record after five matches.
Arsenal's run, however, came to an abrupt end at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The defending champions were beaten 3-0 on Saturday, September 19, after Pascal Gross opened the scoring, with 19-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas adding a second before half-time. Chema Andres completed Brighton's win after the break.
The defeat ended Arsenal's perfect start and denied them the chance to win their first eight league matches of a season for the first time in 123 years.
Brighton's victory was also their third consecutive Premier League win over Arsenal, while their 16 goals from five matches underline the attacking form they have shown in the opening weeks.
Liverpool were another side to leave the weekend with three points, although their victory was far less comfortable. Alexander Isak scored the only goal as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium, giving the forward his fourth league goal of the season.
The result also gave Liverpool a winning return to Bournemouth for manager Andoni Iraola, who left the club for Liverpool during the summer.
Liverpool remain unbeaten and are among the early leaders, although they have won only two of their five league matches.
Chelsea's weekend was less positive after Brentford claimed a 3-0 victory in the west London derby. Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho scored after the break as Brentford secured their first Premier League home win over Chelsea since 1938.
For Chelsea, the defeat extended their winless run to three league matches.
Brentford, meanwhile, continued their unbeaten start and strengthened their position among the early challengers near the top of the table.
Manchester United also dropped points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Fulham took the lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal before Matheus Cunha scored in the 89th minute to rescue a point for United.
The draw stopped United from suffering a third straight league defeat but Ruben Amorim's side have managed only one win from their opening five matches.
The match was also unusually open, with the two sides producing 26 shots in the first half, the most in a Premier League first half since Opta's shot data began in 2003/04.
Tottenham's poor beginning continued as Aston Villa came from behind to win 3-2 in north London. The victory gave Villa their first league win of the season, while Tottenham remained without a win after five matches and dropped to the bottom of the table.
Elsewhere, Everton beat Ipswich Town 1-0, Newcastle United defeated Hull City 2-1 and Coventry City claimed their first Premier League win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest.
Leeds United and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw, leaving Leeds unbeaten after five matches.
With five matchweeks played, City's perfect record has given them an early advantage but the gap behind them remains narrow.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton and the other sides near the top will have another opportunity to close the distance when league action resumes after the international break.
The Premier League will return on October 10, with the next round of fixtures set to provide another test for the early leaders and teams trying to recover from difficult starts.
The fifth matchweek of the Premier League season has given an early indication of how quickly the table can turn, with Manchester City opening a three-point lead at the top after maintaining their perfect start, while defending champions Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the campaign and Tottenham Hotspur's winless run left them at the bottom of the table.
City maintained their perfect start under new manager Enzo Maresca with a 5-3 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, September 20.
The eight-goal match saw Sunderland fight back after City took control but Antoine Semenyo scored twice and Erling Haaland added a late goal to help the hosts secure their fifth straight league victory.
The result moved City to 15 points, three ahead of Arsenal. It also means Maresca's side will head into the international break as the only team with a perfect league record after five matches.
Arsenal's run, however, came to an abrupt end at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The defending champions were beaten 3-0 on Saturday, September 19, after Pascal Gross opened the scoring, with 19-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas adding a second before half-time. Chema Andres completed Brighton's win after the break.
The defeat ended Arsenal's perfect start and denied them the chance to win their first eight league matches of a season for the first time in 123 years.
Brighton's victory was also their third consecutive Premier League win over Arsenal, while their 16 goals from five matches underline the attacking form they have shown in the opening weeks.
Liverpool were another side to leave the weekend with three points, although their victory was far less comfortable.
Alexander Isak scored the only goal as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium, giving the forward his fourth league goal of the season.
The result also gave Liverpool a winning return to Bournemouth for manager Andoni Iraola, who left the club for Liverpool during the summer.
Liverpool remain unbeaten and are among the early leaders, although they have won only two of their five league matches.
Chelsea's weekend was less positive after Brentford claimed a 3-0 victory in the west London derby.
Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho scored after the break as Brentford secured their first Premier League home win over Chelsea since 1938.
For Chelsea, the defeat extended their winless run to three league matches.
Brentford, meanwhile, continued their unbeaten start and strengthened their position among the early challengers near the top of the table.
Manchester United also dropped points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham at Craven Cottage. Fulham took the lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal before Matheus Cunha scored in the 89th minute to rescue a point for United.
The draw stopped United from suffering a third straight league defeat but Ruben Amorim's side have managed only one win from their opening five matches.
The match was also unusually open, with the two sides producing 26 shots in the first half, the most in a Premier League first half since Opta's shot data began in 2003/04.
Tottenham's poor beginning continued as Aston Villa came from behind to win 3-2 in north London. The victory gave Villa their first league win of the season, while Tottenham remained without a win after five matches and dropped to the bottom of the table.
Elsewhere, Everton beat Ipswich Town 1-0, Newcastle United defeated Hull City 2-1 and Coventry City claimed their first Premier League win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest.
Leeds United and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw, leaving Leeds unbeaten after five matches.
With five matchweeks played, City's perfect record has given them an early advantage but the gap behind them remains narrow.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton and the other sides near the top will have another opportunity to close the distance when league action resumes after the international break.
The Premier League will return on October 10, with the next round of fixtures set to provide another test for the early leaders and teams trying to recover from difficult starts.
