The Premier League is getting back in to the full swing of things and everything is starting to feel somewhat normal again.
Game Week three was the week of the record signings and treated us to 30 goals, 33 yellows and had Brighton’s Florin Andone seeing red.
Friday
Aston Villa v Everton
2-0
Aston Villa collected their first points of the Premier League this season with goals from Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi giving them a 2-0 victory over Everton.
Brazilian forward Wesley, who arrived from Club Bruges for a club record free, opened his account in the English top flight with a close-range effort.
El Ghazi sealed the victory late on after collecting John McGinn‘s pass and sliding the ball underneath Jordan Pickford from six yards out.
The Toffees came closest to scoring through substitute Alex Iwobi, who drove a low effort against the right-hand post with the game at 1-0.
Theo Walcott also added to a largely frustrating evening for Marco Silva‘s side when he spurned a glorious 89th minute chance to equalize.
The win lifts Dean Smith‘s side up to 11th and hands the club their first Premier League win since February 2016.
Up Next:
English Football League Cup
Crewe v Villa – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Lincoln City v Everton – Wednesday, August 28 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Palace v Villa – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Everton v Wolves – Sunday, September 1 (9am)
Saturday
Norwich City v Chelsea
2-3
Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount repaid manager Frank Lampard‘s faith in youth by securing the three points, and Chelsea’s first win of the season.
In a frantic start, Abraham opened the scoring after just three minutes for the Blues, whose starting line-up has an average age of 24yrs and 208 days – their youngest in the league since February 1994.
156 seconds later Todd Cantwell equalized from close range, before Mount restored the visitors’ lead midway through the first half with his second goal in as many games.
The Canaries pulled level once more as Teemu Pukki, building on his hat trick from last weekend, slotted home from a tight angle for his fifth of the season.
The Blues dominated the start of the second half and were rewarded through Abraham‘s second – an unstoppable drive past Tim Krul – before Kurt Zouma had his goal ruled out by VAR after Olivier Giroud was deemed to have fouled the Norwich keeper.
Chelsea are now unbeaten against Norwich in 16 meetings.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Crawley Town v Norwich – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Premier League
West Ham v Norwich – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Chelsea v Sheffield – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton
0-2
Brighton boss Graham Potter said he “can’t defend” Florin Andone‘s challenge which resulted in the Romanian’s dismissal in their 2-0 defeat to Southampton.
Andone was shown a straight red after 30 minutes following a high, rash challenge on Saints defender Yan Valery, completely changing the game with the hosts having looked the more comfortable up to that point.
An opulent strike from Moussa Djenepo – moments after coming on as a substitute – and a stoppage time goal from Nathan Redmond secured all three points for Ralph Hasenhuttl‘s side.
Lewis Dunk thought he’d give the Seagulls the lead eight minutes after going a man down, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside against defender Dan Burn.
Not long before Redmond slid home Sofiane Boufal‘s cross, Brighton substitute Jurgen Locadia came close to equalizing but struck the post instead.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Bristol Rovers v Brighton – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Fulham v Southampton – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Man City v Brighton – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Southampton v Man United – Saturday, August 31st (7:30am)
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
1-2
Crystal Palace stunned Manchester United as Patrick van Aanholt scored an injury-time winner to record their first victory at Old Trafford since 1989, and their first against the Red Devils since 1991.
Prior to van Aahnholt‘s goal United’s Daniel James thought he’d rescued a point when he curled in a delightful 89th minute equalizer.
The hosts had an earlier chance to level things when Scott McTominay went down in the box and was awarded a penalty. Marcus Rashford stepped up but struck the inside of the post with the ball bouncing out instead of in.
Jordan Ayew had scored the opener in the first half against the run of play, cooly converting Palace’s first goal of the campaign before all the late drama ensued.
United fans may say they were hard done by with referee Paul Tierney showing Palace defender Gary Cahill a yellow instead of a red. The former Chelsea man brought down Anthony Martial on the outside of the box, in what some say was a goal scoring opportunity. Tierney and the VAR officials decided Cahill had back up close enough that, had Martial stayed on his feet, could have covered.
The defeat sees United start their season with one of each result – they beat Chelsea, drew with Wolves and have now lost to Palace.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Palace v Colchester United – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Southampton v Man United – Saturday, August 31st (7:30am)
Palace v Villa – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Sheffield United v Leicester City
1-2
Harvey Barnes came off the bench to help Leicester City inflict a first Premier League defeat of the season on Sheffield United in an entertaining affair at Bramall lane.
Six minutes after coming on, the midfielder fired a half-volley from the edge of the box which flew past Dean Henderson, dampening what had been a spirited Sheffield fightback.
The winner came just eight minutes after the home side had canceled out Jamie Vardy‘s first half goal, with record signing Oliver McBurnie scoring his debut goal for the club after coming off the bench.
McBurnie‘s header sent Bramall Lane into raptures, before Barnes lashed home the winner to hand Chris Wilder‘s side only their second defeat in 21 matches.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Sheffield v Blackburn Rovers – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Newcastle v Leicester – Wednesday, August 28 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Chelsea v Sheffield – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Leicester v Bournemouth – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Watford v West Ham United
1-3
In a day of record signing magic, Sebastian Haller netted twice for the Hammers to help lift them to a 3-1 road victory over Watford.
Haller, who arrived in a deal worth up to £45m ($55.25m) from Eintracht Frankfurt in July, opened the scoring with a tap-in from Felipe Anderson‘s cut back, before acrobatically turning the ball home with an overhead kick from three yards out.
