Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham
Aston Villa continued their great run of form at Villa Park (in the league) as they thrashed West Ham United. Alphonse Areola denied Douglas Luiz a long-range goal early on, but Luiz wasn’t to be denied again as his effort took a slight deflection and that was enough to beat Areola (who probably should’ve saved it) to give Aston Villa the lead after 30 minutes. 5 minutes into the second half and Aston Villa were awarded a penalty after Edson Alvarez fouled Ezri Konsa. The pass back from Lucas Paqueta was extremely poor. Douglas Luiz stepped up and scored to double his and Villa’s tally for the afternoon. West Ham were then back in the game as Jarrod Bowen’s effort took a big deflection off Lucas Digne and managed to creep into the back of the net to make it 2-1 in the 56th minute. In the 74th minute, Ollie Watkins restored Villa’s two-goal advantage with a smashing strike before Leon Bailey rounded out a terrific afternoon with a lovely goal. Overall, this was a great win and performance by Aston Villa. Villa remain 5th in the league and their next two games are away to AZ Alkmaar (in the Europa Conference League) and at home to Luton (in the league). As for West Ham United, this is a disappointing result for them. The Hammers drop to 9th in their table and they face Olympiacos (away) and Everton (at home) in the upcoming week.
Newcastle 4-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle United were at it again as they recorded another big victory, this time at the expense of a woeful Crystal Palace. Newcastle took the lead after just 4 minutes through a superb finish from Jacob Murphy. I say superb finish, but I’m not entirely sure that he meant it! Anthony Gordon then missed a sitter from about 5 yards out as he somehow hit the crossbar, but he was able to (sort of) make up for it as Gordon scored in the 44th minute to make it 2-0 to Newcastle. However, the hosts weren’t done yet in the First Half as a mistake by Marc Guehi allowed Sean Longstaff in on goal, and he finished well to send Newcastle 3 in front heading into the break. In the 66th minute, Callum Wilson scored after a superb assist from Jacob Murphy to make it Newcastle 4, Crystal Palace 0. Miguel Almiron then had a decent chance which he hit straight at Sam Johnstone before Nick Pope denied Odsonne Edouard from scoring a free kick. Overall, this was “as easy as pie” for Newcastle United. The Magpies move up to 6th in the league and their next two games are at home to Borussia Dortmund (in the Champions League) and away to Wolves (in the league). As for Crystal Palace, this was a terrible performance from them. The Eagles drop to 11th in the table (because of course they do) and they host London Rivals Tottenham on Friday Night Football next time out.
Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal
Two goals from Arsenal late on was enough for them to pick up a point away to London Rivals Chelsea. Chelsea were awarded a penalty after 15 minutes due to a handball by William Saliba. Cole Palmer stepped up and coolly converted to give Chelsea the lead. Cole Palmer then nearly put Chelsea two in front in the First Half as his effort went just wide of the post, but in the Second Half, Chelsea did double their lead through Mykhaylo Mudryk. Whilst Mudryk’s goal was actually a terrible attempt at a cross, the positioning by David Raya wasn’t good enough and it allowed the ball to go into the back of the Arsenal net. Raya then made another mistake, but he was able to make up for it by denying Palmer a second goal before Arsenal had one back through Declan Rice. The error by Robert Sanchez is absolutely abysmal, but fair play to Rice because his finish was really gold. And then, in the 84th minute, Arsenal had their leveller through Leandro Trossard. Crazily, the visitors nearly won the game as Eddie Nketiah’s effort went just wide of the goal. In the end, Chelsea should be very disappointed with themselves for not holding onto the victory. The Blues are now 10th in the league and their next game is at home to Brentford. As for Arsenal, scoring late goals is what they do best. The Gunners drop to third in the league and they face both Sevilla (away) and Sheffield United (at home) in the upcoming week.
