On a sombre day for English soccer with the news of the death of the great Bobby Charlton, the show had to go on in the Premier League, as Manchester City and Liverpool both got back on track with wins and Manchester United scored an emotional win for their legendary player.

The death of Charlton, the 1966 World Cup winner and perhaps England’s greatest ever player, was announced during the halftime break of Saturday’s five afternoon games, casting a pall over a busy day as the Premier League returned after the international break.

Tributes to Charlton flowed later at an emotionally charged visit for Manchester United to Sheffield United in the evening kick-off.

United secured a 2-1 victory when Diago Dalot curled in a strike from outside the area in the 78th minute after Sheffield’s Oli McBurnie cancelled out Scott McTominay’s opener in the first half.

Just hours after the announcement that Charlton — United’s greatest ever player — had died at the age of 86, United captain Bruno Fernandes laid a wreath at the centre of the field before the game, and both teams took part in a tribute that included a period of applause in Charlton’s honor.

“I felt with the win we gave a little bit of joy on a sad day,” Dalot said. “This is the contribution we could have today and give to the family.”

City and Liverpool bounced back from two straight disappointing results with comfortable wins to reignite a title rivalry that is showing signs of once again going deep into the season.

Liverpool beat crosstown rivals Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside derby in the early kickoff, before City ended a two-game losing streak in the league with a 2-1 win over Brighton.

City had lost two consecutive league games for the first time since 2018 after defeats to Wolverhampton and Arsenal but a third never looked likely against a Brighton team who have looked like an outside challengers for a top-four spot this season.

Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland netted for City in the opening 20 minutes, with the Norway striker ending a mini-drought after going two league games without scoring.

Haaland has never gone three Premier League games without a goal since joining City last season.

Ansu Fati pulled one back for Brighton in the 73rd but the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser even after City’s Manuel Akanji was sent off for a second booking in stoppage time.

On a day with plenty of red cards, Liverpool needed two late goals by Mohamed Salah to get past 10-man Everton after having a couple of refereeing decisions go its way this time.

Ashley Young was sent off after what appeared to be a soft yellow card in the 18th minute and a second booking in the 37th for another foul on Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.

Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate then avoided a second yellow after pulling back Everton striker Beto, which Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledged could easily have led to another red card.

Liverpool were also awarded a penalty for the first goal in the 75th minute after Diaz’s cross struck the outstretched right arm of substitute Michael Keane in the area.

Liverpool were coming off a loss and a draw in their last two games, with the defeat at Tottenham coming after VAR officials failed to award Liverpool a goal that had been wrongly disallowed for offside.

Newcastle moved above Brighton into fifth place with a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, while Wolves and Brentford also earned victories.

Brentford beat Burnley 3-0 at home, with the visitors also going down to 10 men in the 78th, while Wolves earned a 2-1 away victory at Bournemouth.

That game saw a straight red card for Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook in the 54th minute, when the score was 1-1.

Luton trailed by two goals in the 83rd minute before rallying to draw 2-2 at Nottingham Forest, after New Zealander Chris Wood had netted twice for the hosts.

City have 21 points from nine games, one more point than Liverpool, but Arsenal and Tottenham, who play Fulham on Monday, could both climb above them with wins.

with AAP

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