With teams taking to the pitch for the League/Carabao Cup midweek, which included some shocking results like Spurs getting knocked out by League Two side Colchester United, certain teams were looking tireder than others.
We saw a total of 29 goals, 34 players go into the book and two sent off.
Saturday
Sheffield United v Liverpool
0-1
Jurgen Klopp said his Liverpool side “deserved” victory at Sheffield United despite it taking a “lucky” Georginio Wijnaldum goal to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season.
The winner was a moment to forget for the otherwise faultless Dean Henderson, with the Bales goalie spilling the Dutchman’s tame effort before agonizingly watching it roll over the line.
The Reds, who were far from their best in South Yorkshire, left thankful that the hosts couldn’t find a way through in a game that saw them match the European champions in many respects.
Sheffield substitute Leon Clarke, making his Premier League debut at 34, should have equalized late on but fire over, meaning Liverpool have won their first seven league games of the season and have a five-point lead at the top of the table.
Up Next:
Champions League
Liverpool v RB Salzburg – Wednesday, October 2 (3pm)
Premier League
Watford v Sheffield – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Liverpool v Leicester – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Aston Villa v Burnley
2-2
Aston Villa let the lead slip twice to draw with Burnley at Villa Park. The hosts went ahead when Anwar El Ghazi swept home Frederic Guilbert‘s cross in the first half, only to see Jay Rodriquez‘s goal cancel his out.
There was a similar story in the second half when John McGinn restored Villa’s lead, firing home from a Matthew Lowton cross, before Chris Wood restored the parity shortly after to ensure the points were shared.
The hosts were the better side for the majority of the first half and could have gone ahead early on when Conor Hourihane saw his free kick hit the upright, whilst McGinn saw his tap-in ruled out for offside via VAR.
Dean Smith‘s Villa remain 18th whilst the Clarets fall to 11th.
Up Next:
Norwich v Villa – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Burnley v Everton – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United
2-2
Aaron Cresswell fired home a late equalizer at the Vitality Stadium to ensure West Ham stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to six games.
Both sides entered the game in the top six and produced an enthralling match, with Andriy Yarmolenko opening the scoring with his third goal in six league games. That lead lasted all of seven minutes as Joshua King struck from close range – the goal was initially flagged offside but VAR overturned the decision after a lengthy stoppage.
The Hammers kicked off the second half yet fell behind after just 27 seconds as Callum Wilson fired in his fifth goal of the season. The England striker then spurned a great chance to make it 3-1 and within 90 seconds fellow Englishman Cresswell, who after failing to score the entirety of last season, has scored twice in a week after sealing victory against Manchester United last weekend, volleyed home to deny the Cherries a third straight league victory.
It would have been harsh for either side to lose, having both had much-improved performances.
Up Next:
Arsenal v Bournemouth – Sunday, October 6 (9am)
West Ham v Palace – Saturday, October 5 (12:30pm)
Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion
2-0
After his first home victory as a Premier League manager Blues boss Frank Lampard said his team “needed the win” over Brighton.
His side deservedly won to make it nine wins in nine league games against the Seagulls – an all-time Premier League/Football league record. The previous record for wins against a single team in the league was Wimbledon’s 100% record against Bournemouth in their eight meetings between 1977 and 1984.
Jorginho fired the hosts ahead from the spot after Adam Webster fouled Mason Mount, before Willian sealed the three points with a deflected strike from Callum Hudson-Odoi‘s pass.
Brighton, who haven’t won a league game since the opening day, briefly rallied with Dan Burn seeing his header hit the crossbar.
Up Next:
Champions League
Lille v Chelsea – Wednesday, October 2 (3pm)
Premier League
Southampton v Chelsea – Sunday, October 6 (9am)
Brighton v Spurs – Saturday, October 5 (7:30am)
Crystal Palace v Norwich City
2-0
After his injury-striken side were beaten by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Norwich manager Daniel Farke said he “expected there would be difficult times”.
Palace captain Luka Milivojevic, on his 100th appearance for the Eagles, gave the hosts the lead with a first-half penalty before Andros Townsend sealed the win. Milivojevic struck confidently into the top corner after Canaries defender Ibrahim Amadou fouled James McArthur, and substitute Townsend finished neatly in injury time as Palace equalled their Premier League record of six unbeaten home games.
To add to Norwich’s woes Schalke loanee Ralf Fahrmann, who was in for injured first-choice goalie Tim Krul, was himself replaced by fellow debutant Michael McGovern following the penalty, whilst defender Jamal Lewis suffered a possible broken arm.
Up Next:
West Ham v Palace – Saturday, October 5 (12:30pm)
Norwich v Villa – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton
2-1
Mauricio Pochettino said he’d shoulder the “blame” for Hugo Lloris‘ howler as 10-man Tottenham beat Southampton 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
The French 2018 World Cup winning goalkeeper was inexplicably dispossessed in his own six-yard area by Danny Ings for Saints’ equalizer following a back pass. Pochettino told fans “you don’t need to blame Hugo, blame me because I demand him to play in that way.”
£53.8m club record signing Tanguy Ndombele scored with a powerful deflected shot to put the hosts ahead, before Serge Aurier, who had already been booked, was sent off in the 32nd minute for a foul on Ryan Bertrand.
