Bournemouth - Brentford
Gary O'Neil’s unbeaten start as interim Bournemouth boss continued, as his side made it four matches without a defeat at home to a toothless Brentford.
Two teams who would’ve no doubt been pleased with their respective starts to the campaign, it was Brentford who began the match on top, with two early chances testing the Bournemouth goalkeeper early on. Both opportunities fell to Mikkel Damsgaard, whose curled strike from outside the box was tipped away by Neto, before the Cherries’ shot-stopper once again thwarted the Brentford winger, this time saving from a 20-yard driven shot.
Having turned a corner in their previous three matches under O'Neil, Bournemouth looked like they were about to be given a penalty midway through the half, when Kristoffer Ajer appeared to trip Jordan Zemura inside the box. A VAR check ensued, but sticking to his original decision, referee Thomas Bramall waved away the Bournemouth protests, despite reviewing the incident on the monitor.
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The visitors had scored almost three times more than Bournemouth this season, but on an afternoon where they lacked a clinical edge, Brentford were left ruing missed chances. Perhaps the best of the game for Thomas Frank’s side came with 15 minutes to play, when Ivan Toney volleyed over the crossbar from six-yards out.
Frustration for Brentford, who more than doubled their opponents’ chances and shots on target, without finding a breakthrough goal. The Bees’ dismal away record now stretches to 20 matches without a game - by far the longest run in the Premier League. More positives for Bournemouth, with the Premier League’s second-worst defence holding out for their second consecutive home clean sheet.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Neto (Bournemouth)
Crystal Palace - Chelsea
Graham Potter got off to a winning start in his first Premier League (PL) game in charge of Chelsea, defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. The result marks Potter’s first victory over the Eagles and extends the Blues’ winning H2H streak to 11 games.
Having not played a competitive fixture in nearly a month, Palace could have been forgiven for a lethargic start, yet it was the hosts who struck first inside the first 10 minutes. A cheap turnover from Chelsea made its way to Jordan Ayew, who swept in a dangerous cross to the back post for Odsonne Édouard to turn home on the stretch. Unwilling to rest on their laurels, the Eagles looked for a quick-fire second, as Eberechi Eze stung the palms of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Despite bossing possession, the Blues remained behind, and narrowly avoided going down to 10 men when VAR deemed Thiago Silva had not denied a goal scoring opportunity. Just five minutes later, the yellow-carded Silva was involved at the other end, rising high to head towards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who struck on the turn to level the game with his first PL goal for Chelsea.
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The aways side searched for the lead with a series of half-chances early in the second half, but the Palace defence marshalled their attacking exploits admirably. As the final 20 minutes approached, Chelsea were firmly in control of the ball, but a crucial second goal still eluded them. However, with just seconds remaining the Blues found a dramatic winner when substitute Christian Pulisic laid the ball off to Conor Gallagher, allowing former Eagle to curl into the top right corner for his first Chelsea goal.
That cruel late goal for the hosts hands Palace their fifth consecutive home H2H defeat. Meanwhile, Chelsea claim their first back-to-back PL wins of the season, having last beaten West Ham United almost a month ago under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace)
Fulham - Newcastle
Newcastle United claimed their second win of the season with an emphatic 4-1 win over Fulham. Newcastle have now won three consecutive H2H’s at Craven Cottage for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Fulham’s run of alternating wins and losses continues as they follow up another win with a loss.
Newcastle went close to taking the lead early in the game, as the ball fell to Dan Burn in the box but Bernd Leno got down well to save his low effort before Callum Wilson hit the post from the rebound. Fulham were reduced to ten men after just six minutes, after Nathaniel Chalobah was dismissed for a late challenge on Sean Longstaff. Newcastle took the lead shortly after thanks to Wilson, the striker poked home Joe Willocks header at the back post after a delightful cross from Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle were dominating possession and almost doubled their lead, as Wilson controlled a cutback from Willock before turning and firing an effort narrowly past the top corner. Eddie Howe’s side got the second goal they thoroughly deserved, as Bruno Guimarães played an exquisite chipped ball through to Miguel Almirón before the Paraguayan volleyed home in emphatic fashion. The Magpies added a third, as Longstaff prodded home a rebound after Leno had tipped Sven Botman’s header onto the post.
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Newcastle started the second half with the same intensity they finished the first half with, as Willock went close to adding a fourth but Leno managed to tip his curled effort around the post. Newcastle added a fourth after some lovely build up play and Willock was the provider once again, as he played a teasing ball across the face of goal for Almirón to tap home at the far post.
