London: Manchester City stumbled to the most unexpected defeat of the Premier League season Saturday before neighbours Manchester United began their brave new world under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a glorious reminder of long-forgotten attacking swagger.
After City’s stunning 2-3 defeat against Crystal Palace at their Etihad fortress, United seemed liberated and re-energised after Jose Mourinho’s midweek sacking as they romped to a 5-1 win at Cardiff City — the first time they have hit five in the league since the final match of the golden Alex Ferguson era in 2013.
A remarkable 30-metre thunderbolt from Andros Townsend adorned Palace’s comeback from a goal down in the rain as Pep Guardiola’s champions City saw their 100 per cent league home record this season shattered.
There was more good news for the Reds as fourth-placed Chelsea also squandered their unbeaten home record with a 0-1 defeat by Leicester City. Arsenal kept up their pursuit in fifth, thanks to a double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a 3-1 home win over Burnley.
After 18 matches, Liverpool are now the only unbeaten side left in England’s top four divisions on 48 points, with City on 44 and Tottenham Hotspur third on 39. Chelsea and Arsenal both have 37, while United are on 29.
On a remarkable afternoon at the Etihad, City seemed predictably dominant when striding into a first-half lead through Ilkay Gundogan. But Palace responded quickly with a Jeffrey Schlupp strike and three minutes later a wondrous volley by Townsend. Luka Milivojevic put the visitors further clear with a penalty after the break before Palace survived a late onslaught that saw Kevin de Bruyne score five minutes from time.
In stark contrast, after a traumatic week which saw the end of Mourinho’s two-and-a-half-year reign, Manchester United seemed mentally and physically re-born.
Marcus Rashford’s free-kick put United ahead and further goals before half time from Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial and a second-half double from Jesse Lingard made it a perfect start for the Norwegian.