Premier League Review -Matchday Six
Saturday 3rd September, 2022
Everton 0-0 Liverpool (12.30)
Frank Lampard’s men are still without a win, but they’ll be pleased to have a point from this Merseyside Derby. They had a goal disallowed too. Liverpool have now dropped points in their first six games. Neal Maupay made his Everton debut. Nunez was back in the Liverpool side after his three-match suspension.
Maupay had an early shot go wide across the Liverpool goal. Everton were getting stuck in and had Liverpool on the back foot. After a Maupay challenge for the ball inside the area, Tom Davies hit the post with a shot off the outside of his foot. Pickford made a good save from Nunez and pushed the shot onto the bar. In the follow-up play Diaz hit Pickford’s left post with a shot at the Gwladys Street end.
Firmino replaced Carvalho in the second half, and he brought a save from Pickford with a low right-footed shot across the goal. Pickford saved from Firmino again from the resulting corner. Pickford was once again exercised, this time by a low Fabinho shot, but the keeper pushed the ball away again. Everton finally broke out after this period of pressure and Alisson saved well from Maupay after an excellent run by Demarai Gray.
Coady thought he had given Everton the lead against his old team in the 69th minute after a Maupay pass from the left, but Coady had been just offside. Alisson made a brilliant high save from a shot by Everton sub Dwight McNeil after the shot had taken a double deflection. Pickford had one more save to make from Firmino’s sharply taken shot. Salah hit the post in added time and it is surprising this game remained goalless.
Brentford 5-2 Leeds (15.00)
Leeds won this fixture on the last day of last season to ensure their survival, but it was not the same today! Ivan Toney scored his second Premier League hat-trick, and the over-excited Leeds coach Jesse Marsch was shown a red card by referee Rob Jones. Leeds were without Rodrigo who sustained a shoulder injury in midweek and will be out till after the International break at the end of this month. Gelhardt took his place.
Brentford were awarded a penalty after a VAR review following a sequence of play in the penalty area when Brentford took a long throw. Toney had been fouled by Sinisterra, who was booked. Toney firmly planted the spot kick into the net and had his 50th Brentford goal. (30 mins) Baptiste was fouled just yards outside the Leeds area and Toney scored goal number two with a superbly struck right-footed free kick in the 43rd minute. Leeds had a goal back in first half added time following a throw-in and skilful play by Sinisterra before he put a left foot shot into the net to the right of Raya.
Toney had his hat-trick goal in the 58th minute. Meslier was well out of his area to challenge Lewis-Potter for a great ball by Jensen, but the ball fell to Toney who took it on and lifted his shot over Meslier’s covering defenders from 26 yards.
Leeds were denied a penalty when substitute Summerville had his shirt tugged outside the area and then went down inside. It was as a result of this incident that Marsch was shown a red card. Leeds missed a chance to make it 3-2 when Aaronson ran right to left and passed to Struijk, but his ball into the 6-yard box was actually hooked clear by his team-mate Bamford. Raya then made a good low right-handed save from Marc Roca (who had been signed by Leeds in the summer from Bayern Munich). Roca did make it 3-2 in the 79th minute when he converted Ayling’s cross from the right following the corner.
Mbeumo scored immediately after the re-start(80 mins) . Another long ball by Jensen was played to Mbeumo by the unfortunate Robin Koch and an initial offside flag was overruled by VAR. Mbeumo had placed his left foot shot inside Meslier’s right post. In added time, Llorente gifted the ball to Wissa who made no mistake to make it 5-2. You can find sites to bet on here but I doubt many people predicted a 5-2 scoreline for this game. Leeds have some flair players, but they haven’t strengthened their defence. They are still missing Stuart Dallas with a long-term injury.
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham (15.00)
West Ham connections are upset with tHis fixture on two counts. Firstly, because it was moved back 24 hours to accommodate Chelsea’s Tuesday appointment in the Champions League. Secondly over a VAR decision which deprived them of a late equaliser. Those connections will also be upset that "The Hammers" find themselves in the bottom three!
Wesley Fofana made his Chelsea debut. Reece James was back, as was Conor Gallagher after suspension. Pulisic partnered Sterling up front. Aubameyang had been signed this week from Barcelona, but he was absent due to a broken jaw suffered in an attack at his home while in Spain.
