Kickoff chronicles

Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United

The opening game in Matchweek 11 saw Thomas Frank’s Tottenham host Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with both sides looking for three points after their disappointing results last weekend. After losing to Spurs in all four meetings last season (most notably in the Europa League final) United made a brilliant start to the first half, dominating the game and scoring a deserved first goal in the 31st minute. Arguably their two best players this season combined, with Amad Diallo crossing the ball in from the right wing where United’s top scorer Bryan Mbeumo smashed the ball into the top left corner with a bullet like header. That was the sole highlight of the half as United came out on top after the first 45 minutes, brandishing a 0-1 lead.

Tottenham were looking better in the 2nd half, with Christian Romero having an early chance denied by the brilliant reflexes of United keeper Senne Lammens. Lammens was called into action again in the 56th minute after Joao Palhinha’s volleyed effort was parried away by the Belgian. Tottenham finally scored a deserved equaliser in the 84th minute after Destiny Udogie fired the ball in from the left wing in search of substitute striker, Mathys Tel. Tel’s first touch was brilliant, taking him around United defender Matthijs de Ligt before smashing the ball into the top left corner, a wicked finish. Spurs then sent their home fans into celebration after they found the back of the net from a corner in the 2nd minute of added time. The ball fell to Wilson Odebert on the edge of the penalty area who fired a shot at Lammens’ goal. Spurs substitute, Richarlison, read the flight of the ball brilliantly, bending down to flick the ball into the bottom corner, making it 2-1 with minutes to play. Just as Spurs thought they’d achieved their 5th win in a row against the Red Devils, United scored with the final kick of the game, delivering a crazy end to this thrilling Premier League tie. Bruno Fernandes whipped the ball in from the left corner where De Ligt was unmarked at the back post and free to head the ball into the top right corner, extending United’s unbeaten run and earning them a deserved point. The full-time score finished 2-2, with the draw a fair result. Spurs move into 5th on the table with 18 points while United move into 8th, level on points with Frank’s men.

Everton vs Fulham

The following game of Matchweek 11 saw David Moyes Everton host Marco Silva’s Fulham at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with both sides hoping for a win to take them clear of the danger zone. Everton were by far the better side in the first half, forcing multiple saves from Fulham keeper Bernd Leno and even having two goals disallowed, Thierno Barry and James Tarkowski the men with their efforts chalked off. After a frustrating first half, in which Everton on another day may be up by two or three goals, they finally broke the deadlock in the 4th minute of first half added time. Tarkowski’s header at the back post rattled off the crossbar before Tim Iroegbunam’s effort was blocked. The ball finally fell to Idrissa Gueye who smashed it into the bottom corner to give Everton the goal they’d been crying out for. The half-time score finished 1-0, with Fulham offering up absolutely nothing in the first 45 minutes.

The Toffees then had their 3rd disallowed goal just seven minutes into the 2nd half after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found the bottom corner from Iliman Ndiaye’s cut back but it was ruled out as it was deemed that Barry interfered with the play while in an offside position. Everton were once again dominant in the 2nd half and found the all important goal in the 81st minute after Michael Keane scored another headed goal for the season off a Dewsbury-Hall cross. Fulham had a few late chances that were easily kept out by Everton as the full-time score finished 2-0. Everton return to their winning ways under Moyes as they move into 11th on 15 points. Fulham continue their worrying start to the season as they sit 15th on 11 points, only one clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham United vs Burnley

The next game in Matchweek 11 was a huge relegation six-pointer, with Nuno Espirito’s West Ham hosting Scott Parker’s Burnley at the London Stadium, with West Ham able to go level with Burnley on 17th if they claim a win. After their positive win at home against Newcastle last week, West Ham made a pathetic start at home to Burnley, sitting back and giving them the ball. The travelling side eventually scored a deserved goal in the 35th minute after Lesley Ugochukwu crossed the ball in from the right wing. Burnley striker Zian Flemming got up well to head the ball into the top right corner, exposing West Ham’s weakness at defending crosses into the box as Flemming scored his 3rd in two matches. Going 0-1 down was a real wake up call for the Hammers as they finally started to move the ball around in the Burnley half. With the last kick of the first half, West Ham equalised after Crysencio Summerville’s shot from inside the Burnley penalty area caught a huge deflection taking it over to the back post. It sat up perfectly for West Ham striker Callum Wilson who nodded the ball past his ex Newcastle teammate, Martin Dubravka, to score his first goal for West Ham at the London Stadium. The half-time score finished 1-1, with both sides looking for a huge 2nd half performance.

