West Ham 1-3 Manchester City
Manchester City continued their 100% start to the new Premier League Season by coming from behind to beat West Ham United. Manchester City had about 5 attempts at goal in the space of about 15 seconds, but Alphonse Areola and the West Ham Defenders were able to keep the ball from going into the back of the net. Erling Haaland then had a golden opportunity which he squandered before West Ham took the lead in the 36th minute through James Ward-Prowse. Vladimir Coufal’s cross was superb and so was JWP’s headed finish. Erling Haaland then had another golden opportunity, but he again failed to score from close range (Nayef Aguerd does deserve a little bit of praise though). In the first minute of the Second Half, Manchester City were level as Jeremy Doku scored his first goal for his new club. Doku’s dribbling ability seems to be top-quality. Julian Alvarez then came close to putting City in front, but his freekick effort could only hit the post before Ederson pulled out a super save to stop West Ham from going back in front. In the 76th minute, Man City took the lead through Bernardo Silva. Everything about this goal from a City point of view was superb. However, you certainly can’t say the same thing from a West Ham point of view. And then, in the 86th minute, Erling Haaland got his goal to seal the victory for the Champions. In the end, West Ham United gave it a good go, but they just couldn’t quite hold on for a result. The Hammers drop to 6th in the table and their next game is at home to TSC Backa Topola (from Serbia) in the Europa League before they face Liverpool at Anfield. As for Manchester City, this was a good win for them as they keep up their perfect start to the season. City stay top of the league as the only team with a 100% record and their next two games are both at home as they face FK Crvena Zvezda (from Serbia) in the Champions League and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Manchester United 1-3 Brighton
Brighton and Hove Albion pulled out yet another excellent performance to comfortably beat Manchester United at Old Trafford. Brighton took the lead after 20 minutes through Danny Welbeck. Welbeck’s finish was really good, but you do have to feel that Manchester United could’ve defended a little bit better. Marcus Rashford’s deflected effort then hit the post for Man United before Rasmus Hojlund thought he’d scored his first goal for United in the 41st minute. However, his goal was ruled out as Marcus Rashford had taken the ball out of play during the build-up. 8 minutes into the second and Brighton were 2-0 up as Pascal Gross got on the scoresheet. The defending from Manchester United was absolutely shocking here! In the 71st minute, Brighton were three-nil up as Joao Pedro scored with a lovely finish. Andre Onana should’ve probably kept it out though. Hannibal Mejbri was able to get one back for United with a superb strike, but it wasn’t nearly enough for United. In the end, Manchester United have been shockingly bad in the first month of the new season! United drop to 13th in the table and they play away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League tomorrow before they face Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday. As for Brighton and Hove Albion, they really are a brilliant football team! The Seagulls rise to 5th in the league and their next two games are both at home as they welcome AEK Athens in the Europa League and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Wolves 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool left it late to come from behind to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux. After a brilliant solo run by Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-Chan scored to give Wolves the lead after just 7 minutes. Alisson maybe could’ve done better, but I think the ball may have already crossed the line anyway. Straight into the Second Half and Liverpool had a good chance to equalise, but Luis Diaz could only header wide having just come onto the pitch. Liverpool were level in the 54th minute though as Cody Gakpo got on the end of a cross/shot from Mohamed Salah. Darwin Nunez then had a good chance to put Liverpool in front, but he was denied by both Max Kilman and Jose Sa. However, in the 84th minute, Jose Sa wasn’t able to deny Andy Robertson from putting Liverpool in front. Liverpool then sealed the 3 points at the start of additional time as Hugo Bueno scored an own goal. In the end, it’s a disappointing result for Wolverhampton Wanderers given they were in front at Half Time. Wolves drop to 16th in the table and their next game is a big one away to Luton. As for Liverpool, this was another typical victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side. The Reds stay third in the league and they play away to LASK (from Austria) in the Europa League on Thursday before they host West Ham on Sunday.
Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa left it super late to come from behind and beat Crystal Palace at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins was gifted an opportunity early on, but he was denied by the strong hand of Sam Johnstone. Aston Villa then thought they’d taken the lead after 34 minutes through Moussa Diaby, but it was ruled out for a tight offside. I feel a little bit sorry for Diaby because his finish was superb. Less than 2 minutes into the Second Half and Crystal Palace were in front through Odsonne Edouard. Emiliano Martinez's slip cost him dearly, but Edouard’s finish was still really good. Aston Villa then came super close to getting back on level terms, but Ollie Watkins' effort hit the post and went back off Sam Johnstone’s head, just narrowly missing the goal. In the 87th minute, Aston Villa equalised through a thunderbolt from Jhon Duran. In additional time, Villa were awarded a penalty after Ollie Watkins was brought down by Chris Richards. I have to say, I’d feel very hard done by if I was a Crystal Palace fan. Anyway, Douglas Luiz stepped up and scored to put Aston Villa in front after 98 minutes! However, Villa weren’t done there as Leon Bailey got on the act in the 101st minute to seal all 3 points for the hosts. Overall, this feels like a big win for Aston Villa given the circumstances. Villa rise to 7th and their next two games are both away as they face Legia Warszawa (from Poland) on Thursday before they face Chelsea on Sunday. As for Crystal Palace, this loss will definitely sting for a bit. The Eagles drop to 9th in the table and they host Fulham next time out.
Tottenham 2-1 Sheffield United
Tottenham Hotspur managed to score in both the 98th and 100th minute to break Sheffield United hearts! Yves Bissouma had a good chance to put Tottenham in front early on, but he was denied well by Wesley Foderingham. James McAtee then thought he’d scored to put Sheffield United in front, but he was denied by a super save from Guglielmo Vicario. Tottenham were then wanting a penalty after James Maddison was brought down by Chris Basham. Whilst I didn’t think it was a penalty at first, I definitely do now and I’m very surprised that it was given. In the 73rd minute, Sheffield United took the lead through Gustavo Hamer. It was a simple long throw into the box that found its way to Hamer who finished excellently. However, in the 98th minute, Tottenham got back onto level terms through a Richarlison header. And then, in the 100th minute, Dejan Kulusevski scored to send the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a frenzy! It’s all worth mentioning that Ollie McBurnie was sent off for a second Yellow Card in the 104th minute! Overall, this was a pretty insane victory for Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs stay second in the league and their next game is a huge one away to North London Rivals Arsenal. As for Sheffield United, this absolutely sucks for them as they were so close to an incredible victory. The Blades are now 17th in the table and they host Newcastle next time out.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burnley
Zeki Amdouni was denied well by Matt Turner earlier in the game, but he wasn’t able to deny him again as Amdouni put Burnley ahead after 41 minutes. However, in the 61st minute, Nottingham Forest were back level as Callum Hudson-Odoi marked his debut with a wondergoal! In the 76th minute, Burnley thought they’d gone back in front through Lyle Foster, but his goal was ruled out due to a “deliberate” handball by Sander Berge. I’m sorry, but this is a disgraceful decision! I’m not even fully sure the ball hit his arm, but what makes this even more insane is not a single Nottingham Forest player appealed for a handball which tells you everything you need to know! In the additional time at the end of the game, Lyle Foster was shown a straight Red Card for elbowing Ryan Yates. What a stupid decision from Foster. In the end, Nottingham Forest were lucky to come away from this game with a point (if I’m being honest). Forest move up to 8th place and their next game is away to Manchester City on Saturday. As for Burnley, they rightly should feel very hard done by after this game. The Clarets rise off the bottom of the table (19th) after their first point of the season, and they host Manchester United in a big game next time out.
Everton 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal did just enough to pick up their first victory at Goodison Park since Arsene Wenger was in charge. Arsenal thought they’d taken the lead after 19 minutes after Gabriel Martinelli slotted home coolly. However, the goal was ruled out for a very questionable offside decision. Early in the second half, Martin Odegaard should’ve put Arsenal in front, but he struck his effort straight at the hands of Jordan Pickford. In the 69th minute, Arsenal took the lead through a fantastic finish by Leandro Trossard. Trossard’s shot was pinpoint as it hit the post and went into the back of the Everton net. In the end, it’s another poor performance by Everton. The Toffees remain inside the Relegation Zone (18th) and they play away to Brentford next time out. As for Arsenal, they can be happy with the 3 points in this one. The Gunners move up to 4th in the table and they host both PSV and Tottenham in two big games this week.
