Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score twice as Liverpool snatched a sensational 2-1 Premier League win at Newcastle United on Sunday, with the visitors bouncing back from a straight red card in the first half for captain Virgil van Dijk.
The Uruguayan came on in the 77th minute before grabbing the limelight with two superb finishes, his first Premier League goals since scoring against Leeds United back in April.
The 24-year-old, who had seemingly fallen down the pecking order among Liverpool's attacking talents, stole the thunder of Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, who looked set to end his side's 13-game league run without a win over Juergen Klopp's side.
Having picked up an early yellow card, Trent Alexander-Arnold was lucky to stay on the field when he pulled down Gordon, but he gifted Newcastle the opener in the 25th minute when he mis-controlled the ball, allowing Gordon to run onto it and slot it past Alisson Becker.
Van Dijk was sent off just over two minutes later, with referee John Brooks showing him a straight red card for fouling Alexander Isak on the edge of the box, and the VAR backed his on-field decision.
That prompted a period of dominance from the home side, with Alisson pulling off a brilliant save to push Miguel Almiron's powerful volley onto the crossbar in the 36th minute.
Almiron fired another golden opportunity over the bar five minutes into the second half as Newcastle made the most of having an extra player, and he hit the post in the 76th minute.
The introduction of Nunez proved a game-changer and he got the equaliser when Sven Botman fluffed his lines, allowing Nunez to rifle the ball across Nick Pope and in at the far post.
With the game heading for a draw, Nunez struck again three minutes into stoppage time with an almost identical second to leave the home fans crestfallen as the visitors, led by coach Klopp, celebrated wildly on the pitch.
"I feel very happy for the team to be able to help them," a beaming Nunez told Sky Sports, with keeper Alisson acting as his translator.
"After we went a man down, the team played really well. We work really hard for these moments, and I am happy to score the two goals to help the team," he added.
Rodri fires Manchester City to the top of table
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United on Sunday after Rodri scored an 88th-minute winner to secure their third win of the season.
With the scores level at 1-1 and the clock winding down, the ball came to Phil Foden in the United box and although the English midfielder had no control over it, Rodri stepped in to power a half-volley into the top corner.
Champions City continued their perfect start as they moved on to nine points, two ahead of West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
City striker Erling Haaland missed a first-half penalty given for handball as his spot-kick hit the post.
But the Norwegian made amends just after the hour-mark when he opened the scoring with a close-range header from a cross by Jack Grealish.
Sheffield United equalised in the 85th minute when the hosts capitalised on a defensive error from Kyle Walker's botched backheel clearance and Jayden Bogle fired an angled shot through the crowd and beat City keeper Ederson.
Just as United looked to have gained their first point on their return to the top flight, Paul Heckingbottom's side were left heartbroken when Rodri fired home the winner.
City manager Pep Guardiola was not on the touchline at Bramall Lane having undergone back surgery but they got the job done despite seven minutes being added on as the home side searched for an equaliser.
United are 17th in the standings without a point from three games.
Cash double helps Villa win at Burnley
Defender Matty Cash scored twice in the first half as Aston Villa won 3-1 at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday to continue their winning run.
Cash, playing his 100th match for Villa, was the unlikely hero as he scored for the first time for over a year in Villa's third straight victory in all competitions since their 5-1 thrashing at Newcastle United on the opening day of the season.
The Poland international put the visitors in front in the eighth minute as he turned in a looping Ollie Watkins cross at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Cash doubled the lead 12 minutes later, steering home Moussa Diaby's cutback to complete a slick move.
Belgian defender Hannes Delcroix, who was signed from Anderlecht this month, had a debut to forget in Burnley's back line but did well to deny Diaby with a well-timed interception.
Vincent Kompany's Burnley began the second half on the front foot and were rewarded with a goal in the 47th minute as Lyle Foster outmuscled Pau Torres in the area and rifled his shot past Robin Olsen.
In a frenetic 10 minutes after the goal, Burnley had several chances to equalise, with Olsen keeping out a goal-bound Delcroix header, but Villa weathered the storm.
As Burnley continued to commit bodies forward in their hunt for a leveller, Villa struck again in the 61st minute through Diaby, who slotted home from the edge of the area.
Watkins and substitute Nicolo Zaniolo spurned late golden opportunities but Villa coasted to a second league win and provisionally climbed to sixth in the standings.
Burnley's second straight loss left them down in 18th, though they have played only two games after last week's fixture at Luton Town was postponed due to stadium works at Kenilworth Road.
Burnley travel to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup on Wednesday and Villa host Hibernian in the second leg of a Europa Conference League playoff tie on Thursday. Villa won the first leg 5-0.
