Arsenal took a firm grip on the Premier League title race with the Gunners edging out Crystal Palace on Sunday as title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City fell to defeat.

City sit just inside the top five, narrowly ahead of local rivals Manchester United who climbed above Liverpool courtesy of a third consecutive victory as they beat Brighton 4-2 on Saturday.

Newly-promoted Sunderland sit fourth after stunning Chelsea, while Leeds and Burnley also won this weekend as all three are on course to buck the trend of sides being relegated straight back to the Championship.

Arsenal's title to lose

After finishing second for the past three seasons, Arsenal's time under Mikel Arteta for a first league title in 22 years looks to have come.

The Gunners were again able to rely on their strength from set-pieces and an exceptional defensive record to beat Palace 1-0 at the Emirates.

Eberechi Eze scored his first league goal against his former club after Palace failed to clear a Declan Rice free-kick.

Arteta's men have still not hit top gear offensively, but it has not mattered thanks to a club record run of clean sheets.

Arsenal have conceded just three times in 13 games in all competitions to open up a six-point lead over City and move seven clear of Liverpool.

"I probably value this victory more than any other victory this season," said Arteta.

By contrast, Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet in nine games after a 3-2 defeat at Brentford.

Arne Slot appears at a loss to halt the champions' alarming slide and worse could be on the horizon with the in-form Aston Villa and City to come before next month's international break.

City's reliance on Erling Haaland's scoring streak to bring them back into the title race was exposed in a 1-0 defeat at Villa.

No City player other than the Norwegian has scored more than once in the Premier League this season.

Front three fire for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim waited nearly a year for back-to-back Premier League wins and can claim to show tangible signs of progress after Brighton were beaten at Old Trafford for the first time in four years.

All three of the Red Devils' £200 million ($266 million) trio of attacking summer signings came to the fore.

Matheus Cunha scored his first United goal, while Bryan Mbeumo struck twice and Benjamin Sesko grabbed an assist.

"They have a lot of talent. But I really like the way they defend," said Amorim.

"We can have all the talent in the world but, if we don't fight, in this league, you have no chance."

On a weekend in which Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Palace and Nottingham Forest all lost after the exertions of European football in midweek, United are clearly benefitting from being able to concentrate on one match per week.

A top-four finish and return to the Champions League next season is now a more than realistic target for Amorim's men.

Promoted trio shake up status quo

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Sunderland shocked Chelsea to climb into the Premier League top four / © AFP

Sunderland are off to the best start from a promoted side for 17 years after coming from behind to win at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds beat West Ham 2-1, while Burnley struck late to win 3-2 at winless Wolves.

For the past two seasons, the likes of West Ham, Wolves, Everton and Forest have been saved by the struggles of the promoted sides.

Last season, Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester combined for just 59 points and 12 wins.

Just over a quarter of the way into the current campaign, Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley already have 38 points and 11 victories between them.