Premier League Review - Matchday 10
Friday 14th October, 2022
Brentford 2-0 Brighton (20.00 SKY)
Brighton lost a second consecutive game and have failed to score in those defeats. Brentford climbed to an overnight eighth place with a first win in four games. England World Cup hopeful Ivan Toney scored both goals and took his Premier League tally to eight, which includes three penalties.
There was support in the stadium for Brighton’s 24-year-old midfielder Enock Mwepu who has been forced to retire due to a hereditary heart condition.
Caicedo had a powerful 28-yard shot tipped over the goal by Raya after 20 minutes. Raya saved again after the corner from Veltman’s shot on the turn. Mbeumo saw a shot rebound off the bar at the other end after a Brentford long throw routine. Mbeumo was involved in the build-up for Toney’s first goal, hitting the pass to Onyeka who crossed from the right near the bye-line. Toney’s finish was a neat back-heel. (27 mins)
In the second half, after another Jensen long throw, Toney had his shirt tugged and was awarded a penalty by referee Michael Salisbury. Toney confidently fired home with Sanchez having dived the wrong way to his right. (64 mins)
Raya made an excellent reaction save from a Solly March header. The Brentford keeper saved well again four minutes from time from Dunk’s header, but there had been an offside flag on this occasion. A deflected shot by Roerslev was missed by Sanchez but cleared in front of goal by Lewis Dunk.
Saturday 15th October, 2022
Leicester 0-0 Crystal Palace (12.30 BT SPORT)
Leicester dragged themselves off the bottom of the able with this point, but it does not stop the pressure upon Brendan Rodgers, whose team were booed off the pitch. The Leicester board is being urged to change the coach by some of their fans.
Palace drew more games (15) than all but one team last season and already have drawn 4 of the 9 games they have played.
Daka was fouled early on and Guaita had to punch out an early in-swinging free kick by James Maddison. Harvey Barnes raced into the Palace area after 17 minutes, exchanging a one-two pass with Daka, before Guaita came out to block at Barnes’ feet. Daka had a shot on target after Dewsbury-Hall’s pass, but Guaita saved that too.
Schlupp was playing against his old team, of course, and he passed to Zaha on the left, who fed the ball to Eze for a shot which passed only just over Ward’s bar.
Guaita got down low to save again from Daka early in the second half, although Daka had been offside. Maddison had a couple of efforts off target before Ward had to make a decent save from a shot by Edouard. That was Palace’s first shot on target after 63 minutes. Guaita had the full measure of another Maddison shot, which was at least on target. A save from the Palace keeper from late substitute Iheanacho was comfortable. Maddison will miss Leicester’s next game after he was booked for a fifth time deep into added time for simulation as he tried to win a penalty.
Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth (15.00)
Fulham have now failed to win in three games, but at least they got a point against Gary O’Reilly’s Bournemouth side who are now unbeaten in 6 games.
Bournemouth opened the scoring after only one minute and four seconds had been played. Solanke and Billing had advanced into the Fulham area and exchanged short sharp passes before Solanke fired into the roof of the net. Mitrovic won a corner with a deflected shot midway through the first half and Issa Diop headed in from Pereira’s corner.
"The Cherries" were denied a penalty by referee Graham Scott (who had refereed Bournemouth in the last game played at Saltergate in League Two 12 years ago) when Ream seemed to pull back Ryan Fredricks in the area. VAR did not argue with Mr. Scott’s decision. Solanke teed up Lerma for a right foot finish from inside the area to regain the lead in the 29th minute. After a Bournemouth corner towards the end of the first half Leno made an unconvincing save from Lerma’s downward header, but then made a brilliant reaction save from Adam Smith’s follow-up.
In the second half, Mitrovic was fouled near the left touchline and Pereira swung in the free kick when Mitrovic tangled with Lerma, who was seen to foul the Fulham striker by Mr. Scott. Mitrovic scored from the spot in the 52nd minute. It was his seventh league goal, two of which have been penalty kicks. There was no addition to the scoring and the points were shared.
Wolves 1-0 Nottingham Forest(15.00)
After three consecutive defeats, and still without a replacement for sacked manager Bruno Lage, Wolves managed a win with the solitary goal of the game, scored from the penalty spot. It was Wolves' fourth league goal of the season.
Captain Ruben Neves was back after suspension for Wolves and Diego Costa made his first home start. Morgan Gibbs-White was playing against the club which sold him to Forest for a fee that could yet amount to some £45 million.
Kilman hit a first half header against the post from a cross by Traore, but Henderson was able to pick up the rebound. Wolves’ penalty was awarded early in the second half after a shot by Traore was blocked by Toffolo, but a VAR and monitor review led to a handball decision and a spot-kick, converted by Neves in the 56th minute.
Forest were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box, but Johnson’s kick was too close to, and too easy for Sa, who did not have to dive far to his left. The win took Wolves out of the bottom three, whilst defeat means Forest have had their worst ever start to a top flight season. There has been little reward for all the money spent in the summer transfer window as yet.
