Kickoff chronicles

Liverpool vs Everton

The opening game of Matchweek 5 saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool host local rivals David Moyes’ Everton at Anfield in the 1st Merseyside Derby of the season. Liverpool were clearly the better side in the opening exchanges and they scored a deserved goal inside 10 minutes. Mohamed Salah played a brilliant ball into the path of Ryan Gravenberch where the Dutch midfielder hooked the ball over Jordan Pickford with a wicked first-time finish. The hosts continued their domination, missing two big chances after Salah and Cody Gakpo put their respective efforts over the upright. The Reds finally scored their 2nd of the match in the 29th minute after goalscorer Gravenberch, now turned provider, played a sharp through ball into the path of striker Hugo Ekitike inside the Everton penalty area. The French striker, formerly of Eintracht Frankfurt, buried the ball into the bottom left corner to score his 3rd of the season. This also justifies why he deserved his start over 125 million pound record signing Alexander Isak. Just before the interval, Everton had a huge chance to half the deficit after Idrissia Gueye’s shot on the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Alisson. The score at half-time finished 2-0, with Liverpool hoping to continue their perfect start to the season.

Salah had an early chance for the hosts in the 2nd half, controlling the ball down well inside the Toffee’s penalty area before his shot was saved by Pickford. Everton then silenced Anfield in the 58th minute after a well worked goal. Jack Grealish whipped the ball in from the left wing where Iliman Ndiaye cushioned the ball down for Gueye to smash past Alisson. Everton continued to dominate Liverpool for the rest of the half but the champions defended strongly, holding out until full-time for a 2-1 win at home. Liverpool’s 5th win of the season leaves them 1st on the table, although they have only won one of those five games by more than one goal. Everton lose their 2nd of the season as they drop down to 9th on the table with seven points.

Brighton Hove & Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur

The following game of Matchweek 5 saw Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton host Thomas Frank’s Tottenham at the Amex Stadium in what looked an exciting game. Brighton took the lead early on after a rapid start to the tie, with Georginio Rutter playing a perfect through ball to Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh. Minteh rounded keeper Guglielmo Vicario before passing the ball into an empty net. Brighton then snatched a two-goal lead just after the 30 minute mark after Yasin Ayari intercepted a sloppy pass from Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall. Out of nowhere, the Swede unleashed a thunderous strike, maybe catching Vicario off guard as the ball flew through his grasp and into the back of the net. It was an action packed first half and just before the break, Tottenham made it 2-1. Rodrigo Bentancur made a driving run into the penalty area before playing a quick one-two with Wilson Odobert. Bentancur passed the ball over the right side of the penalty area to Mohammed Kudus who unleashed a shot. Kudus’ shot was actually controlled by teammate Richarlison before the Brazilian smashed the ball past Bart Verbruggen. The score at half-time stood at 2-1, with Tottenham hoping to complete their comeback in the 2nd half.

Tottenham were putting lots of pressure on the Brighton defence in the 2nd half and finally found an equaliser in the 82nd minute. Kudus whipped the ball in from the right where the ball unfortunately hit the knee of Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke and ricocheted into the back of Verburggen’s net. Tottenham continued to dominate in the final 10 minutes and it was Brighton who were relieved when the final whistle was blown. The full-time score finished 2-2, with Tottenham coming back from 2-0 down to claim a point on the road. Spurs sit 2nd on the table with 10 points. Brighton were lucky in the end to claim a point despite blowing a 2-0 lead as they moved into 14th with five points.

Burnley vs Nottingham Forest

The next game in Matchweek 5 saw Scott Parker’s Burnley host Ange Postecoglou’s Forest at Turf Moor, with both sides desperate for their 2nd win of the season. Nottingham Forest made an electric start to the tie, scoring inside two minutes. A corner from new signing Douglas Luiz was cleared only as far as Neco Willams where the Welsh full back smashed the ball past Martin Dubravka with a sumptuous strike to score his 3rd ever goal in the Premier League. It didn’t take long for Burnley to equalise, with Jaidon Anthony scoring his 3rd goal this season in the 20th minute. Loum Tchaouna headed the ball across the penalty area where Anthony was able to get a shot away, with Forest defender Oleksandr Zinchenko unable to clear the ball off the line. Forest came close to restoring their lead after some very nice passing around the Burnley penalty area in the 28th minute. Morgan Gibbs-White spread the ball across the box to Dilane Bakwa forced a solid save from Dubravka. It was then Burnley’s turn to come inches away from taking the lead after Tchaouna’s free kick rattled the underside of the bar and bounced away from danger. The half-time score stood at 1-1, with both sides hoping for a win to really kick start their season

After a cagey start to the 2nd half, Forest really started to fire up in the final quarter of an hour, with Igor Jesus and Willams both drawing five star saves from Burnley’s new keeper Dubravka. With the last kick of the game, Forest keeper Matz Sels played one final ball into the Burnley penalty area. Forest won the initial header, allowing Gibbs-White to control the seconds before his eventual shot was comfortably claimed by Dubravka, who had been the man of the match for the Clarets. The full-time score finished 1-1, with Forest picking up their first points under Ange. The Reds move into 15th on the table with five points. Burnley picked up a solid point at home against a top attacking team which leaves them one spot below Forest in 16th on four points.

