ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND UP – WEEK 3
BOURNEMOUTH 1 V 2 MAN CITY
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was furious after Raheem Sterling was sent off following his 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth. After his deflected shot looped in to secure a 2-1 victory, Sterling ran to the City fans and was shown a second yellow card by referee Mike Dean. Myself, I think that this is nonsense unless the player has deliberately provoked the opposing fans, he should be able to celebrate a goal.
Gabriel Jesus had earlier canceled out Charlie Daniels’ goal for Bournemouth. The home side took a deserved lead on 13 minutes when Daniels fired home a stunning half-volley off the crossbar from the edge of the area, but City equalized eight minutes later with their first shot on target, David Silva picking out Jesus with a perfectly weighted pass for the Brazilian to roll the ball home.
The goal seemed to spark the visitors into life and they dominated the rest of the half without adding to their score. Both teams had chances after the break, with Bournemouth’s Joshua King and City’s Nicolas Otamendi hitting the post, but it was left to Sterling to put the finishing touch on a good Man City performance.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orGm1SZ6t0I
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 V 2 SWANSEA CITY
Swansea picked up their first Premier League win of the season with a deserved victory at Selhurst Park. Tammy Abraham put them ahead just before half-time with a low finish. Kelly the Palace defender was robbed on the halfway line by Kyle Naughton, whose through ball was finished off by Jordan Ayew.
Palace has now lost their opening three matches of the Premier League season under new boss Frank de Boer. They have failed to score a single goal, conceding five in two home matches, things not looking good for the Palace faithful.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km2ORvK0Nwg
HUDDERSFIELD 0 V 0 SOUTHAMPTON
The bore draw of the week came at Huddersfield, where the fans were treated to a goalless encounter. However, it did not stop Huddersfield briefly moving to the top of the Premier League, before being overtaken later in the day by Man United. Three games into their first Premier League season, Huddersfield are ahead of Manchester City on goal difference. Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino, meanwhile, has made an unbeaten start in the Premier League with two draws and one victory.
NEWCASTLE 3 V 0 WEST HAM
Promoted Newcastle scored their first goals and recorded their first points of the Premier League season with an impressive win over a struggling West Ham side. Both teams had begun the new campaign with two defeats, Joselu, Clark, and Mitrovic were the match winners for Newcastle, whilst the Hammers remain rooted to the bottom of the table, having conceded 10 goals in three games.
WATFORD 0 V 0 BRIGHTON
I was delighted for Chris Hughton as Brighton claimed their first ever Premier League point despite failing to break down 10-man Watford at Vicarage Road. Uruguayan defender Miguel Britos was shown a first-half red card for a high and reckless challenge on Brighton’s Anthony Knockaert, who was lucky to escape injury. In a game of few clear-cut chances, Brighton came closest to making the breakthrough as they twice hit the post through Knockaert and Tomer Hemed. But Watford’s 10 men held firm to claim a battling point that extends their unbeaten start to the season, as the Seagulls’ wait for a first Premier League goal since promotion goes on.
Sorry, no highlights during this game !!!!
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 V 0 LEICESTER CITY
Substitutes Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini both scored as Manchester United overcame a resolute Leicester to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League. Romelu Lukaku had missed a second-half penalty before United relied on their subs to break the deadlock, Marcus Rashford converted Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s corner three minutes after coming on and then midfielder Fellaini stuck out his knee to divert fellow substitute Jesse Lingard’s drive past Kasper Schmeichel.
United are the only side to have won all three of their opening league games this season and have yet to concede a goal, however, their defense has not yet been tested, with their three wins coming against West Ham, Swansea, and Leicester.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xpgXz5-fZQ
CHELSEA 2 V 0 EVERTON
Chelsea comfortably beat Everton for their second win of the Premier League season, Cesc Fabregas broke Everton’s resistance by coolly clipping into the bottom corner, before Morata’s thumping header doubled Chelsea’s lead before the break, the Spaniard finishing from Cesar Azpilicueta’s perfect cross.
For the Champions, this was the perfect follow-up to last weekend’s victory over Tottenham.
Click here for the action – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ii-fFaFWMI
WEST BROM 1 V 1 STOKE CITY
I am delighted for my good friend Tony Pulis whose West Brom have had their best ever Premier League start, they were on course for their third straight victory before a terrible defensive mix-up between Ahmed Hegazi and Ben Foster gifted Stoke a draw at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies were on course to join Manchester United on nine points at the top of the Premier League after Jay Rodriguez headed home his first league goal for the club on his home debut, but in attempting to clear a cross from substitute Ramadan Sobhi, Hegazi and keeper Foster both missed the ball, allowing ex Spur Peter Crouch to head into an unguarded net.
The draw continues Stoke’s positive response to their opening-game loss at Everton, which has seen them claim four points.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etTpVipAv3o
LIVERPOOL 4 V 0 ARSENAL
I thought that Liverpool would get the upper hand in this game, but I was not expecting a complete humiliation of Arsenal.
Liverpool played some lovely football to destroy Arsenal at Anfield, I was surprised by the omission of summer signing Alexandre Lacazette, and the £52.6m striker could only look on as the Gunners were brutally exposed by Liverpool’s pace, movement, and quality. Roberto Firmino headed in Joe Gomez’s cross to give Liverpool a 17th-minute lead to start an attacking blitz that ended in a final scoreline that actually flattered Arsenal. Sadio Mane curled in Liverpool’s second before Mohamed Salah ran half the length of the field on the break to stroke home the third after 57 minutes.
Liverpool substitute Daniel Sturridge put the final nail in Arsenal’s coffin when he headed home the fourth at the far post from Salah’s cross 13 minutes from the end.
Click here for the goals, Arsenal fans look away – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VRA2JbqE7o
TOTTENHAM 1 V 1 BURNLEY
Tottenham will have to be more ruthless in disposing of their opponents, as they let a deserved victory go begging as they conceded an equalizer in injury time. Spurs had looked on course for victory after Dele Alli put them ahead with a calm finish after Ben Mee fluffed a clearance from a corner. Harry Kane twice went close for Tottenham as they failed to make the result safe, curling the ball wide from a good position and then to see a shot well saved by Tom Heaton in the Burnley goal, however, Wood ensured the Clarets left with a point when he latched on to Robbie Brady’s pass and slotted the ball past Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the second minute of added time, poor defending allowing Wood to sneak in to snatch the point.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwyAMJTQU0s
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I had five correct scores this week, not too bad a start to the season for me!
My week four predictions
Man City 2 v 1 Liverpool
Arsenal 3 v 1 Bournemouth
Brighton 1 v 2 West Brom
Everton 1 v 2 Tottenham
Leicester 1 v 2 Chelsea
Southampton 2 v 1 Watford
Stoke 1 v 2 Man United
Burnley 2 v 1 Crystal Palace
Swansea 2 v 1 Newcastle
West Ham 2 v 1 Huddersfield
Have a good week
Gary