The first half was a tepid affair without hardly a shot on target. Mendy saved West Ham’s first shot on target in the second half when Bowen hit a good shot from 20 yards. After the resulting corner West Ham did score and it was after Mendy had only been able to push away the ball which was returned to the middle by Rice before Antonio scored from close range. (62 mins)
Chilwell came off the bench and levelled the scores in the 76th minute after collecting Thiago’s ball inside the area on the left. Chilwell managed to beat Fabianski from an angle with his shot going through the keeper’s legs.
West Ham sub Max Cornet hit the post with a header from Benrahma’s cross, before Havertz scored in the 88th minute from a Chilwell cross, turning the ball in with his left foot. This was followed by the big moment of controversy when Mendy seemingly just lost the ball and Cornet whacked in a great right-footed shot in front of the ecstatic away fans. Mendy was deemed to have been fouled by the trailing leg of Jarrod Bowen and the goal was disallowed. This led to post-match protests by David Moses when interviewed and Declan Rice on social media.
Newcastle 0-0 Crystal Palace (15.00)
Newcastle have now drawn four games, whilst for Palace the figure is three matches drawn. Isak had a chance after blocking Andersen’s ball just inside the Palace half, but Guaita made a good save as he closed down the Newcastle record signing, who was making his home debut. Pope made a good save at the other end from Mateta.
Guaita made a terrific save from Longstaff’s powerful header from Targett’s corner after 33 minutes at The Gallowgate End. Almiron hit the outside of the keeper’s left post with a deflected low shot. After a Trippier free kick to the back post, Botman had a shot and the Palace keeper saved again.
Newcastle thought they had the lead when Tyrick Mitchell put the ball into his own net after a cross from the left, but Guaita had collided with Willock and ultimately VAR decreed this was a foul. Later in the half, Pope saved an Edouard shot with his legs. Guaita saved again from Willock. Willock put a shot wide from a corner, but this had been a game dominated the goalkeepers, especially Guaita.
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Bournemouth (15.00)
Despite all the signings and all the excitement about their return to the Premier League, Forest surrendered a two-goal lead to the team that were beaten 9-0 at Anfield last week. Now Forest have conceded 9 goals in two games, and their fans booed the team off the pitch at the end of the game.
Forest’s first goal was from a 33rd minute corner by Gibbs-white, headed home by Kouyate. Their second was from a penalty awarded when Kelly was seen to effectively save Williams’ shot inside the area with his hands. The handball was at close range and quite involuntary in my view. Michael Oliver stuck by his decision, despite being called to the monitor. By the time Johnson converted the kick we were two minutes into first half added time.
Tom Billing got "The Cherries" back into the game in the 51st minute with a beautifully struck left foot goal, scored from fully 25 yards. Solanke scored a neat equalising goal following a Bournemouth corner in the 63rd minute. Kelly had returned the ball into the middle of the area and Solanke scored with a skilful scissor kick. The ball was helped into the net past Henderson by the head of McKenna.
McKenna gifted the ball to Solanke late in the game and the former Liverpool man passed inside where substitute Jaidon Anthony scored within two minutes of having come onto the pitch (87 mins). Forest sub Awoniyi missed a good chance to level the scores in added time. Forest caretaker Gary O’Neil was pleased with his work.
Spurs 2-1 Fulham (15.00)
Harry Kane has now scored 43 goals in London Derby Premier League matches, drawing level with the record of Thierry Henry. Harry’s first London Derby goal was also against Fulham in April 2014. Harry has scored 13 of his derby day goals against Arsenal. He is now just 13 goals short of Jimmy Greaves’ 266-goal record for Spurs, and clear third in the Premier League goal-scorers’ chart with 188 goals. Harry is also number 15 in our list of all-time club appearances with 392 - 30 behind Hugo Lloris who is in ninth place.
Heung-min Son is 30th with 331 and has this week overtaken Ray Clemence. Eric Dier has made 325 appearances and now sits in equal 32nd place above Michael Dawson, Ron Burgess and Ledley King.
Richarlison was my man of the match. Next Saturday tea-time sees the meeting of the only two remaining unbeaten Premier League teams – Manchester City and Spurs. I can’t wait!