West Ham United vs Crystal Palace

The following game of Matchweek 5 saw another London derby at the London Stadium, with Graham Potter’s West Ham hoping they could put an end to Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace’s unbeaten streak. The game got off to a slow start but Palace finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, exposing West Ham’s inability to defend corners. Daichi Kamada whipped the ball in from the left where Marc Guehi’s initial header was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Alphonse Areola. There was nothing the French shot stopper could do about Jean Philippe-Mateta’s header on the follow up, with the West Ham defence motionless as they conceded their 7th corner of the season. The Hammers failed to create any meaningful chances and at half-time, the score stood at 0-1 with West Ham staring down the barrel of a 3rd London derby loss at home.

Palace came inches away from scoring just two minutes into the 2nd half off yet another corner after Maxence Lacroix’s header rattled the upright and ricocheted away from danger. It was then the Hammers’ turn to cause their opposition some set piece troubles, with new signing El Hadji Malick Diouf whipping the ball in for skipper Jarrod Bowen. Bowen peeled off his man brilliantly to head the ball into the bottom left corner, his 2nd goal for the season and Diouf’s 3rd assist. West Ham came so close to making it 2-1 after Bowen crossed the ball in from the right wing where Lucas Paqueta’s header at the back post was cleared off the line by Chris Richards. Palace then took the lead totally against the run of play in the 68th minute after Adam Wharton’s cross fell kindly down to Tyrick Mitchell. Mitchell hit the ball on the volley, watching as it fizzed past Areola and into the top corner making for a wonderful goal. All the energy was kicked out of West Ham after they conceded the 2nd goal, with Potter making the pathetic decision to take off creative players Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville and leave James Ward-Prowse on. The full-time score finished 1-2, with West Ham losing their 4th game of the season leaving them 18th on three points, with Potter’s time surely up. Palace continue their unbeaten start to the season as they move into 4th on the table with nine points.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Leeds United

The next game of Matchweek 5 saw Vitor Pereira’s Wolves host Daniel Farke’s Leeds, with both sides hoping to claim a victory in what was a huge relegation six pointer at the Molineux.  Wolves made a positive start to the game, scoring inside seven minutes after playing some good passes inside the Leeds half. Fer Lopez chipped the ball into the penalty area where Ladislav Krejici smashed the ball past Karl Darlow to score on his full Wolves debut. Leeds, whose only goal this season had come from a penalty, scored their first goal from open play just after the half hour mark. Jayden Bogle whipped the ball into the penalty area from the right wing where summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin jumped up well to head the ball over Jose Sa and into the back of the Wolves’ net. Leeds then completed an eight minute comeback, after Anton Stach scored his first Premier League goal. The German midfielder stood over a free kick from 25 yards out where he brilliantly directed the ball into the top right corner, a world class strike. After their first two, Leeds were now a bit too hot for the Wolves defence to handle and a third was scored just before the break. Stach drove with the ball at the Wolves backline on a counter attack before playing the ball to the left of him where yet another summer signing, Noah Okafor, got his name on the scoresheet. Okafor smashed the ball underneath the stomach of Sa, giving his side a two-goal cushion going into the break. At half-time the score stood at 1-3, with Leeds hoping to hold onto their 2nd win of the season.

Darlow was forced into a big save just minutes into the 2nd half, after Marshall Munetsi’s effort from a Wolves’ corner was acrobatically tipped over the upright by the Welshman. Darlow was the hero in the 2nd half for Leeds, keeping the score at 1-3 as Leeds were successfully able to hold out for their first win since the opening weekend. Farke’s side jumped up to 12th on the table with seven points while Wolves remain rock bottom, the only team with zero points as they have now lost all five of their opening games.

