Premier League Review – Matchday Four
Saturday 27th August, 2022
Southampton 0-1 Man Utd (12.30)
Erik ten Hag started with new signing Casemiro on the bench with Ronaldo, but Bruno Fernandes scored the goal which gave United a second win in a week to seemingly end the crisis after their opening two defeats. The win also ended a run of seven consecutive away defeats for United.
Bazunu made a good save from a first half shot by Elanga, before Fernandes’ attempted follow-up was blocked excellently by Kyle Walker-Peters. Fernandes’ goal was scored in the 55th minute and was a first-time right foot finish from 15 yards after Sancho pulled the ball into the back of the box from the right wing.
United got away with a penalty appeal against McTominay and De Gea made an excellent reaction save from an Aribo header. Substitute Sekou Mara had an overhead kick cleared. He hit another effort wide of the far post and United held onto all three points.
Brentford 1-1 Everton (15.00)
Brentford scored a late goal to deny Everton a first win. Despite their massive defeat at Liverpool, Bournemouth did win their first game, so they are still above Everton with a minus 14 goal difference!
Mbeumo should have given his side an early lead, but pushed a left foot shot wide of Pickford’s right post, and Tarkowski missed a chance at the other end after an Everton corner. Jensen hit the inside of the post with a left-footed shot, but the ball rebounded out of danger. Anthony Gordon, rumoured to be subject of a big bid from Chelsea, had a right foot shot comfortably held by Raya in the Brentford goal. All this action had taken place in the first quarter of the game. Gordon did then score (24 mins) after taking Coady’s pass (his first assist in 155 Premier League games) with a left foot shot across the keeper. Toney then headed against the post from a Henry cross. Wissa should have followed up but skied his attempt on goal. Mbeumo put yet another chance wide of Pickford’s right post with a left foot effort.
Norgaard hit the bar with an overhead shot after a Brentford corner. Raya parried a Gordon shot then also saved Mykolenko’s follow-up. Mbeumo hit a 20-yard effort just wide of Pickford’s right post, and Pickford saved a Janelt header following a corner. Brentford finally did score, and this was from an 84th minute corner which was headed on by substitute Lewis-Potter before Janelt got the final touch at the back post.
Brighton 1-0 Leeds (15.00)
Despite the sale of high profile players, Graham Potter’s team continues to go about its work efficiently and holds a place in the top four. Brighton certainly had the better of the game and Meslier was the busier goalkeeper. He made an excellent save from Solly March in the second half after March had been sent clear by a very good pass by Pascal Gross.
Gross scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute with a low, driven shot after Trossard’s pass from his left.
Chelsea 2-1 Leicester (15.00)
Chelsea had Conor Gallagher sent off for a second yellow card after only 28 minutes, but still overcame Leicester. Chelsea are also set to sign Leicester’s ace defender Wesley Fofana for a massive fee, so he was absent, as was Tuchel, serving his one-game ban following the Spurs game two weeks ago.
Leicester survived an early penalty award for a Tielemans foul as VAR discovered an offside in the Chelsea build-up play. Gallagher’s second booking came for a cynical challenge on a counter-attacking Harvey Barnes. Leicester were denied a goal in the follow-up after a Barnes header rebounded off the post, but he had fouled Mendy in the process.
James hit the outside of the keeper’s left post before Vardy fired wide at the other end. Mendy made a great save from Castagne at the end of the first half.
Raheem Sterling scored his first goal within two minutes of the restart, taking Cucurella’s pass and lifting a fine shot over the keeper into his top left corner. Sterling hit the post with another shot, this one was hit low, after another ball by Cucurella which was deflected into his path. Ward actually got his toe to the ball to prevent a goal. Sterling had a second goal for ten-man Chelsea in the 63rd minute. This one was scored at close range, converting James’ low cross from near the bye-line on the right. Leicester had a goal back three minutes later after Barnes exchanged with Vardy before scoring with a hard left-footed shot.
Vardy subsequently got around Mendy but hit the side netting with his shot. Perez hit the bar with a late right-footed shot.
Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth (15.00)
Liverpool joined Manchester United and Leicester as the joint highest winners in the Premier League. United have done it twice, against Ipswich and Southampton, whilst Leicester also beat “The Saints” by the same score. Spurs beat Wigan 9-1 in November 2009.
