Wolves 1-4 Brighton
Brighton and Hove Albion once again thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers to move top of the Premier League! Kaoru Mitoma, who really broke out in this fixture last year, went round about 4 Wolves Defenders before he calmly slotted the ball past Jose Sa and into the back of the net to give Brighton the lead inside 15 minutes. Rayan Ait Nouri then had a really good chance to equalise for Wolves, but he blasted his effort over the bar. Right at the start of the second half, Brighton ripped through Wolves’ Defense before Mitoma calmly played the ball back to Pervis Estupinan who finished well to double Brighton’s lead. Wolves made this far too easy for their opponents. 5 minutes later and it was 3-0 to the visitors as Solly March got on the act. This was a good team goal from Brighton’s point of view, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was way too easy for them. In a near-carbon copy of the third goal, Julio Enciso played the ball across the box and Solly March finished off to put Brighton up 4-0 after 56 minutes! Wolves then managed to hit the bar twice from about 4 yards out, but Hwang Hee-Chan was able to get on the scoresheet from the resulting corner. It was a disappointing goal to concede from a Brighton point of view. If things weren’t already bad enough for the home side, Matheus Nunes decided to get himself sent off because he’s an idiot. In the end, this was a pretty horrible day for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves drop down to 19th in the table and their next game already feels like a big one as it’s away to Everton. As for Brighton and Hove Albion, they are absolutely soaring at the moment! The Seagulls sit top of the league after the first 2 games of the season and they host West Ham in their next fixture.
Aston Villa 4-0 Everton
Aston Villa bounced back in style by trashing Everton at Villa Park. Aston Villa found themselves in front after 18 minutes after Leon Bailey played the ball across the six-yard box and John McGinn finished home. Nathan Patterson did really well to clear the ball off the line for Everton, but it didn’t mean much as the referee awarded Villa a penalty due to Jordan Pickford taking out Ollie Watkins. This was a good decision, and it also felt like a bit of a statement after what happened in the Man U-Wolves game last week. Douglas Luiz stepped up from 12 yards out, and superbly placed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to double Aston Villa’s lead. Villa then should’ve made it 3-0, but they made a little bit of a mess of it (if I’m being honest) before Jordan Pickford made a really good save to tip Moussa Diaby’s effort onto the post. Arnaut Danjuma had a half chance for Everton in the first half which he didn’t take before Leon Bailey scored in the 51st minute to put the hosts out of sight. The defending by Michael Keane was dreadful, but the goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford wasn’t much (if at all any) better. Ollie Watkins nearly put Villa four in front, but his effort went just wide of the post before Emiliano Martinez pulled off a good save to deny Neal Maupay. Everton’s Defense was then at it again and this allowed Jhon Duran to score, only moments after coming into the pitch as a substitute. The craziest thing about this goal is the “assist” technically came from former Villa man Ashley Young’s throw-in! Overall, this was exactly the response that Unai Emery would’ve wanted. Villa currently occupy 9th spot and their next game is away to Hibernian in the Europa Conference League before they go to Burnley on Sunday. As for Everton, this was a pretty diabolical performance. The Toffees sit bottom of the league after 2 games, and they really need a good result in their next game at home to Wolves.
West Ham 3-1 Chelsea
West Ham United returned home to pick up a good win against London rivals Chelsea. West Ham nearly scored from James Ward-Prowse’s first corner for the club, but they did from the second as Ward-Prowse’s superb cross was met by the head of Nayef Aguerd who headed home from close range to put West Ham in front after just 7 minutes. Chelsea were then level in the 28th minute as Carney Chukwuemeka got his first goal of the new campaign. Lucas Paqueta nearly put West Ham back in front, but his effort hit the outside of the post before Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Tomas Soucek stupidly fouled Raheem Sterling. Enzo Fernandez stepped up from the spot, but he was denied by Alphonse Areola. It wasn’t a very good penalty if I’m being honest. In the 53rd minute, West Ham were back in front as Michail Antonio thrashed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Whilst I don’t think the defending from Chelsea was particularly good, Antonio’s finish was an absolute thunderbolt! Nayef Aguerd’s day then turned bad as he was shown a second yellow card for a pretty bad challenge. Personally, I think he should’ve got a straight red card because his boot was very high. Areola then pulled out a really good save to deny Chelsea an equaliser before West Ham were awarded a penalty after Moises Caicedo fouled Emerson. Lucas Paqueta stepped up and scored to seal all 3 points for the hosts! Overall, this was a really positive day for West Ham United. The Hammers move up to 7th in the table and they play away to Brighton in their next game. As for Chelsea, this hasn’t been the start that Mauricio Pochettino was planning. Chelsea occupy 15th spot after the first 2 games of the season, and their next game is at home to Luton on Friday Night Football.
Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth
10-man Liverpool came from a goal down to beat AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. After a terrible mistake from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bournemouth took the lead inside 3 minutes through Antoine Semenyo. Virgil van Dijk nearly equalised for Liverpool, but his headed effort came back off the bar before, in the 27th minute, Luis Diaz finished well to level the game up at 1-1. Liverpool were then awarded a penalty after Dominik Szoboszlai theatrically fell to the ground. This was acting at its finest! Mo Salah then stepped up from the spot and saw his effort saved by Neto, but he luckily scored on the rebound to put Liverpool in front after 36 minutes. In the 58th minute, Alexis Mac Allister was shown a straight red card and whilst his boot was high, this felt more like a coming together so he was very unlucky. However, it didn’t seem to affect Liverpool much as Diogo Jota scored just a few minutes later to put the hosts in control. Szoboszlai’s effort may have taken a deflection, but Neto still should’ve done better to not push the ball right into the path of the Portuguese Forward. In the end, this was a decent win for Liverpool, but they’ll need to iron a few things out going forward. The Reds end the weekend in 5th spot and their next game is a big one away to Newcastle. As for AFC Bournemouth, they’ll feel like they could’ve maybe gotten a result out of this game on a different day. The Cherries sit 14th in the table and they host Tottenham next time out.
Fulham 0-3 Brentford
Brilliant Brentford pulled out the performance of the weekend to stuff London rivals Fulham 3-0! A terrible mistake from Issa Diop allowed Yoane Wissa to fire Brentford in front just before halftime, but that would also be doing a disservice to the brilliant composure shown by Wissa. In the second half, Bobby Reid nearly equalised for Fulham, but his effort could only hit the crossbar before Brentford were awarded a penalty after Tim Ream brought down Yoane Wissa. In my opinion, it’s a pretty close call, but Ream receiving his second yellow card for the challenge did seem a bit harsh. Anyway, Bryan Mbeumo stepped up and scored from 12 yards out to put Brentford 2-0 up. And then, in the 92nd minute, Kristoffer Ajer’s ball across the six-yard box was tapped in by Bryan Mbeumo to finish off a superb performance and result for the visitors. Overall, this was a pretty bad day for Fulham. The Cottagers drop to 13th in the table and go to London rivals Arsenal next time out. As for Brentford, this felt like a statement performance/victory. The Bees end Gameweek 2 inside the Top 4 (4th) and they host London rivals Crystal Palace this Saturday.
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Sheffield United
Nottingham Forest scored late to pick up a good victory at home to newly-Promoted Sheffield United. It didn’t take Nottingham Forest too long to take the lead as Taiwo Awoniyi headed home from close range to make it 1-0 inside 3 minutes. This all came from a pretty terribly attempted clearance by Full-Back Max Lowe. Early in the second half, Sheffield United were level through a super goal by Gustavo Hamer. What a perfect start to life in SU colours for Hamer. A poor defensive error from Nottingham Forest allowed Benie Traore in on goal, but he just couldn’t get the ball out of his feet, allowing Matt Turner to make the comfortable (but still good) save. And then, in the 89th minute, Chris Wood headed home to give Nottingham Forest their first win of the new season! The ball from Serge Aurier deserves a mention because it was absolutely superb. In the end, this was a good win for Nottingham Forest and they’ll look to build from it going forward. Forest find themselves in 10th place and their next game is away to Manchester United. As for Sheffield United, they’ll be gutted to have lost this game so late. The Blades now sit 16th in the table and they host Manchester City next time out.
