Premier League – Week 9 Recap

After an international break the Premier League is back and in full force. We saw some very late drama at Stamford Bridge, 26 goals, 38 yellow cards.

Chelsea v Manchester United

2-2

The game of the weekend saw a whole lot of drama at Stamford Bridge. The hosts took a 1-0 lead only to see themselves losing 2-1 almost down to the final whistle. With numerous minutes of stoppage time, substitute Ross Barkley found the net in the 96th minute to equalize things, rescue the Blues’ unbeaten Premier League start and break Red Devil hearts. Moments after the equalizer United manager, Jose Mourhino was involved in a furious touchline bust-up.

Antonio Rudiger opened the scoring in London with a 21st minute header after a Paul Pogba error. The Blues looked in control from then until Anthony Martial equalized after the break when he twisted, turned and shot his way to a goal, then it was all United. The Frenchman doubled the visitors’ lead with his second in the 73rd minute, a low shot in to the bottom corner. The Manchester club looked all but set to take the three points until the frantic finale.

Mourinho bowed his head in disappointment as Barkley scored in the dying seconds after a goalmouth scramble, but reacted angrily as Chelsea’s technical assistant Marco Ianni celebrated in front of him before pumping his fists in Mourinho’s direction once again. This prompted the Portuguese to jump from his seat and having to be held back by a mix of stewards and Man United staff as he attempted to go down the tunnel after Ianni. It isn’t the first instance something like this has happened, maybe it’s time that soccer takes a page out of American football’s book and puts the team benches / dugouts on opposing sides of the field.

It was a dramatic conclusion to a game of two halves. United and Mourinho saw victory snatched away after he had replied to the taunts of Chelsea fans by holding up three fingers to remind them of the three Premier League titles he won while in charge at Stamford Bridge.

 

Up Next:

Premier League

Burnley v Chelsea – Sunday October 28th (9:30am)

United v Everton – Sunday October 28th (12pm)

Europa League

Chelsea v BATE Borisov – Thursday October 25th (3pm)

Champions League

United v Juventus – Tuesday October 23rd (3pm)

 

 

AFC Bournemouth v Southampton

0-0

Mark Hughes told media that his Southampton side’s goalless draw at Bournemouth was a “statement” after ending their Premier League losing streak. The visitors had lost three consecutive games before this southeast ‘derby’, including a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea before the break. By ending their poor run, the Saints also halted the Cherries’ run of three straight league and cup victories.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Bournemouth started candescently with left-back Adam Smith unable to convert after a charging run and exchange of passes with Callum Wilson.

Southampton’s best opportunities fell to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who twice tested Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from distance. In a late flurry of chances the Bosnian smothered Stuart Armstrong‘s effort. Southampton’s Alex McCarthy then made a simple save from a Nathan Ake header from a Cherries corner.
Fans and players knew the match was destined for a draw when Saints substitute Manolo Gabbiadini saw his looping header find the top of the net rather than the back of it.

The result means Bournemouth remain sixth in the table, with 17 points from nine games, while Southampton’s first point since September 17th leaves them 16th with just six points.

 

Up Next:

Fulham v Bournemouth – Saturday October 27th (10am)

Southampton v Newcastle  – Saturday October 27th (10am)

 

 

Cardiff City v Fulham

4-2

After their loss to Cardiff saw them slip in to the relegation zone, Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic said his side have “so many defensive problems to fix”.

Andre Schurrle‘s jaw dropping 30-yard strike put the visitors ahead against the run of play, but within just 10 minutes they trailed against a resurgent Cardiff inspired by a passionate home crowd.

Josh Murphy equalised with a precise low shot, Bobby Reid then seized on a frantic Fulham defense to slot in his first goal for the club, only for Ryan Sessegnon to make it 2-2 before the break.

Fulham seemed to grow in confidence from the moment Sessegnon‘s equalizer went in, but Cardiff responded once again, with Callum Paterson shooting on the turn to nip the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.

As the visitors went in search of a late equaliser, a slip from Tim Ream allowed Victor Camarasa to square the ball to substitute Kadeem Harris, whose close-range finish prompted delirious celebrations among the home fans and set the final score at 4-2.

