Leeds 4-3 Bournemouth
For the second week running, Bournemouth let a 2-goal lead slip. Leeds were awarded a penalty inside the first minute before Rodrigo stepped up and put Leeds United ahead. Bournemouth were then level within 5 minutes through Marcus Tavernier. Just before the 20-minute mark, Bournemouth were 2-1 up through a great strike from Phillip Billing. The scorer of the first Tavernier played the ball across to Billing and he smashed the ball into the roof of the net. 3 minutes into the second half, Marcus Tavernier was involved again as he ran past the defender before he played the ball across for Dominik Solanke who smartly placed the ball home. Leeds got one back in the 60th minute through a lovely strike from Sam Greenwood and in the 68th minute, Liam Cooper levelled the game up at 3 all. In my opinion, Mark Travers should have saved it. With less than 10 minutes to go, Leeds United took the lead to send Elland Road into a frenzy. 19-year-old Wilfried Gnonto ran from inside his own half, played a brilliant through ball into Crysencio Summerville and the 21-year-old smashed the ball past the keeper to win it for them. The win for Leeds means they move up to 12th in the table. They go to Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before they play away to Spurs next Saturday. As for Bournemouth, they have now lost their last 4 games and they sit just 1 spot above the relegation zone. They host Everton in the cup tomorrow before they host Everton again, this time in the league.
Southampton 1-4 Newcastle
Newcastle continued their incredible run by thrashing Southampton at St. Mary’s. Newcastle took the lead in the 35th minute through Miguel Almiron. After some lovely passes, none of the Southampton defenders were able to stop Almiron from getting into the box and placing the ball past the keeper. He’s the revelation of the season so far. Right before the end of the first half, Southampton had a golden chance but somehow, Mohamed Elyounoussi smashed the ball over the bar from about 2 yards out. One of the worst misses you will see all season. Che Adams then had a good chance in the second half, but he put his effort wide and in the 58th minute, Chris Wood made it 2-0 with a lovely finish. Just 4 minutes later, it was 3-0 through Joe Willock! In the last minute of normal time, Southampton got one back through a lovely finish from Romain Perraud. That cost me quite a few fantasy points (I’ve got 3 Newcastle defenders). However, Newcastle were not content with this as Bruno Guimaraes restored Newcastle’s 3 goal lead with a lovely strike. A bad day for Southampton sees them sit inside the relegation zone in 18th place. After a home game against League One Sheffield Wednesday in the cup, they play away to Liverpool on Saturday. As for Newcastle, it’s another win for them and it sees them move up to 3rd place in the table. They host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before they host Chelsea in a big Saturday Night Football matchup.
Wolves 2-3 Brighton
Brighton secured back-to-back wins after beating 10-man Wolves. Brighton took the lead inside 10 minutes through Adam Lallana. A good goal for them but Wolves couldn’t have made it any simpler for them. Wolves were then level within two minutes through Goncalo Guedes. A good goal from the former Valencia man. In the 35th minute, Wolves were awarded a penalty after Lewis Dunk handled the ball. I’m yet to see an angle that clearly shows a handball but anyway, Ruben Neves smashed the ball home to put Wolverhampton Wanderers in front. Just before halftime, Adam Lallana did a couple of defenders before he played a nice ball to Kaoru Mitoma who was there to head the ball home. The defender was shocking by Nelson Semedo. In the 5th minute of additional time, Semedo couldn’t defend Mitoma again to the point he got himself sent off for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. What a horrific day for him. With less than 10 minutes to go, Kaoru Mitoma once again destroyed the Wolves defense before his ball across fell to Pascal Gross who wacked the ball past Jose Sa to win the game for the Seagulls. Another frustrating loss for Wolves sees them sit level on points with the team bottom of the table. They host Leeds in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before they host top of the table Arsenal on Saturday. As for Brighton, the win means they sit in a brilliant 6th place. They go to Arsenal in the cup on Wednesday before they host Aston Villa this Sunday.
Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United
Unai Emery started the right way as manager of Aston Villa. Villa were ahead within 7 minutes through Leon Bailey and Lucas Digne quickly made it 2. Bailey’s goal was nice but Digne’s freekick was great. Cristiano Ronaldo had a decent chance in the first half, but it was well saved by Emi Martinez. United then got one back right before halftime through a lucky deflection off Jacob Ramsey. However, in the 49th minute, Jacob Ramsey scored a goal at the right end as he made it 3-1 through a great strike. A great bit of redemption for the young Englishman. In the end, it’s a great start to life under Unai Emery and the result sees them move up to 13th place. They play United again on Thursday expect it’s at Old Trafford in the cup before they play away to Brighton in their final fixture before the World Cup. As for Manchester United, they still sit in 5th place despite the defeat and after hosting Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Thursday, they go to Fulham for a Super Sunday matchup.
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Brentford
Forest left it extremely late to deny Brentford all 3 points at the City Ground. Morgan Gibbs White put Forest ahead inside 20 minutes after a lovely solo run. His shot actually took a slight deflection off the Brentford defender. Right before halftime, Yoane Wissa went down inside the box after going round Dean Henderson. After a VAR check, the referee awarded a penalty. This was a ridiculous decision, there was clearly no contact between Henderson and Wissa. Bryan Mbeumo then stepped up and placed the ball home to send the game into halftime at 1-1. In the 75th minutes, Mathias Jensen played a lofted through ball which saw Yoane Wissa in behind the Brentford defence. Wissa then calmly lofted the ball over the goalkeeper to put the Bees 2-1 up. And then, in the 96th minute, the ball pinballed around the Brentford penalty area to the point it came off of Mathias Jorgensen and into the back of the net. A lucky escape for Forest but maybe deserved given the penalty that Brentford were awarded in the first half. Forest may still be bottom, but a point is better than nothing. They host Tottenham Hotspur in the cup on Wednesday before they host Crystal Palace on Saturday. As for Brentford, they draw means they sit in 11th place in the Premier League table. They host League 2 Gillingham tomorrow before they face a completely different test at the Etihad on Saturday.
Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool picked up their first away league win of the season with a big result against Tottenham. Darwin Nunez forced Hugo Lloris to pull out a big save early on before Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front in the eleventh minute. Tottenham nearly levelled the game up after the ball hit Alisson’s head but unfortunately for Spurs, the ball hit the post and came out. 5 minutes before the end of the first half, Eric Dier made a horrendous mistake which allowed Mo Salah to go in one-on-one with the keeper before he made it 2-0. To be fair to Salah, it was a lovely finish. In the second half, Tottenham came close to getting one back, but Ivan Perisic effort could only hit the bar. In the 70th minute, Tottenham pulled the game back to 2-1 through Harry Kane. This was also a really nice goal. In the end, Liverpool saw the game out to pick up an important 3 points. Another tough day for Tottenham sees them drop down to 4th in the table. They go the City Ground to take on Forest in the cup on Wednesday before they host Leeds on Saturday. As for Liverpool, this was a huge result for them and it means they move up to 8th in the table. They host League 1 Derby on Wednesday before they welcome Southampton to Anfield in their final game until after the World Cup.
