Premier League Review - Matchday 7
Saturday 28th September, 2019
Sheffield United 0 Liverpool 1
Nobody is going to find it easy to beat Chris Wilder's Sheffield United this season, and Liverpool had a goalkeeping error by 22 year ago old Dean Henderson to thank for this seventh consecutive league win of this season, and their 16th consecutive league win in total.
Liverpool's three-man attack looked as if they would get a goal when after Salah's run and a challenge on Firmino, Mane's shot rebounded off the post. Norwood had a shot pushed around his right post by Adrian, and Liverpool survived more "Blades" pressure upon their goal, before Wijnaldum's shot was allowed through his hands by Henderson, giving Liverpool points. All of United's defeats so far this season have been by one goal.
Aston Villa 2 Burnley 2
Hourihane hit the post following a free kick in front of the Holte End in the first quarter of an hour, and McNeil did the same thing at the other end. Villa thought they had the lead when Hourihane crossed from the left and McGinn "scored", but VAR intervened as Hourihane was offside. El Ghazi did give the home side the lead on 33 minutes meeting Guilbert's cross with a good near post shot.
Burnley substitute Jay Rodriguez scored for Burnley after 68 minutes meeting Pieter's cross at the back post with a good header. Pieters had shown good determination to get the cross over in the first place. McGinn scored a great goal with his left foot after Villa substitute Trezeguet crossed from the right, before Wood made it 2-2 with a close range header from a cross by Lowton.
Bournemouth 2 West Ham 2
West Ham were seeking a fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet but failed in that bid. They are still a point above Spurs which is highly unusual these days.
Yarmolenko gave the "Hammers" a 10th minute lead with a good left foot shot from inside the area after Haller had retrieved a ball in a more advanced position and passed back. Josh King's 17th minute equaliser was initially ruled out by the onfield officials for offside, but re-instated by VAR. Ake had headed the ball to his left and King had come from behind the ball inside the box.
Callum Wilson gave the home side the lead in the first minute of the second half, and Ake thought he had made it 3-1 with a shot after a corner, but VAR ruled that one out due to an offside player in the goalkeeper's line of vision.
Cresswell made it 2-2 after 74 minutes with a shot that took a touch off a defender, after Anderson's header back.
Chelsea 2 Brighton 0
Matty Ryan and his defence held Chelsea at bay in a first half where Ryan had to save at close range from both Barkley and Alonso. However, after Webster fouled Mason Mount inside the area in the second half, Jorginho scored from the spot on 50 minutes.
Burn did have a downward header from a corner bounce up and go off the top of the bar following a corner, but Willian sealed the win with a deflected shot after 76 minutes.
Crystal Palace 2 Norwich 0
Norwich have lost all four of their away games, while Palace are sitting comfortably on 11 points with several other teams, including Spurs.
Norwich had 31 year old Schalke loanee Ralf Fahrmann making his debut. When Madou fouled McArthur inside the Norwich area, Milivojevic scored from the spot after 21 minutes, and then Fahrmann had to be replaced by 35 year old Northern Ireland keeper Michael McGovern.
Norwich had their chances, with Pukki firing over and Cantwell having a shot well blocked by Kelly. It took Palace until added time to add a second goal and it came from substitute Andros Townsend after good work by Zaha on the left. Townsend's shot crept just inside McGovern's left post.
Spurs 2 Southampton 1
Spursometer voters had little sympathy for Serge Aurier. Here is one comment that was offered:-
"Aurier is such a disappointment for getting sent off. Okay the second foul did seem a bit harsh to get a yellow especially as the ball appeared to go out prior to it but what was he thinking off with the first one, the Saints player wasn't going anywhere when he lunged in. Also Lloris did really well after his horrendous mistake.
Much more energy about Eriksen which was good to see, lets hope we push on from here. Excellent switch by Sissoko to fill in at right back. Well done to him"
Referee Graham Scott got his lowest mark (3.6) in 6 games with Spurs so far.
Harry Kane was voted your man of the match.
Wolves 2 Watford 0
Wolves managed their first Premier League win of the season and Watford are three points adrift at the bottom, without a win. Doherty gave Wolves the lead for the first time in a league game this season, after 18 minutes. Pedro Neto crossed from the left and Doherty was on hand to fire home from close range. Wolves' second goal was a Jalmaat own goal after Doherty's cross on 61 minutes.
Rui Patricio did have to make a couple of second half saves, one of which was from Welbeck, making his Premier League debut for Watford.
Everton 1 Manchester City 3
Everton fell to their fourth defeat, but it was against City, and the "Toffees" did give a good account of themselves overall. Mahrez had an early shot saved by Pickford and in the following play Walcott was struck at close range by Sterling's intended cross and had to be stretchered off. Mahrez hit a cross from the right which was met by Gundogan, who hit the bar from short range.
Mahrez was to the fore for City's first goal after 24 minutes. He advanced down the right and passed inside to De Bruyne, whose cross was headed in by Jesus at the back post. ( Aguero was on the bench ) Everton levelled on 33 minutes after a Sigurdsson cross. When Iwobi was challenged in the City area, the ball ran to Coleman, who dinked the ball over Ederson, only for Calvert-Lewin to steal the credit by heading the ball in literally on the line.