Cardiff’s first league win of the season lifted them off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone, while Fulham have now conceded 12 goals in their past three games, dropping to 18th place and into the relegation zone on goal differential.

Up Next:

Liverpool v Cardiff – Saturday October 27th (10am)

Fulham v Bournemouth – Saturday October 27th (10am)

 

 

Manchester City v Burnley

5-0

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was given a warm reception upon his return to the Etihad for the first time since signing for Burnley, he spent 12 years at the club. He made some superb first-half stops to deny Sergio Aguero and David Silva, but was powerless to stop Aguero firing home as the duo combined for the opener. Hart’s afternoon would only get worse.

Burnley barely threatened before halftime but their hopes were only truly extinguished when City added two more goals in as many minutes shortly before the hour mark. There was controversy about the host’s second goal, which came after Leroy Sane went down in the box after a challenge by Jack Cork. Referee Jon Moss waved play on but the visitors’ defense stopped, allowing Silva to retrieve the ball before it went out of play and to cross it for Bernardo Silva to hit home.

Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and Sane added their names to the scoresheet. Fernandinho and Mahrez‘s goals were both superbly finished. The 5-0 victory helped City maintain their 100% home record in the league this season.

Manager Pep Guardiola praised his Manchester City side for their “beautiful, beautiful goals” as they remained top of the Premier League with a convincing win over Burnley.

 

Up Next:

Champions League

Shakhtar Donetsk v City – Tuesday October 23rd (3pm)

Premier League

Spurs v Man City – Monday October 29th (4pm)

Burnley v Chelsea – Sunday October 28th (9:30am)

 

 

Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion

0-1

Their home loss saw them slip to the bottom of the table and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez said turning around his team’s fortunes will be the toughest challenge of his career.

The Magpies remain winless after a fifth straight home loss. The Seagulls lost their leading scorer Glenn Murray who was taken off after a gut wrenching aerial collision in the ninth minute, manager Chris Hughton later stated the forward was concussed but would leave the hospital shortly after having precautionary scans.
Brighton’s Beram Kayal gave the visitors some sunshine, when he deflected in Jose Izquierdo‘s strike in the 29th minute.

Benitez said the Magpies needed to be “more precise and clinical” after producing 27 shots on goal, with only six on target. Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey went closest to scoring, first with a strike that was superbly blocked by Mat Ryan, then with a free-kick saved again by the Australian.

The result means Newcastle are the fourth team in top-flight history to lose their first five home games of a season, the other three teams were relegated.

 

Up Next:

Southampton v Newcastle – Saturday October 27th (10am)

Brighton v Wolves – Saturday October 27th (10am)

 

 

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur

0-1

After his side claimed their fourth consecutive Premier League victory, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino described Hugo Lloris as “one of the best goalkeepers in the world.”

Eric Lamela scored the only goal of the game at London Stadium by heading in Moussa Sissoko‘s cross, but it was France captain Lloris who was Man of the Match, making four outstanding saves to deny the hosts an equalizer. He had an ongoing personal duel with Hammers forward Marko Arnautovic, denying him four times.

West Ham lost Andriy Yarmolenko after he was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in the first half. To make matters worse for the hosts, Javier Hernandez had a goal ruled out for offside in the closing stages.

Tottenham have now won nine of their past 11 league games and sit fourth in the table, while Manuel Pellegrini’s side remain 15th after back-to-back defeats.

 

Up Next:

Premier League

Leicester v West Ham – Saturday October 27th (12:30pm)

Spurs v Man City – Monday October 29th (4pm)

Champions League

PSV Eindhoven v Spurs – Wednesday October 24th (12:55pm)

 

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford

0-2

Both goals came 58 seconds apart. Etienne Capoue opened the scoring with a rocket shot, before a slick finish from Roberto Pereyra doubled the visitors lead. Most Hornets fans had yet to sit down from celebrating the first before the second went in.

It was a minute that knocked the wind out of the Wolves players’ sails on what proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the hosts, who fielded an unchanged starting line-up for the ninth successive game.

Those moments between the 20th and 21st minute saw the end of Wolves’ six-game unbeaten run and their first defeat at home this season. It also ended a five-game winless streak for the visitors.

Wolves found another gear in the second half but were left exasperated as they struggled to convert, with late efforts from Helder Costa and substitute Ivan Cavaleiro going wide.

