Premier League Review – Matchday Five
Each of this round of games was televised in the UK by BT SPORT.
Tuesday 30th August, 2022
Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford (19.30)
I tuned into this game expecting an open and attacking game. It didn’t turn out that way, and I looked elsewhere for entertainment, as these two teams matched each other primarily in the middle third. I should have checked the records as both meetings last season were 0-0 draws!
Schlupp had a shot held by Raya early in the second half after a Jensen error. Olise hit the outside of Raya’s right post after stepping away from Janelt. Zaha took Doucoure’s pass and scored with a beautiful right-footed curler inside the keeper’s left post in the 59th minute.
Brentford equalised two minutes from time when Onyeka floated in a cross from the left and Wissa headed home. Both players had been substitutes. Brentford might even have snatched an added time winner when Toney slipped the ball to the advancing Henry, but his shot was saved by Guaita. Mee hit the bar from the resulting corner when he headed down and the ball bounced up onto the woodwork.
Fulham 2-1 Brighton (19.30)
Fulham ended Brighton’s unbeaten start and Mitrovic scored his fifth goal in as many games. The goals came in the second half of the game. Firstly, Mitrovic scored from the right of goal after Kebano’s low ball from the left of the box. (48 mins) That was his 100th league goal for Fulham.
It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Lewis Dunk turned a Pereira cross into his own net. Brighton had a penalty after Estupinan was fouled by Decordova-Reid (awarded following VAR and monitor review). Mac Allister scored from the spot on the hour.
Leno saved low from Trossard, but Brighton had to travel home pointless.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea (19.45)
Chelsea fell to a second away defeat against a team that you would normally expect them to beat. Southampton climbed above the West London side with their second win of the season. Mauricio Pochettino was the last “Saints” manager to get a home win against Chelsea. Chelsea were missing Gallagher through suspension and Reece James through illness.
Raheem Sterling had an easy shot saved early in the first half, but he did give the visitors a 23rd minute lead after Mason Mount’s short ball into the 6-yard box was not cleared and the former City man fired in the loose ball. Another former City man, 18-year-old Romeo Lavia scored an equalising goal five minutes later from the edge of the area following a Ward-Prowse corner. The young midfielder hit a powerful right foot shot. It was his first goal in English football. Mendy was somewhat unsighted and got a touch, but the ball hit the net inside his left post.
Adam Armstrong gave Southampton the lead in first half added time. He was in too much space inside the Chelsea area when Perraud crossed from the left of the box, and his shot took a deflection off Koulibaly, but they all count!
In the second half Cucurella made a vital block from Elyounoussi’s header, before Mendy pushed over the same player’s follow-up shot. Sterling was denied a penalty by referee Michael Oliver. At the other end Salisu’s header was cleared off the line by Thiago Silva.
Leeds 1-1 Everton (20.00)
This was a feisty and physical game with antics on the touchline too. Everton tried to take time out of the game after taking a 17th minute lead and Leeds coach Jesse Marsch kept pointing to his watch, winding up the home crowd as a result.
Sinisterra was given his first start by the Leeds coach, and Bamford was present on the bench. Frank Lampard was disappointed that the Premier League had not ratified the paperwork for their signing of Neal Maupay last Friday.
Everton’s goal came in the 17th minute and followed a clever pass by Iwobi and a very good left-foot finish by Anthony Gordon. Rodrigo just failed to get a touch at the near post from a Jack Harrison cross, and soon had to go off with a shoulder injury after a challenge with Pickford outside the keeper’s area. He was replaced not by Bamford, but Gelhardt.
Pickford saved from Aaronson in the second half and made an easier save from Harrison after good work by Sinisterra on the right flank. Sinisterra scored with a low shot from outside the area which beat Pickford inside his left post. (55 mins) Demarai Gray hit the net after Gordon’s pass, but he had been offside. Gelhardt had one shot go wide and another saved well at close range by Pickford. Meslier was down to block a shot by Patterson.
Wednesday 31st August, 2022
Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa (19.30)
Like Fulham before them, Villa gave Arsenal a run for their money scoring a second half equalizer to give them hope, but saw that hope quickly erased. Villa’s fourth defeat leaves them in the bottom three, whilst Arsenal have a 100% record. Arsenal’s next game at Old Trafford on Sunday will be interesting.