Manchester City 2-1 Fulham
Manchester City left it very late to keep up their 100% home record. Manchester City took the lead after 17 minutes through Julian Alvarez. It was a great strike from the Argentinian; he smashed it off the bar and into the roof of the net. However, I do wonder if goalkeeper Bernd Leno will be disappointed at the fact he wasn’t able to keep it out. Just 10 minutes later, Fulham were awarded a penalty after Joao Cancelo fouled Harry Wilson. He ended up being sent off. All I can say is it was a stupid challenge from Cancelo. He was never going to get near the ball! Andreas Pereira then stepped up and sent Ederson the wrong way. 1-1! In the 74th minute, the returning Erling Haaland leaped up and headed the ball past Leno but unfortunately for him, he was narrowly offside. It was very close but was probably the right decision. In the dying moments of the game, Kevin De Bruyne was clipped by Antonee Robinson and City were awarded a penalty. This was also a tight one. Erling Haaland stepped up and scored because of course he did. I said early about Leno potentially being disappointed about not keeping the first goal out. He will 100% be disappointed about failing to save this one. In the end, City pick up a big win. It’s one of those games where as a City fan, you know you got away with one. Some will say that’s lucky; some will say that’s the sign of champions. Either way, City stay second in the table and after a big game against Chelsea in the cup, they host Brentford. As for Fulham, the loss will really hurt them as they will feel like they should have got a result. You could look at that as a positive though. They currently sit 9th in the table and due to being knocked out in the Carabao Cup in the last round, their only game before the World Cup sees them host Manchester United.
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace picked up a big win away from home against London rivals West Ham. Said Benrahma put West Ham in front after 20 minutes. He ran with the ball well before he smashed the ball past the goalkeeper. 5 minutes before halftime, Thilo Kehrer was poorly dispossessed by Eberechi Eze before he played in Wilfred Zaha who coolly made it 1-1. In the second half, the referee awarded a penalty after Michael Antonio was “brought down” by Marc Guehi. After reviewing it on the monitor, the decision was overturned. I don’t really understand how the referee gave a penalty in the first place; it was really good defending from Guehi. In the 94th minute, Michael Olise shot took an important deflection off of Aaron Creswell. The reason it was important was because the ball looped over Lukas Fabianski and into the back of the net to give Crystal Palace all 3 points. This will be a frustrating loss for West Ham given how they conceded their two goals. They have dropped down to 15th place and after they host second in the Championship Blackburn on Wednesday, they host a team level on points with them in Leicester City. As for Crystal Palace, it’s now back-to-back wins for them and they sit inside the top 10. They face a tough cup match at Newcastle this week before they play away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Everton 0-2 Leicester
Leicester picked up their second consecutive away against a lacklustre Everton. After a defensive mistake from Leicester’s Boubakary Soumare, Alex Iwobi came within inches of putting Everton in front. Right before halftime, Youri Tielemans put the Foxes ahead with one of the best strikes you are going to see all season. It was truly brilliant. Earlier on in the second half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a chance, but his shot was well saved by goalkeeper Danny Ward. James Maddison came close to making it 2-0 but his shot hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick. Late on in the game, Abdoulaye Doucoure played an awful pass which saw James Maddison and Harvey Barnes counterattack. Maddison played the ball across to Barnes who managed to smash the ball home to secure all 3 points for Leicester City. The defeat for Everton means they sit 16th in the league table. The Toffees go to Bournemouth tomorrow to face them in the cup before they play the Cherries again on Saturday. As for Leicester, it was a big win for them and it moves them up into 14th place. They host Newport County in the Carabao Cup tomorrow before they go to West Ham on Saturday.
Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
“We reached a new level today”. They were the words of Mikel Arteta after Arsenal pulled out a brilliant 1-0 win away to rivals Chelsea. Gabriel Jesus went on an excellent solo-run in the first half, but his final effort was blocked by his Brazilian teammate Thiago Silva. In the 63rd minute, Bukayo Saka’s corner went all the way across to Gabriel who was able to simply tap the ball home from about 2 yards out. In the end, this was a pretty bad day for Chelsea. Not a single one of the highlights on BT Sport saw Chelsea attacking. That is horrendous. They drop down to 7th place and after a trip to the Etihad for a massive Carabao Cup clash on Wednesday, they go to Newcastle in what is arguably an even bigger game. As for Arsenal, it just keeps on getting better and better for them. They stay two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table and after hosting Brighton in the cup on Wednesday, they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux.
Comments