Kickoff chronicles

Southampton vs Manchester United

After a 2 week break for internationals, the Premier League was back again, with Southampton hosting Manchester United at St. Mary’s Stadium. After an even start to the contest, the Saints were gifted with an early opportunity to take the lead when referee Stuart Attwell Pointed to the spot. Youngster Tyler Dibling was brought down inside the penalty area by United defender Diogo Dalot. New signing, Cameroon Archer, stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort was weak, enabling keeper Andre Onana to parry it away before claiming Archer’s second effort with ease. Things only got worse for the Saints though when Manchester United scored just 2 minutes later. Bruno Fernandes chipped a ball over to the back post where United’s new centre-half, Matthijs de Ligt, headed the ball past Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale. 6 minutes later, the travelling side doubled their advantage when Marcus Rashford finally put an end to his 189 day goal drought. The Englishman received the ball outside the penalty area from Amad Diallo before chopping into a central position. Rashford then curled a shot perfectly into the bottom corner, giving United an ideal 2 goal lead. At half time, the score was 0-2 with Southampton fans wishing Archer could have converted the penalty to maybe change the outcome of the first 45 minutes.

Unlike previous weeks, United and Erik ten Hag’s game management was spot on, defending well and holding onto their 0-2 lead. Any chance of Southampton making a somewhat impossible comeback was damped even further in the 79th minute when Jack Stephens saw red for a high, studs-up challenge on Alejandro Garnacho. United then made it 0-3 in stoppage time when Casemiro intelligently spotted the run of Dalot inside the penalty area. The Portugues international cut it back to Garnacho who drilled the ball into the roof of the net. The game finished 0-3, with Erik ten Hag’s men making the perfect bounce back after their heavy loss to Liverpool 2 weeks ago. Russell Martin’s woeful start to his Premier League continues as the Saint’s sit 19th with just the 1 goal scored in 4 games.

Brighton vs Ipswich Town

The next game of the matchweek saw Brighton host newly promoted Ipswich Town at the Amex Stadium. The first half was goalless with the best chance to find the opener came in the 35th minute when the Seagulls had two huge chances in the space of a couple of seconds. New signing Georgino Rutter received the ball down the right wing where he dribbled into the penalty area. The Frenchman cut in and fired a shot away but had to watch as Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric made a great diving save. The Koskovian was thrown back into action again as his cat-like reflexes saw him jump up to save Kaoru Mitoma’s rebound effort. The Tractor Boy’s latest goalkeeper rose back up to the cheers and applauds of the Ipswich away end. 

The second half, while also goalless, was full of entertaining moments and chances. The best opportunity of the second period fell Ipswich’s way in the 54th minute when new signing Liam Delap rattled the woodwork. The Englishman made a surging run from inside his own half all the way into the host’s penalty area. An exhausted Delap then managed to get a shot away, watching as it caught a slight deflection off Jan Paul van Hecke and hit the far post. At the full time whistle the score was 0-0. Brighton fans will be disappointed after their encouraging start to the season. They sit 6th on the table. Ipswich will see this as a vital point on the road as they climb out of the bottom 3 and into 17th.

Crystal Palace vs Leicester City

Matchweek 4 then saw Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace host Steve Cooper’s Leicester City at Selhurst Park. Both teams were without a win and in desperate need of some points. The Foxes were the team to find the opener when the seamlessly ageless Jamie Vardy scored his 138th Premier League goal. Wilfred Ndidi played a ball over the Palace defence to Vardy who first shrugged off the challenge of defender Marc Guehi before rounding keeper Dean Henderson and passing the ball into the back of the net. Palace created few chances in the next 20 minutes but it was Leicester who went into the break with a 0-1 advantage. 

