English Premier League
Wolves 2 – 3 Brighton
Adam Lallana says that claims Brighton are struggling for goals are “absolute rubbish” after he scored and assisted in his side’s victory over 10-man Wolves.
On the day former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui was announced as their next manager, Wolves showed battling qualities as they played the second half a man down following Nelson Semedo’s red card just before half-time.
But they could not hold off increasing Brighton pressure and lost for the eighth time this season, despite scoring twice in a game for the first time.
Lallana rebutted claims that the Seagulls have struggled in front of goal this season – with their tally of 22 being higher than the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
He told Match of the Day: “I think that’s complete and utter rubbish. Especially with the way we play, I think we’re getting in great areas.
“It’s just about us all contributing a little bit more. If we want a striker as good as Danny Welbeck then we need to spend £80-90m in my opinion in the English market. They don’t exist, they’re not out there.
“We need to just get better and all of us take a bit of responsibility in the final third. It was nice to contribute a little bit more today.”
A pulsating opening period had seen Wolves respond to falling behind to a rare Adam Lallana goal with Goncalo Guedes and a Ruben Neves penalty putting them 2-1 up.
They then conceded an equaliser a minute from Japan international Kaoru Mitoma before the break.
But Semedo’s dismissal for a foul on Mitoma shortly afterwards changed the dynamic of the contest.
Winger Mitoma was a pivotal figure in the game and it was his run into the box that created the opportunity for Gross’ winner.
The result leaves Wolves sitting second-bottom of the league with 10 points, while Brighton is sixth.
When Lopetegui analyses this game, he will see a number of flaws but will at least be buoyed by the Wolves’ character.
In their last game at Brentford, they equalised two minutes after falling behind and it was the same against Brighton.
Guedes’ contribution to the Wolves side this season has been questionable but the £27.5m Portugal forward did well to stay on his feet, force his way into the box and drill his first goal of the season past Robert Sanchez to make it 1-1.
When Neves put his penalty into the roof of the net, the Wolves had gone from the bottom of the table to out of the relegation zone completely.
Yet the defensive issues Lopetegui must address as a priority were soon in evidence. Too often, they allowed Brighton players space close to their goal. Mitoma was unmarked when he headed home his first goal for the Seagulls at the far post.
The last of Semedo’s 96 starts for Barcelona was the 8-2 humiliation by Bayern Munich, so defending has never been the attacking fullback’s strong suit.
When he got the wrong side of Mitoma and half pulled, half clipped him to the ground on the edge of the box, his red card was inevitable.
It was Wolves second red card in successive games and, with Diego Costa suspended and Raul Jimenez injured, the knowledge two completely untested teenage forwards were on the bench shows that bolstering the striking department must also be a priority for Lopetegui.
Unlike when they lost 4-0 to Leicester and were booed off the pitch, with club officials singled out for criticism, home supporters offered appreciative applause for their team at the final whistle.
Yet Brighton were deserved winners and, by completing successive triumphs following the success against Chelsea, Roberto de Zerbi has achieved something in his first month in charge that took Graham Potter three times as long to achieve as Brighton boss.
Amazingly, Lallana only scored once in just over two seasons under Potter.
Eighty-two previous goals from his time at Southampton and Liverpool suggest he is far better than that.
And the composure the former England midfielder showed to open the scoring at the start of a chaotic half underlines that theory.
Now 34, Lallana may not be capable of being the same player who was selected for England’s 2014 World Cup squad but he could be a major influence in ensuring Brighton do not slip too far from their current sixth position.
source – BBC
Aston Villa 3-2 Everton. Substitute Jhon Duran’s spectacular long-range strike secured Aston Villa a dramatic Premier League comeback victory as Everton once again faltered from a 2-0 lead, marking their second consecutive collapse.
Everton had been left stunned by a late meltdown against Bournemouth in their previous match, and on Saturday, they repeated the pattern, allowing a two-goal advantage to slip away and continuing their winless streak this season.
The game started with Villa on the front foot. Ollie Watkins had a header cleared off the line early on, but the visitors soon took the lead. Dwight McNeil seized possession from former Everton player Amadou Onana and surged forward to score with a precise finish into the far corner.
Despite their struggles, Sean Dyche’s team managed to double their lead in the 27th minute with a powerful header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, Villa responded before halftime, with former Everton full-back Lucas Digne delivering a cross for Watkins to head in his first goal of the season.
As Villa prepares for their Champions League debut on Tuesday, they showed resilience by leveling the score. Watkins scored again, converting from close range after Jack Harrison’s poor clearance.
The comeback was completed 14 minutes from time when Colombian striker Duran, picking up the ball from 25 yards out, unleashed a stunning shot that dipped and swerved into the top corner, leaving Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helpless.
This fixture, the most played in English league history, provided a thrilling encounter, with Villa recovering impressively after initially struggling at home. Under Unai Emery, who took over in October 2022, Villa has transformed from a relegation-threatened side to a European contender, finishing fourth last season and set to compete in the Champions League.
Villa, who won the European Cup in 1982, are gearing up for their European campaign with a trip to Young Boys in three days. They struggled against Everton but managed to secure the win thanks to Watkins, who ended an eight-game goal drought with his two strikes. Although he missed a chance to complete his hat-trick, Duran’s goal was a fitting match-winner.
With this victory, Villa climbed to third in the table, their only defeat coming against title contenders Arsenal. In contrast, Everton remains at the bottom of the table after four losses, a feat not seen in 66 years.