Wolves 1-0 Southampton (15.00)
Wolves got their first league win of the season and in 12 league games, thanks to a first half added time goal, scored by Podence. 6ft 7 inch Austrian striker Sasa Kalajdzic made his Wolves debut. Raul Jimenez had been due to start on the bench but suffered an injury during warm-up.
Neto put an early shot just wide after a good Wolves move and at the other end, Neves blocked an Aribo shot at close range. Wolves’ goal followed a cross by Nunes from the right which left Podence in space. He beat the keeper with a good left-footed shot.
Che Adams had the ball in the Wolves net in the second half from Aribo’s cross but had raised his arm as well as his head. Sa made a good save from another Adams header after good work and a short cross by Southampton sub Stuart Armstrong.
Sasa Kalajdzic suffered a cruciate ligament injury on his debut and Wolves have subsequently made a move for out of contract 33-year-old Diego Costa who until January played for Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester City (17.30)
Erling Haaland scored again, but Aston Villa clawed back a much-needed point late in the game to ease the pressure upon coach Steve Gerrard.
Walker had missed a chance for City, but after a good challenge by early substitute Ashley Young on Kevin de Bruyne, Villa bounced back and Ollie Watkins hit a shot past Ederson, but just in front of the far post.
City took the lead in the 50th minute after De Bruyne hit a cross from the right which reached the far post where Haaland scored with his left foot, as he leapt to meet the ball. He has ten league goals already. Ederson closed down Ramsey after he had been put in by Watkins. Bailey’s shot was just wide after Ederson fisted away a cross from the right. De Bruyne hit the top of the bar with a free kick after Haaland had been fouled as he was just about to pull the trigger.
Villa equalised in the 74th minute. Douglas Luiz who was subject to a deadline day bid by Arsenal, won the ball in midfield, passing quickly to Jacob Ramsey. He crossed and Bailey scored with a first-time shot from the edge of the area in front of the Holte End. Coutinho had the ball in the net with a good right-footed shot, but referee Simon Hooper had seen his assistant’s offside flag and blown his whistle. Had the flag not been raised and VAR examined the incident there would not have been an offside. However, City players stopped as soon as the whistle was blown.
Sunday 4th September, 2022
Brighton 5-2 Leicester (14.00)
Brendan Rodgers went with Daka and Iheanacho up front, leaving Vardy on the bench. This selection paid off in the first minute when Daka crossed from the left and Iheanacho scored with a left foot shot. Tielemans and Barnes had also been involved in the swift move forward after Tielemans had won the ball in midfield.
Brighton equalised inside 10 minutes when Gross crossed deep from the right, Trossard returned the ball to the back post and Solly March rose to head in off the unfortunate Luke Thomas, who was debited with an own goal.
Brighton scored again in the fifteenth minute. Maddison lost the ball to Mwepu, who raced forward and passed to Caicedo to his right, who scored with a right foot short over the dive Danny Ward.
Ward and Ndidi had words when Ward failed to control and deal with Ndidi's back pass, giving the ball to Welbeck, whose shot landed on the net.
It was 2-2 in the 33rd minute with an old-style Leicester ball, except it was Daka and not Vardy who raced onto Tielemans' long ball to get the better of Dunk, then to beat Sanchez with a right-footed shot. Harvey Barnes hit a shot straight at Sanchez before half-time.
It seemed that Mac Allister had scored a sensational right-footed goal after a half-cleared Brighton free kick, but a protracted VAR investigation wiped off the goal for offside when the original free kick was taken.
Ward made a save at his right post from Mwepu, who had been put through inside the area by Trossard. Brighton did have a deserved lead in the 64th minute. Mac Allister did well in midfield, passing to Gross towards the left of the area. He quickly teed up Trossard who scored across the keeper.
The Leicester defence was being torn apart as March was picked out in space, but had his shot pushed out for a corner by Ward. Trossard was then being fouled by Ndidi as the Brighton man advanced along the bye-line in and out of play before finally falling inside the area. VAR ratified the referee’s award of a penalty and Mac Allister did have his goal - from the spot in the 71st minute.
