English Premier League
Manchester City 3 – 0 Wolves
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Manchester City 3 – 0 Wolves. Erling Haaland scored his fourth Manchester City hat-trick and took his goal tally for the season to 31 in all competitions as relegation-threatened Wolves were swept aside by Pep Guardiola’s men.
By his own incredibly high standards, Haaland had been going through a barren spell.
But after ending a three-game drought against Tottenham on Thursday, the Norwegian demolished Wolves in a 12-minute spell either side of half-time.
Haaland initially rose to head home Kevin de Bruyne’s cross to put the hosts ahead at the break.
He then drove home a penalty after Ilkay Gundogan had been fouled by Wolves skipper Ruben Neves, before sweeping home his third after Jose Sa’s pass out of his six-yard box went straight to Riyad Mahrez.
Haaland has now scored 25 goals in City’s first 20 Premier League games. That is five more than Luis Suarez managed in 2013-14, the previous highest figure at this stage in the season.
The Norwegian striker’s current total would have been enough to earn him the Golden Boot in more than half of the 30 campaigns since the English top flight was renamed in 1992.
He has also already scored as many Premier League hat-tricks as Mo Salah, and a third of Sergio Aguero’s record 12, which the Argentine achieved across his magnificent decade with City.
Only Alan Shearer has scored more Premier League hat-tricks in a single season, with five.
When Guardiola came out with his extraordinary rant after the win over Tottenham, he spoke about the difficulty of maintaining drive and determination when you are so used to winning.
That is why Haaland is so important to this team.
The Norwegian’s last league title was three years ago in Austria. His last trophy was the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
If the idea of a fifth championship in six seasons fails to motivate some City players, Haaland is not among them, and his thirst for goals could be a telling factor as the second half of this season unfolds.
Guardiola saw no point in pushing the striker, and replaced him with World Cup winner Julian Alvarez after an hour.
More good news for City is that Jack Grealish also seems to be finding more consistency.
His teasing advances from the left are more reminiscent of his Aston Villa days and would have brought him a first-half goal had Sa not made one superb save and Nathan Collins not been in the right place at the right time to head another effort off the line.
Mahrez had an effort ruled out for offside, after which City cruised home and Haaland was able to take the acclaim of the home fans at the end.
This was the first significant setback for Julen Lopetegui since he replaced Bruno Lage as Wolves’ boss during the World Cup.
If there is comfort for former Spain and Real Madrid coach, it comes from the knowledge there are not many more demanding tests than this, even if his side only remains outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
The arrival of Craig Dawson for £3.3m from West Ham should help shore up a hesitant defence, while a first start for Mario Lemina here, plus a debut for Pablo Sarabia, further creates a team Lopetegui can work with – especially if his other transfer window target, Flamengo’s Joao Gomes, can be kept out of Lyon’s clutches.
He clearly wants more width from Wolves’ passing, although he does have a week to work on that, with his side not involved in the FA Cup fourth round next weekend.
February will then be a crucial month, with Wolves taking on two sides presently below them, Southampton and Bournemouth, in successive weeks.
Certainly no-one could accuse Lopetegui of not being invested in his job. He was booked along with Neves for arguing over an incident when City’s Rico Lewis appeared to bring down Hwang Hee-chan, when the South Korean was about to set off on a long run towards to City goal before Haaland changed the direction of the contest.
English Premier League
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool: Reds Outclass United in Comprehensive Win
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Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool. Liverpool continued their flawless start to the season with a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, underlining their impressive form under new manager Arne Slot.
The game showcased Liverpool’s superiority, prompting renewed scrutiny on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who was granted a new contract after last season’s FA Cup triumph despite an underwhelming start this campaign.
Since Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have maintained an unbeaten record with three straight Premier League wins, all without conceding a goal. This performance was their most commanding yet.
Liverpool took control with two quick goals just before halftime. Trent Alexander-Arnold had an early goal disallowed for offside before Luis Diaz capitalized on Casemiro’s mistakes. Diaz first headed home a cross from Mohamed Salah in the 35th minute and then netted again seven minutes later, finishing off a pass from Salah.
Salah added a third in the 56th minute, scoring his 12th goal in 15 appearances against United, converting a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai and beating United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
While United had some chances, primarily through Joshua Zirkzee, Liverpool rarely looked troubled and kept their opponents at bay.
Ten Hag, who survived a summer review partly due to the FA Cup win, needed a strong start but has instead seen his team struggle. After scraping a late win against Fulham and losing to Brighton, this heavy defeat to Liverpool exacerbates the pressure on him.
The United fans’ frustration was palpable, with jeers at halftime and full-time, and discontent with substitutions like Alejandro Garnacho’s replacement by Amad Diallo. Casemiro’s poor performance, which led to the first two Liverpool goals, saw him replaced by Toby Collyer at halftime.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, watching from the directors’ box, witnessed the harsh reality of United’s current predicament as Liverpool dismantled their side with ease.
Ten Hag’s challenges are compounded by injuries to key players like Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, and Rasmus Hojlund. Yet, these issues do not excuse the glaring quality deficiencies displayed by United.
Liverpool’s new era under Slot has begun smoothly, with previous wins over newly promoted Ipswich Town and Brentford. This match was seen as a significant test of Slot’s ability to manage Liverpool post-Klopp, and the emphatic win confirms that he is instilling a more controlled and effective approach.