Everton appeared poised to earn their first points of the season with McNeil and Calvert-Lewin scoring, but defensive vulnerabilities resurfaced. Dyche’s typically solid defenses have conceded 13 goals in four games this season, and the team faces a crucial clash against promoted Leicester next weekend.
Despite scoring twice away from home for the first time since December, Everton’s road woes continue, and they will need to address their issues quickly to avoid a prolonged struggle.
source – BBC
Crystal Palace 2-2 Leicester City. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stoppage-time penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace as they battled back from two goals down against Leicester City at Selhurst Park.
In the second minute of added time, Mateta coolly converted a penalty after Conor Coady fouled Ismaila Sarr inside the area, rolling the ball past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Leicester took the lead midway through the first half when Jamie Vardy, receiving a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, rounded Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and slid the ball into the empty net. The Foxes doubled their advantage just 23 seconds into the second half. Ndidi capitalized on a poor clearance from Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix, setting up Stephy Mavididi, who finished confidently from close range.
Palace managed to pull one back when Mateta scored from Tyrick Mitchell’s low cross, a goal that survived a VAR review. Despite the late drama, it seemed Palace might fall short until Coady’s foul on Sarr gifted Mateta the chance to equalize.
Both teams remain winless this season, but Palace will feel more relieved, having narrowly avoided a third Premier League defeat.
Oliver Glasner’s side had hoped this match would kick-start their season after a draw at Chelsea and a strong finish to the transfer window. For much of the game, it appeared another frustrating day was on the horizon, though Palace’s second-half performance offered some solace.
Vardy’s 21st-minute goal means Palace have conceded first in all four of their league games this season. Under Glasner, they have yet to win a Premier League match after falling behind.
Palace debutant Eddie Nketiah, while not on the score sheet, showed promise with his movement. He was unlucky not to score after Mateta’s goal, with his powerful drive narrowly missing the far post.
Lacroix, in contrast, had a tough debut, his misjudged clearance leading to Leicester’s second goal. Palace captain Marc Guehi also had moments of defensive frailty in the first half, but Leicester could not capitalize fully.
Leicester, like Palace, entered the game without a league win. Jordan Ayew, back at Selhurst Park after his move from Palace to Leicester, missed a golden opportunity before Vardy’s opener. Unmarked at the far post, Ayew failed to connect properly with Mavididi’s cross after Mavididi had stolen the ball from Guehi.
Vardy, who had struggled in recent games, made no mistake here, showing great composure to score. He nearly set up another goal before halftime, but Mavididi’s effort was off target after Vardy’s assist.
Mavididi redeemed himself with a goal just after the break, but it wasn’t enough to secure Leicester’s first league win of the season. Despite a strong defensive effort in the second half, Coady’s costly tackle on Sarr allowed Palace to salvage a draw.
source – BBC
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest. Callum Hudson-Odoi and the unbeaten Nottingham Forest delivered a shock to Liverpool at Anfield, ending Arne Slot’s perfect start as Reds boss.
Hudson-Odoi, who came on as a substitute, made a decisive impact by cutting in from the left and curling a stunning shot into the bottom corner—an effort that left goalkeeper Alisson helpless.
This victory marked Forest’s first win at Anfield in any competition since 1969.
Liverpool entered the match with high confidence, having won their previous three games without conceding a goal. They created the better chances, especially in the first half. Luis Diaz came close to scoring just before the break, chasing a ball and firing a shot against the near post from a tight angle.
Forest’s goalkeeper, Matz Sels, made a crucial save to deny an Alexis Mac Allister header and was fortunate not to concede moments later when Diaz’s effort nearly slipped into his own net.
After the break, Forest began to create more opportunities. Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga both missed chances before Hudson-Odoi’s brilliant strike.
Forest fans erupted in celebration, while Liverpool supporters tried to rally their team. Despite their efforts, Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances to equalize.
With this win, Forest moves up to fourth in the Premier League standings with two wins and two draws, while Liverpool sits two places and one point ahead of them. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo deserves significant credit for their strong start to the season.
Slot, who previously managed Feyenoord, understood that the Premier League would pose challenges. His impressive early results, including a notable win against Manchester United before the international break, had drawn comparisons to Jurgen Klopp’s style.
Liverpool’s play focused on patience and build-up, but their efforts were thwarted. Diaz hit the post, several headers went off target, and Mohamed Salah had a shot well-saved by Sels.
Slot made tactical changes, bringing on Bradley, moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield, and introducing Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez in search of a winning goal. However, it was Bradley who was ultimately beaten by Hudson-Odoi’s goal.
Liverpool had a late opportunity to level the score when Virgil van Dijk headed over the bar, but many fans had already begun leaving Anfield before the final whistle confirmed the end of their unbeaten run.
While much of the focus had been on Liverpool’s unbeaten start under Slot, Forest also boasted an undefeated record in the Premier League—and they have now emerged as the ones maintaining that streak.
Forest’s first-half performance was solid but unspectacular, as they frustrated Liverpool without managing a shot on target. Nuno’s decision to introduce Hudson-Odoi and Elanga in the second half proved decisive. Elanga’s assist allowed Hudson-Odoi to cut inside and score the decisive goal with a perfectly placed shot into the bottom corner.
Elanga nearly doubled Forest’s lead with a late shot that went straight at Alisson, but one goal proved sufficient. Forest’s victory at Anfield was their first since the Moon landing in 1969.
source – BBC
