The title race has been blown wide open in the Premier League this weekend, with major shocks coming across the 10 games that were played this weekend. From drama on the south coast, to a new force rising in the midlands, match-week 10 was a great representation of the competitiveness that this league boasts.
Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester City
Bournemouth pulled off back-to-back giant killings this weekend after a convincing display against an out-of-sorts City side on Saturday afternoon. The match began strongly in favour of the Cherries after an early spell of pressure, and this paid off well for the home team in the 9th minute after Milos Kerkez slipped a ball to Antoine Semenyo who swivelled on the ball and placed a great shot past the hopeless palms of Ederson. The half gradually became more even however, with Erling Haaland coming close just before the whistle, but it was Bournemouth who went into the half ahead.
It was no question that Bournemouth were the stronger team in the first half, and this remained the exact same going into the second 45. Evanilson has had a taste for goal of recent games, and it was the Brazilian forward who gave Bournemouth a shock but deserved second goal, as in the 64th minute Kerkez swooped an early cross into the box for the striker to slot home, doubling the Cherries’ lead. As the match went on City’s attacking threat became increasingly lacklustre with seemingly no end product, yet it was the prolific centre-back Josko Gvardiol who gave them a glimmer of hope after rising highest to head a wonderful cross home. Ultimately though, the full time whistle sounded on the south coast to the delight of the home side, leaving Iraola’s impressive Cherries in 10th place on 15 points, whilst hindering Guardiola’s Cityzens down to second place on 23 points. MOTM- Josko Gvardiol
Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Aston Villa
Tottenham managed to build on an impressive mid-week win after hammering Aston Villa in a strong comeback win on Sunday. Despite the strong Spurs scoreline, Aston Villa largely dominated the first half, with chances coming and going for key players in Onana and Watkins. The Villains hit the front foot about mid-way through the half, as a corner in the 32nd minute was floated into Bentancur who failed to clear and Morgan Rogers was there to fire home. It remained the only goal of the half, and put the Villain’s deservedly ahead going into the half.
The difference in Tottenham’s performance was that of night and day, as the Spurs side that walked out after halftime clearly had a taste for blood in the second half. It took only four minutes after the half began for the London side to be level after Heung Min Son delivered a trademark delivery into the run of Brennan Johnson who slotted home to level up. The danger signs of Dominic Solanke rang out shortly after the equaliser, but this came to fruition in the 75th minute, after the England forward chipped a wonderful shot over Martinez following a Kulusevski delivery. Only seven minutes later and Solanke had his second, after he tapped in a wonderful looped shot following a peach of a flick on from Richarlison. Spurs were hungry for more, and this showed in the very death as James Maddison added a fourth goal for Spurs in injury time following a brilliant free-kick goal. The full time whistle went after a brilliant afternoon for Anges men, sending his Spurs side to 7th place on 16 points, and dropping Emery’s Villains down to 6th on 18 points. MOTM- Dominic Solanke
Wolves 2-2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace turned defence into offence on Saturday afternoon in a feisty tie between two relegation-threatened teams. The first half was dominated largely by the away team, following their impressive back-to-back wins in the week prior, and it was Palace who nearly went ahead early on after Mateta smashed a shot destined for the back of the net against Chalobah who denied his teammate a goal. Despite a flurry of chances for the Eagles through Munoz and Kamada, it remained goalless going into the half.
Wolves started the second half a lot stronger, but their defensive woes showed in the 60th minute after Strand-Larsen knocked a ball down into the path of Trevoh Chalobah who, with much still to do, fired a wonderful shot past Sa to put the away side ahead. 7 minutes later though and the roles were reversed, after Chalobah was robbed in possession by Cunha who laid a simple ball to Strand-Larsen who tapped home to make it 1-1. The back-and-forth game kept going however, as in the 72nd minute Joao Gomes put the home side ahead following a smart shot placed into the bottom corner. Palace may have been defensively woeful, but the defence showed their attacking threat again as 5 minutes after going behind, the big centre back Marc Guehi tapped in at the back post to level the tie once again. Palace though they had won it at the death, as Mateta smashed home in the 96th minute, however controversially the goal was disallowed. The result leaves O’Neil’s winless Wolves rock-bottom on 3 points, whereas keeping Glasner’s Eagles in 17th on 7 points. MOTM- Matheus Cunha
Nottingham Forest 3-0 West Ham
Nottingham Forest continue to climb the Premier League after a complete dismantling of a lacklustre West Ham side on Saturday afternoon. Forest forged ahead mid-way through the first half, after the New Zealand striker Chris Wood added to his red-hot form by scoring a wonderful looped header following a great cross from Moreno. Edson Alvarez did not convince many with his defensive display, but his afternoon was deservedly cut short after receiving a second yellow card for a cynical foul on Elanga before the first half had even ended.
