The Premier League is back for another match week, and it was goals on toast across all of the fixtures this weekend. From further developments in the title challenge, to vital goals towards the bottom of the table, match-week 13 was another spectacle from the greatest league in world football.
West Ham 2-5 Arsenal
Arsenal managed to reignite their pursuit for the top of the table after a jam-packed first half against West Ham on Saturday evening. The away side scored the first of seven first half goals in the 10th minute, after a delivery from Saka met the all-too familiar head of Gabriel, who nodded home with ease to put the Gunners ahead. Arsenal clearly had a taste for goals in the first half, and it got even better for them when, in the 27th minute, some lovely passing play saw Saka burst through and set up Leandro Trossard for an easy tap in to make it 2-0. Only 7 minutes later and Arsenal managed to score their third, after Odegaard slotted into the side of the net from the penalty spot following a foul from Paqueta inside of the area. It was utterly unbelievable for the away side with how quick the goals came, and it got much better only 2 minutes after the last when Kai Havertz burst fprward for a one-on-one with Fabianski to slot past him and put the Gunners four to the good. The home side were clearly stunned and deflated by Arsenal’s resurgence, but a glimmer of hope came in the form of Aaron Wan-Bissaka who scored a goal back for the Hammers in the 38th minute after Soler picked him out for him to slot home. The mild hopes of the home fans before started to become much more concrete only 2 minutes later, as Emerson curled home a beauty of a free kick from 20 yards to half the deficit 5 minutes before the half. Hope was apparent all around the London Stadium, but the home fans were immediately brought back down to earth 2 minutes into injury time, when Fabianski mispunched the ball and hit Gabriel, allowing for Saka to step up from the spot and regain a three goal cushion for Arsenal. The referee called time on a hectic, and thrilling first half giving either team plenty to think about going into the second 45.
In light of the collosal first half that occured, the goals were expected to flow once more in the second, but sadly this was not the case. The home side really struggled to muster any chance of getting back into the game, allowing Arsenal to ask all the questions of an already stretched Hammers defense. The away side came close on two occasions, with Saka needing a shot to be blocked following an Odegaard strike as well as Sterling narrowly missing the post from a free kick at the very end of the match. The referee called time on the hectic match it was much to the joy of the away fans. It leaves Lopetegui’s Hammers side in 14th place on 15 points, whereas shooting Arteta’s Gunners up to 2nd on 25 points. MOTM- Bukayo Saka
Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth
Bournemouth continued their wonderful start to the season by thumping a fickle Wolves side on Saturday afternoon. The away side hit the ground running with a 15 minute blitz early on, starting when Kluivert stepped up to the spot and scored only 3 minutes in following a Toti foul inside of the box. The celebrations were cut short for the home side only 2 minutes later, when Bellegarde sent a wonderful delivery into the path of the Norwegian forward Strand-Larsen who headed home for 1-1. The drama kept on happening again, as only 3 minutes after the equaliser the Cherries were ahead once more, after Tavernier set up Kerkez to have a run and then rifle a deflected shot into the roof of the net to retake the lead. The referee called time on a controversial and manic first half, with the visitors having scored three goals and keeping a two goal cushion.
Wolves have been strong in the second half of matches lately, and the home side looked to continue that to gain some much needed points in their relegation scrap. The second half began largely as an even contest, but it was Wolves who boosted their hopes massively in the 69th minute after Guedes set Strand-Larsen away for the Norwegian to smash his second home past Kepa and to give the home side a spark. The hope did not last though for Wolves, as only two minutes later Jose Sa conceded his second penalty of the day allowing Kluivert to step up and score, making history as the first player in Premier League history to score a hattrick of penalty goals, restoring the home side’s two goal lead. Wolves continued to somewhat test the Bournemouth backline for the remainder of the game, but the referee blew for full time handing the visitors all three points and Kluivert a performance his dad would be proud of. The result sees O’Neil’s Wolves stay in 18th place on 9 points, whilst sending Iraola’s Cherries up to 11th place on 18 points. MOTM- Justin Kluivert
Brentford 4-1 Leicester City
Schade stole the spotlight as Brentford stung the Foxes where it hurts on Saturday afternoon. After Hermansen denied Schade an almost certain goal, it was the Foxes who went ahead in the 21st minute after Vardy harassed Pinnock off the ball and rolled a wonderful delivery to Buonanotte, who shushed the G-Tech by slotting into an empty net. His confident celebrations were cut short only 4 minutes later though, when Kevin Schade raced down the left wing and rolled an inch-perfect ball to Wissa who slotted into the far corner to level up the scores. In the 29th minute, the home side went ahead after Schade received the ball from a roll back and finished emphatically past Hermansen to put the Bees deservedly ahead. Just before the interval, Brentford had their third after Damsgaard picked out Schade again for the German to dink into the far post and in to extend the home side’s advantage. It was a thoroughly deserved lead for the bees going into half time following a clinical attacking display.