Slot’s Liverpool, while still retaining their attacking prowess, demonstrated a new level of tactical control, rarely relinquishing their grip on the game once ahead. Goalkeeper Alisson made crucial saves to deny United, particularly from Zirkzee.
In contrast, this defeat highlights ongoing issues for Manchester United. Ten Hag’s future may hinge on his ability to quickly turn the tide, with the pressure intensifying from a demanding fan base and the looming prospect of speculation should results not improve.
Slot’s Liverpool performance was rounded off by enthusiastic celebrations from the away fans and a modest response from the new manager, signaling a promising start to his tenure and a strong connection with the supporters.
source – BBC
English Premier League
Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle United preserved their unbeaten start to the season with a dramatic 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at a vibrant St James’ Park.
The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute when Harvey Barnes controlled a difficult side-footed shot with finesse, following a pull-back from Lloyd Kelly down the left flank.
Tottenham equalized in the 56th minute. After Pedro Porro’s effort was deflected onto the crossbar, Brennan Johnson, making his debut after the break, saw his shot deflected into the net by Newcastle defender Dan Burn.
Spurs intensified their attack, with Nick Pope making a crucial save to deny James Maddison’s curled attempt and Johnson firing over the bar as they pressed for a second goal.
However, Newcastle seized the advantage with 12 minutes remaining. Joelinton orchestrated the play from midfield, releasing substitute Jacob Murphy, who delivered a low cross for Alexander Isak to score the decisive goal.
The match also marked a significant moment for Newcastle as Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali made his first Premier League appearance since serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations. Tonali, who had previously played in the Carabao Cup against Nottingham Forest, received a warm standing ovation from the home fans when he came on as a substitute.
With the win, Newcastle climbed to fourth in the Premier League table with seven points from their opening nine matches. They could drop to fifth if Liverpool secures a win against Manchester United later on Sunday. Tottenham’s defeat saw them slip to 10th, ending their unbeaten run and leaving manager Ange Postecoglou to reflect on a missed opportunity.
Spurs dominated possession with two-thirds of the ball and had 20 shots compared to Newcastle’s nine, yet the Magpies capitalized on their limited opportunities, scoring twice from their three shots on target.
Newcastle almost took the lead early on, with Alexander Isak’s chip narrowly missing after a clever interception from Son Heung-min. Barnes, Emil Krafth, and Kelly all had chances before a temporary halt due to an injury to assistant referee Ian Hussin disrupted Newcastle’s rhythm.
Tottenham had their chances, including a header from Cristian Romero that was ruled offside and missed efforts from Wilson Odobert and Porro. Pape Sarr also tested Pope, but the visitors were unable to capitalize on their dominance.
Barnes’ goal seemed to be a turning point, but Tottenham’s second-half surge appeared to set them up for a win. Instead, they were struck by a late counter-attack as Murphy’s assist for Isak sealed the win for Newcastle.
Tonali, who has made only 14 appearances for Newcastle since his £55 million transfer from AC Milan last season, was warmly welcomed by fans. The Gallowgate End displayed numerous Italian flags and banners celebrating his return.
Despite frustrations in the transfer market, including failed bids for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, Tonali’s return is a boost for Newcastle and manager Eddie Howe as they aim to build on their promising start to the season.
source – BBC
English Premier League
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
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Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze delivered a sensational equalizer as Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The result comes as a boost for Palace, who had suffered consecutive defeats prior to this match.
Chelsea, fresh off a dominant 6-2 win over Wolves, started strong and looked set to continue their winning form. Cole Palmer came close early on, narrowly missing the target, while Dean Henderson made a stunning save to deny Noni Madueke. Nicolas Jackson eventually broke the deadlock, finishing off a rapid Chelsea counterattack by tapping in Palmer’s cross at the near post.
Palace had a narrow escape when Will Hughes, already on a booking, avoided a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer. Shortly after, Eze leveled the score with a brilliant strike, curling the ball past Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez.
Sanchez made an excellent save to deflect Daichi Kamada’s powerful shot, keeping Chelsea in the game. However, Jackson had a chance to secure the win for Chelsea in stoppage time, only for Henderson to thwart his effort with a crucial save.
The draw marked Crystal Palace’s first point of the season after two previous losses, while Chelsea now have four points from their opening three games.
Chelsea’s summer has been marked by significant changes, with over £200 million spent and 13 new players joining the squad, while 37 players have either been loaned out or sold. With the transfer window closing on Friday, the focus can now shift entirely to the pitch.
Jadon Sancho, Chelsea’s final summer signing, was introduced to fans before the game, though only one of the new arrivals, Pedro Neto, started against Palace. Despite their initial dominance, highlighted by Jackson’s first-half goal, Chelsea struggled to convert their chances, reminiscent of their issues from last season. Jackson had two late opportunities to clinch the victory but was thwarted first by the side-netting and then by Henderson.
Chelsea’s search for their first home win of the 2024-25 season continues. Despite the encouraging performance against Wolves, they couldn’t convert their dominance into a win.
Eze and Michael Olise were standout performers for Palace last season, with Olise’s form earning him a move to Bayern Munich. Eze, however, has continued to shine, and his superb goal against Chelsea underscored his importance to the team. Though Palace had few opportunities, Eze made the most of his, demonstrating once again why he is a game-changer for the Eagles.
The draw is a positive result for Palace, who have historically struggled against Chelsea, having lost their last 13 encounters with them. It provides a solid foundation for their season moving forward.
source – BBC
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