The Premier League certainly lived up to the hype this weekend. There were shock results, standout performances and eye catching moments galore. Here’s a round-up of the biggest talking points.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Pochettino gets his first win as Chelsea manager
The Blues hosted Luton Town at Stamford Bridge with all of the pressure on them on Friday night.
Chelsea had failed to win either of their opening two fixtures and anything but three points against the newly promoted side would’ve been a disaster. They delivered though.
Raheem Sterling scored twice and Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal for the club. The hosts created five big chances and racked up an Expected Goals haul of 2.27 while limiting their opponents to just 0.44.
Sterling looked back to his best. The new Chelsea No.7 had five shots and created two chances on his way to a 9.0 FotMob rating.
Dropped points at the Emirates
Arsenal’s 100% record is now over. Mikel Arteta’s side could only manage a 2-2 draw with Fulham but to say the hosts were unlucky would be a bit of an understatement.
The Gunners had 19 shots, created five big chances and amassed an Expected Goals total of 3.2. By comparison, Marco Silva’s charges could only muster opportunities worth 0.56 Expected Goals.
Play that exact same game 100x over and Arsenal claim all three points most of the time at a canter.
Fulham keeper Bernd Leno haunted his former employers with eight saves. Bukayo Saka was the standout performer on the pitch though with three shots, four chances created and a goal.
A bit of a pattern with Fulham games this season is their inability to limit their opponents. No team has a higher Expected Goals conceded total (9.9).
The Old Trafford turnaround
Nottingham Forest stunned the Old Trafford faithful by taking a 2-0 lead inside of five minutes.
Taiwo Awoniyi sat down André Onana for the opener before Willy Boly added a second just two minutes later.
The away side then allowed the hosts back into the game. Bruno Fernandes pulled the strings, creating three chances, two big chances and scoring the winner via the penalty spot. It was a contentious award with many believing the foul on Marcus Rashford was on the soft side.
Forest also had a man sent off with Joe Worrall receiving his marching orders having brought down Fernandes. It did, however, look as though there was a covering defender. United won’t care though, they’ve managed to claim another three points.
The Seagulls are hammered
Brighton went into the game against West Ham as favourites. Roberto De Zerbi’s men were blown away though, losing 3-1 to what was a classic smash and grab tactic deployed by the Hammers.
James Ward-Prowse netted the opener, before a quickfire second half double from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio put the game to bed at around the hour mark.
Pascal Gross pulled one back for the hosts but it wasn’t enough to salvage anything.
The Seagulls have been ruthless so far this season but their underlying numbers, especially defensively, should be a concern. Only Fulham have a higher Expected Goals conceded total and West Ham managed to create opportunities worth 3.23 this weekend.
The sign of champions
On paper, Manchester City’s trip to Sheffield United should’ve been a routine three points for the reigning champions.
It was anything but, with Erling Haaland missing a penalty in the first half. Pep Guardiola’s men eventually took the lead through their No.9 but were pegged back in the 85th minute when Jayden Bogle equalised.
Just two minutes later though, the treble winners rallied to score the winner. Rodri proved himself to be a clutch player yet again, rifling home to complete a commanding performance.
The 27-year-old completed the most passes (108) and made the most tackles (three) while also taking five shots. He earned himself a FotMob rating of 9.1, proving himself to be the difference maker yet again this season. He’s really stepped up in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
Chaos at St James’ Park
Last season, Liverpool were the only team to do the double over Newcastle United. The Reds claimed a stoppage time win at Anfield while a Nick Pope red card in the reverse fixture killed off the game at 2-0.
This game had a stoppage time winner and a red card.
Anthony Gordon put the hosts ahead after a Trent Alexander-Arnold error before Virgil van Dijk was sent off for a last man challenge on Alexander Isak.
Newcastle appeared to be in complete control and forced Alisson into a career high seven Premier League saves. The hosts couldn’t add the all important second goal though and it cost them.
Darwin Núñez fired home the equaliser after the ball rather fortuitously fell his way. Then, in stoppage time, Mohamed Salah found the Liverpool No.9 with a fine pass and the former Benfica man rifled home the winner.
Newcastle will feel unlucky but it highlights the ruthlessness of the Premier League.
(Images from IMAGO)
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