West Ham were much better in the 2nd half, creating multiple chances. They finally scored a deserved second goal in the 77th minute after Summerville’s corner found its way to Lucas Paqueta at the back post. Paqueta volleyed the ball back into the 6-yard area where Dubravka made a huge error, fumbling the powerful strike from the Brazilian as he cushioned it right into the chest of West Ham substitute Tomas Soucek, who tapped the ball home from a yard out. West Ham wrapped up all three points just 10 minutes later, with Soucek having a major influence yet again. Having travelled 20 yards with the ball, Soucek lined up a strike from just outside the area. The ball was once again fumbled by Dubravka as Hammers’ substitute, Kyle Walker-Peters, stretched out to tap the ball over the line. Burnley scored a consolation with the last kick of the game after Hannibal Mejbri’s long range strike was dropped by West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola as ex academy-Hammer, Josh Cullen, tapped the ball in from close range. The full-time score finished 3-2, yet another classic played out by the two claret Premier League sides as West Ham move level on points with Burnley, the Hammers sitting 18th while Burnley sit 17th only on goal difference with both sides on 10 points. After a shocking start to the season, West Ham have finally found some positive momentum which they will look to take to Bournemouth after the international break.

Sunderland vs Arsenal

The following game in Matchweek 11 saw Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland unbeaten at home while Arsenal had won their last 10 games. Despite keeping a clean sheet in their last eight games, Sunderland were able to pry open the Gunners’ after just half an hour. Black Cat’s keeper, Robin Roefs, hoofed a long ball into the Arsenal penalty area. Nordi Mukiele then headed the ball into the path of centre half Dan Ballard who took a touch with his left boot before thrashing the ball into the back of the Arsenal net with his right. Sunderland went into the break brandishing a 0-1 lead, hoping to hold onto a win which would see them move within four points of Arsenal at the top.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Arsenal made a brilliant start to the 2nd half and scored within 10 minutes of the restart. Declan Rice dispossessed Enzo Le Fee outside the Sunderland penalty area before laying it off to Eberechi Eze. Eze then found Mikel Merino on the edge of the area where the Spaniard played it through to Bukayo Saka. Saka, who had been poor in front of goal so far this season, fired the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1 and net his 3rd of the season. Arsenal then completed the turnaround in the 74th minute after Leandro Trossard received the ball down the left wing. He brilliantly chopped the ball onto his right boot before blasting the ball into the top left corner with a ferocious strike, arguably the best goal in his career. After Arsenal scored their 2nd, they decided to sit back and defend, proving dangerous as David Raya was forced into a huge double save in the 79th minute after two efforts from Brian Brobbey. To cap off what had been a brilliant Premier League tie, Sunderland scored a cinematic equaliser in the 4th minute of stoppage time. Ballard won the initial flick on from a long ball where Brobbey acrobatically clipped the ball over Raya to earn Sunderland a point in style. Ballard, who had already registered a goal and an assist from centre half, then made a huge block from a William Saliba shot, a crucial intervention as the full-time score finished 2-2. Arsenal drop points away from home as their perfect record comes to an end but Arteta’s side still sit 1st on 26 points. Sunderland’s brilliant start to the season continues as they sit 4th on 19 points.

Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The final game played on Saturday in Matchweek 11 saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea host interim manager James Collins’ Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea beating Wolves two weeks ago in a 4-3 cup thriller. Wolves keeper, Sam Johnstone, was a busy man in the first half, forced into multiple saves as Chelsea were resilient and made attack after attack on the Englishman’s goal. The first half ultimately finished 0-0, but it was surely just a matter of time before Chelsea broke Wolves down.

It took the hosts a total of six minutes to score in the 2nd half, with Malo Gusto heading home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross from a couple of yards out to score his first ever Chelsea goal. After the first went by Johnstone, Wolves really started to fall apart and the second came in the 65th minute after Estevao made a darting run down the right wing. He drilled the ball into the penalty area where striker Joao Pedro was given lots of time and space to compose himself and smash the ball into the roof of the net. The third goal that wrapped up the three points for Chelsea came in the 73rd minute after Garnacho made another brilliant run down the left wing. He crossed it in to his fellow winger Pedro Neto who rolled the ball past Johnstone to score his first ever goal against his former club as he wheeled away in celebration. Chelsea could have won the game by four or five goals if not for some solid stops from Johnstone as the full-time score finished 3-0. Chelsea make it back-to-back wins and clean sheets as they move into 3rd on the table with 20 points. Wolves are still propping up the table as they sit 20th on just two points.

Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth

The first game played on Sunday in Matchweek 11 saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at Villa Park, with both sides hoping for a win which would boost their European hopes. Villa were dominant in the early stages of the game and scored a deserved goal in the 28th minute. Emiliano Buendia, who has been phenomenal for the Clarets ever since his return from injury, was the man to make the difference, brilliantly placing a free kick from 20 yards out into the top left corner. Bournemouth were poor in the first half and Villa pounced on it yet again just before the break after some spectacular wide play from Morgan Rogers. He danced past Alex Jimenez before cutting the ball back to Amadou Onana on the edge of the area. Onana rifled the ball into the bottom left corner from the same distance as Buendia’s first strike to make it 2-0 in the 40th minute. The half-time score finished 2-0, with Aston Villa hoping to hold onto the three points which would see them move into the top six.

Bournemouth were much better in the 2nd half, with Alex Scott (who had just been called up to the England first team) coming so close to scoring after his deflected effort from outside the penalty looked to be looping in. Unfortunately for the young star, Villa keeper Emiliano Marintinez was able to leap back brilliantly to tip his shot onto the cross bar. The Cherries then hit the woodwork again via Evanilson’s header at the back post from a corner. Bournemouth then found a golden opportunity to half the deficit after another Evanilson header at the back post, with his effort striking the hand of Rogers. It was a clear penalty which Bournemouth top scorer Antoine Semenyo stepped up to take. Unfortunately for the travelling side, it wasn’t to be their day as Martinez dove down amazingly to his right to save the Ghanaian’s spot kick. To further frustrate the Bournemouth players and fans, Villa scored an all important 3rd goal in the 77th minute. Lucas Digne whipped the ball in from the right corner where Ross Barkley, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, saw his flick on header loop over into the top left corner. The hosts capped off the win in style, scoring a 4th in the 82nd minute after Youri Tieleman’s long range strike clipped the heel of Donyell Malen, diverting it into the bottom left corner. The full-time score finished 4-0, with Villa claiming a huge win taking them into 6th on 18 points. Bournemouth suffer back-to-back away defeats as they drop to 9th place on 18 points also.

Brentford vs Newcastle United

The following game in Matchweek 11 saw Keith Andrews’ Brentford host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United at the Gtech Stadium, with both sides coming off the back of poor away losses. Much like their result against West Ham last week, Newcastle took an early yet undeserved lead after Jacob Murphy whipped the ball into the penalty area. Nick Woltemade flicked the ball back to Harvey Barnes where Barnes showed great skill to turn his defender with his back to goal. The Englishman chopped the ball onto his left boot before smashing it into the bottom left corner, a wonderful goal. The rest of the half was very even, with Brentford slowly growing into the game and becoming more dominant. The half-time score stood at 1-0, with Newcastle hoping for a first away win since last season.

Brentford were much better in the second half and scored a deserved equaliser in the 56th minute from one of Michael Kayode’s long throw-ins. This once again exposed Newcastle keeper Nick Pope’s weakness at claiming long balls, with the Englishman throwing a weak fist at the ball leaving his net uncontested. Brentford winger Kevin Schade was then able to head the ball into an empty net, one of the easiest goals of his career. With 13 minutes left to play on the clock, Brentford all but sealed the three points after Newcastle defender Dan Burn was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Dango Ourattara inside the Newcastle penalty area. It was a clear penalty and red card as Igor Thiago stepped up to take the spot kick for Brentford. Thiago’s penalty was class, slotting the ball past substitute keeper Aarom Ramsdale, making it 2-1. The Bees’ wrapped up the win in style, with Thiago scoring yet again in the 5th minute of stoppage time to claim his 8th of the season as he sits 2nd in the race for the golden boot. Newcastle centre half Malick Thiaw made a brilliant sliding challenge on Brentford’s Reiss Nelson but also unintentionally played a brilliant through ball to Thiago. Thiago saw the opportunity from a mile away and ran in to slot the ball through the legs of Ramsdale. The full-time score finished 3-1, with Brentford claiming another huge win at home to take them into 12th on the table with 16 points. It is really starting to fall apart for the Magpies, losing back-to-back away games after leading 0-1. Newcastle drop to 14th on the table with 12 points, only two points away from the relegation zone as questions are well and truly being asked of Eddie Howe.

Crystal Palace vs Brighton Hove & Albion

The next fixture in Matchweek 11 saw Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace host Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton at Selhurst Park, with Palace still unbeaten at home in the league and hoping to get a win over their biggest rivals. Both sides had huge chances inside 10 minutes, with Brighton’s Diego Gomez drawing a spectacular save from Dean Henderson before Palace’s Ismaila Sarr forced the same out of Bart Verbruggen. Those were surprisingly the only main actions in the 1st half as the score at half-time remained 0-0, with both keepers the stars.