Fulham pulled a goal back at the death as Neeskens Kebano delivered a cross that was headed home by Bobby Decordova-Reid but it was a mere consolation after a long afternoon for the Cottagers. Newcastle saw the game out and claimed three points that saw them rise to 6th in the league, meanwhile Fulham dropped to 8th after their third loss of the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United)
Liverpool - Brighton
Leandro Trossard netted a hat-trick as Brighton and Hove Albion held Liverpool to a 3-3 draw at Anfield. Roberto de Zerbi’s first game as a Premier League (PL) manager could hardly have been more thrilling, as his side made it three seasons in a row without defeat at Liverpool.
Four weeks had passed since Liverpool last turned out in the PL in the Merseyside derby, and there were clearly still some cobwebs to shake off as the visitors caught them cold and raced into the lead. Danny Welbeck’s backheel found Leandro Trossard, who produced a glorious bit of skill to shake off Trent Alexander-Arnold, allowing the Belgian the space to slot into the far corner. Trossard bolsters his phenomenal record at Anfield, now directly contributing to a goal on each of his last three visits.
Amid a strangely flat atmosphere, Liverpool were showing very little sign of life as the Seagulls continued to dominate. Alisson was keeping his side in the game, making saves from point-blank range to deny Welbeck and Trossard in the moments following the goal. Inside the opening 20 minutes though, the inevitable second arrived, as Solly March fed Trossard to fire beyond the goalkeeper, giving the visitors a well deserved two-goal lead.
The hosts didn’t really threaten until the half-hour mark when Mohamed Salah was found from close range, but Robert Sánchez raced off his line to smother the Egyptian’s effort. Liverpool’s talisman was becoming more dangerous and brilliantly created the Reds’ goal after a VAR review. Jordan Henderson found Salah with a lofted pass and he squared to Roberto Firmino to slam home and reduce the arrears.
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HT substitute Luis Diaz was immediately in the action as Liverpool equalised within 10 minutes of the restart. The Colombian cut inside to find Firmino, whose brilliant footwork earned him a yard to slot home his second of the contest. A remarkable comeback was complete shortly after the hour mark, as Sánchez completely missed an attempted punch to clear a corner, with the ball eventually bobbling over the line via a deflection from the unfortunate Adam Webster.
Brighton were not about to lie down though, applying their own pressure before eventually finding a dramatic equaliser. Kaoru Mitoma’s cross fell all the way to the back post where Trossard was gratefully waiting to complete a tremendous hat-trick - just the third by an opposition player at Anfield in the PL era - and rescue a point for the visitors.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Southampton - Everton
Everton grabbed a rare but deserved away victory as they came from behind to defeat Southampton, who have now lost three consecutive games in the Premier League (PL). Dwight McNeil’s goal capped a crazy 10-minute period that clinched the win, just their second PL away victory in 13 months.
The international break had done nothing to diminish the effects of Everton’s confidence-boosting victory against West Ham, as the visitor’s quietly controlled the opening stages of the match. Unsurprisingly for a team that have scored just five goals in their opening seven games, it was in the final-third where The Toffees failed to convert dominance into something more definitive, with Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu only troubled once, when he had to stoop low to deny Conor Coady from close range.
Ralph Hasenhüttl made six changes for this game in a bid to bounce back from consecutive 1-0 defeats, but it only resulted in a disjointed and unorganised first-half performance from his side, who continually lost the midfield battle to the impressive Idrissa Gueye.
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The HT break proved to be the calm before an incredible 10-minute storm of action that saw three goals and two wasted opportunities. Joe Aribo’s fierce, left-footed low drive gave the home side a lead that lasted just three minutes, as Coady was left unmarked to tap home an equaliser. Two minutes later and Everton had completed a rapidfire comeback in a move that came directly from Che Adams missing a one-one up the other end. Frank Lampard’s men broke, and Alex Iwobi’s deep cross found Dwight McNeil, who lashed home from a wide angle to open his Everton account. Things could have got worse for Southampton, who were relieved to see Amadou Onana miss a golden chance, as he steered his header wide from six yards out.
Ralph Hasenhüttl looked to the bench for salvation with a triple substitution, and it was one of those fresh legs who came closest to gaining a point for The Saints. A promising Southampton move fell kindly to Adam Armstrong inside the box, and his half volley looked destined for the top corner until an inspired reaction stop from Jordan Pickford meant it was two consecutive wins for his team.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Idrissa Gueye (Everton)