Steve Cooper’s side made the perfect start to the next 45 minutes when Stephi Mavididi found the back of the net for the first time this season. Coming just 2 minutes into the half, James Justin whipped a ball into the penalty area where no Palace defender properly dealt with it. The ball fell to Ndidi again who played it over to Mavididi. The Englishman smashed the ball into the back of the net on the volley, doubling the Foxes’ advantage. Palace halved the deficit just moments later when Jean Phillipe-Mateta opened his account for the 24/25 season. Tyrick Mitchell drilled a ball across the 6-yard area where the Frenchman added the slightest of touches on the ball as it deflected into the bottom right corner. It was at first thought to be offside, but VAR gave it the green light and it was game on at Selhurst Park. Palace continued to attack at Leicester, and their efforts were finally rewarded in stoppage time when referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot after Conor Coady tripped up Ismaila Sarr inside the 18-yard box. Mateta stepped up to take the penalty and dispatched it calmly, rolling the ball into the bottom right corner and winning a point for the Eagles. The game finished 2-2 with the points fairly shared. Both teams moved up, Leicester into 15th and Crystal Palace in 16th, on 2 points each.

Fulham vs West Ham United

The latest Premier League London derby in matchweek 4 saw Craven Cottage host Marco Silva’s Fulham and Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham. The Hammer’s started poorly and Fulham were able to pounce, scoring in the 24th minute. West Ham were playing a very high line and were punished for it when Emile Smith Rowe got in behind after Andreas Pereira’s lobbed ball. Smith Rowe was able to keep the ball in before spotting the run of Raul Jimenez. It was all too easy for Fulham as Jimenez ran in and slotted the ball past Hammers keeper, Alphonse Areola. It was a great start, not just for Fulham but for Jimenez as he scored on his first start of the season. West Ham continued to look average and Fulham could have gone into halftime up by potentially 2 or 3 goals. In the end it finished 1-0 with Lopetegui needing a big 2nd half from his players.

West Ham brought on Lucas Paueta and Crysencio Summerville at halftime and they both made an instant impact. West Ham started to create chances and bring danger men Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen into the game more. Finally, after 90 plus minutes of agonising football from West Ham, they found a leveller. With less than 60 seconds left to play, Vladimir Coufal took a quick throw in. Bowen was able to keep it from going out after his first time cut back. Inside the penalty area was substitute Danny Ings, whose first touch was pure class. Ings then rolled back the years, burying it into the bottom right corner and going to celebrate with the away end. The full time score finished 1-1 with Marco Silva and the Fulham fans left furious after his side threw away what could have been their 2nd win of the season, especially after such a positive home debut for their returning centre-half, Joachim Anderson. West Ham got away with one and will know they will have to drastically improve if they are to come away with any points when they host Chelsea next week.

Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest

The following game of matchweek 4 was played at the legendary Anfield with Arne Slot’s Liverpool hosting Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest. The first half finished goalless with the best chance of the 45 minutes coming Liverpool’s way. After just a quarter of an hour, Luis Diaz dispossessed Ryan Yates on the bi-line before dribbling towards goal. On a tight angle, the Colombian did well, drilling a shot at the near corner but watching as it fired off the woodwork and out of play. The Liverpool players were disappointed they couldn’t find a first half lead but the fans felt as if a goal was coming soon. 

The hosts did come out strongly for the second period with Mohamed Salah denied by Forest keeper Matz Sels 7 minutes in. To the shock of Anfield and Liverpool fans worldwide, Nuno’s side took the lead in the 71st minute. Anthony Elanga played a brilliant switch ball over to his opposite winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. The two substitutes combined perfectly as Hudson-Odoi cut into a more central position. The Englishman then perfectly curled the ball into the bottom right corner, wheeling away to celebrate with his away end. Liverpool then failed to create any real chance to come back, and almost conceded another, with Elanga coming so close to scoring himself. It was a dreadful performance from Liverpool as they dropped points early on in the season. Nuno and his Forest side continue their brilliant unbeaten start to the campaign as they sit 7th on the table on 8 points. 

Manchester City vs Brentford

The next game of the match week saw champions Manchester City host Thomas Frank’s Brentford side in what looked like an interesting match up at the Etihad. The Bees silenced the Manchester City crowd after just 22 seconds when Joane Wissa found the back of the net. Kristoffer Ajer volleyed a ball from the right wing over to the back post which was met by a header across the penalty area by Keane Lewis-Potter. Neither keeper Ederson or centre-half John Stones dealt with the ball properly as it pinballed off them before Wissa headed it into the back of the net. City continued to look defensively weak for the next 10 minutes as Brentford came so close to scoring 2. The champions then finally turned it up a gear when the inevitable Erling Haaland scored his 8th of the season. Kevin De Bruyne attempted to find the Norwegian deep in the Brentford penalty area. The ball bobbled to Haaland where he struck the ball on the spin, watching as his deflected effort found the top left corner. City then completed a 13 minute comeback through the big Norwegian for the 9th time this season. Ederson registered his 4th Premier League assist with a perfect pass from a goal kick to Haaland. He shrugged off the challenge of Ethan Pinnock with ease before running in on goal and chipping the ball over keeper Mark Flekken. The half finished 1-2 with City still left with work to do in the next 45 minutes.

City dominated the 2nd half and should have scored on multiple occasions if not for the heroics of Brentford shot stopper Mark Flekken. After not offering up anything in the 2nd period, Brentford found a great chance right at the death to maybe pinch a point. Christian Norgaard played the ball to Bryan Mbuemo who was inside the City penalty area. The Cameroonian poked the ball back out to Yehor Yarmoliuk who had to agonisingly watch as his effort fizzed along the turf and just wide of the post. The champions got the job done in the end, coming away with a 2-1 win as they continue their perfect start to the season. Brentford fans will leave positive too, knowing they shook the Citizens and sit 9th in the league on 6 points.

Aston Villa vs Everton

The following game of the matchweek saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Sean Dyche’s Everton at Villa Park. Everton once again took the lead for the second consecutive week, this time through Dwight McNeil. McNeil dispossessed his old teammate and Aston Villa’s new signing, Amadou Onana, before running at the hosts’ defence. McNeil then fired a shot away from outside the penalty area and, against all odds, the ball somehow rolled past keeper Emiliano Martinez and into the bottom right corner. Their first goal was totally against the run of play but Everton’s 2nd goal was fully deserved. McNeil was directly involved again, whipping a free kick in from the right wing for their no.9, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, to head into the back of the net. Everton found themselves at risk of throwing away yet another 2 goal lead after Ollie Watkins ended his goal drought in the 36th minute. Lucas Digne crossed a ball in from the left wing which seemed to hang in the air for ages. Ollie Watkins jumped high and headed the ball past Jordan Pickford, reducing the deficit to just 1 goal. At half time the score remained 1-2 with Sean Dyche hoping his team could hold on and finally pick up their first point/s of the season. 

It went from bad to worse for Everton when Watkins completed Villa’s comeback, and his brace, in the 59th minute. Youri Tielemens’ lofted pass into the penalty area deflected off Toffee’s player Jack Harrison and fell perfectly into the path of Watkins. The English striker let it bounce before smashing the ball past Pickford to make it 2-2. Villa then completed their turn-around in spectacular fashion through Jhon Duran who scored his 3rd of the season. The Colombian received the ball from Ross Barkley, 30 yards or more away from goal. The inform substitute decided to unleash a shot, watching as his unstoppable effort flew into the top left corner, the goal of the season so far. Aston Villa showed great game management, which Everton clearly lacked, and held out for the 3-2 win. Villa continue their great start to the season as they sit 5th on 9 points. Everton wrote their name in the history books, once again for the wrong reasons as they became only the second team ever to lose 2 consecutive games after leading 2-0. Everton sit rock bottom on the table.

Bournemouth vs Chelsea

The last game played on Saturday in matchweek 4 saw Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries had made a positive start to the game, creating multiple chances and found the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the 36th minute. Record breaking signing, Evanilson, jumped on a terrible back pass from Blues defender Wesley Fofana and made contact on the ball before being taken out by Chelsea keeper Davison Sanchez. Evanilson then stepped up to take the spot kick but was thwarted by Sanchez, who made amends for giving the penalty away and diving low to keep the ball out. The half finished 0-0 with Evanilson still in search of his first goal for the Cherries after missing such a huge opportunity.