Palace should have scored early in the 2nd half after Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was dispossessed in a dangerous area. Adam Wharton played the ball through to Sarr where the winger took the ball too wide and his shot was blocked. The ball fell to Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada who blasted the ball wide from close range, Palace’s best chance. Brighton thought they’d won a penalty just after the hour mark when Georginio Rutter dove in the penalty area after slight contact from Wharton. Initially, referee Tim Robinson awarded the spot kick but a quick VAR check confirmed that Rutter had dived and the Frenchman was given a yellow card for his antics. Palace then had one final chance in added time at the end, with Yeremy Pino crossing in a free kick from the left wing. Jefferson Lerma got up well, but his header was ultimately too powerful, with the ball falling back to Pino who had made a late run into the penalty area. Pino drove the ball low and hard back at the Brighton goal, forcing a brilliant save from Verbruggen who denied the Spaniard of a first league goal for the Eagles. The full-time score finished 0-0, with the draw a fair result for the rivals. Palace move into 10th on the table with 17 points while Brighton sit just 1 point and one place underneath them in 11th.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United

The next game in Matchweek 11 saw Sean Dyche’s Forest host Daniel Farke’s Leeds at the City Ground in what was another huge relegation 6-pointer. Despite Morgan Gibbs-White forcing an early save from Leeds keeper Lucas Perri, the Lily Whites took an early lead in the 13th minute after Brenden Aaronson found Lukas Nmecha inside the Forest penalty area. Nmecha fired the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 0-1 in what was a devastating Leeds counter. Fortunately for the home fans, Forest equalised less than two minutes later after Dan Ndoye crossed the ball in from the right wing. The ball deflected right into the path of Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare who smashed the ball past Perri to level the game. The score at half-time stood at 1-1, with Forest dominating Leeds in the later stages of the half.

Forest made an ideal start to the 2nd period, scoring just after the hour mark when Nikola Milenkovic played a brilliant switch ball over to Omari Hutchinson down the right wing. Hutchinson whipped a cross in where Gibbs-White rose high to head the ball past Perri to complete a much needed turnaround. Forest then scored a 3rd goal late in the game after Hutchinson made a brilliant burst with the ball down the right wing, beating Jack Harrison and stepping into the Leeds penalty area before inviting the challenge from the winger. Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson stepped up to take the spot kick and smashed it into the top left corner to seal all three points for the hosts. The full-time score finished 3-1, with Forest claiming a huge win which sees them stay 19th but move onto nine points, just one away from safety. Leeds fail to halt their relegation rivals from claiming points as they sit in 16th on 11 points, only two more than Dyche’s side.

Manchester City vs Liverpool

The curtain draw for Matchweek 11, and the most anticipated game of the week, saw Pep Guardiola’s 2nd placed Manchester City host Arne Slot’s 3rd place Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, with both sides hoping for a huge three points which would see them close in on Arsenal. Manchester City winger, Jermey Doku, looked fired up and was already causing problems inside 10 minutes. He made a brilliant run down the left wing, beating both Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate before he was inevitably fouled by Liverpool goal keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili resulting in a clear penalty. Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland stepped up to take the penalty but the Etihad Stadium was soon silenced after his shot from 12 yards was kept out by the Georgian keeper who redeemed himself after his prior error. Haaland didn’t let the miss affect him though, scoring just 16 minutes later after Mathues Nunes whipped the ball in from the right wing. It was a peach of a cross, with Haaland rising above Konate to head the ball into the top right corner, a brilliant City goal. Liverpool thought they’d equalised through a header of their own just 10 minutes later after Virgil van Dijk nodded the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma from a Mohamed Salah corner but it was chalked off as Andy Roberston was obstructing Donnarumma’s view of the ball from an offside position. To further anger the Liverpool fans, City scored a goal right before the break after Rayan Cherki received the ball from Phil Foden who had decided to play City’s latest corner short. Cherki played the ball to Nico Gonzalez who was allowed plenty of time outside the penalty area by the Liverpool players to conjure up a strike. His effort flicked off the heel of Van Dijk, totally wrong footing Mamardashvili as it trickled into the back of the net to make it 2-0. The half-time score remained 2-0, with Liverpool offering up nothing in an attacking sense from open play.

City were once again superior in the 2nd half and their star player of the afternoon, Doku, scored a deserved goal in the 63rd minute to make it 3-0 and seal the victory. The Belgian received the ball on the edge of the area from Nico O’Reilly where he showed great skill to trick Konate yet again before he curled the ball into the top right corner with a strike from the football heavens. After the 3rd, City sat back, happy to defend their lead with Donnarumma only called into action on a few occasions. The full-time score finished 3-0, with City claiming a huge victory over their title rivals which sees them retain 2nd place with 22 points. Liverpool drop all the way down to 8th on 18 points, with there still much to improve on for Slot’s side.

Written by Ollie Wade