The Premier League has published shortlists for the September Player and Manager of the Month awards, highlighting a mix of established stars and emerging contributors.

Erling Haaland was the standout player in September, finishing the month with a barnstorming total of five goals. He scored in high-profile victories against Arsenal and Manchester United and also supplied an assist.

Daichi Kamada has been a consistent presence for Crystal Palace. Signed as an attacking midfielder, the 29-year-old has been deployed deeper in a 3-4-2-1 system and combined creativity with robust tackling in that role.

Yankuba Minteh provided three goal contributions for Brighton & Hove Albion, scoring in each of the club’s three matches in September. His display in the 3–1 comeback win over Chelsea drew particular praise.

Sunderland were one of the surprise packages of the month, a newly promoted side that finished September on a three-game unbeaten run. The Black Cats were led by goalkeeper Robin Roefs, who kept two clean sheets, and midfield signing Granit Xhaka, who set up each of Sunderland’s goals.

Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi enjoyed an expanded attacking remit after Martin Ødegaard’s injury and supplied notable moments, including a volleyed goal against Nottingham Forest.

The Manager of the Month shortlist reflected team form and tactical approaches. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta saw his side beat Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United and draw with Man City, a sequence “which, according to the boss himself, left people all over the football world in awe .” Oliver Glasner retained Crystal Palace’s unbeaten record and orchestrated the tactical plan that delivered Liverpool’s first defeat of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City produced nine goals across three games. Régis Le Bris remained on the list following Sunderland’s run that left them fifth at the end of the month.

Recent winners listed in the draft include Jack Grealish (Everton, August) and Arne Slot (Liverpool, September).

Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the 2025/26 season after a late reversal at Selhurst Park, and manager Arne Slot singled out a single defensive decision for criticism.

Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring early for the home side. Federico Chiesa later levelled for the visitors and appeared to have rescued a point, only for Eddie Nketiah to convert in the seventh minute of added time. Nketiah finished at the back post after Liverpool failed to clear Jefferson Lerma’s long throw into the box. Oliver Glasner’s side are now unbeaten in 18 games across all competitions.

Slot described his feelings about the first half and the late stages of the match, saying he was “disappointed” with his team’s first-half display and the conclusion. But rather than broad tactical critique he singled out Jeremie Frimpong for a specific error that led directly to the winner.

When asked whether Liverpool were still pushing for a winner at 1–1, Slot turned the focus to an individual action. He said: “One of our players decided to run out because he wanted to play a counter-attack, which was of no use because time was up, so it was only about defending.

“Maybe we were too offensively minded. Not we, one player, was too offensively minded in that moment, which led to them scoring the winner, us losing the game.”

Frimpong had been assigned to mark Nketiah from Lerma’s throw and did make an initial step forward as Liverpool attempted a clearance. The second ball was won by Will Hughes, and after Marc Guéhi’s flick a subtle push from Nketiah opened enough space between striker and marker for the finish.

Slot’s remarks underline how a single lapse in the final seconds proved decisive. What might have been a hard-fought draw at Selhurst Park instead became a dramatic victory for Crystal Palace, and a sobering lesson for Liverpool late in the match.

Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the season as Eddie Nketiah’s dramatic late winner secured a 2–1 victory for Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Reds looked sharper after the restart and appeared to have rescued a point when Federico Chiesa struck in the 87th minute, but Nketiah rolled the ball beyond Alisson to deny Liverpool an unblemished start.

The home side dominated large periods, and Palace should have been further ahead by the midpoint of the first half. Sarr opened the scoring from close range after poor defending from a corner, and three more goal-bound efforts were thwarted only by Alisson’s reflexes. Had it not been for the goalkeeper, Liverpool would have been well beaten by half time.

Defensive frailty has been a recurring theme for Liverpool so far, and Saturday’s display offered little reassurance. Quick, direct Palace runners exposed holes in the back line repeatedly. Slot must adapt the team’s approach to make them more resilient at the back as the season progresses.

Arne Slot also addressed the fallout from midweek matters. Slot refused to mince his words when discussing Hugo Ekitiké’s ridiculous red card in Liverpool’s midweek Carabao Cup victory over Southampton. The Frenchman’s dismissal, for a second yellow taken after removing his shirt, resulted in suspension and meant Liverpool could not call on him at Selhurst Park.

That absence mattered. Alexander Isak, started in Ekitiké’s place and struggled to impose himself in an underwhelming Liverpool performance. He looked brighter after the interval but fired a gilt-edged chance wide when he should have scored. The inability to introduce Ekitiké from the bench deprived Slot of fresh legs to test Palace’s five-man defence before Chiesa’s late strike.

Florian Wirtz drew attention when deployed on the left. The £116 million midfielder has yet to register a goal or assist for Liverpool and has looked anonymous at times, struggling with the Premier League’s physicality. He offered more when moved centrally but tamely redirected a shot into Dean Henderson’s hands from six yards and was withdrawn in the 74th minute.

Palace’s defensive display, led by skipper Marc Guéhi, was impressive. Guéhi finished with three tackles, seven clearances and an interception, and he provided the assist for Nketiah’s winner. Liverpool are left to rue missed chances and defensive lapses as their perfect run came to an end.