Spurs 2-0 Everton (17.30 SKY)
Harry Kane scored in a fifth consecutive Premier League game for the first time in his career. Harry took his individual record against Everton to 14 goals in 15 league games.
Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris are the only two Spurs players who have played every minute of every Premier League game so far. Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg come closest with 885 and 884 minutes respectively. Hojbjerg’s goal was his third Premier League goal already this season. He is on target to beat his best return which was four in the 2019/20 season for Southampton.
Hugo Lloris gained his 126th clean sheet for Spurs. It was his tenth clean sheet against Everton, the last three of which have been in consecutive games.
Sunday 16th October, 2022
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea (14.00 SKY)
Chelsea won this game largely thanks to mistakes by the Villa defence. The first was a shocking attempt at a clearing header by England International Tyrone Mings, which gifted Mason Mount a 6th minute opening goal. The second was by goalkeeper Martinez who moved too much to his right before Mount’s 65th minute free kick hit from 25 yards.
Not many Villa fans remained in the ground in the closing stages, and pressure remains on the shoulders of Steven Gerrard.
Chelsea’s Reece James missed the game and is now likely to miss the World Cup due to a knee injury.
Mings’ weak header followed a lofted ball by Chilwell, which carried no power. The ball was dollied to the feet of goalscorer Mount. Leon Bailey had a header just miss the woodwork at the other end, and Arrizabalaga made a double save from McGinn and Ramsey. Arrizabalaga patted away another effort by Danny Ings and made a sensational save from Danny Ings’ close-range header after good work by Bailey who crossed from the right of the area.
Sterling hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the area before half-time, but there may have been an offside in any case.
Mount’s free kick came after Mings had fouled the Chelsea and England midfielder. It was a good kick and goal, but Martinez had not helped with his unnecessary step to his right.
Leeds 0-1 Arsenal (14.00)
Patrick Bamford, who was sent on at half-time was at the centre of much of the drama here. He had a goal ruled out for a push on Gabriel, missed a penalty and in added time Gabriel was shown a red card by referee Chris Kavanagh for a push on the Leeds striker, whose team was awarded a penalty. Both those decisions were rescinded following a VAR review. The game had been delayed due to a power cut affecting VAR, goal-line technology and communication between the officials. Bukayo Saka scored the one legitimate goal of the game to give Arsenal a four-point cushion at the top of the table.
Sinisterra had a couple of shots go close, the second of which led to a corner. After that, Ramsdale made a good close-range save from Struijk’s shot. Gabriel Jesus lifted a short range shot over both the Leeds keeper and the bar at the other end. The winning goal was scored in the 35th minute when Saka took Odegaard’s pass and hit a rising shot into the net from an angle to the right of goal. The goal followed a poor long pass inside his own half by Rodrigo.
Rodrigo was the player replaced by Bamford. His disallowed "goal" followed a cross by Roca only 30 seconds into the half. The penalty award came after 60 minutes when Saliba clearly handled a ball that had been lofted and dropped into the Arsenal area. Bamford pulled his kick outside the keeper’s left post.
The added time drama actually followed a shove by Bamford upon Gabriel, which was the reason for both decisions by the referee being overturned. Gabriel’s card was downgraded to yellow.
Manchester United 0-0 Newcastle (14.00)
Manchester United have played 13 games so far this season and this was their first draw. It was also the first time they have failed to score in the league since the 4-0 debacle at Brentford. Whilst they have since climbed to fifth place Ten Hag’s side are three points behind the top four. This was Newcastle’s sixth league draw, and their third without any goals.
Callum Wilson was denied a penalty when he went down under Varane’s challenge after 9 minutes, but Joelinton was given a free kick when he was fouled just outside the box. Trippier’s free kick was blocked, but when he returned the rebounding ball to the middle, Joelinton had two headers hit the woodwork!
Nick Pope was tested for the first time after 38 minutes by an Antony shot after a good United attack down the left side towards The Stretford End.
Ronaldo had the ball in the net early in the second half but had been offside before he exchanged passes with Sancho. Ronaldo claimed a goal after he took the ball off Pope’s feet before the free kick was taken. Manchester United claim that Schar had taken the free kick by passing a few yards back to Pope who stood still outside his area. Referee Craig Pawson decided the kick had not been taken and booked Ronaldo. Pope was totally relaxed when Ronaldo approached him, and had the look of man about to take a free kick.
Sancho was also denied a penalty by Craig Pawson when he went down in the box, but the referee clearly thought he had leapt before Longstaff’s challenge. Ronaldo was not a happy man when he was replaced by Rashford. Two minutes from time, Rashford looked offside but rounded Pope and crossed for Fred, who put his shot wide anyway. We’ll never know what VAR might have said! Rashford headed wide with the goal beckoning in the fifth minute of added time, following Casemiro’s short cross.
Southampton 1-1 West Ham (14.00)
Southampton’s point was not enough to take them out of the bottom three. It was a welcome draw after four consecutive defeats. West Ham’s next game is at Anfield, so they don’t look like climbing above mid-table any time soon.