Manchester United vs Chelsea

The following game of Matchweek 5 saw Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United host Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at Old Trafford, with Chelsea hoping to further extend their unbeaten start to this season. United were quick out the blocks, with Bryan Mbeumo forcing an early save from Robert Sanchez after his header from a Patrick Dorgu cross was claimed by the Spanish shot stopper. There was then a huge moment in the game, just five minutes in, after Chelsea keeper Sanchez was sent off. Benjamin Sesko flicked the ball onto Mbeumo which left him 1v1 with the keeper. Sanchez came out of his penalty area and crunched into the Cameroonian after he had knocked the ball around Sanchez, resulting in a clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity. Nothing came from the free kick but United found a deserved opener in the 14th minute after Noussair Mazraoui crossed the ball in from the right wing where Dorgu jumped up to head the ball towards goal. Captain Bruno Fernandes was the quickest to react, lunging forward to poke the ball past substitute keeper Filip Jorgensen and give United the lead. The Red Devils continued to make the most of their 11-men advantage and scored their 2nd of the match in the 39th minute. A poor clearance from Chelsea captain Reece James saw the ball soar upwards. No Chelsea defender reacted quick enough when the ball fell after Luke Shaw jumped high to head the ball across the goal. Caseimiro was unmarked at the back post and free to head the ball past Jorgensen to make it 2-0. The Brazilian midfielder then turned from the hero to the villain after he was sent off moments before the half-time whistle. Casemiro tugged Andrey Santos to the floor, resulting in a clear 2nd yellow card with both sides now reduced to 10 men. The half-time score finished 2-0, although United no longer had their one man advantage.

Chelsea were looking much more dangerous in the 2nd half and thought they’d halved the deficit in the 63rd minute after Wesley Fofana headed in James’ cross but it was ruled out as he was offside from Tosin Adarabioyo’s flick on. United were poor in the 2nd half and Chelsea finally scored a deserved goal in the 80th minute after Trevoh Chalobah brilliantly headed home James’ corner from the right, with this one standing. Unfortunately for the travelling side, United were able to hold out for the final 10 minutes and win their 2nd game of the season. The full time score finished 2-1 in a dramatic affair, taking Manchester United into 11th on the table with seven points. Chelsea lose their first game this season as they drop to 6th on the table with eight points.

Fulham vs Brentford

The final game played on Saturday evening in Matchweek 5 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Keith Andrews’ Brentford, with both sides scoring late on last week to earn crucial points. The Cottagers made a horror start to the fixture inside 20 minutes after the young Joshua King played a weak pass across his own penalty area with Mikkel Damsgaard intercepting his pass before perfectly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. Fulham had dominated the half and finally scored in the 38th minute after the ball was pinballing around in the Brentford penalty area. It eventually popped out to Alex Iwobi who thrashed the ball past Coaimhin Kelleher to open his account for the season. Fulham completed a two minute turn around after Rodrigo Muniz drove at the Brentford defence on a counter attack. He played the ball to Iwobi on his left where the Nigerian played an intelligent pass across the penalty area and to Harry Wilson on the right side of the box. Wilson met Iwobi’s wonder pass with a lovely first time strike into the bottom left corner, although all the credit went to Iwobi for his amazing vision. The half-time score finished 2-1, with Brentford blowing away their 0-1 lead in the final few minutes of the half.

The Bees made a shocking start to the half, conceding five minutes after the restart. Ryan Sessegnon ran with the ball down the left wing before crossing a ball into the box, with the ball missing all its targets. Ethan Pinnock then seemed to duck out the way of the ball given it was going nowhere dangerous but the ball struck his shoulder and somehow looped over Kelleher and into the top left corner, Fulham were rewarded with another shock own goal two weeks in a row. Muniz thought he’d made it four 10 minutes later after his bullet of an effort from outside the penalty area fizzed underneath Kelleher and into the bottom right corner but it was ruled out as Muniz was deemed to have fouled Nathan Collins in the build up. The full-time score finished 3-1 with Fulham the deserving winners in the end. The Cottagers make it back-to-back wins at home as they move into 8th on the table with eight points. Brentford drop more points on the road from winning positions as they drop down to 17th on four points.

AFC Bournemouth vs Newcastle United

The first game played on Sunday afternoon in Matchweek 5 saw Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Vitality Stadium, with Bournemouth hoping to continue their best ever start to a Premier League season. Both sides had big chances inside the opening 10 minutes, with Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams forcing a big save from the right boot of Newcastle keeper Nick Pope and minutes later Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy drew a solid stop from Bournemouth keeper Djordje Petrovic. Bournemouth thought they’d scored in the 15th minute after David Brooks smashed the ball into the net from close range after Evanilson’s pass across the area but it was disallowed by the assistant referee as the Welshman was offside. The half-time score remained 0-0, with Bournemouth playing the better football in the 1st 45 minutes.