Ederson was stretched to push over Yerry Mina's second half header, and Sterling pushed his shot wide after an excellent ball by Mahrez. Mahrez scored direct from a 71st minute free kick from just outside the right-hand corner of the penalty area. Ederson then got Just enough of a touch on a Calvert-Lewin shot to deny Everton another equaliser. The City keeper was on the stretch to save another Mina header from the corner.
Aguero did come off the bench and combined with Mahrez on the right of Everton's area before Sterling hit a shot that went just over the line off the underside of the bar.
Sunday 29th September, 2019
Leicester 5 Newcastle 0
Leicester were already 1-0 up when Newcastle's Isaac Hayden was shown a straight red after 43 minutes for a dangerous tackle on Dennis Praet. Steve Bruce's side were simply over-run in the second half, and these two sides are at opposite ends of the table and have different outlooks for the season ahead.
Leicester's first goal was scored on 16 minutes when Ricardo was allowed a run from the right channel, and beat Dubravka with a low left footed drive just inside the keeper's right post.
The match was played in a deluge of rain, and the deluge of goals would come after the interval. Vardy made it 2-0 on 54 minutes with a swift finish of Barnes' ball from the left. Dubravka should have saved this one, which squeezed inside his right post. It looked as if Praet scored the next goal three minutes later, but his shot had been turned in by Dummett. Former Newcastle man Perez had started the move which led to this goal.
Defiant Newcastle fans sang all the way to the end of the game, but they saw two more goals in front of them. Substitute Albrighton crossed from the left for Vardy to head home another goal after 64 minutes, and Ndidi made it 5-0 on 90 minutes after Chilwell's cross was touched on by Vardy.
Steve Bruce apparently cancelled training on Monday, as he was apparently so angry with his players. I'm just upset that Spurs managed to lose to this team last month.
Monday 30th September, 2019
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1
There were young players on each side. For United Axel Tuanzebe, who was on loan with Aston Villa last season, made his first league start of the season at left back. Arsenal had 18 year old Bukayo Saka operating on the left wing.
The first real pop at either goal came after 28 minutes. United had been dominating possession and the end result of a deep midfield challenge led to the ball being at Pereira's feet. He advanced diagonally from the right, turning David Luiz before he hit a shot that was saved by Leno with his hand outstretched to his left.
On a very wet Old Trafford night the challenges were flying in. Referee Kevin Friend was busy from an early stage showing yellow cards to Chambers, Rashford and Pereira, but also showed a degree of leniency. Pepe had a weakish shot at goal after 35 minutes, following an Aubameyang cross. Ashley Young was shown the fourth yellow card before half time.
After 42 minutes, Rashford was through on the Arsenal goal towards the left of the area, but slipped at the vital moment. A slip by Pereira allowed Saka to advance. De Gea saved his shot, and then saved the follow up by Guendouzi. At the other end, United attacked the right flank when Pereira released James whose cross went deep and was returned by Rashford. McTominay hit a right foot shot into the roof of the net from just outside the box. (45 minutes) Arsenal captain Xhaka ducked under this shot.
Aubameyang did have the ball in the net after 57 minutes and was flagged offside, but VAR reversed the decision. The goal resulted from a poor ball inside by Tuanzebe, and a pass to Aubameyang by Saka. This was the second time this weekend when an offside decision had been overturned by VAR.
After 63 minutes a James shot was blocked and fell to Pogba's feet. Pogba's shot was just outside Leno's left post. Both teams were going for the win, with United applying a bit more pressure. After one corner, Maguire hit a decent shot which Leno saved. With added time looming, McTominay won a free kick just outside the box. Rashford took the kick and Leno saved. Arsenal also had a free kick in the dying seconds, but that was cleared, and the match ended with the points shared. That was enough to put Arsenal back into the top four, but after 7 games, this is United's worst start to a season in 30 years.
Fixtures & Results 28-30.09.19
Saturday
Sheff Utd 0-1 Liverpool
A. Villa 2-2 Burnley
B'mouth 2-2 West Ham
Chelsea 2-0 Brighton
C. Palace 2-0 Norwich
Spurs 2-1 S'hampton
Wolves 2-0 Watford
Everton 1-3 Man City
Sunday
Leicester 5-0 Newcastle
Monday
Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Liverpool 7 7 0 0 18-5 13 21
2. Man City 7 5 1 1 27-7 20 16
3. Leicester 7 4 2 1 13-5 8 14
4. Arsenal 7 3 3 1 12-11 1 12
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5. West Ham 7 3 3 1 10-9 1 12
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6. Spurs 7 3 2 2 14-9 5 11
7. Chelsea 7 3 2 2 14-13 1 11
8. B'mouth 7 3 2 2 13-12 1 11
9. C. Palace 7 3 2 2 6-7 -1 11
10. Man Utd 7 2 3 2 9-7 2 9
11. Burnley 7 2 3 2 10-9 1 9
12. Sheff Utd 7 2 2 3 7-7 0 8
13. Wolves 7 1 4 2 9-11 -2 7
14. S'hampton 7 2 1 4 7-11 -4 7
15. Everton 7 2 1 4 6-12 -6 7
16. Brighton 7 1 3 3 5-10 -5 6
17. Norwich 7 2 0 5 9-16 -7 6
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18. A. Villa 7 1 2 4 8-11 -3 5
19. Newcastle 7 1 2 4 4-13 -9 5
20. Watford 7 0 2 5 4-20 -16 2