Bournemouth came out strongly once again, causing Chelsea’s defence all sorts of problems. Unfortunately, football is not always a fair game and the Blues proved just that when they nicked the game in the 85th minute. It was 2 Chelsea substitutes that combined to give them the lead. New signing, Jadon Sancho, dribbled down the left wing before spotting Christopher Nkunku with a smart pass. Nkunku received the ball, turned, and held off the challenge from Illia Zabarnyi showing great strength. The Frenchman then poked the ball into the bottom right corner and hit his famous balloon celebration. The game finished 0-1 with Bournemouth left feeling sick after they threw away a game where they should have taken all 3 points. Another interesting fact to note from this game is that a new Premier League record was set for the most yellow cards in a Premier League game (Anthony Taylor awarded 15). Chelsea fans will feel positive that their team got the win but know they will need a much stronger performance against West Ham next week.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

The first game played on Sunday afternoon was the most anticipated of the week; the North London derby. After Arsenal took 4 points from Spurs last season, Ange Postecoglou was hopeful his side could beat an Arsenal side without 2 of their midfield stars (Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice). Tottenham were the more dominant in the first half, keeping control of the ball and creating the odd chance. With all the fiery, entertaining, high scoring North London derbies in the past few decades, this game certainly ranked low amongst all of them. David Raya was the best player in the first half, stopping everything Tottenham threw at him. At the end of the first half, the score was 0-0 with Spurs hoping to convert one of their many created chances in the 2nd half to finally colour North London white for the first time in a long while.

After soaking up all of Tottenham’s pressure, Arsenal silenced the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when they opened the scoring in the 64th minute. Centre-half Gabriel, who was a stalwart at the back for Arsenal in the first half, was the man to strike the Gunners into the lead, rising high to head Bukayo Saka’s corner into a somewhat uncontested net. Ange then made some positive changes for Spurs but no player was able to conjure up a moment of brilliance to strike Spurs level. In the end, it was yet another drab Postecoglou and Spurs performance as they failed to score at home against their fiercest rivals. The hosts sit 13th in the league. This feels like a huge win from an Arsenal perspective, parking the bus in the first half to keep out Tottenham and scoring through a set piece to keep themselves in the top 4. Next week, against Manchester City, Declan Rice will be back after a suspension but there are still injury doubts with Martin Odegaard.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United

The final game of matchweek 4 saw Gary O’Neil’s Wolves take on Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Molineux in what looked like an entertaining curtain draw for the weekend. After a slow start to the game, the hosts found the lead in the 36th minute after a well worked goal. Loanee Jorgen Strand Larsen was released down the right wing after an intelligent ball by Mathues Cunha. Larsen was strong, battling against Dan Burn and dribbling past him. The Norwegian then played a ball across the penalty area which Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes intelligently left and stepped over. This tricked Newcastle defender Fabian Schar and left skipper Mario Lemina open to tap the ball past Nick Pope in goal. The half finished 0-1 with Howe needing a huge performance from his players in the next 45 minutes if they were to come away from the Midlands with anything. 

Wolves came out looking sharp for the 2nd half, with Larsen hitting the post on one occasion and denied by Pope on the other. Newcastle then struck Wolves level after Fabian Schar opened his account for the season. The Swiss has developed a handy knack of scoring under Eddie Howe, his Newcastle tally now at 16 for the Magpies. Schar received the ball just outside the penalty area from Bruno Guimaraes where he fired a shot. His effort deflected off the forehead of Wolves centre-back Craig Dawson, before looping over Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone and finding the top corner. Newcastle then completed the comeback when Harvey Barnes came off the bench to score his 2nd of the season. Barnes completed a 1-2 with Joe Wilock outside the penalty area before turning to goal. He dribbled into a central position before cracking a shot, watching as his effort beautifully curled into the top right corner, winning the game for the Magpies in spectacular fashion. At full-time, the score finished 1-2 with Newcastle picking up all 3 points, taking them into 3rd on the table as they continue their unbeaten start to the season. It was once again a tough one to take for Wolves fans as they lose yet again. They sit 18th with just 1 point.

Written by Ollie Wade