This week of the premier league brought a lot of action and many, many, many VAR reviews and controversy all over. Nonetheless, there were moments of great emotions in some of these games and entertaining play all over.
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
A real battle in this game. Manchester United thought they had grabbed an early lead in the 11th minute through Scott McTominay, but after a quite lengthy VAR review it was deemed that Harry Maguire was offside previous to the goal, by maybe millimeters, causing great controversy across the league as these reviews continue to create problems each week. After this decision, the half came quickly and the second half sped by as both teams failed to create any chances. However, captain Bruno Fernandes would have the final say in the 90th minute when he nestled his shot from just outside the box into the bottom right corner. Not great from United despite the win, how much longer can they pull off these late wins against lower tier competition?
Brentford 3-2 West Ham
A thrilling game that saw both teams have leads but in the end Brentford came out on top. Things got started for Brentford in the 11th minute when a header from Neil Maupay from close range to claim his first goal since September, 2022 (also against West Ham). The hammers fought back quickly though, in the 19th minute, a cross to the back post from Antonio found Mohammed Kudus who used a acrobatic-type scissor kick to fire the ball back across the goal and into the net for another spectacular goal. West Ham would grab the lead when another ball found Kudus who kneed it onto the post from close range for Bowen to tap home. The halftime whistle would come, with West Ham having the lead despite Brentford numerous chances before the half. Disaster struck in the 55th minute for West Ham when a cross swept in from the left wing where hammer defender Konstantinos Mavropanos tried clearing the ball with a flicked header which ended up in the back of the net. Brentford would have the final say again as another cross from Jensen found defender Collins rising up in the air to bullet a header into the back of the net. Great game, West Ham really should’ve hung onto this lead.
Manchester City 6-1 Bournemouth
Clinical from Manchester City in this match courtesy of goals from Doku (30th minute), a brace from Bernardo Silva (33rd and 83rd minute), Manuel Akanji (37th minute), Phil Foden (64th minute), and Nathan Aké (88th minute) saw City cruise past Bournemouth who only had one consolation goal. Doku lit this game up with a goal and 4 assists as he adds further life to the wings and attack of Manchester City. Great performance from Manchester City, not really anything Bournemouth could do to stop them.
Sheffield United 2-1 Wolves
Both teams left it late as Sheffield United grabbed a late winner to down Wolves. First half was slow and finished with both teams looking with no intent to score and most of the second half was the same. Finally, in the 72th minute a loose ball was latched onto by Cameron Archer who slapped his shot with power off the bar into the net from outside the box for the lead. However, Wolves fought back only 17th minutes later when Bellegrade found the ball at his feet in the box and spun to hit it with his right foot which took a deflection and went into the net. Right when the game looked to be heading as a draw when striker Fabio Silva kicked down Baldock in the box (with no real purpose) to hand Sheffield a penalty which Oliver Norwood blasted home to give the 3 points to the hosts. Stupid penalty to concede, not a great game overall.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Burnley
Despite only having 32% possession in the match, Crystal Palace were able to squeeze out a win away from home. A tap-in from Schlupp in the 22nd minute gave them the lead while Mitchell sealed the game by adding a second in the 90+4th minute. Crystal Palace move up the table while Burnley struggle to avoid getting relegated.