Captain Mark Noble scored a third-minute penalty to set West Ham on their way to their first win of the season. But the Hornets responded with a well-worked Andre Gray goal, with the forward drilling home a right-footed shot from Will Hughes‘ pass.
Opportunities came to both sides, however the hosts were punished for their wastefulness with just three of their 23 shots being on target.
Javi Garcia‘s side, who sit bottom of the table, have now lost seven consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since 1999.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Watford v Cardiff City – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Newport County v West Ham – Tuesday, August 27 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Newcastle v Watford – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
West Ham v Norwich – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Liverpool v Arsenal
3-1
The Reds maintained their place at the top of the Premier League and their 100% start to the season by well and truly beating Arsenal at Anfield.
The Gunners, who are the only other side in the top flight to win their first two games, had plenty of chances to shock Liverpool in a tight first half, especially when record signing Nicolas Pepe shot straight at Adrian after running clear.
Joel Matip put the hosts ahead with a powerful header just before half time, after that Liverpool never ceased control.
Any hopes that Unai Emery had of a comeback were snuffed out in the 49th minute when a moment of madness from David Luiz saw the defender needlessly drag Mohamed Salah in the box.
The Egyptian smashed home from the spot, before embarrassing Luiz again on the touchline at the start of a dazzling run that ended with a low, curling finish into the bottom corner just before the hour mark.
Substitute Lucas Torreira pulled one back for the visitors late on, but it was too little too late, with nothing getting in the way of Liverpool’s 12 successive League victory, which saw them equal their best record in the top flight (under Kenny Dalglish between April and October 1990).
Up Next:
Premier League
Burnley v Liverpool – Saturday, August 31st (12:30pm)
Arsenal v Spurs – Sunday, September 1 (11:30am)
Sunday
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City
1-3
Sergio Aguero scored twice as the reigning champions moved up to second in the league, two points behind Liverpool, with a convincing victory over the Cherries.
Pep Guardiola‘s side quickly established control with the Argentinian turning in a Kevin de Bruyne cross, before Raheem Sterling doubled their advantage with his fifth goal in as many games.
Harry Wilson, on for the injured Charlie Daniels – who got taken off on a stretcher, got the hosts back in the game just before the break with a beautiful 25-yard free kick, only for Aguero to later put a dampener on the celebrations with his second of the afternoon and his 400th career goal.
The result sees Bournemouth drop to 10th and continue a miserable run against City, which has seen them concede 28 times in their last nine league meetings.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Bournemouth v Forest Green Rovers – Wednesday, August 28 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Leicester v Bournemouth – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Man City v Brighton – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
0-1
Once again it was a club record signing that made all the difference. Newcastle’s Joelinton scored his first goal in English football to give the Magpies a win at White Hart Lane, and gave Steve Bruce his first points as manager.
The Brazilian took advantage of a napping Spurs defense by controlling Christian Atsu‘s pass before beautifully firing home past Hugo Lloris. Atsu had not been on long, after replacing Allan Saint-Maximin who suffered an early hamstring injury, but provided the assist with his first significant contribution for the club.
The hosts lacked the creativity to break down a resolute Newcastle side, whose four-man midfield spent a large chunk of the match sitting deep in front of a back five.
Son Heung-min, making his first appearance for Spurs this season after completing a three-match suspension, saw his bouncing first half volley beaten away by Martin Dubravka, before firing wide shortly before the break.
Mauricio Pochettino sent Christian Eriksen and Givoani lo Celso on for the last 30 minutes in an attempt to salvage something from the 500th match of his managerial career. It almost worked but Lo Celso‘s pass for Harry Kane ended with the England captain falling under a challenge by Jamaal Lascelles – referee Mike Dean and VAR both ruled it not a penalty.
Coming up to the final minutes of the game Eriksen‘s pass gave Moussa Sissoko the room to cross low, but Lucas Moura skied his shot over the bar from close range and it was game over for the North London club.
Spurs sit seventh with 4pts from three games, whilst Newcastle remain in the relegation zone with just 3pts from their opening three matches.
Up Next:
EFL Cup
Newcastle v Leicester – Wednesday, August 28 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Arsenal v Spurs – Sunday, September 1 (11:30am)
Newcastle v Watford – Saturday, August 31st (10am)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley
1-1
Raul Jimenez salvaged a point for Wolves with a dramatic stoppage time (90+7) penalty, denying Burnley victory at Molineux.
Ashley Barnes looked to have secured a road win after scoring his fourth goal in three Premier League games this season.
The hosts’ hectic schedule seems to have caught up with them, having played three games in the last week – they beat Torino in a Europa League play-off fixture on Thursday having drawn with Manchester United on Monday.
The visitors were denied a second goal when Rui Patrício produced an excellent save to keep out Chris Wood, whilst Ben Mee headed against the bar with the rebound coming off Wolves’ Ryan Bennett and hitting the post.
The game concluded in excitement when Erik Pieters fouled Jimenez. After referee Craig Pawson consulted with VAR, the Mexican stepped up and calmly rolled the ball past Nick Pope, earning Wolves a third successive League draw.
Up Next:
Europa League
Wolves v Torino (3-2 agg) – Thursday, August 29 (2:45pm)
EFL Cup
Burnley v Sunderland – Wednesday, August 28 (2:45pm)
Premier League
Everton v Wolves – Sunday, September 1 (9am)
Burnley v Liverpool – Saturday, August 31st (12:30pm)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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