Man City's struggles continue as Brentford secure victory, Arne Slot's tactical adjustments rescue Liverpool at Nottingham Forest - Premier League round-up

Just when you think Manchester City have mastered the art of winning football games, they unexpectedly find themselves drifting even further from another Premier League title.

Man City's walls crumble… again

Brentford - who went into the game with second-best home record in the league after Liverpool - is by no means an easy place to go. But to battle as hard as Manchester City did to go 2-0 up and then to let it slip through their fingers is another concern.

It was far from their worst performance this season, but until the 66th minute, their finishing was wasteful. In fact, they could have been well behind if Brentford hadn't too let good chances pass them by at the other end.

But arguably, attack wasn't the issue. Kevin De Bruyne rolled back the years for Phil Foden's opener with a gorgerous cross and Savinho looked lively, picking up an assist and hitting the post.

In his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola admitted his team's defending has not been good enough this season. The players unfortunately proved him right.

The Manchester City of old would have seen a game like that out. But once again, Pep and his players found the walls crumbling around them. Whether it prompts an increase in January transfer activity remains to be seen, but it was another reminder of Manchester City's struggles this season.
Charlotte Marsh

Potter rides his luck to get off the mark

Graham Potter is already working his magic at West Ham. What Julen Lopetegui would have given for a win as fortuitous in some ways as this. Just six touches in the opposition box. Three goals from three shots on target, from an xG of 1.1. Potter will hope it is always like this.

The former Brighton and Chelsea boss had three training sessions, and Friday's FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa, to get his ideas across to his new players.

Yet the Hammers, at times shambolic under Lopetegui, already look like something approaching a functioning, well-drilled football team. They were helped by some horrendous Fulham defending, with goalkeeper Bernd Leno in particular having a night to forget.

Potter will be irked by how two Alex Iwobi crosses flew straight in, to maintain their average of conceding two goals a game this season.

He will be aware of how Fulham hit the crossbar twice as well. But he will also be encouraged by how having ridden their luck they withstood a late barrage to pick up a first home win since December 9.

Potter had promised to be 'creative' in picking his line-up, with his attacking options depleted through the absence of Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug, Michail Antonio and Crysencio Summerville. He will need to be, despite the promising signs that Bowen will be back ahead of schedule. For now, he can toast this somewhat fortuitous victory.
Ben Grounds

Wasteful Chelsea a concern for Maresca

Straight out of the blocks, it was the Cole Palmer show - the Chelsea show - against Bournemouth.

Palmer was at his magical best, his dummy and finish giving the Blues a deserved lead. They were utterly dominant with 13 shots, five of them on target. However, the crucial stat was that they only one goal to show for it at the break.

Nicolas Jackson's wait for a goal goes on. He was lively against the Cherries but lacked cutting edge. Three of his seven attempts drew saves from Mark Travers.

He wasn't the only culprit as wastefulness proved costly with Bournemouth roaring back into the game, and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admitted his side's second-half drop-off was a concern.

Chelsea were eventually handed a get-out-of-jail-card by James' stoppage-time free-kick, but Enzo Maresca's side are now five games without a win in the league.

It's not a critical result in terms of their hopes of Champions League qualification but they will have to find a ruthlessness in front of goal if they want to stay in the top four.
Oliver Yew

Slot has last laugh with change

Arne Slot was targeted by the Nottingham Forest supporters throughout the game, even his choice of footwear being a cause for criticism. With Liverpool one down in the second half, they started the chant, 'Arne Slot, it's happening again', a reference to Forest's win at Anfield.

The Dutchman forced a smile in their direction and while he did not quite have the last laugh, his team did force the equaliser that maintains Liverpool's unbeaten Premier League away record. It came as a result of his own intervention following a bold change.

Bringing on Kostas Tsimikas for the struggling Andy Robertson was obvious enough but removing Ibrahima Konate for Diogo Jota required some imagination. Ryan Gravenberch dropped into defence and Luis Diaz briefly operated in a deeper role in midfield.

Slot's game-changing decisions have been praised ever since the opening weekend but seldom will a switch pay off as quickly as this - both substitutes combining for the equaliser. He wanted a win. But this could yet prove to be a precious point for Liverpool.
Adam Bate

Murillo sums up Forest's resolve

There were some excellent performances from Nottingham Forest players against Liverpool but Murillo was probably the pick of them, just ahead of goalkeeper Matz Sels, whose saves were so important.

The centre-back was like a magnet for the ball in the Forest box, repelling almost everything. His total of 18 clearances was the most by any player in any Premier League game all season.

The previous highest total? Murillo was responsible for that too, making 15 clearances in Forest's draw with Brighton in September. Breaking his own records and making his mark in the Premier League, the 22-year-old continues to thrive.
Nick Wright