The Bees managed to nearly silence Leicester in the first half, and they were determined to do so once again in the second with some more attacking excellence. Norgaard nearly put the home side 3 goals up 10 minutes after the restart, but that job went to Schade once again. The forward picked up the ball following a wonderful defense-splitting pass from Collins and took some time before slotting past Hermansen into the far post to give himself the match ball, and to seal the deal for Brentford in this tie. The match ebbed on and the full time whistle went, with Brentford and Schade taking all three points against a dismal Leicester side. The result sees Frank’s Bees shoot up to 7th place on 20 points, whereas keeping Dawson’s Foxes in 16th on 10 points. MOTM- Kevin Schade
Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle
Crystal Palace secured a last-gasp equaliser against a fickle Magpies side on Saturday afternoon. The early first half lacked in action for either team, with the most eventful part of note for the away side coming from the fright that came for the travelling fans after both Joelinton and Isak went down following a heavy collision, however both were okay much to the relief of the medical team. Crystal Palace formed their best chance 35 minutes into the half, after Munoz was set up well by Sarr along the wing, to which the Colombian full-back really should have put his side ahead using his weaker foot. It remained goalless going into the half, however it was Palace who gave Howe something to think about going into the dressing room.
Marc Guehi was a man who only missed out on his shot in a Magpies shirt by a hairs length in the summer window, but his favours to Newcastle continued shortly after the restart as only 8 minutes into the half, the away side got the all-important first goal. A ball was floated into the penalty area by Tonali to meet Gordon, which his effort took a nick off Guehi to go past Henderson and into his own net. Palace were clearly surprised by this unlucky goal, but they refused to let their heads down and continued to look for a way back into the match. Munoz came close yet again in the 62nd minute, needing Burn to deflect an effort off the line. From here it seemed to be continuous Palace pressure, with Guehi and Sarr being unlucky in a Palace blitz of Newcastle, but it seemed the goal just wouldn’t come. When all hope seemingly was lost, it was Daniel Munoz who capitalised on his strong performance to equalise after heading home at the far post in the 94th minute, sending Selhurst park alight. It finished one goal apiece in London, with Glasner’s Eagles staying in 17th place on 9 points, whereas Howe’s Magpies stay in 11th on 19 points. MOTM- Ismaila Sarr
Manchester United 4-0 Everton
Ruben Amorim got off the mark in style in the Premier League with a convincing win against the Toffees on Saturday afternoon. It was an even contest in the opening stages in Manchester, with Beto and Dalot going close within the opening 30 minutes, but it was the home side who took advantage of their early pressure 34 minutes in after Fernandes picked out Marcus Rashford from a corner who volleyed home, taking a deflection mind, past Pickford for 1-0. Just before the break it got even better for United, as only 7 minutes after their first, Joshua Zirkzee added to his season total with another goal after Fernandes squared an easy tap in to him. The half time whistle blew for a wonderful start for Amorim’s first home Premier League game.
Everton maybe felt like they deserved more from the first half, but all hopes of a comeback were gone only 1 minute into the second half when Marcus Rashford doubled his match total. The forward broke ahead of a ball played for him by Amad Diallo, and the Englishman regained his composure to slot home to put all three points straight to bed. Everton managed to muster up a few half-chances as the second half progressed, but the game was ultimately sealed in the 64th minute after Diallo pulled the strings once more, setting Zirkzee away once again for the Dutchman to get his brace in the match, and to make sure all 3 points went to Amorim’s men in Manchester. The full-time whistle blew to the joy of the home fans and Amorim, who hope this is a sign of things to come. The result leaves Amorim’s United in 11th place on 19 points, whereas keeping Dyche’s Toffees in 15th place on 14 points. MOTM- Marcus Rashford
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
Chelsea managed to sweep aside Aston Villa to keep up their flying form under Maresca on Sunday afternoon. The home side began in the perfect way, as after only 7 minutes in the Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson was picked out by Cucurella, who managed to chip a ball into the near bost, beating Martinez, making the score 1-0. From here on out it was all Chelsea, with the away side struggling to string a pass together, and it was Enzo Fernandez who capitalised on some poor Villa defending by picking the ball up from Palmer and half-volleying a ball into the far corner to give the home side a deserved two-goal lead. Despite a good chance for Watkins at the end of injury time, it was the home side who were comfortably winning in this tie.
Villa were awfully flat in the first half, but Chelsea made sure in the second 45 that the away side weren’t even given a looking for a way back into the game. Despite the static first half, the second half generally lacked in quality, and this was mostly summed up from a highlight being the yellow card for Jaden Philogene-Bidace’s comedic dive to the dismay of both sets of fans. It was Chelsea who had all of the control in the half, and they managed to sum up all three points in the 83rd minute, after Cole Palmer was found by Noni Madueke, and the star boy struck past Olsen in goal to find the top corner, putting a strong end to the afternoon for the home side. The referee called time on a wonderful performance for Marescas men, leaving the Blues in 3rd place on 25 points, whereas dropping Emery’s Villans down to 12th place on 19 points. MOTM- Cole Palmer
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Fulham
Fulham managed to steal a point off an inform Spurs side on Sunday afternoon. It was highly anticipated the home side would start strongest given their great form, but it was Fulham who started off best in this game through their main man Raul Jimenez. The Mexican came close 17 minutes in after Iwobi set him away, needing Forster to smother his shot, and the Spurs keeper was involved once more in the 37th minute when Tete’s ball met Jimenez’s volley, needing a strong diving save to stop Spurs going behind. Despite the away side’s clear pressure, Spurs refused to give in and mustered up some half-chances through Dragusin and Maddison before the break, but ultimately the whistle went leaving the score goalless, and lots to reflect upon for both managers at half time.
It was clear in this game that a goalless draw was not on the cards, and it was the home side who made sure of that earliest in the second half. Despite the early Fulham pressure, it was the inform Welshman Brennan Johnson who composed himself from Werners delivery, and took the time to smash past Leno only 9 minutes into the half, giving Spurs an arguably undeserved lead. Fulham could easily have been startled and fallen from here, but they chose to keep at it until the 67th minute when, after only being on the pitch for 5 minutes, it was Tom Cairney who brought the away side level with a peach of a goal by curling an effort past Forster in goal. Cairney’s afternoon went from joy to despair very quickly though, as in the 82nd minute the Scotsman made a rash challenge upon Kulusevski to which VAR deemed it to be a red-card offence. Spurs threw everything at the 10 men of Fulham, but the Cottagers held on with relief to hear the final whistle earning either side a point apiece. The result sees Ange’s Spurs stay in 7th on 19 points, whereas Silva’s Fulham stay in 11th, also on 19 points. MOTM- Brennan Johnson
Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City
Liverpool swept aside an edgeless City side to further establish themselves as title favourites on Sunday afternoon. Liverpool hit the ground running within this tie, and they very nearly went ahead 11 minutes in when a whipped ball from Szoboszlai met the head of Van Dijk, but his effort agonisingly hit the woodwork. The press didn’t let up here though for Liverpool, as only 1 minute later they went in front after Salah was set away along the wing only for the Egyptian to unselfishly square it to Cody Gakpo who poked home with ease, setting Anfield alight. The Reds continued to hunt for more goals, with Mac Allister coming closest before the half, and they also managed to completely mitigate the away side into nothingness, with their only chance of the half falling to Rico Lewis who shot just wide of the post. The referee blew for half time on a half that went entirely the way of Arne Slot’s side.
From years prior City were heeded as “comeback kings”, but their second-half showing against this Liverpool team reflected none of the previous determination that they were known for. Within 10 minutes of the restart Liverpool should have scored twice, after Gakpo was denied by Matheus Nunes and Salah missed a wonderful 1 on 1 opportunity, but the Reds got the vital second blow in the 78th minute after Ortega brought down Luis Diaz inside of the box, allowing Mr Clinical Mohamed Salah to step up and deliver the second goal into the bottom corner. From here the result was clear, and despite a tense nearly-moment from De Bruyne, the Reds preserved their two-goal lead up until the full-time whistle. The result came at immense joy to Arne Slot’s Reds, who sit in 1st place on 31 points, whereas Guardiolas Cityzens fall to 5th place on 23 points. MOTM- Mohamed Salah
Brighton 1-1 Southampton
Southampton came from behind to earn a well-deserved point against a Brighton side with VAR luck on their side on Friday night. It was Brighton who started the game off best as expected in this game, coming close early on after Mitoma beat his international teammate Sugawara to set himself away for a one-on-one, but the winger failed to get his shot on target to give Brighton the lead 7 minutes in. The Seagulls kept up their constant pressure against the Saints, nearly going ahead after Rutter struck the frame of the goal, but they finally broke the deadlock 29 minutes into the game when Kaoru Mitoma snuck in at the back post to tuck home a Lamptey cross that beat all within the Southampton defence. The away side didn’t exit the half without a fight, as Archer nearly managed to fire home just before the whistle, but ultimately it was Brighton who were ahead at the break.
Brighton deserved their first half lead, and possibly more through missed chances, but it was a second half of missed chances that allowed the away side to come back into this tie. The Saints smelt a goal in this half, and in the 54th minute it came for them after Manning struck an effort that Lamptey stopped, only for the ball to fall to Flynn Downes who smashed a ball past the hopeless Verbruggen to send the away end into elation. The Saints clearly felt the tides turning in their favor on the South coast, and they should have been in front in the 67th minute after Cameron Archer scored on the break, but the VAR deemed the goal to be offside, leaving the away side painfully close. The real controversy came however in the 72nd minute, when Archer scored once again, but Armstrong was somehow deemed to be impeding the Brighton defence, leaving wrath among the Saints following. Brighton felt the need for all three points here, and came awfully close when Adingra’s nick on the goal swept just past the goal, but their efforts were in vain as the referee blew for full time. The result leaves Hurzeler’s Seagulls in 4th place on 23 points, whereas keeping Martin’s Saints in 20th on 5 points. MOTM- Kaoru Mitoma
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich Town
Nottingham Forest overcame a spirited Ipswich side in an entertaining clash on Saturday afternoon. Forest was in red-hot form before this tie, and they nearly managed to keep it up again only 1 minute in when Jota Silva sent a great delivery to the head of Morgan Gibbs-White who headed a strong effort narrowly wide of the post. The home side nearly went ahead once again only 6 minutes later when Hudson-Odoi’s blocked shot fell to Ryan Yates who unleashed an effort, needing the Irishman Sammie Szmodics to get back on the line and deny a certain goal. From here the momentum swung massively, with Ipswich starting to grow into the game. The away side came close once when Burgess’s header needed Aina to clear off the line, and then again when Delap mistimed his shot providing a let off for the Forest defence. Ultimately however, the half time whistle went on a goalless, but entertaining first half.
The feeling around the first half was that there would definitely be a goal in the second, and that happened for the home team only 4 minutes into the half from the penalty spot. After Jota Silva was brought down inside the area by Szmodics, the target man Chris Wood stepped up to confidently dispatch a penalty straight down the middle to give Forest a slim but deserved lead, after a short VAR check. From here, it was all Forest, and the home side wondered how they weren’t ahead by two 53 minutes in when Murillo was only denied by some excellence by Muric in goal. Despite a couple of further penalty shouts from the home side, the action dissipated from here with the home side holding onto a narrow but well-fought lead when the full-time whistle went. The result sees Nuno’s Forest side rise up to 6th on 22 points, whereas McKenna’s Ipswich stay in 18th place on 9 points. MOTM- Jota Silva