It was always going to be a fairly boring game, with Newcastle already involved in two goalless draws this season as they have been struggling to score. Despite being unable to score, Newcastle have had a very strong defence this season which the Cherries were unable to break down. Their best chance of the 2nd half came in added time after Justin Kluivert’s free kick forced a huge save by Pope who had to dive down to his left to keep the ball out. The full-time score finished 0-0, with Bournemouth continuing their best ever start to a Premier League season as they remain 4th on the table with 10 points. Newcastle drop into 13th on six points, with Newcastle fans hoping for the speedy recovery of their new striker Yoane Wissa who scored 18 goals for Brentford last season.

Sunderland vs Aston Villa

The following game in Matchweek 5 saw Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland sitting in 6th while Villa are 19th with no goals scored. Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs had been their hero so far this season and proved it early on with a huge double save, first denying Villa’s Evann Guessand before he kept out their striker, Ollie Watkins, from a couple of yards out. A moment of pure headloss from Sunderland’s new signing, Reinildo Mandava, saw the Black Cats reduced to 10 men after he reacted to Matty Cash fouling him in the 33rd minute, lashing out and kicking the Polish international in the groin. The score at half-time stood at 0-0, with Villa expected to make their move in the 2nd half now that Sunderland were down a man.

It was actually the hosts that had the first big chance of the half, with Omar Alderete’s bullet header from inside the penalty area rattling the underside of the crossbar and away from danger. Villa finally scored their first goal of the season in spectacular fashion after Cash opened his account with a lovely finish. Despite being a full back, the Polish international is no stranger to the odd goal, scoring twice for Poland in the most recent international break. Cash received the ball from 25 yards out from Boubacar Kamara in the 66th minute where he unleashed a wonder strike. The ball was moving all over the place and perhaps got caught in the afternoon sun, making Cash’s powerful hit impossible to save for Roefs as the ball flew through his grasp. Sunderland then equalised in the 75th minute, showing all their grit and determination despite their one man disadvantage. Captain Granit Xhaka headed the ball into the penalty area and over the Villa defence where Wilson Isador was onside and able to slot the ball past Emiliano Martinez, his 3rd goal in as many games at the Stadium of Light this season. Villa tried to score what would be a winning goal in the final few minutes with Harvey Elliot’s shot just missing the top corner and no one able to get on the end of Jadon Sancho’s cross which flashed across the face of the Sunderland goal. The full-time score finished 1-1, a draw the fair result in the end as Sunderland picked up their 8th point of the season after a heroic comeback, taking them into 7th. Villa remain winless this season as they drop points from their first winning position. Emery’s side sit 18th on three points after their 3rd draw.

Arsenal vs Manchester City

The curtain draw to a very entertaining week of Premier League football in Matchweek 5 saw Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, with both sides fresh off the back of 2-0 wins in the Champions League. Arsenal dominated possession in the City half in the early stages but it was Manchester City who made their only chance count after a deadly counter. Summer signing from AC Milan, Tijjani Reijnders, drove with the ball, taking the ball from inside his own half all the way to the Arsenal penalty area. He then slipped the ball into the path of Erling Haaland on his right, who had initially won back possession, where the big Norwegian slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to score his 6th goal of the season as he hunts down his 3rd golden boot. Arsenal dominated the rest of the half, but only created one meaningful chance in 1st half stoppage time. Noni Madueke’s shot from inside the penalty area was saved onto the post by Manchester City shot stopper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has yet to concede so far in his City career. The half-time score stood at 0-1, with City hoping to hold on to a win which would see them move onto equal points with Arsenal.

Manchester City’s defensive intentions were clear in the 2nd half, substituting attacking players such as Haaland, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku off and replacing them with defensive players John Stones, Nathan Ake and Nico Gonzalez. It was the complete opposite of last season’s tie at the Etihad, where City were chasing an equaliser with a 10 men Arsenal sitting everyone in their own half. City were soaking up a lot of Arsenal pressure, with Donnarumma called into action on multiple occasions, but much like City last season, Arsenal finally found their equaliser in the 3rd minute of stoppage time after Eberechi Eze played a brilliant ball over the City defence and into the path of substitute Gabriel Martinelli. Martinelli, who was fresh off scoring as a substitute in midweek against Athletic Club, knocked the ball over Donnarumma who was off his line, wheeling away in celebration as the ball bounced into the City net. The full-time score finished 1-1, with Arteta’s side showing great determination to break down a defensive City side. They move into 2nd on the table with 10 points, although they are already five behind league leaders Liverpool. Pep will be furious his side dropped two points from such a promising position as they move into 9th on seven points.

Written by Ollie Wade