Newcastle United 1-0 Brentford
In a match that saw Newcastle United end a three-game losing streak, Eddie Howe’s side clinched a crucial victory against Brentford, thanks to a second-half penalty from Callum Wilson. The game at St James’ Park was not without its controversies. Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, voiced his disagreement with the decision to award the penalty, suggesting that the vibrant atmosphere at St James’ Park might have influenced the referee’s judgement.
The match itself was a gritty affair. Brentford, coming off an unbeaten run of four games, started the brighter of the two sides. They looked more threatening in the early exchanges, with Aaron Hickey testing Newcastle’s goalkeeper, Nick Pope, and Yoann Wissa missing a golden opportunity. However, as the game progressed, Newcastle grew into it. Wilson, who was starting ahead of Alexander Isak, had a goal disallowed by VAR before eventually converting a penalty after a foul by Brentford’s goalkeeper, Mark Flekken.
Brentford tried to muster a response but found it challenging to break down a resolute Newcastle defence. Their best chance came late in the game when Wissa, once again, failed to convert from close range. The final whistle was met with a roar of approval from the home fans, who were ecstatic to see their team secure a much-needed win.
Eddie Howe, in his post-match comments, acknowledged that while it wasn’t a stellar performance from his team, it was a determined one. He praised his team’s grit and determination, especially after the disappointing performance against Brighton. Howe also highlighted the importance of the win, given the upcoming Champions League fixture against AC Milan.
On the other hand, Brentford’s Thomas Frank felt aggrieved by the penalty decision. He believed it was the wrong call and expressed his frustration at the outcome. Despite the setback, Frank praised his team’s performance, noting the difficulty of playing at St James’ Park.
West Ham 1-3 Manchester City
The London Stadium was the stage for a thrilling encounter between West Ham and Manchester City, with the latter emerging victorious in a 3-1 win. The match marked a significant return for Pep Guardiola to the City dugout, and his side didn’t disappoint.
West Ham, who had been unbeaten until this fixture, took the lead in the 36th minute with James Ward-Prowse nodding home a Vladimir Coufal cross. However, City’s resilience and quality shone through as they mounted a comeback. Jeremy Doku, despite being at fault for West Ham’s goal, redeemed himself with a well-taken equaliser just after the break. The game was packed with end-to-end action, with Julian Alvarez’s free-kick hitting the post and Michail Antonio being denied by Ederson in a one-on-one situation.
The tide turned in City’s favour when Bernardo Silva, assisted by Alvarez, lifted the ball over West Ham’s goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola, to give the visitors the lead. Momentum firmly with City, Erling Haaland sealed the deal with a goal four minutes from time, converting Silva’s precise cross.
Guardiola’s side maintained their perfect start to the season with this victory, while West Ham suffered their first loss of the 2023-24 campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sheffield United
In what can only be described as a dramatic encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs pulled off an astonishing comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. The match will be remembered for its stoppage-time goals, showcasing the never-say-die attitude of the North London side.
Sheffield United, who have struggled this season, looked set to claim a shock victory when Gustavo Hamer put them ahead in the 73rd minute. The Blades’ lead seemed secure as the match entered its final moments, but Tottenham had other ideas. With 12 minutes of added time, substitute Richarlison rose to the occasion, heading in an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The drama didn’t end there. Just two minutes later, Dejan Kulusevski fired home the winner, sending the home fans into delirium.
This victory marked Tottenham’s best start to a league season in 58 years, with the team remaining unbeaten in the Premier League. On the other hand, Sheffield United’s woes continued, with the team still searching for their first win of the campaign.
Manchester United 1-3 Brighton
Old Trafford witnessed another chapter in Manchester United’s ongoing saga of disappointment as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Brighton. This marks United’s fourth consecutive top-flight loss, a statistic that would have been unthinkable in the club’s glory days. The defeat also ended a commendable 20-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League for the Red Devils.
The match saw some positive signs for United, with Rasmus Hojlund and Sergio Reguilon making impressive debuts and Marcus Rashford looking particularly lively on the left flank. However, defensive frailties were their undoing. Former United striker Danny Welbeck was left unmarked to open the scoring for Brighton. The visitors then capitalised on more defensive lapses, with Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro adding to the tally. United’s only response came from Hannibal Mejbri, who netted a consolation goal.
Fulham 1-0 Luton Town
Craven Cottage was the backdrop for a tense encounter between Fulham and Luton Town, with the hosts narrowly edging out the visitors 1-0. The match was a significant milestone for Marco Silva, who celebrated his 50th win in his 100th game in charge of Fulham. This victory also marked Fulham’s first home win of the season.