Then came Ings‘ leveler, but less than five minutes later Harry Kane swept home what proved to be the winner, with Christian Eriksen getting the key assist.
Lloris went someway to redeeming himself for his howler with two brilliant second-half saves, flinging himself across the line to keep out James Ward-Prowse‘s free kick before producing an acrobatic leap to block Maya Yoshida‘s header following a corner.
Up Next:
Champions League
Spurs v Bayern Munich – Tuesday, October 1 (3pm)
Premier League
Brighton v Spurs – Saturday, October 5 (7:30am)
Southampton v Chelsea – Sunday, October 6 (9am)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford
2-0
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo called on his team to “embrace the challenge” of matching England’s best by combining domestic and European success, after winning their first league game of the season against the Hornets.
Wolves are in the Europa League alongside Arsenal and Manchester United following an impressive seventh-placed finish last season and have already played 15 games this campaign. Up next they travel to Turkey to face Besiktas on Thursday.
The hosts claimed all three points with a 2-0 victory thanks to a Matt Doherty strike and a Daryl Janmaat own goal at Molineux, forcing the winless Watford to remain at the bottom of the table.
Unlike in the FA Cup semi-final meeting between the two sides in April, when Watford fought back from two goals down to win in extra time, there was limited response from the visitors once Rui Patricio had denied Danny Welbeck.
The Hornets have conceded 12 goals in the three league games since Quique Sanchez Flores returned to the club to replace Javi Gracia. They’ve also gone 11 league games without a win, their worst run since the 1999/2000 campaign, which ended in relegation from the top flight.
Up Next:
Europa League
Besiktas v Wolves – Thursday, October 3 (12:55pm)
Premier league
Man City v Wolves – Sunday, October 6 (9am)
Watford v Sheffield – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Everton v Manchester City
1-3
The reigning champions had to work hard to see off a spirited Everton side and remain five points behind leaders Liverpool.
Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling both struck in the final 20 minutes to give City the victory after they’d wasted multiple chances, but they needed two excellent saves by Ederson to hold off the Toffees.
City started well and after Ilkay Gundogan somehow hit the bar from point-blank range they took a deserved lead thanks to another moment of Kevin de Bruyne genius. His trademark whipped cross from the right was headed home by Gabriel Jesus, giving the Belgian his eight assist of another stellar campaign.
The goal spelled trouble for the hosts, whose boss Marco Silva was under pressure even before the game after back-to-back defeats, they responded well and soon found themselves level after substitute Alex Iwobi fought his way into the box and the ball dropped for Seamus Coleman, who beat Ederson with a dinked shot, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin made sure of the equalizer with a diving header on the line.
Whilst the home side refused to lie down and forced Ederson into making vital stops from Calvert-Lewin and Yerry Mina, England midfielder Sterling made sure his side walked away with all three points, forcing the ball home after Sergio Aguero‘s effort was saved.
Up Next:
Champions League
City v Dinamo Zagreb – Tuesday, October 1 (3pm)
Premier League
Burnley v Everton – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Man City v Wolves – Sunday, October 6 (9am)
Sunday
Leicester City v Newcastle United
5-0
Brendan Rodgers says it’ll be a “big ask” for Leicester to finish in a Champions League spot, despite continuing their strong start to the season with a demolition of Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Jamie Vardy scored twice as the Foxes demonstrated potential to secure a top-four finish by recording their biggest League victory to move back up to third. The 2015/16 champions are three points clear of both Chelsea and Spurs.
The Magpies are anchored in the relegation zone after their hosts took full advantage of Isaac Hayden‘s straight red for a horrific tackle on Dennis Praet.
Leicester were already leading through Ricardo Pereira‘s outstanding low shot before they made the extra man advantage count with three goals in 10 second-half minutes. Vardy beat Martin Dubravka at his near post to double the lead, before adding his second/Leicester’s fourth after Paul Dummett had deflected a cross into his own net.
On a shocking day for the Toon Army, Wilfred Ndidi added a late fifth with a shot on the turn.
Rodgers‘ side are two points off second-placed Manchester City and seven behind leaders Liverpool, who the visit next weekend.
Up Next:
Liverpool v Leicester – Saturday, October 5 (10am)
Newcastle v Man United – Sunday, October 6 (11:30am)
Monday
Manchester United v Arsenal
1-1
Manchester United and Arsenal played out an unlively stalemate at the Theatre of Dreams to provide compelling evidence of just how far away either of them are from a Premier League challenge.
In a disappointing encounter that was a mere shadow of their mighty clashes of years gone by, Scott McTominay gave United the lead at the end of the first half with a rising drive from the edge of the box.
The Gunners equalized just before the hour mark courtesy of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It was initially ruled offside but VAR confirmed Harry Maguire had played the strike onside.
The draw takes Arsenal to fourth, but leaves United down in 10th after an outcome that sees them make their worst start in 30 years.
Up Next:
Europa League
AZ Alkmaar v Man United – Thursday, October 3 (12:55pm)
Arsenal v Standard Liege – Thursday, October 3 (3pm)
Premier League
Newcastle v Man United – Sunday, October 6 (11:30am)
Arsenal v Bournemouth – Sunday, October 6 (9am)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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