We witnessed spoils, thrills and plenty of red cards in Game Week Two of the 2017/2018 Premier League season, as the League leaders’ hit Swansea City for four and Mauricio Pellegrino got the better of Slaven Bilic in a Saturday afternoon thriller.
Slick United Drown Sorry Swans
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United overcame Swansea City with an emphatic 0-4 thumping victory in the first League clash of the weekend live on Sky Sports.
The Red Devils reached their victory thanks to goals from defender Eric Bailly, £90-million-man Romelu Lukaku, French midfielder Paul Pogba and his France team mate Anthony Martial. However, the visitors had to rely on a late flurry to make sure of gaining all three points against Paul Clement’s men, as The Swans were the better side for the majority of the tie.
Nevertheless, the 20-time Premier League Champions stayed at the very summit of the League Table with their second consecutive 4-0 victory. Whereas, Swansea slumped to their exact position of last season, 15th, after gaining just one point from their opening two fixtures.
Saints Down Hammers In Thriller
In the first of the Saturday 3 PM kick-offs, we made the trip to The St Mary’s to face off with a determined Saints side who were looking for their first win under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino.
The hosts got off to the perfect start through forward Manolo Gabbiadini, who put them ahead after just 11 minutes on The South Coast. Things were about to go from bad to worse for Bilic’s boys on the half-hour mark, as club-record signing Marko Arnautovic was dismissed for a disgusting Elbow on Jack Stephens.
Southampton doubled their lead from a Dusan Tadic penalty just moments later, but new signing Chicharito gave us a lifeline just before the break. The Mexican’s second goal in Claret & Blue would bring us level on 73 minutes, but The Saints grabbed an agonizing late winner from the spot through Charlie Austin to take them up into 7th place.
However, our poorest start to a League season since 2010 continues with our second consecutive defeat, leaving Bilic and the boys in 20th place, desperately needing a victory over Cheltenham in The Carabao Cup tonight.
Mane Magic Seals Narrow Victory For Reds
A late goal from Senegalese International forward Sadio Mane was enough to give Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool a slim victory over Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday.
The even encounter reached its defining moment on 73 minutes with Eagles midfielder Luka Milivojevic running himself into trouble major and giving the ball away to Mane in the area, who finished calmly past Wayne Hennessey.
The defeat ensures worrying times for The South London Club, but for Liverpool, they have got their Title challenge back on track and are just two points off first place.
More Woes For Seagulls As Foxes Get First Win
Premier League newcomers Brighton & Hove Albion have endured a tough start to their first season in The Premier League, and things would just go from bad to worse for Chris Hughton’s men on Saturday as they were beaten well at The King Power Stadium.
Craig Shakespeare’s men were in inspired form after last week’s remarkable 4-3 defeat at The Emirates Stadium and triumphed thanks to goals from in-form Shinji Okazaki and new signing Harry Maguire. The Foxes are favorites to finish in the bottom half just two seasons after their giant killing Title win but have shown that they are not too far away from recapturing the remarkable form of 2015/2016.
Meanwhile, there are worrying signs on The South Coast for the Seagulls, who captured Automatic Promotion from The Championship last term. The Relegation favorites have slumped to a 2-0 defeat in their opening two League games and are already showing signs that the Bookies could be correct as they fall to eighteenth place.
Robson-Kanu Fires WBA To Rare Away Victory
Wales International Hal Robson-Kanu fired his West Brom side to a dramatic late victory at Turf Moor to continue their 100% Premier League record.
The Baggies, who overcame Bournemouth last week at The Hawthorns, left it late against a Burnley side that shocked Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. The goalscorer wasn’t introduced until the 63rd minute, but many fans would be left hoping that he had started when Kanu bullied his way through The Clarets’ defence to fire past Tom Heaton and give the visitors the lead.
However, just moments later, Kanu would be shown a straight red card for a dangerous flying Elbow on Matt Lowton. Tony Pulis’ men would hold out for a second consecutive victory to take them third. Whereas, Sean Dyche’s side have been plunged back down to Earth after last week and now dwell in their predicted position of mid-Table.