Newcastle 1-0 Brentford
Newcastle United did enough at St. James’ Park to inflict Brentford’s first defeat of the season. Yoane Wissa had the first real opportunity of the game to put Brentford in front, but he completely failed to connect with the ball! Bruno Guimaraes then had a golden opportunity to put Newcastle in front, but he could only guide his header straight at Mark Flekken. In the second half, Callum Wilson thought he’d put Newcastle in front, but the goal was ruled out for an alleged foul on the Brentford Goalie. At some point, these refs need to stop protecting the Goalkeepers as much as they do. A mistake by Aaron Hickey then resulted in Newcastle being awarded a penalty after Anthony Gordon was taken down by Mark Flekken. Callum Wilson stepped up and scored to put Newcastle in front after 64 minutes. Wilson’s penalty was top-tier. The hosts were then awarded another penalty, but this one was overturned. How the referee gave this a penalty I’ll never know! Overall, this was a good win for Newcastle United and one they desperately needed. The Magpies now find themselves in 12th place and they play away to A.C. Milan in the Champions League tonight before they face Sheffield United in the League on Sunday. As for Brentford, it hasn’t been the greatest of starts for them all things considered. The Bees drop to 11th in the table and they host Everton next time out.
Fulham 1-0 Luton
Carlton Morris had a great opportunity to put Luton in front in the first half, but he scuffed his volleyed effort wide of the target. Jacob Brown then nearly put Luton in front, but his headed effort came back off the post. In the second half, Amari’i Bell should’ve put Luton in front, but he guided his effort right into the hands of Bernd Leno. In the 65th minute, Fulham went in front thanks to a goal from Vinicius. Willian did well to get the ball into the box, but the goalkeeping by Thomas Kaminski was pretty abysmal. In the end, Fulham got away with one here. The Cottagers climb up to 10th in the table and their next game is away to London Rivals Crystal Palace. As for Luton Town, they’ll be gutted that they didn’t get a result out of this game because they really should’ve. The Hatters now find themselves bottom of the league and they face Wolves at home in a big game next time out.
Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea’s tough start to the new season continued as they failed to put the ball into the back of the AFC Bournemouth net. Nicolas Jackson came close to putting Chelsea in front early on, but his effort took a slight deflection and went out off the post. Dango Ouattara then had a good chance to put Bournemouth, but his effort was denied well by Robert Sanchez before Connor Gallagher was denied by Neto in the Bournemouth goal. It was a really good save by Neto, but I do feel like Gallagher should’ve gotten his shot off earlier. In the second half, Chelsea thought they’d taken the lead with a Raheem Sterling freekick, and they certainly thought they’d taken the lead after Levi Colwill put the ball into the back of the net on the rebound. However, Sterling’s effort didn’t quite cross the line whilst Colwill was in an offside position meaning it stayed at nil-nil. Dominic Solanke then had a decent chance for Bournemouth which he struck straight at Sanchez before Cole Palmer’s good opportunity was saved by Neto. In the end, this is a decent result for Bournemouth, but they really do need to start winning soon. The Cherries move up to 15th in the table and their next game is away to Brighton. As for Chelsea, they just look poor. The Blues are now 14th in the league and they host Aston Villa in a must-win game next time out!
Premier League Table at the End of Gameweek 5
Manchester City: 15pts (+11)
Tottenham: 13pts (+8)
Liverpool: 13pts (+8)
Arsenal: 13pts (+5)
Brighton: 12pts (+8)
West Ham: 10pts (+3)
Aston Villa: 9pts (+1)
Nottingham Forest: 7pts (0)
Crystal Palace: 7pts (-1)
Fulham: 7pts (-5)
Brentford: 6pts (+2)
Newcastle: 6pts (+1)
Manchester United: 6pts (-4)
Chelsea: 5pts (0)
Bournemouth: 3pts (-4)
Wolves: 3pts (-6)
Sheffield United: 1pt (-4)
Everton: 1pt (-7)
Burnley: 1pt (-8)
Luton: 0pts (-8)
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