• Striker writes ‘wtf’ on X after referee prevents late advantage
• ‘I do not understand this action,’ says City manager

Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham ended in fury for the champions that prompted Pep Guardiola to say he would not make a “Mikel Arteta comment” and Erling Haaland to write “wtf” on X after the referee, Simon Hooper, stopped play with Jack Grealish clear on goal in added time.

Hooper, having waved play on for a foul on Haaland, halted the game after a pass by the Norwegian had put Grealish in behind the Spurs defence. Angry City players surrounded the referee – which may provoke a Football Association charge – and Guardiola remonstrated with the fourth official. When Hooper blew for time, Haaland departed the pitch visibly upset.

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In a chaotic 3-3 draw at Manchester City, an injury-ravaged Tottenham stuck to their manager’s high-wire rope‑a‑dope plan

This was a breezy, while at times deeply confusing, game of football; but a game that will, above all, have felt like a kind of vindication for Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham Hotspur really, really shouldn’t have been able to come away from this injury-ravaged trip to the champions of Europe with a point, certainly not after falling behind twice; and even more certainly not after playing in the first half like a team intent on walking the opposition backwards into their own goal.

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Akin to a breathless five a-side, Manchester City slipped from mastering Tottenham to a sloppiness that should infuriate Pep Guardiola.

Dejan Kulusevski was the visitor’s hero. As this helter-skelter contest neared added time, Brennan Johnson skated along the left and popped the ball into City’s area and the No 21 – via what looked a shoulder – beat Ederson to make it 3-3.

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• Eastleigh’s Paul McCallum scores both goals in 2-1 win
• Non-league club Chesterfield defeat Orient 1-0

Paul McCallum’s stoppage-time strike enabled Eastleigh to pull off a Cup upset as they beat Reading 2-1 in the second round.

The National League side took the lead against the League One strugglers through McCallum but Femi Azeez drew Reading level in the 84th minute.

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It is not easy to understand why Mauricio Pochettino has likened himself to a university professor. Chelsea’s manager must have felt as if he was in charge of a class of unruly toddlers during a performance that began in commanding fashion and ended with Thiago Silva making heroic blocks, Levi Colwill almost giving away a penalty in the 110 ^th minute and a general air of chaos almost allowing Brighton to snatch an undeserved point.

If anything there were times when Chelsea were too intense as they chased only their fourth home win in the Premier League in 2023. They were up for a fight and were down to 10 men when their captain, Conor Gallagher, got himself sent off just before half-time. Pochettino loved the intensity and despaired at the naivety.

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Things do not always have to go perfectly to create perfection as Liverpool found out, maintaining their 100% home record in a seven-goal thriller against Fulham. Trent Alexander-Arnold, albeit via Bernd Leno’s back, and Alexis Mac Allister scored two incredible goals from a combined distance of 55 yards to twice put Liverpool into the lead. But Fulham repeatedly fought back, netting through Harry Wilson, Kenny Tete and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, all from close range, before Wataru Endo and Alexander-Arnold lifted Anfield into delirium.

It was rare that Alexander-Arnold was stationary on the pitch. He nominally started the game at right-back but could be found operating as a sweeper, in central midfield or at left wing. When he did get a moment of calm, the full-back lined up from 25 yards before curling in off the bar with the sweetest of strikes, although it will be slightly tainted as it hit Leno’s back on the way down.

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No centre-backs again for Ange , with Ben Davies and Emerson Royal the pair, and an adventurous midfield in Lo Celso and Bissouma. Bryan Gil is in the attacking trio, too. He’s going for it, as promised.

As for Manchester City, three changes from their latest meeting with RB Leipzig. Ederson, Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez replace Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis and Jack Grealish. That’s a very strong team.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji, Rodri, Silva, Foden, Doku, Alvarez, Haaland. Subs: Ortega, Phillips, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Grealish, Gomez, Bobb, Lewis.

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• Gunners won last three FA Cup ties with Premier League rivals
• Spurs host Burnley, Everton are at Palace, Brentford face Wolves

Arsenal will host Liverpool in a blockbuster third-round FA Cup tie next month. The Premier League giants are meeting for the first time in the competition since Arsenal won a fifth-round tie 2-1 in 2014.

The Gunners have come out on top in their last three FA Cup clashes, with Liverpool’s last victory back in the final of 2001.

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Celtic survived a stoppage-time scare as they came from behind to beat St Johnstone 3-1 at McDiarmid Park.

The league leaders trailed to Diallang Jaiyesimi’s first goal for St Johnstone at half-time after failing to deal with an inswinging corner for the second weekend running – Motherwell scored a late equaliser at Parkhead from the same source.

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