Tottenham 2-0 Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur started home life under Ange Postecoglou with a really good victory against Manchester United. Spurs Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario showed a strong arm to deny Marcus Rashford before Bruno Fernandes poorly headed the ball high and wide in a big chance for Man United. Pedro Porro then smashed the bar for Tottenham before the ball then ricocheted off Luke Shaw and back onto the United crossbar moments later. In the 49th minute, Tottenham took the lead through Pape Sarr. Anthony then struck the post for United in a good opportunity before Casemiro was denied by a really good stop from Vicario. And then, in the 83rd minute, the ball scrappily rolled into the back of the net, with the final touch coming off Man U Defender Lisandro Martinez. Overall, Tottenham Hotspur should be really pleased with this result. Spurs move up to 6th spot and their next game is away to Bournemouth on Saturday. As for Manchester United, they haven’t started the season particularly well at all. Man U drop to 12th in the table and they host Nottingham Forest next time out.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle
Defensively solid Manchester City did enough to pick up an important victory at home against Newcastle United. Julian Alvarez fired Manchester City in front after 30 minutes with a really nice all-round team goal. Erling Haaland nearly double Manchester City’s lead 5 minutes before halftime, but his effort went narrowly past the post. A brilliant bit of defending from Fabian Schar denied Erling Haaland from scoring in the second half before Haaland just narrowly missed the target again. It was then Nick Pope’s turn to deny Haaland, but it wouldn’t come back to hurt Man City as Newcastle never created a real goal-scoring opportunity. In the end, Manchester City should be happy with this result (all things considered). City move up to second in the table and their next game is away to Sheffield United on Sunday. As for Newcastle United, they’ll be disappointed that they didn’t create good chances. The Magpies drop down to 8th and they host Liverpool next time out.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal fought hard to pick up a good victory away to Crystal Palace. Eddie Nketiah had a great chance to put Arsenal in front in the first half, but his effort could only hit the post (he was a little bit unlucky). Nketiah then had another really good chance for Arsenal, but this time he poorly lobbed the ball over the crossbar after a really nice bit of play from Declan Rice. In the second half, Eddie Nketiah was taken out by Crystal Palace Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the penalty spot. Martin Odegaard stepped up and calmly delivered from 12 yards to put Arsenal in front after 53 minutes. Arsenal were then down to 10-men in the 67th minute after Takehiro Tomiyasu received his second yellow card of the evening. It’s one of those where you’d feel hard done by if it happened to your club. Palace were then screaming for a penalty after Eberechi Eze fell to the ground after feeling like his leg made contact with Thomas Partey. This is another one where you’d probably feel hard done by if it went against your team, but personally, I think the referee got this one right. In the end, Crystal Palace will be disappointed to have lost this one. The Eagles drop to 11th in the table and their next game is away to London rivals Brentford. As for Arsenal, this was a good and important win for them. The Gunners now occupy 3rd spot and they host London rivals Fulham next time out.
Premier League Table at the End of Gameweek 2
Brighton: 6pts (+6)
Manchester City: 6pts (+4)
Arsenal: 6pts (+2)
Brentford: 4pts (+3)
Liverpool: 4pts (+2)
Tottenham: 4pts (+2)
West Ham: 4pts (+2)
Newcastle: 3pts (+3)
Aston Villa: 3pts (0)
Nottingham Forest: 3pts (0)
Crystal Palace: 3pts (0)
Manchester United: 3pts (-1)
Fulham: 3pts (-2)
Bournemouth: 1pt (-2)
Chelsea: 1pt (-2)
Sheffield United: 0pts (-2)
Luton: 0pts (-3)
Burnley: 0pts (-3)
Wolves: 0pts (-4)
Everton: 0pts (-5)
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