Brighton & Hove Albion’s Diego Gomez struck a sensational goal from inside his own half in a 5-0 Premier League shellacking of Crystal Palace on Sunday that moved them provisionally into second place on 16 points, five behind leaders Manchester City.
Manchester United and bitter rivals Leeds United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road at the end of a turbulent week for the Red Devils in which defender Lisandro Martinez had publicly challenged the club’s hierarchy.
Leeds are seventh in the table and Manchester United, who have just one win from seven games, are 13th.
Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 for their first league victory of the season to climb to 15th place. Sunderland remained in the drop zone in 19th place.
Champions Arsenal, who began the day with 15 points, travel to Nottingham Forest for Sunday’s late game.
At the Amex, Brighton got on the scoresheet in the fourth minute through a Jaydee Canvot own goal, before Gomez struck a goal of the season contender three minutes later, robbing Adam Wharton of the ball near the halfway line before taking a touch and firing the ball over keeper Walter Benitez and into the net.
Yasin Ayari padded Brighton’s lead three minutes later, before Charalampos Kostoulas and Jack Hinshelwood completed the rout with second-half goals.
Kostoulas scored just after halftime when Ayari’s shot deflected into the Greece international’s path, and Hinshelwood struck in the 84th when Luka Vuskovic’s header was scooped off the line by Benitez and he fired home the rebound.
Manchester United looked on course for a much-needed victory when Bryan Mbeumo scored in the 35th minute after missing a couple of chances. Mbeumo held off James Justin before tapping in a Youri Tielemans cross from six yards out.
Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised in the 51st minute, chesting down the ball from a corner before poking home.
Manchester defender Martinez retained his place in Michael Carrick’s starting lineup despite criticising United’s hierarchy following Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, questioning the club’s summer investment and singling out technical director Jason Wilcox before later apologising.
Bournemouth punished a shaky Sunderland start to take the lead after just six minutes, when Lewis Cook lofted a long ball forward that Evanilson ran on to and squared for Marcus Tavernier to head home from close range.
Evanilson scored himself in the 48th minute when the Brazilian rounded goalkeeper Robin Roefs before slotting home left-footed.