Ward dived to his right to push away a 22 yard shot by Pascal Gross after 78 minutes.
There were seven minutes of added time during which Billy Gilmour (signed this week from Chelsea) came on for his Brighton debut. In the 97th minute Mac Allister scored again, direct from a 22 yard free kick after Amartey had fouled Welbeck.
During the game discontent could be seen among the Leicester players, such as Ndidi, Tielemans (substituted) and Amartey. Leicester is clearly not a happy club at this time, especially after five consecutive defeats.
As for Brighton, they are fourth, just one point behind Spurs.
Manchester Utd 3-1 Arsenal (16.30)
United won their fourth consecutive game after their disastrous start to this campaign. Club captain Harry Maguire hasn’t started any of the last four games and was booked within a minute of coming off the bench for the last 10 minutes of this game. £82 million signing from Ten Hag’s old club Ajax, Antony, made his debut and scored United’s opener, but Marcus Rashford led the line and impressed with his first two-goal haul since December 2020 against Sheffield United. Arsenal’s 100% record came to an end.
Christian Eriksen missed a good chance after early skill by Antony and a deep cross by Dalot. Saliba lifted a better chance well over the target at The Stretford End. Martinelli had the ball in the net in the 12th minute after Saka’s pass, but VAR denied Arsenal the goal because Odegaard had fouled Eriksen at the half-way line before Saka took the ball away. Referee Paul Tierney was called to the monitor and gave the foul. De Gea made a great high one-handed reaction save from Martinelli’s header after Odegaard’s pass.
Antony’s opener came in the 35th minute and followed a good United passing move with Rashford providing the final ball to the right of the area where Antony beat Ramsdale with a left-footed shot across goal. Badge-slapping and kissing celebrations followed.
Arsenal played flowing football too and a second half cross by Saka landed on top of the bar with Gabriel Jesus threatening. Saka scored in the 60th minute after Jesus challenged Dalot for an Odegaard through ball which ran to Saka, who scored with a left foot shot.
Rashford gave United the lead again six minutes after a pass by Eriksen to Fernandes, who passed from inside his own half and Rashford claimed the ball, beating Ramsdale with a low right-footer. It was 3-1 with fifteen minutes remaining after United broke forward from half-way again. This time Eriksen collected a ball from the right wing just inside the Arsenal half and he and Rashford advanced in tandem with Rashford converting Eriksen’s pass with his right foot.
The stats show that Arsenal had more possession and more shots on goal, although less were on target than those of United.
Fixtures & results - 03-04.09.22
Saturday 3rd September, 2022
Everton 0-0 Liverpool (12.30)
Brentford 5-2 Leeds (15.00)
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham (15.00)
Newcastle 0-0 C.Palace (15.00)
Nottm F'st 2-3 B'Mouth (15.00)
Spurs 2-1 Fulham (15.00)
Wolves 1-0 S'hampton (15.00)
A.Villa 1-1 Man City (17.30)
Sunday 4th September, 2022
Brighton 5-2 Leicester (14.00)
Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal (16.30)
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 6 5 0 1 14-7 7 15
2. Man City 6 4 2 0 20-6 14 14
3. Spurs 6 4 2 0 12-5 7 14
4. Brighton 6 4 1 1 11-5 6 13
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5. Man Utd 6 4 0 2 8-8 0 12
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6. Chelsea 6 3 1 2 8-9 -1 10
7. Liverpool 6 2 3 1 15-6 9 9
8. Brentford 6 2 3 1 15-9 6 9
9. Leeds 6 2 2 2 10-10 0 8
10. Fulham 6 2 2 2 9-9 0 8
11. Newcastle 6 1 4 1 7-6 1 7
12. S'hampton 6 2 1 3 7-10 -3 7
13. B'mouth 6 2 1 3 5-18 -13 7
14. Wolves 6 1 3 2 3-4 -1 6
15. C. Palace 6 1 3 2 7-9 -2 6
16. Everton 6 0 4 2 4-6 -2 4
17. A. Villa 6 1 1 4 5-10 -5 4
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18. West Ham 6 1 1 4 3-8 -5 4
19. Nottm F 6 1 1 4 4-14 -10 4
20. Leicester 6 0 1 5 8-16 -8 1