Fabianski saved a shot by Adams after 18 minutes, and a minute later the confident Scamacca hit a long shot only just wide after Walker-Peters’ error. Perraud opened the scoring in the 20th minute, following a move from the right. His shot took a heavy deflection. West Ham were upset that referee Peter Bankes had got in the way of Bowen, but the goal stood. Scamacca had another shot go just wide. This one was from the edge of the box. Fabianski made another save from Che Adams. Paqueta headed just wide across goal after Scamacca’s pass from the left.
Bowen crossed from the right two minutes into the second half. The ball was met by Scamacca, but he was off target again. Bazunu saved from Paqueta with a dive to his right. That had been "The Hammers"’ first shot on target. Declan Rice equalised in the 64th minute with a good right-footed curled shot inside the far post after Benrahma had passed inside. Both Paqueta and Benrahma had shots blocked minutes later. Whilst Bazunu had a comfortable save to make from another Scamacca shot, West Ham did look the more likely winners.
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City (16.30 SKY)
Manchester City lost their first away league game for 14 months since Nuno’s Spurs beat them on the opening day of last season. They also lost the last unbeaten record of the Football League. City had a "goal" awarded by referee Anthony Taylor disallowed following the intervention of VAR and a monitor review by the referee. Mo Salah subsequently got the better of Cancelo to collect a clearance by Alisson, going on to score in front of an exhilarated Kop Stand.
The biggest match of the weekend was tarred by reported vile chants by City fans and coins thrown by home fans at Pep Guardiola. Erling Haaland was kept off the scoresheet for the first time in 9 league games.
Joe Gomez played at centre-back with both Matip and Konate injured, whilst 36-year-old former City man James Milner played at right back. Alexander-Arnold was on the bench.
Mo Salah got away after 20 minutes and won a corner at the Anfield Road End, following which Jota’s downward header was easy for Ederson. Robertson fired well over after a good move involving Fabinho, Jota and finally a cross by Milner. Ten minutes from half-time Haaland’s header from De Bruyne’s cross missed the target. Jurgen Klopp was livid that Salah had not been awarded a free kick in the Liverpool half when Cancelo appeared to foul him. It was not the last time that referee Anthony Taylor’s leniency would upset the Liverpool manager. Another inch-perfect De Bruyne cross was headed down and held by Alisson.
Ederson made a great save from Salah five minutes into the second half, but that had not been spotted and City even had a goal kick as a result! Three minutes later, City thought they had scored when Ederson challenged Haaland; the ball ran to Foden whose shot went into the net off Gomez. However, eventually the referee viewed the pitch-side monitor and awarded a free kick to Liverpool for a foul by Haaland earlier in the move.
The home crowd atmosphere went up several notches and Jota’s header skimmed the top of the bar after a cross from the right, in front of The Kop.
Alisson saved a low shot by Haaland, and with fifteen minutes remaining, after holding a free kick by De Bruyne, the Liverpool keeper released Salah with a long kick. Cancelo’s error enabled Salah to turn, race towards goal and score with a clever finish just above the advancing Ederson.
Van Dijk made a brilliant defensive header in front of his own goal to prevent a Cancelo ball reaching Haaland. Jurgen Klopp was shown a red card when he was incensed over no free kick being given wen Bernardo Silva and Salah clashed near the touchline in the City half.
Fixtures & results - 14-16.10.22
Friday 14th October, 2022
Brentford 2-0 Brighton (20.00 SKY)
Saturday 15th October, 2022
Leicester 0-0 C. Palace (12.30 BT SPORT)
Fulham 2-2 B'mouth (15.00)
Wolves 1-0 Nott'm F'st(15.00)
Spurs 2-0 Everton (17.30 SKY)
Sunday 16th October, 2022
A. Villa 0-2 Chelsea (14.00 SKY)
Leeds 0-1 Arsenal (14.00)
Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle (14.00)
S'hampton 1-1 West Ham (14.00)
Liverpool 1-0 Man City (16.30 SKY)
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 10 9 0 1 24-10 14 27
2. Man City 10 7 2 1 33-10 23 23
3. Spurs 10 7 2 1 22-10 12 23
4. Chelsea 9 6 1 2 15-10 5 19
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5. Man Utd 9 5 1 3 13-15 -2 16
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6. Newcastle 10 3 6 1 17-9 8 15
7. Brighton 9 4 2 3 14-11 3 14
8. Liverpool 9 3 4 2 21-12 9 13
9. Brentford 10 3 4 3 18-17 1 13
10. B'mouth 10 3 4 3 10-22 -12 13
11. Fulham 10 3 3 4 16-20 -4 12
12. West Ham 10 3 2 5 9-11 -2 11
13. C. Palace 9 2 4 3 10-12 -2 10
14. Everton 10 2 4 4 8-11 -3 10
15. Leeds 9 2 3 4 11-13 -2 9
16. A. Villa 10 2 3 5 7-13 -6 9
17. Wolves 10 2 3 5 4-12 -8 9
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18. S'hampton 10 2 2 6 9-18 -9 8
19. Leicester 10 1 2 7 15-24 -9 5
20. Nottm F 10 1 2 7 7-23 -16 5