The home side put on a wonderful offensive display during the first half, and this just got better in the second 45. 20 minutes into the second half and Forest had doubled their advantage, after the technical forward Callum Hudson-Odoi released a wonderful curling shot into the bottom corner of Fabianski’s goal to send the City Ground into pandemonium. West Ham simply could not cope with the Forest attack, and this was compounded in the 78th minute after the full-back Ola Aina scored the goal of the day with a peach of an effort into the top corner of the opposition goal. The match ebbed on in Forest’s favour, and the full time whistle was called to the delight of the home crowd, seeing Nuno’s sensational Forest shoot up to 3rd place on 19 points, whereas dropping Lopetegui’s Hammer’s drop down to 14th place on 11 points. MOTM- Chris Wood
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Liverpool fought back to retain their spot at the top of the Premier League following a Saturday scare from an impressive Brighton side at Anfield. It was a game Liverpool were expected to dominate, and they nearly forged ahead early on after Nunez forced Verbruggen into a save, but the Seagulls stole ahead first. It took the away side only 14 minutes into the game to score, as the Turkish full-back Ferdi Kadioglu controlled the ball into a wonderfully placed shot into the bottom left corner, putting the away side ahead. It was the away side who ended the half strongly too, as both Rutter and Welbeck tested Kelleher in goal, but it was ultimately the one goal lead that was the difference at the break.
Arne Slot’s side opted for a strong response going into the second half, and they hit the ground running early on through a flurry of chances from Salah and Gakpo stating their intent. It took 25 minutes for the home side to deservedly draw level after a Cody Gakpo cross was floated almost accidently into the net much to the annoyance of Verbruggen. All of a sudden and Liverpool were ahead as only 2 minutes later Salah picked up the ball for a classic, Robben-esque shot into the top left corner to quickly change the agenda of the match. The action peaked there however, as the rest of the game overall lacked action with the home team comfortably ebbing out the game. The result sees Slot’s Liverpool stay in 1st place on 25 points, and sinking Hurzeler’s Seagull’s down to 8th on 16 points. MOTM- Mohamed Salah
Fulham 2-1 Brentford
Fulham needed a Welsh super sub to save them at the death against a stubborn Brentford team on a thrilling affair from Monday night. The direction of the game was quite clear from the off, with Fulham penning their London rivals inside of their own third for large chunks of the half, but the away side smashed an unexpected opener in the 24th minute after Vitaly Janelt released a great effort from distance past the hopeless Leno. Both sides had back and forth chances for the remainder of the half, with Janelt and Smith-Rowe coming close, but ultimately the away side led going into the interval.
Brentford were aware of the smash-and-grab nature of the first half, but they did nothing to change the arias in the second 45 minutes as Fulham retained their heavy pressure on the Bees. The home side produced strong moves that nearly brought fruit for forwards like Muniz and Jimenez, but ultimately it was the substitution of the Welshman Harry Wilson that paid off best. In the 92nd minute, Fulham managed to draw level after an incredible flicked shot from Wilson looped over Flekken to elate the home crowd. Brentford maintained a fickle defence for most of the game, but 5 minutes later it unravelled completely, as that man again Wilson got on the end of a cross to head home a winner in the 96th minute to seal all three points for the Cottagers. The result boosts Silva’s Fulham up to 9th on 15 points, whereas dropping Frank’s Bees down to 12th on 13 points. MOTM- Harry Wilson
Ipswich 1-1 Leicester
Ipswich were denied a first home Premier League win of the season at the very death against a spirited Leicester side on Saturday afternoon. The match initially started out very well in the away sides favour, with Facundo Buonanotte going close by forcing Muric into a wonderful save early on. The tides turned mid-way through the half however, as Ipswich looked to threaten more through attacking outlets such as Delap and Davis, but ultimately the curtain called on a goalless and somewhat uneventful first half.