Everton 1-1 Brighton
A surprise result for Everton, who only managed 20% possession but still got a nearly first goal in the 7th minute through Mykolenko who latched on to a cross into the box forcing a save from the keeper which fell back in his path to put into the net. Everton would sit back and defend for the game vying to keep their result. But in the 84th minute a cross from Mitoma took a wicked deflection off Ashley Young and lobbed over Joel Pickford for the equalizer. Everton looked better but still needed to hold onto these precious points, Brighton looked a bit less dominant only having one win in their past 7 matches in all competitions.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
More controversy in this game from VAR as these top 4 juggernauts went head to head. Both teams did not create so many chances in the first half as the teams ended with zero goals after 45 minutes, but tempers were fiery especially Kai Havertz and Bruno Guimarãres who both should’ve been carded for their unprecedented acts of violence, Havertz was lucky to get only a yellow after a wild challenge on Longstaff which caused both sides to erupt with rage. Newcastle would send their fans into elation when in the 68th minute Anthony Gordon tapped in the ball from close range into an open net after a cross came in which David Raya missed and Joeliton was able to head goalwards. However, officiating chaos ensued as VAR reviewed three separate fouls as they looked at an offside which was too close to call and a push in the back from Joeliton on Gabriel (which allowed him to win the header) that seemed pretty clear cut, but the goal stood anyway. Newcastle would win with furious Arsenal players, Arteta dubbed the match a “disgrace” as the referees failed to justly punish Havertz and a wailing Bruno Guimarãres who hit many players in the face before getting only a yellow. Terrible officiating and Arsenal did look like the better game, the League needs to figure this conflict out.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Aston Villa
A real shock result for both teams as Aston Villa lose their first game since September in the Premier League. Nottingham only had 26% possession and 3 shots on target but that was enough to grab 2 goals and the win. Things got off to a hot start from defender Ola Aina who struck the net in the 5th minute from outside the area to give Forest the surprise lead. 42 minutes later a shot from Orel Mangala would ricochet off Emi Martinez’s hand and bounce into the net for a comical goal. Villa stumble in the race for top 4 while Forest fly up to 13th.
Luton 1-1 Liverpool
A match full of stories and emotion. Liverpool dominated the game despite the result, creating most of the chances and having a lot of the ball. However, they failed to score for most of the game, in part thanks to a comedic performance from Darwin Núñez who missed 9 shots, including a tap-in from close range. Luton would be the first to score in the 80th minute after Ross Barkely cleared Van Dijk’s header off the line following a Liverpool corner (handball?), and while Liverpool players were protesting, Luton hit the counter and Chong would be able to finish off the move by poking it past Allison for his first premier league goal. But Liverpool would finally get their goal in the 90th+5 minute when a cross to the back post by Harvey Elliot found a rising (substitute) Luis Díaz who nodded the ball over the goal and into the net. Díaz’s parents had recently been kidnapped back in Colombia and this goal was dedicated to his father. Luton grab a huge point while Liverpool slip against a team they should be beating convincingly
Chelsea 4-1 Tottenham
A lot to unpack here. Action came early in this clash it only took 6 minutes for Tottenham to break the deadlock through Kulusevski. A second only 7 minutes later from Son would be disallowed after a VAR check. Chelsea thought they had grabbed an equalizer in the 21st minute through Raheem Sterling but another VAR review showed he had handled the ball before scoring. Chelsea would be denied another equalizer from Caideo after VAR again ruled it no good saying Jackson had been blocking keeper Vicario’s view. Chelsea finally got their chance for a clear cut equalizer in the 31st minute thanks to a VAR review which saw a penalty awarded and Christian Romero sent off for his nasty challenge on Enzo Fernández. Cole Palmer would step up to take the penalty and put just enough power on it to deflect off Vicario’s hands and into the goal. The first (chaotic) half would end with another VAR review to make sure Reece James wasn’t eligible for a red card. It wouldn’t be long though for the excitement to come again as in the 55th minute Destiny Udogie would see a second yellow, meaning Tottenham would be reduced to 9 men. The game was in Chelsea’s hands from that point on as Tottenham played a high line hoping to catch Chelsea offside. Despite some great saves from Vicario and some huge misses from Chelsea, Nicolas Jackson would find the back of the net in the 75th minute. Tottenham grabbed a surprise equalizer through Eric Dier, only for it to be chalked off following a VAR review. Jackson would go on to add a 2nd and 3rd goal in the dying minutes of the game to complete his first Premier League hattrick. Important win for Chelsea, but really unfortunate for Tottenham who lose their undefeated start and slip to second place.