Martinez made a good early save from Gabriel Jesus’s shot from an angle on the right. Following the corner, and more Arsenal pressure defender Gabriel’s shot was deflected just wide. Jesus and Odegaard had shots blocked before Odegaard had another shot go just wide. Villa were under the cosh. Saka missed a tap-in after approach play by Xhaka and Martinelli. Jesus scored on the half-hour after Martinez failed to hold Xhaka’s shot from the left. The former City man snapped up the loose ball.
Martinelli had a 25-yard shot well saved by the former Arsenal keeper just before the break. Martinez saved again from Odegaard in the second half but that shot might have been curling wide anyway. Villa had their first corner of the game taken by Douglas Luiz in front of the travelling fans. The ball curved directly into the net. I used to see Jimmy Greaves do this, but you don’t see it often these days. Ramsdale tried but failed to claim a foul on the line by Kamara. Arsenal tried, but failed, to sign Douglas Luiz on deadline day.
Villa’s joy was short lived as Martinelli regained the lead within three minutes receiving Saka’s cross from inside the area on the right before slamming a left foot shot high into the net.
Bournemouth 0-0 Wolves (19.30)
Bournemouth had been the first team to dispose of their manager when Scott Parker's departure was announced on Tuesday. They managed a clean sheet and a point today, with Gary O’Neil looking after coaching affairs. Among four changes he gave summer signing goalkeeper Neto a Premier League debut.
Bournemouth’s Zemura was denied a first half penalty by referee Anthony Taylor and Nunes hit the woodwork with a rising shot after Neto’s pass. Neto had a left foot shot go just wide from 22 yards after 29 minutes.
Solanke was another of O’Neil’s changes and he had a second half header on target. Jimenez fired wide when Bournemouth closed the striker down well. Podence had a header cleared off the line by Lloyd Kelly with 10 minutes remaining.
Manchester City 6-0 Nottingham Forest (19.30)
Goal machine Erling Haaland scored a second hat-trick in consecutive games and already has 9 goals this season. Against Palace on Saturday, he scored his hat-trick in the second half. Tonight, all three goals were scored inside 40 minutes.
Goal number one was scored in the 12th minute, following City’s fourth corner of the game. Foden chipped the ball towards the near post from 22 yards out and Haaland did the rest, hooking the ball into the net with a left foot shot. Forest forged an attack five minutes and debutant Lodi headed into the side netting from a Neco Williams cross. Haaland had a second goal in the 23rd minute after a poor clearance from Henderson which soon came back at him with Foden offering the final pass for a straightforward Haaland finish.
Haaland scored City’s first three goals and the third came in the 38th minute. This followed another corner, returned into the area by Cancelo before a couple of headers from right and left of goal before Haaland headed into the net. Stones claimed the assist. Argentinean Julian Alvarez made his first start for City next to Haaland, and he hit the post a minute before the interval.
Cancelo scored with a 20-yard right foot shot five minutes after the break, taking a pass from Bernardo Silva. Substitute Mahrez was challenged but the ball rebounded in favour of Alvarez who scored his first City goal with a right-footed shot in the 65th minute. Kevin De Bruyne replaced Haaland with 20 minutes to be played. Mahrez missed a golden chance to add a sixth goal, but it did come three minutes from the end after a Mahrez shot was blocked but fell to Alvarez, who this time scored with his left foot.
Forest will have easier games, but tonight discovered the extremely high level of Pep Guardiola’s brand of football.
West Ham 1-1 Spurs (19.45)
The view from afar for unfortunate away fans
Spurs remain unbeaten in the five games they’ve played this season, and in six further games played at the end of last season. We are in third place. In four of those five games played we have improved upon every result against the same team last season. That statistic does not include promoted Nottingham Forest. Last season we lost this corresponding fixture at the London Stadium, so this draw is another improvement.
Spurs are now unbeaten in their last 11 games (W7 D4)in which they have scored 23 and conceded just six goals.
I was personally impressed with the performances of Emerson Royal and Richarlison, who came off the bench. Richarlison must surely be due a start against either Fulham or Marseilles.