Arter Antics In Vain As Watford Triumph At The Vitality
Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter’s decision to trick Watford’s Nathaniel Chalobah into dummying the ball for his advantage was ridiculed by the Football World throughout the weekend. However, his actions had little effect on the scoreline of the clash as Watford went on to be the victors on the South Coast.
Brazilian youngster Richarlison gave The Hornets the lead on 73 minutes with an impressive improvised finish. Etienne Capoue then doubled that advantage a short while after with a wonderful finish to gain Marco Silva a first win as Watford boss. For The Cherries, it’s the second defeat in a row to start the season for the Relegation favorites with Eddie Howe now under immense pressure.
Jese Winner Stuns Shaky Gunners
In what was surely the upset of the Premier League weekend, Mark Hughes’ Stoke City were unlikely winners over Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in BT Sport’s Saturday night fixture.
The Gunners made the trip to The Bet 365 Stadium off the back of last week’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Leicester City, but it would be a lower scoring affair this time. The only goal of the game came from former PSG man Jese Rodriguez just after the break, as the 23-year-old was fed in by Saido Berahino to finish neatly past Petr Cech.
The hosts held onto their lead to recover from last weekend’s opening defeat to Everton and draw level on points with Arsenal. The Potters have been criticised in recent weeks for their lack of activity in the Market, but the signing of Jese could prove to be pivotal in the coming weeks.
Mooy Magic Ensures The Terriers’ Fairy-tale Start
A piece of second-half finesse from Huddersfield Town midfielder Aaron Mooy helped his side to a pleasing three points against former Championship Title rivals Newcastle United, in the club’s first home Top-Flight victory in 45 years.
The Australian International Mooy, formerly of Manchester City, curled a stunning effort past Rob Elliot early in the second-half to make history for his side. Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez’s men now sit 19th after two opening losses and the result at The John Smith’s mixed in with the club’s questionable Transfer budget has placed the Spanish manager under huge pressure in The North East.
Whereas, Huddersfield fans are in dream land as they sit second after the opening two weekends of their first ever Premier League season.
Alonso Double Adds To Spurs’ Wembley Woes
A goal in each half from Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso sealed a dramatic and historic victory for Antonio Conte’s men against Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the first ever Premier League fixture at Wembley Stadium on Super Sunday.
The visitors struck early via a piece of magic from Alonso but were pegged back by a Michy Batshuayi own goal after the break to bring the home side level. However, it would be The Blues that had the last laugh as the former Bolton man Alonso raced in behind the usually compact Lilywhites defence to steal a late winner for his side.
The victory eases pressure on Antonio Conte after last week’s Burnley embarrassment. But for Spurs, their awful record at Wembley continues as their new Stadium is built.
Sterling Rescues Point For Sloppy City At The Etihad
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had to rely on a second-half strike from England winger Raheem Sterling to salvage a point against Ronald Koeman’s Everton in a heated Monday Night Football affair.
The two sides entered the fixture after opening day victories over Brighton and Stoke City respectively, but it would be the visitors who were in cruise control at the break.
Wayne Rooney pounced on a sleeping City defence to bag his 200th Premier League goal in the 35th minute before Kyle Walker was bizarrely dismissed for a second bookable offense by Referee Bobby Madeley on the stroke of half-time.
After a period of sustained pressure for the home side, they finally broke through a stern Toffees defence to draw level through a Sterling volley with eight minutes remaining. In the final moments of normal time, Madeley issued yet another debatable red card and this time for Everton’s Morgan Schneiderlin.
With a fair amount of intervention from the Referee, the spoils had been shared in Manchester with the teams laying level on points in the Standings to bring a memorable weekend of Game Week Two action to a thrilling end.
So, with Match Day Two of the 2017/2018 Premier League season living up to the excitement of the opening weekend in every right, what will lay ahead next week? In the final round of matches before the dreaded first International Break of the campaign.