The second half promised fireworks at Portman Road, and it certainly delivered over the course of the next 45 minutes. It was the home side that forged ahead earliest in the half, however, as Leif Davis scored a worldie of a goal by looping a wonderful delivery by Morsy on the volley over Hermansen in goal to send the home crowd wild. Ipswich maintained a strong second-half performance, but this was immediately put into doubt as Kalvin Phillips received a second yellow card for a late follow-up on Ricardo Pereira. The danger showed shortly after for Ipswich, as Burgess denied Ayew off the line late on, but it was Ayew who would have the last laugh. It took until the 94th minute for Leicester to equalise, as Ayew played a lovely one-two with Vardy and broke Ipswich hearts by slotting home. The last gasp result sees Ipswich stay in 18th on 5 points, whereas Leicester move up to 15th on 10 points. MOTM- Jamie Vardy
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
Manchester United and Chelsea played out an entertaining stalemate on Sunday evening in a fiery clash under new management. Chelsea’s first major chance came following a corner that was played in, where Madueke struck a header against the post and Colwill fired the rebound into the side netting to the relief of Onana in goal. United really should have been ahead mid-way through the first half, as Fernandes played a sensational cross to the feet of Marcus Rashford who struck a powerful shot against the upper frame of the goal, leaving the scores level going into the interval.
The second half was a back-and-forth display of attacking chances at Old Trafford, but it was Pedro Neto who came closest to giving the away side the lead. The Portuguese forward took the ball down on the left-hand side and flashed a chance inches wide of the post. It was United who went ahead first in the game, as Hojlund was brought down inside the box, which Fernandes confidently dispatched putting the home side in front. Chelsea took no time to respond however, as the equalised rapidly when Moises Caicedo struck an inch-perfect shot from a corner into the back of the net. The action came to a conclusion towards the end of the game, as Lisandro Martinez was lucky to escape a straight red card, but the referee blew for full time with the scores level. The result sees Van Nistelrooy’s Red Devils move up to 13th on 12 points, whereas Maresca’s Chelsea drop to 4th. MOTM- Cole Palmer
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
Newcastle managed to steal all 3 points from the Gunners after a convincing display against a characterless Arsenal side. The only goal of the game came early on in the Magpies’ favour, after some good exchange play saw Gordon swing a ball into Isak who emphatically headed past Raya to put Newcastle ahead. Arsenal came close in the first half after some pinball in the Newcastle penalty area saw Merino and Gabriel strike shots against an army of Newcastle bodies, but there ended up being no way through for the Gunners. It was Newcastle who led the game at the interval.
Arsenal convinced nobody with their first-half performance, but the second half highlighted many more problems for the Gunners. The joy for the home side came predominantly from the former Arsenal man Joe Willock, who had a few chances on the wings forcing Raya to be alert and to hold on to the ball. Declan Rice came close for the Gunners however, as the English defender flashed a shot just wide of Pope’s left-hand post as well as somehow heading a cross from Saka wide of the post. The full-time whistle blew in Tyneside seeing Newcastle take all three points with them. It leaves Howe’s Magpies in 11th place on 15 points, whereas dropping Arteta’s Arsenal down to 5th place on 18 points. MOTM- Aleksander Isak
Southampton 1-0 Everton
Southampton sealed a first Premier League win of the season in dramatic fashion after beating a flat Everton side on Saturday afternoon. The first half was to be expected of this encounter with a typical lack of attacking threat. Both teams failed to get into 3rd gear in the half, but the best chance of the half came for the Saints when Cameron Archer picked up the ball on the right wing and flashed a shot just wide of Pickford’s goalpost. Still though, the referee called time on an uneventful first half with the score goalless.
The second half definitely promised an improvement in quality, and this was evident from the get-go with both keepers being forced into being vigilant. The best chance of the half for the Toffees came about mid way into the half when Beto somehow smashed a header against the crossbar instead of in, but Michael Keane also had a chance when he latched onto a delivery into the Saints’ penalty box forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a strong save. Armstrong came closest for the Saints after releasing a wild effort into the stands, but his efforts paid off in the 85th minute after the English forward took his time with the ball and curled an effort past Pickford to set St Mary’s alight. Everton thought they had drawn level 4 minutes later however, as Beto scored a wonderful shot past Ramsdale yet VAR deemed it to be offside after a lengthy check. The result boosts Martin’s side still in 19th place on 4 points however, and leaving Dyche’s Toffees in 16th on 9 points. MOTM- Adam Armstrong