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle (20.00)
Fabio Carvalho (20 on Tuesday) scored a dramatic 98th minute winner for his new team to snatch all three points off a Newcastle team, who had scored first through their new signing Isak, and had looked good value for a point.
Isak, and Ryan Fraser had sighters for Newcastle, playing towards the Anfield Road End in the first half. Diaz fired over at The Kop End having received a good through ball by Elliott. Sean Longstaff put Isak through in the 38th minute and the Swedish striker scored with aplomb from the right of goal with a confident finish. Jurgen Klopp was becoming anxious on the touchline.
Isak thought he had a second goal after the break but had been marginally offside when receiving the ball just inside the Liverpool half. Pope made his first demanding save from a shot by Elliott. Liverpool equalised in the 61st minute when Salah passed from the right inside the area and Firmino hit a low right-footed shot into the net.
Pope pushed a Diaz shot over his bar, and Carvalho’s late,late winner followed a corner from the right and two blocked attempts by Salah at the back post. Carvalho seized his chance and whacked the ball high into the net to cue great celebrations.
Thursday 1st September, 2022
Leicester 0-1 Manchester United (20.00)
These are gloomy times for Leicester. Kaspar Schmeichel left before the season started, and now they have lost ace defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea. His replacement will be Wout Faes, but he did not arrive in time for this game. James Maddison was involved, and he was one of three changes which also included Thomas and Ndidi. Leicester were captained by former United man Jonny Evans, now a veteran, and aged 34.
United were unchanged from the team which beat Southampton. That left Casemiro on the bench, along with Ronaldo. Antony's signing was also not completed in time for this game, but Erik ten Hag hopes for him to face Arsenal at the weekend.
Jadon Sancho scored the game's only goal in the 23rd minute . He was given too much space inside the Leicester area and converted Rashford's short pass with ease. Bruno Fernandes had created the scoring opportunity with a good ball from the right.
The closest Leicester came to scoring in the first half was when Harvey Barnes hit a decent right-footer just over the far corner of the goal.
Early in the second half Dewsbury-Hall raced away, nibbled by Fernandes and eventually fouled by Martinez, who was booked, conceding a free kick. Maddison took this and forced a very good diving save by De Gea at his left post.
Leicester had a bit more about them in the second half. Both Casemiro and Ronaldo came off the United bench.
Both Maddison and substitute Daka had added time chances, but both were over the target. The game was a disappointment regarding entertainment value, but United will be happy with a third win, whilst Leicester remain at the foot of the table.
Fixtures & results - 30.08-01.09.22
Tuesday 30th August, 2022
C.Palace 1-1 Brentford (19.30)
Fulham 2-1 Brighton (19.30)
S'hampton 2-1 Chelsea (19.45)
Leeds 1-1 Everton (20.00)
Wednesday 31st August, 2022
Arsenal 2-1 A.Villa (19.30)
B'mouth 0-0 Wolves (19.30)
Man City 6-0 Nottm F'st(19.30)
West Ham 1-1 Spurs (19.45)
Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle (20.00)
Thursday 1st September, 2022
Leicester 0-1 Man Utd (20.00)
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 5 5 0 0 13-4 9 15
2. Man City 5 4 1 0 19-5 14 13
3. Spurs 5 3 2 0 10-4 6 11
4. Brighton 5 3 1 1 6-3 3 10
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5. Man Utd 5 3 0 2 5-7 -2 9
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6. Liverpool 5 2 2 1 15-6 9 8
7. Leeds 5 2 2 1 8-5 3 8
8. Fulham 5 2 2 1 8-7 1 8
9. S'hampton 5 2 1 2 7-9 -2 7
10. Chelsea 5 2 1 2 6-8 -2 7
11. Brentford 5 1 3 1 10-7 3 6
12. Newcastle 5 1 3 1 7-6 1 6
13. C. Palace 5 1 2 2 7-9 -2 5
14. West Ham 5 1 1 3 2-6 -4 4
15. Nottm F 5 1 1 3 2-11 -9 4
16. B'mouth 5 1 1 3 2-16 -14 4
17. Everton 5 0 3 2 4-6 -2 3
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18. Wolves 5 0 3 2 2-4 -2 3
19. A. Villa 5 1 0 4 4-9 -5 3
20. Leicester 5 0 1 4 6-11 -5 1
