Salah on fire, Xhaka v the fans, Silva sacked, a nine-goal record - the Premier League season so far in pictures

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - LOW: On the second weekend of the campaign in August, VAR hit the headlines when Manchester City were denied a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham due to the ball glancing off Aymeric Laporte's hand in the build-up to Gabriel Jesus finding the net. Getty

HIGH: Liverpool's 3-1 win over Arsenal at Anfield on August 24 was achieved comfortably and ensured the Reds were the only side to still have a 100 per cent record after three games. Already the signs were there Jurgen Klopp's men were the side to beat, after a Mohamed Salah double added to Joel Matip's first-half header. Getty

HIGH: The unpredictability of the division was summed up when new boys Norwich stunned Manchester City at Carrow Road on September 14. A 3-2 win for the Canaries – thanks to another Teemu Pukki goal – saw the champions' 18-match unbeaten run in the league come to an end. Getty

LOW: Watford's woes continued as they were on the receiving end of an 8-0 thrashing at the Etihad just one week after Pep Guardiola's side had lost at Norwich. It added to the problems of Quique Sanchez Flores, who had returned to Vicarage Road during the month to try to end their winless run. City scored five in the first 18 minutes and Bernardo Silva finished with a hat-trick. Getty

HIGH: Leicester broke a Premier League record – and the all-time English top-flight record – for the largest away league win when they put nine past Southampton at St Mary's on October 25. The 9-0 victory equalled the biggest triumph in the Premier League and, while it was a Friday night horror show for 10-man Saints, the Foxes were flying thanks to Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez hat-tricks. Getty

LOW: Granit Xhaka was involved in a heated exchange with his own supporters during the 2-2 draw between Arsenal and Crystal Palace. After walking slowly off the pitch after he had been substituted, he was jeered and responded by swearing at the Gunners faithful before chucking his shirt to the ground. Remarkably, he was back in the team a month later. Reuters

HIGH: Liverpool once again showed their title credentials with a late comeback victory at Aston Villa despite trailing heading into the final exchanges on November 2. Goals by Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane's stoppage-time winner helped the Reds grab the points. Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino saw his goal ruled out by VAR as his armpit was judged offside. Getty

LOW: Andre Gomes suffered a sickening injury during Everton's 1-1 draw with Tottenham on November 3, being left in agony following an awkward fall after Son Heung-min's challenge. He had to leave the field on a stretcher, but would make a miraculous recovery and was back playing again in February. Reuters

HIGH: Sheffield United and Manchester United were involved in one of the games of the season on November 24. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were facing defeat after going two down, but three goals in seven minutes put them on course for victory before there was time for one final twist at Bramall Lane as Oli McBurnie levelled in the 90th minute. Getty

LOW: More VAR drama left Everton manager Marco Silva on the brink with Kelechi Iheanacho eventually awarded a winner for Leicester on December 1. The goal in stoppage time was initially ruled out for offside, but was given on review by the team in Stockley Park. Four days later, Silva was sacked. Getty

LOW: Allegations of racism marred Chelsea's 2-0 win over Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when Frank Lampard got the better of Jose Mourinho in an Apprentice vs Master encounter on December 22. Antonio Rudiger reported alleged racist remarks from the stands to referee Anthony Taylor with the German centre-back indicating a supporter had aimed a monkey chant at him. Spurs and the Metropolitan police could find no evidence of racist abuse leaving Rudiger saying that "racism won". AFP