Goal number one was scored in the third minute when Diaz headed in a Firmino cross at The Anfield Road End. Harvey Elliott scored a fine left-footed shot from the edge of the area three minutes later. Salah, of all people, missed a sitter at the back post after Elliott’s short cross from the left of goal.
Firmino had another assist when he teed up Alexander-Arnold for a 28th minute right-footed goal, scored from 22 yards out. Firmino made it 4-0 three minutes later, taking advantage of an errant defensive deflection into the middle of the area. Travers saved a scuffed Firmino shot to concede a corner, from which Van Dijk headed into the net to make it 5-0 at half-time.
Mepham turned an Alexander-Arnold cross into his own net in the first minute of the second half, but Bournemouth’s woes were not yet over. Robertson had a shot saved by Travers after a corner won on the right by Salah, but Travers could not hold the ball and Firmino snapped up the chance. (62 mins) Salah missed another sitter after Fabinho lifted a ball over the defence. Liverpool scored an eighth goal for the first time in the Premier League, and it was two substitutes who combined to score. Tsimikas returned a long ball back into the area and 19-year-old Fabio Carvalho fired home his first Liverpool goal in the 80th minute.
Liverpool had a ninth goal five minutes from time and it was Luis Diaz who book-ended the scoring with a header from a Tsimikas corner. Travers saved from Milner late in the game, as Liverpool tried but failed to score a record tenth goal.
Man City 4-2 Crystal Palace (15.00)
An Erling Haaland hat-trick enabled City to come back from a an early two-goal deficit to Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace side. Bernardo Silva is staying, according to his manager and he opened the City scoring in the second half. Palace were missing Zaha with a knee injury.
Palace have twice won at The Etihad in recent years, and it looked like they were on their way again after only three minutes. Ederson made a mistake on the left edge of his area and Cancelo fouled Ayew. Eze floated in a free kick which went in off the leg of John Stones. Cancelo was claiming a foul by Ayew, but Palace had a corner and in the 21st minute, Andersen planted a header past Ederson from Eze’s corner.
Bernardo’s reply for City came in the 53rd minute with a low left-footed deflected shot after Rodri had delivered a short pass. Haaland had hit the side netting with a first half sighter, and he headed in his first goal after 62 minutes, meeting Foden’s short cross from his left. Haaland was lurking (in space) at the back post to give City the lead in the 70th minute. Stones had the final pass of a series following a City corner on the right. Haaland was always in control of the ball despite being sandwiched by two defenders when he received Gundogan’s 81st minute pass and scored with his left foot. He already has six goals in four games to top the early Premier League score-chart.
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (17.30)
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored his fourth goal of the season and his 99th league goal for Fulham to give his side a 56th minute lead, but Arsenal came back to maintain their 100% record and to stay at the top of the early league table.
Leno was playing against his old team, of course, and he made a good close-range save from Saka in the first half, when Arsenal were on top but could not score. He saved well from Jesus early in the second half. Mitrovic scored after a horrible error by Gabriel in his own area to gift the ball to the prolific Fulham scorer. It was Mitrovic’s 100th Fulham goal in all competitions.
Odegaard levelled the scores in the 64th minute taking Saka’s short pass before hitting the net with a deflected left-footer. Ramsdale made a good save, diving to his left to keep out Mitrovic’s header following Fulham’s second corner. Gabriel gave Arsenal the win with a redeeming goal following an 85th minute corner. Ramsdale denied Chalobah as added time loomed, and Arsenal celebrated their win as if they had won a trophy.
Sunday 28th August,2022
Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham (14.00)
West Ham’s August goal of the month competition now has its first entrant. Luckily for the masses this lacklustre game was not televised live in the UK, but it was decided by Fornals’ 74th minute strike. Villa and their manager were booed off the pitch after their third defeat of the season. One of those losses was on Day One at Bournemouth.
Scamacca made his first league start for “The Hammers.” Konsa had the ball in the net following a first half Villa corner, but the ball had gone out of play on its way to the West Ham area. Fabianski easily held a Coutinho shot which was at least on target.
West Ham broke out of their half after the break and Bowen was in a good shooting position before Digne made ground and intervened. Scamacca had a weakish shot on target, easily held, before the new striker was replaced by Antonio. Fornals' goal followed a pass from Rice and resulted from a right-footed shot which looped up off a defender and over Martinez in the Villa goal.