 

Up Next:

Brighton v Wolves – Saturday October 27th (10am)

Watford v Huddersfield – Saturday October 27th (10am)

 

 

Huddersfield Town v Liverpool

0-1

The only goal of the game came from Mo Salah, his 50th in English football, a smart low finish from a Xherdan Shaqiri cross in the 24th minute.

Huddersfield reacted positively to the goal coming close to equalizing twice before the break. Captain Jonathan Hogg cracked a long-range drive against the post before Alex Pritchard was deemed marginally offside when lifting his finish past Alisson. The Terriers also had a penalty appeal for handball against James Milner waved off.

After the break, Laurent Depoitre saw his header well saved with Huddersfield’s only attempt on target, while Salah fired wide when presented with a chance to finish at speed on the counter-attack.

Former Monaco midfielder Fabinho made his league debut for the Reds but the £39m signing couldn’t help Liverpool, who failed to assume control of a game that Huddersfield substitute Steve Mounie almost snatched away from them.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he is “winning average games” for the first time in his life after Salah sealed a narrow victory at Huddersfield.

Liverpool sit joint top of the table with City beating them on goal difference, with 10 more additional goals scored. The Terriers sit second from bottom with only three points from 9 games.

 

Premier League

Watford v Huddersfield – Saturday October 27th (10am)

Liverpool v Cardiff – Saturday October 27th (10am)

Champions League

Liverpool v Crvena Zvezda – Wednesday October 24th (3pm)

 

 

Everton v Crystal Palace

2-0

Everton scored twice in the final three minutes to snatch a dramatic victory. Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson said it was “hard to stand here as a loser again”.

In the summer Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helped England win their first ever World Cup penalty shootout, with a foot save, he did the same against Palace in the second half when he saved Luka Milivojevic‘s penalty.

Tactical changes by Toffees boss Marco Silva made the game, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading in fellow substitute Ademola Lookman‘s cross. Two minutes later, the third substitute, Cenk Tosun scored the winner.

Everton’s third successive victory lifted them to eighth in the table, while Palace stay 15th, two points above the relegation zone with only two wins this season.

Hodgson’s team have only scored five goals so far and face a tough run of fixtures over the next month, starting with next Sunday’s home game against Arsenal. Palace then visit Chelsea followed by hosting Spurs on November 10th. There’s then another international break before they travel to Manchester United.

Up Next:

Man United v Everton – Sunday October 28th (12pm)

Palace v Arsenal – Sunday October 28th (9:30am)

 

 

Arsenal v Leicester City

3-1

The Gunners came from behind to win their 10th successive victory, a record-tying feat.
The hosts went a goal down after a speedy counter-attack from Leicester resulted in Ben Chilwell‘s low cross attempt being turned in by the foot of Hector Bellerin for an own goal. Leicester deserved to be leading at that moment of the game, they’d overwhelmed Arsenal for the majority of the first half.

The realization of suddenly losing seemed to jolt the Gunners in to action. Mesut Ozil produced one of the best midfield displays we’ve seen in the league this season. The German leveled things with a first-time finish, made the pass that led to the second goal and his skill in the build-up to the third were the catalyst for the team’s remarkable performance. Arsenal have scored 16 of their 22 league goals in the second half.

Leicester must be wondering how they failed to earn at least a point after their impressive opening 30-minute spell. They can look to Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno who was tested twice, first blocking Kelechi Iheanacho‘s effort before pushing away Harry Maguire‘s header. Fans may also look to referee Chris Kavanagh who frustrated the visitors when he waved away a penalty claim for handball against Arsenal’s Rob Holding.

Fourth place Arsenal visit Selhurst Park to play a struggling Crystal Palace team on Sunday. Roy Hodgson needs to make the most of these next 6 days if his team have any chance of battling a resurgent Gunners side.

Leicester sit 11th with 12 points, two behind Manchester United. The Foxes play host to a strong looking West Ham side on Saturday.

Up Next:

Europa League

Sporting Lisbon v Arsenal – Thursday October 25th (12:55pm)

Premier League

Palace v Arsenal – Sunday October 28th (9:30am)

Leicester v West Ham – Saturday October 27th (12:30pm)

 

 

ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN