English Premier League
Watford 0 – 5 Liverpool
Roberto Firmino scored a hat-trick as rampant Liverpool condemned Claudio Ranieri to a miserable start to life as Watford manager in a one-sided game at Vicarage Road.
The home side had no answer to Liverpool’s fluid attacking play.
Sadio Mane became the third African player to score 100 Premier League goals before Roberto Firmino struck either side of the break and Mohamed Salah finished a brilliant individual goal with a smart shot beyond Ben Foster.
Salah’s goal takes him level with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba as the highest-scoring African player in Premier League history with 104 goals.
Firmino completed the scoring in the final minute for his first hat-trick since December 2018.
The result means Liverpool have scored three goals or more in all six away games in all competitions so far this season, something no other English top-flight side has ever managed. It also extended their unbeaten start to the season and took them back to the top of the table, before Chelsea’s visit to Brentford (17:30 BST)
It could easily have been more but a combination of bad luck and – from Salah – a terrible mis-control cost them further opportunities.
Watford did not manage a corner until the 78th minute. That it was greeted with huge cheers and a standing ovation just about summed up Ranieri’s day.
Watford is Ranieri’s 22nd different job in his long and varied coaching career. Rarely can he have endured a start as sobering as this?
It was Watford’s heaviest Premier League defeat since their eight-goal hammering by Manchester City in September 2019 and their biggest at home since the same opponents scored six here two years before that. There was certainly nothing to trigger a celebration before his 70th birthday on Thursday.
The dimensions of Vicarage Road mean the edge of the managers’ technical areas are about as close as it is possible to get to the side of the pitch.
It meant that Ranieri was almost on top of the action as the size of his task was laid bare.
A long pre-match chat with Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp was about as good as it got for the Italian.
The hosts simply did not get near enough to their talented opponents. Salah was given far too much space by Danny Rose even before he created the opener. Firmino was allowed to drop into the space between Watford’s defence and midfield without anyone tracking his movements and Liverpool stroked the ball about at will further back, with no press to hurry them up.
With a paltry 17% possession, no shots, no corners and, obviously, no goals, the first half was a non-event for Ranieri and his new team. And if he hoped the introduction of Tom Cleverley into midfield for the second period would improve matters, he was sadly mistaken as Liverpool scored twice within 10 minutes of the restart.
Watford did rally towards the end, with Ismaila Sarr striking a post, although by then any chance of turning the game into a contest was long gone.
If there was a consolation for Ranieri, it is that there should be no dissenters if he wants to make significant changes during his first full week working with his new team.
However, with a fixture list that includes Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs among Watford’s next seven opponents, Ranieri needs a plan if his club’s famously trigger-happy owners are not to be considering whether to axe yet another manager.
This was Liverpool’s biggest win since the 7-0 hammering of Crystal Palace last December, which was also the last time Firmino, Salah and Mane all scored in a top-flight game.
In joining Egypt’s Salah and Ivorian Didier Drogba as African goalscoring centurions, Senegalese Mane is part of a pretty exclusive Premier League club.
Salah’s curling pass with the outside of his left foot could not have been any more inviting and Mane showed superb composure to meet the ball with perfect timing and give Foster no chance.
Firmino’s three were welcome – but they were also all pretty straightforward. The first two were tap-ins thanks to James Milner’s low cross into the six-yard area and the ball running loose from a desperate Ben Foster save after Craig Cathcart had turned the ball towards his own goal.
There was a bit more to the Brazilian’s third as he ran forward with intelligence, something no defender countered after Neco Williams had crossed.
But there was no doubting Salah’s was the goal of the game.
Surrounded by three players on the edge of the Watford box, through a combination of speed, dexterity and brilliant close control, Salah got rid of them all before finding the target with his usual unerring accuracy.
It means he has now scored in eight successive matches in all competitions and in nine out of 10 in total, underlining why Liverpool are so keen for him to sign an extension to his current contract, which has less than two years to run.
Watford is next in action against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, 23 October (15:00 BST). Liverpool is at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00). Their next Premier League game is at Manchester United on Sunday, 24 October (16:30).
source – BBC Sport
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United. Manchester United were left frustrated as they squandered several clear-cut chances in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession and creating a number of opportunities, Erik ten Hag’s side couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed.
Coming off an emphatic 7-0 EFL Cup win over Barnsley earlier in the week, United started positively. Alejandro Garnacho, who was given the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford, nearly opened the scoring early on, but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson tipped his effort around the post.
United continued to apply pressure, with defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez both denied by Henderson’s quick reflexes. Garnacho later hit the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Bruno Fernandes, who saw his follow-up effort clip the top of the bar.
Crystal Palace began to find their rhythm as the first half progressed, and Eberechi Eze tested United goalkeeper Andre Onana with a shot straight at him when left unmarked in the box.
The second half was a more even contest, though United continued to push for a winner. Fernandes curled a shot wide, while Garnacho forced another save from Henderson. At the other end, Eddie Nketiah had a chance, but Onana’s sharp save kept the game level.
Palace had the best opportunity of the second half when Eze, once again unmarked, missed the target from 12 yards out. United’s goalkeeper, Onana, also made a critical save from Nketiah’s close-range effort to preserve the clean sheet.
The draw leaves Manchester United in 11th place, while Crystal Palace remains winless in 16th. Erik ten Hag will likely view this result as two points dropped rather than one gained, especially given United’s dominance in possession, with 66.8% – their highest away possession since April 2023.
Despite controlling much of the game, Manchester United’s familiar weaknesses resurfaced. They generated several scoring chances but lacked the clinical edge to finish them. The Red Devils currently rank second in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) with 9.53 across their first five matches, but they’ve only managed to find the net five times. This underperformance in front of goal is only rivaled by Southampton, who sit in 18th place.
One bright spot for United was the return of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the second half, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. Højlund’s return gives Ten Hag more options up front alongside Joshua Zirkzee, who was well-contained by the Palace defense throughout the match.
Crystal Palace, under manager Oliver Glasner, had a difficult start to the match, with United dominating the opening 30 minutes. Palace struggled to get out of their half and were reliant on Henderson’s goalkeeping heroics to keep the score level.
As the game progressed, Palace grew in confidence and created some decent chances, particularly through Eze. However, the Eagles will likely be disappointed not to have capitalized on their best opportunities, especially Eze’s two unmarked chances in both halves.
The point continues a positive run for Palace, with three consecutive league draws and recent progress in the EFL Cup. They are still adapting to life without key players like Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich, and Joachim Andersen, who moved to Fulham. However, with a solid defensive foundation and improvement in the attack, Palace will be hopeful of securing their first league win soon.
source – BBC
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford. Dominic Solanke scored his first goal for Tottenham as they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Brentford in an exciting clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The win was a much-needed boost for Spurs after back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Brentford made a lightning start, going ahead just 23 seconds into the match when Bryan Mbeumo volleyed home from Keane Lewis-Potter’s cross. However, Spurs quickly responded, leveling the score just eight minutes later when Ethan Pinnock’s poor pass was intercepted by James Maddison. Though Maddison’s initial shot was saved, Solanke calmly finished the rebound, marking his first goal for Spurs following his £65 million summer transfer from Bournemouth.
Tottenham’s pressure paid off again before the half-hour mark when another Brentford mistake led to Brennan Johnson scoring with a clinical finish past Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken. By that point, Spurs were in control, and they extended their lead late on when Maddison chipped in a delicate goal after a pass from Son Heung-min.
Brentford had opportunities to fight back, with Mbeumo nearly scoring again late in the first half after robbing Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario of the ball inside the six-yard box. However, Vicario made up for his error with a save, and Brentford struggled to regain momentum.
The second half saw Brentford try to push for an equalizer, but Spurs remained composed and solid at the back, even as Brentford pressed for a way back into the game. A controversial moment occurred when Vicario appeared to handle the ball outside the penalty area, but the referee waved off Brentford’s protests, and VAR did not intervene, deeming the incident not to have denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Despite Brentford’s efforts, it was Tottenham who sealed the win through Maddison’s late goal, relieving the pressure after losses to Newcastle and Arsenal in recent weeks. The victory gave Spurs their second league win of the season and helped ease the anxiety that had been building among the home supporters.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank acknowledged his side’s struggles, saying, “We made too many mistakes in possession, and Tottenham punished us. We had our chances, but we need to be more careful with the ball in key moments.”
For the second consecutive week, Brentford lost after scoring in the opening minute, with the defeat leaving them with three losses from their last four games. Spurs, on the other hand, will take confidence from their spirited performance as they look to build on this win.
Solanke, speaking after the game, expressed his delight: “It’s always special to get your first goal, especially in front of the home fans. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.”
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou praised Solanke’s contribution, saying, “He’s been excellent for us in every game, and it’s great to see him get off the mark.”
With this win, Tottenham can now focus on climbing the Premier League table, while Brentford will need to address their defensive lapses if they hope to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
source – BBC
Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town. Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his frustration after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy scored a dramatic injury-time equalizer, leaving the Saints without a win in their return to the Premier League. The match ended 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, as both sides continue their search for a first league victory this season.
Southampton, having lost their opening four top-flight games of the 2024-25 campaign, struck early thanks to 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The young midfielder netted his first goal for the club just five minutes into the match after capitalizing on a defensive error by Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe. The Saints kept the pressure on, with 36-year-old Adam Lallana setting up Dibling, who coolly slotted the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Cameron Archer, who had missed a penalty in Southampton’s previous 3-0 loss to Manchester United, almost doubled the lead but was denied by the post. Archer, a £15 million summer signing from Aston Villa, had another chance to score, but his effort was well saved by Muric.
The missed opportunities would come back to haunt Southampton, as Ipswich’s Morsy equalized in the 95th minute. His long-range strike, deflected off Joe Aribo, left Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance, securing a dramatic point for the visitors.
After the game, an irritated Russell Martin shared his disappointment: “I’m really angry and frustrated that we didn’t see the game out. We allowed them too much space in the final moments, and that cost us. We made fundamental errors that we don’t make in training, and that has to be down to the anxiety of the situation. It was our best performance, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.”
Both teams remain winless in the Premier League this season, but Ipswich will be the happier side, as they continue to defy expectations in their first top-flight campaign since 2001-02. The draw is Ipswich’s third in five matches, moving them up to 16th place in the table. Southampton, meanwhile, picked up their first point of the season, moving from 19th to 18th.
Ipswich’s last Premier League victory came in April 2002 when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Town boss Kieran McKenna had hoped to target this game as an opportunity for another win, especially against a side that, like Ipswich, earned promotion from the Championship in 2023-24.
The game started in Southampton’s favor when Lallana, showing his experience, assisted Dibling’s opener with a deft pass. Dibling controlled the ball well, creating space to fire past two Ipswich defenders and find the back of the net, marking his first senior goal.
Southampton almost doubled their lead midway through the first half, but Archer’s attempt hit the post after rounding Muric. Ipswich fought back, with Southampton’s Ramsdale forced into a series of saves to maintain the lead, denying efforts from Dara O’Shea, Leif Davis, and Omari Hutchinson.
As the game neared its conclusion, Southampton looked set for their first Premier League victory since March 2023, when they beat Leicester City 1-0. However, Ipswich’s late push resulted in Morsy’s equalizer, with the captain’s deflected strike salvaging a point for his side.
Reflecting on the match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s resilience: “It was a fantastic way to finish the game. For the captain to step up and strike it well, in front of the away supporters, to get a point is a great thing for the group. Scoring late goals and never giving up has been a massive part of our success, and it’s good for this new group to experience that.”
McKenna added that Ipswich is “edging in the right direction” and emphasized the importance of continued improvement as the team adapts to Premier League competition.
With both sides yet to find a victory, the pressure will continue to build, especially for Southampton as they aim to break their winless streak in their Premier League return.
source – BBC