In a thrilling third weekend of the 2017/2018 Premier League season, we witnessed plenty of goalmouth action, controversy, and the odd unlikely screamer, as the League leaders continued their master class and Slaven Bilic was put on the verge by a thrashing in The North East.
Late Sterling Does It Again For Slick City In Vitality Victory
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had to rely on a second late Raheem Sterling goal in as many games to clinch a fortunate victory over Eddie Howe’s men on The South Coast in Saturday’s Sky Live early kick off.
The home side, who have now lost their opening three League games, made a dream start to the tie, as Charlie Daniels rifled home a goal of the season contender from a tight angle on 13 minutes. However, the visitors struck back through Gabriel Jesus, with a sliding finish past Asmir Begovic from a one on one just after the 20-minute mark.
There were chances for both sides in a thrilling second-half, but it would be City and Sterling to rob all three points late on with a looping shot from a Danilo cross. Controversially, the England winger was dismissed for a second bookable offense by referee Mike Dean for jumping into the traveling City fans, but replays appeared to show fans jumping onto the pitch.
Nevertheless, the red card did little to affect the score line for The Citizens, who move up to fourth with a second win in three. Whereas, Bournemouth now sit in 18th place in the relegation zone, under immense pressure at the start of their third Premier League campaign.
Hammers Hammered at St James’ By Inspired Magpies
Our torrid start to the season got a hell of a lot worse on Saturday afternoon, as we were overcome by Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United to put our Croatian boss Slaven Bilic under huge pressure.
The home side strode to a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from new-signing Joselu, Ciaran Clark and Aleksander Mitrovic against our flat defence. Bilic’s boys remain rooted to the very bottom of the Table, with Newcastle United climbing out of the Relegation Zone.
The only positive from our point of view was the League return of Cheikhou Kouyate and Manuel Lanzini. But there is no doubt that Bilic will have plenty to answer to when we face Huddersfield Town in our first home tie of the campaign after the International Break.
Super Swans Brush Aside Poor Palace
From one under the cosh manager to another in the form of Frank De Boer, as his Crystal Palace side were condemned to a third straight League defeat by Paul Clement’s Swansea City in one of four Saturday 3 pm kickoffs.
A first Premier League goal for young prodigy Tammy Abraham put the visitors one to the good just before the break, as he got on the end of a Leroy Fer cross. The Welsh side would double that lead just three minutes into the second period, with Jordan Ayew capitalizing on some awful Eagles defending to easily finish past Wayne Hennessey for a certain victory.
The defeat spells worrying times in South London for last season’s Relegation candidates, but for The Swans, it’s a solid start to their season with four points from a possible nine.
Watford Escape With Point In Vicarage Road Stalemate
Marco Silva’s Hornets survived a first-half scare of going down to ten men to hold out for a point against newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion, with the hosts keeping their unbeaten run alive.
However, at one stage Chris Houghton’s men looked nailed on to take all three points as they piled on the pressure after Miguel Britos was dismissed in the first period for a horror challenge on Anthony Knockaert. The Frenchman would also come the closest to clinching a first Premier League win for The Seagulls, but his curling effort could only strike the post.
In the end, both sides had to settle for a point that gets the visitors off the mark but sees Watford drop down to seventh place.
Lossl Saves Help To Secure Point For Terriers
A string of fantastic stops from Huddersfield Town keeper Jonas Lossl were enough to keep a rampant Saints side at bay at The John Smith’s Stadium in the final of the Saturday afternoon ties.
The encounter was a tale of two half’s, with David Wagner’s men edging the first-half and Mauricio Pellegrino’s side coming the closest to snatching a late point. However, the man of the match award surely went to Lossl between the home side’s sticks, as he denied the likes Manolo Gabbiadini and Nathan Redmond in the closing stages.
So, with the two form sides sharing the points in Yorkshire, they both maintain their unbeaten runs in their respective League campaigns so far and both sit in the top-half heading into the international break.
Flawless United Too Strong For Flagging Foxes
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester Unitec put in yet another terrific display at the mercy of Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester City to continue their 100% record on BT Sport’s Saturday night fixture.
The Red Devils had shown a momentary sign of weakness when Romelu Lukaku had his second-half penalty saved by Kasper Schmeichel, but goals from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini were enough for a dominant United side to take all three points in the end.
The Foxes, having lost two of their first three league fixtures, now linger in the bottom-half where they are predicted to finish. But for the big spenders, August has been plain sailing with ten goals for, none against and top place heading into the Break.
Points Shared In Dreary Hawthorns Affair
After having a lot to live up to after last Sunday’s exciting double header, the first Super Sunday encounter of the weekend served up a dull affair in The Midlands, as West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City both took a point away.
The home side thought they had won it to grab their third consecutive victory through a Jay Rodriguez header, only for veteran Peter Crouch to profit from a shocking error by Ahmed Hegazy to earn his side a fortunate point.
The goal also prevented Tony Pulis’ men from going level on points with Manchester United at the top and helped Mark Hughes’ side to achieve four points from their opening three games.
First-Half Double Sees Blues To Comfortable Victory
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea continued to ease the pressure on their Title defense with a straight forward home triumph over Ronald Koeman’s leggy Everton side, who faced a long trip to Croatia last Thursday.
The home side made fairly light work of the tired Toffees in the first period with goals from the Spanish duo of Alvaro Morata and Cesc Fabregas to ensure that normal service has been resumed at Stamford Bridge as they soar up the Table.
Meanwhile, Everton fans are having to come to terms with the reality of participation in European football, a trouble that The Blues didn’t have to contend with for last season’s title.
Red Hot Reds Demolish Toothless Gunners
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were on the top of their game to thrash a weak Arsenal side 4-0 on Sky Sports Super Sunday, as the team from Merseyside went second and raised alarm bells for Arsene Wenger.
The visitors never got a grip on the game from the off and were quickly blown away by the pace and power of the Liverpool attack as goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Daniel Sturridge rounded off a wonderful triumph for the home side.
However, the calls of “Wenger Out” are already reverberating around the Gunners’ fan base, as the visitors showed little fight in being condemned to a second consecutive defeat.
New Man Wood Extends Spurs’ Wembley Woes
A late leveler from The Clarets’ new-signing Chris Wood snatched a point for Sean Dyche’s and persevered Tottenham Hotspur’s winless run at their temporary home of Wembley Stadium in the final game of the Premier League weekend.
A mediocre home side thought that they had done enough to finally end the hype of their poor form in West London through a Dele Alli finish, only for the former Leeds United man to break their hearts and make his Burnley bow a debut to remember.
The point will feel like revenge for a Burnley side that were beaten twice by Mauricio Pochettino’s men last season. But for The Lilywhites, after conceding a second last minute goal in as many games, they will feel very bitter indeed about their start to the Premier League season.
Unfortunately, the time has come for English Football fans all over the World to endure a tedious international break for the first time this term. But with the balance of the Table so evenly poised, Game Week Four could be very special indeed.