The narrative of the match was one of Fulham’s dominance in possession but struggling to break down a resolute Luton defence. The hosts were left frustrated for large parts of the game, with their best chance in the first half coming from a Kenny Tete header. Luton, on the other hand, came close to taking the lead when Jacob Brown’s header struck the post.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute when substitute Carlos Vinicius, who had been on the pitch for just three minutes, tapped in the opener. This goal proved to be the difference, with Luton unable to find an equaliser.
Aston Villa 3-1 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa Park was the theatre of late drama as the hosts, Aston Villa, staged a remarkable comeback to clinch a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with the climax coming deep into stoppage time.
Crystal Palace, under the temporary management of Paddy McCarthy due to Roy Hodgson’s illness, seemed poised for an away victory after Odsonne Edouard’s early second-half strike. However, Villa’s resilience shone through. Substitute Jhon Duran levelled the score with a thunderous volley, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.
The controversy arose in the dying moments when Villa were awarded a penalty. Ollie Watkins was adjudged to have been fouled by Chris Richards. After an extensive VAR review, which lasted nearly five minutes, the decision stood. Douglas Luiz confidently dispatched the spot-kick, putting Villa in the lead. The drama didn’t end there, as Leon Bailey added another, sealing a memorable win for the hosts.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Liverpool
Molineux Stadium was the scene of a captivating contest as Liverpool came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Reds, who have historically struggled in early Saturday fixtures, overcame their jinx in style.
The match began with Wolves looking the more lively side, taking the lead in the seventh minute through Hee-Chan Hwang, who capitalised on a precise low cross from Pedro Neto. The home side continued to threaten, with Neto, in particular, causing problems for Liverpool’s defence.
However, the second half saw a rejuvenated Liverpool side. Cody Gakpo equalised 10 minutes after the restart, courtesy of an assist from Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian maestro was instrumental throughout the match, setting up Andy Robertson in the 85th minute to put Liverpool ahead. The victory was sealed in added time when Harvey Elliott’s shot deflected off Hugo Bueno into the net.
Everton 0-1 Arsenal
Goodison Park witnessed a tense encounter as Arsenal managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Everton, ending their five-game winless streak at the venue. The match was not without its share of controversy and drama.
Leandro Trossard, who came on as a substitute for the injured Gabriel Martinelli in the first half, was the hero for the Gunners. He found the back of the net with a sublime first-time finish, courtesy of a well-timed pass from Bukayo Saka. This came after a controversially disallowed goal by Martinelli in the first half. Eddie Nketiah was deemed offside by VAR in the build-up, even though the ball reached him via a significant deflection off Everton’s Beto.
Despite the setback, Arsenal continued to press and eventually found the breakthrough. Trossard’s goal was his first in the Premier League this season and proved crucial in securing the three points for Arsenal. The win propels the Gunners to fourth in the league standings, while Everton’s struggles continue as they remain winless.
Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea
In a match that promised much but delivered little in terms of goals, Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The Blues, under Mauricio Pochettino, were looking to bounce back from their recent defeat to Nottingham Forest but were left frustrated by a resilient Bournemouth side.
The match saw Chelsea dominate possession and create several chances. Nicolas Jackson hit the post in the first half, and Robert Sanchez made a crucial save to deny Bournemouth’s Dango Ouattara. The second half brought more drama when Raheem Sterling’s free-kick hit the crossbar, and Levi Colwill’s follow-up was ruled out for offside.
Despite their efforts, Chelsea couldn’t find the breakthrough, and the match ended in a stalemate. This result leaves Chelsea with just one win in the Premier League so far, while Bournemouth continues their search for their first league victory of the season.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burnley
The City Ground was abuzz with anticipation as Nottingham Forest played host to Burnley on Monday Night Football. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but not without its fair share of drama and talking points.
Burnley took the lead just before half-time with a sublime strike from Zeki Amdouni. However, the spotlight was stolen by Callum Hudson-Odoi, who marked his Nottingham Forest debut with a sensational goal in the 61st minute. The Chelsea loanee’s strike ensured Forest secured a point, denying Burnley their first win of the season.
The match was an end-to-end affair, with both teams having opportunities to clinch all three points. However, the most contentious moment came when Lyle Foster’s goal for Burnley was disallowed following a VAR review for a handball in the build-up. To add to Burnley’s frustrations, Foster was later shown a red card in stoppage time for violent conduct.