Wolves 1-1 Newcastle (14.00)
Raul Jimenez was back in the Wolves side, along with Semedo. Wolves included both their recent big signings, Nunes and Guedes. There is no work permit yet for Newcastle's Alexander Isak. Callum Wilson and Guimaraes had to sit this game out, so Newcastle included Sean Longstaff in midfield and Chris Wood up front. Isak was in the stadium to watch his new team.
Newcastle played in an away strip which resembled the International colours of their Saudi owners. There were early chances at either end for Wood and Neto. Sa closed down Wood whose angle was difficult and Neto out a Guedes cross just over the bar, with the ball landing on the net. Wolves got away with a shirt pull inside the area just before Willock had a shot pass just the wrong side of the post.
Nunes had a good chance after 26 minutes but headed Jimenez's excellent cross wide. Ruben Neves broke the deadlock with a well-struck right foot shot from 22 yards after 38 minutes. The ball hit the net just inside Pope’s right post.
Schar was booked for an early second half challenge on Neto, and VAR took a long time considering a possible red. In a game where both sides were quite physical and had few chances, Neto forced a save from Pope after 58 minutes. Nunes had another shot on target 21 minutes later, but Pope was behind it again.
Wolves thought they had made it 2-0 on the counter in the 81st minute when Neto's pass to the back post was converted by Jimenez. However, after a monitor review the decision was reversed as Neto had fouled Ryan Fraser to enable his run and pass.
Saint-Maximin snatched an equaliser in the 90th minute. Wolves sub Hwang Hee-chan sliced an attempted clearance from the left bye-line which was met by a powerful right-footed volley by the Newcastle wing-man who had been kept quiet until that moment.
There were 8 minutes of added time and Saint-Maximin had another shot on the counter, but Sa saved this time. 19-year- old Newcastle sub Elliot Anderson hit the crossbar afer a corner. Newcastle had a free kick in what turned out to be the tenth minute of added time. Trippier let Schar take the kick, but he pulled it wide.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Spurs (16.30)
Thanks to Greg Smith for this picture
Despite Harry Kane’s two goals, I made Davinson Sanchez my man of the match. Sanchez now has clean sheets in his last 5 full games for Spurs, and in nearly 10 hours on the pitch. Harry Kane now has 201 league goals, 187 of which have been for Spurs in the Premier League. He has 252 club goals and now needs just 15 to beat the legendary Jimmy Greaves record of 266. Harry is now behind only Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer in the list of Premier League goalscorers.
Without wishing to tempt fate, Spurs are now unbeaten in their last 10 games (W7 D3)in which they have scored 22 and conceded just five goals. Kane has scored 9 of those 22 goals. There have been 6 clean sheets.
Fixtures & results - 27-28.08.22
Saturday 27th August, 2022
S'hampton 0-1 Man Utd (12.30)
Brentford 1-1 Everton (15.00)
Brighton 1-0 Leeds (15.00)
Chelsea 2-1 Leicester (15.00)
Liverpool 9-0 B'mouth (15.00)
Man City 4-2 C.Palace (15.00)
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (17.30)
Sunday 28th August,2022
A. Villa 0-1 West Ham (14.00)
Wolves 1-1 Newcastle (14.00)
Nottm F'st 0-2 Spurs (16.30)
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 4 4 0 0 11-3 8 12
2. Man City 4 3 1 0 13-5 8 10
3. Spurs 4 3 1 0 9-3 6 10
4. Brighton 4 3 1 0 5-1 4 10
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5. Leeds 4 2 1 1 7-4 3 7
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6. Chelsea 4 2 1 1 5-6 -1 7
7. Newcastle 4 1 3 0 6-4 2 6
8. Man Utd 4 2 0 2 4-7 -3 6
9. Liverpool 4 1 2 1 13-5 8 5
10. Brentford 4 1 2 1 9-6 3 5
11. Fulham 4 1 2 1 6-6 0 5
12. C. Palace 4 1 1 2 6-8 -2 4
13. S'hampton 4 1 1 2 5-8 -3 4
14. Nottm F 4 1 1 2 2-5 -3 4
15. A. Villa 4 1 0 3 3-7 -4 3
16. West Ham 4 1 0 3 1-5 -4 3
17. B'mouth 4 1 0 3 2-16 -14 3
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18. Everton 4 0 2 2 3-5 -2 2
19. Wolves 4 0 2 2 2-4 -2 2
20. Leicester 4 0 1 3 6-10 -4 1