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Luton
Two late goals for Luton Town earned them a massive point at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. Chris Wood had a decent chance for Nottingham Forest early on, but his effort was comfortably saved by Thomas Kaminski before Harry Toffolo missed a great opportunity to put Forest in front. Ibrahim Sangare then had a golden opportunity to make it 1-0 just before Halftime, but he somehow put the ball wide of the goal. However, just three minutes into the Second Half, Nottingham Forest did have their opener thanks to Chris Wood. The little pass from Anthony Elanga was really good and Wood finished calmly to finally give the hosts the lead. Chris Wood then missed a great chance as he headed the ball over the bar, but he got another chance, and this time Wood did head home to make 2-0 to Notts Forest after 76 minutes. However, Luton got one back through Chiedozie Ogbene in the 83rd minute after an originally terrible ball in from Andros Townsend that somehow landed at Ogbene’s feet. And then, in the 92nd minute, Elijah Adebayo scored to earn the visitors a dramatic point. Whilst Forest probably should’ve defended this better, Adebayo deserves some praise here as well. In the end, it’s a really disappointing result for Nottingham Forest considering how much they dominated this game. Forest now drop to 15th in the table and their next game is away to Liverpool. As for Luton Town, they showed real resiliency to get a result from this game. The Hatters remain in 17th place and they play away to Aston Villa next time out.
Brentford 3-0 Burnley
Neal Maupay had a goal ruled out early on against Burnley for offside, and for me, I think Brentford were unlucky not to be in front here. However, that changed in the 25th minute as Yoane Wissa tapped home from close range after a lovely ball across from Bryan Mbeumo. In the 62nd minute, Brentford doubled their lead through a brilliant finish by Bryan Mbeumo. Mbeumo is such a good footballer! Things then got worse for Burnley as Connor Roberts was shown a second Yellow Card before Saman Ghoddos scored with a great strike to seal a really good win for the hosts. Overall, this is more like it from Brentford. The Bees move up to 14th in the table and their next game is away at London Rivals Chelsea. As for Burnley, it’s another disappointing result for them, even if they couldn’t do much about the goals they conceded. The Clarets stay inside the Relegation Zone (in 18th) and their next game is a huge one away to Bournemouth.
Manchester City 2-1 Brighton
Manchester City just enough to get back to winning ways at the expense of Brighton and Hove Albion. Manchester City took the lead after just 7 minutes through Julian Alvarez and whilst the play beforehand from Jeremy Doku was superb, I cannot say the same thing about Alvarez’s finish. However, it doesn’t really matter as he still found the back of the net like he so often does. 19 minutes into the game and Man City were two in front as Erling Haaland got back on the scoresheet with a terrific finish. Jeremy Doku then had a good chance to make it 3-0, but he put his effort wide of the target before, in the Second Half, Pascal Gross had a terrible effort at goal when he really should’ve scored. Stefan Ortega then denied Kaoru Mitoma from getting a goal (Mitoma really should’ve done better) before Brighton had one back in the 73rd minute through Ansu Fati. City really should’ve defended this better. Manuel Akanji was then sent off for Manchester City in the 95th minute, but it didn’t really equate to anything. In the end, it’s a good win for Manchester City, but they still made life a bit too difficult for themselves. City rise to second in the league and they play away to Young Boys in the Champions League tomorrow before they go to Old Trafford for a huge Manchester Derby clash on Sunday. As for Brighton and Hove Albion, they could’ve maybe gotten a result from this game had they maximised their opportunities. The Seagulls drop to 7th in the table and they have a big game at home to Ajax on Thursday Night before they host Fulham on Sunday.
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
A late goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers was enough for Gary O’Neil to beat AFC Bournemouth on his return to the Vitality. Pedro Neto nearly put Wolves in front early on, but his effort blasted back off the bar before Bournemouth were in front after 17 minutes through Dominic Solanke. Solanke’s finish is really clever. Two minutes into the Second Half and Wolves were level through a lovely strike by Matheus Cunha as Pedro Neto picked up yet another assist. Bournemouth were then down to 10 men in the 54th as Lewis Cook was shown a straight Red Card for headbutting Hwang Hee-Chan. I have to say, I think the Red Card is more down to the intention than the actual action/contact because Cook barely touches Hwang. Anyway, Hwang then missed a good opportunity to score on the rebound (after Neto parried out Cunha’s effort) before, in the 88th minute, Sasa Kalajdzic scored another late goal to secure a huge victory for Wolves. Both Neto and Philip Billing made an absolute mess of this. In the end, things look really bad for AFC Bournemouth at the minute. The Cherries remain in 19th place and their next game is a must-win at home to Burnley. As for Wolverhampton Wanderers, this is a good win for them. Wolves move up to 12th in the table and they host Newcastle next time out.
Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester United
Ollie McBurnie had a brilliant chance to put Sheffield United early on, but he poorly guided his effort straight at Andre Onana in a chance that he had to take. In the 28th minute, Manchester United took the lead through Scott McTominay. McTominay’s finish is good, but Sheffield United should’ve defended this better. However, they bounced back just 6 minutes later as after the hosts were awarded a penalty for a handball by Scott McTominay, Ollie McBurnie stepped up and scored to make it one apiece. Bruno Fernandes’ freekick effort then hit the crossbar before Wesley Foderingham made a good save to deny Rasmus Hojlund. In the second half, Sheffield United should’ve been awarded a second penalty after Harry Maguire “nudged” James McAtee out of the way. For me, this is a really poor decision as it’s an obvious penalty because Maguire doesn’t even attempt to win the ball. Anyway, Marcus Rashford then missed a great opportunity to regain the lead for Man United before Sofyan Amrabat hit the crossbar. And then, in the 77th minute, Manchester United regained the lead through a long-distance effort by Diogo Dalot. For me, the Goalkeeping is really poor. In the end, Sheffield United shouldn’t have lost this game. The Blades remain bottom of the league and their next game is at Arsenal. As for Manchester United, they once again just got away with it. United are now up to 8th and they host FC Copenhagen in the Champions League tonight before they host Manchester City in the Manchester Derby on Sunday.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Liverpool once again beat Everton in a controversial Merseyside Derby. Ashley Young pulled out a terrific block to deny Luis Diaz from putting Liverpool in front, but it then turned bad for Young as he was sent off for a second Yellow Card in the 37th minute. For me, I’m not sure that the first tackle deserved a Yellow Card only because the ball was going out of play. Anyway, in the Second Half, Liverpool should’ve been down to 10 men after Ibrahima Konate tripped up Beto. Considering the first Yellow Card that Ashley Young received, this is an appalling decision. Liverpool were then awarded a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Michael Keane and whilst I do definitely feel like this was a penalty, how the on-field referee didn’t give it in the first place is a mystery. Mohamed Salah stepped up and scored to give Liverpool the lead after 75 minutes. Mo Salah then doubled his and Liverpool’s tally for the afternoon in the 97th to send the Anfield crowd home happy. In the end, this was a good result for Liverpool, but they were also very fortunate. The Reds remain 4th in the league and their next two games are both at home against Toulouse and Nottingham Forest. As for Everton, they should rightly feel hard done by after this game. The Toffees remain in 16th place and they go to West Ham next time out.
Tottenham 2-0 Fulham
Micky van de Ven had a good chance for Tottenham which he failed to take earlier on before Guglielmo Vicario pulled out a good save to deny Joao Palhinha. Richarlison then came close to putting Tottenham in front as his effort nestled just wide of the post before, in the 36th minute, Tottenham did have their opener through Heung-Min Son. Defensively, this was a disaster for Fulham as Calvin Bassey poorly gave the ball away before Bassey and Tim Ream just decided to run into each other whilst Son finished well. In the 54th minute, Tottenham’s lead doubled as James Maddison got onto the act. Unbelievably, this goal came from another lacklustre pass/clearance from Calvin Bassey. Bassey then made another error which (thankfully for him) was sorted out by a Tim Ream block before Vicario denied Raul Jimenez from getting one back for Fulham. Overall, it’s another win for Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs remain the league leaders and their next game is away to London Rivals Crystal Palace on Friday Night Football. As for Fulham, this wasn’t a good display from them. Fulham drop to 13th in the table and they play away to Brighton next time out.
Premier League Table at the End of Gameweek 9
Tottenham: 23pts (+12)
Manchester City: 21pts (+12)
Arsenal: 21pts (+10)
Liverpool: 20pts (+11)
Aston Villa: 19pts (+10)
Newcastle: 16pts (+15)
Brighton: 16pts (+4)
Manchester United: 15pts (-2)
West Ham: 14pts (0)
Chelsea: 12pts (+4)
Crystal Palace: 12pts (-4)
Wolves: 11pts (-4)
Fulham: 11pts (-7)
Brentford: 10pts (+2)
Nottingham Forest: 10pts (-2)
Everton: 7pts (-5)
Luton: 5pts (-9)
Burnley: 4pts (-16)
Bournemouth: 3pts (-14)
Sheffield United: 1pt (-17)
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