Premier League Gameweek Six Round-Up: Man United Down Arsenal, Liverpool Falter and Leicester City Look In Deep Trouble
The Premier League is definitely shaping up now, and while the table we look at in early September may not be as it will appear in May, every one of the 20 sides in top-tier action now knows what needs to be done in order to shape the rest of their 2022-23 campaign.
With six games gone, you may now have a better idea of how any of your outright Premier League wagers are going and may also help to inform you of which forthcoming bets you may be ready to place.
Everton 0-0 Liverpool
As far as goalless draws go, this one was an entertaining one that helped Frank Lampard more than it did Jurgen Klopp. This Merseyside derby was an end-to-end battle, and though Jordan Pickford was the busiest of both keepers, it’s fair to say that Everton also had their moments going forward.
Perhaps most importantly for Lampard’s side was the effort and heart that every player put into this crucial fixture, and though Everton are still without a win this season, they’ve now gone four games unbeaten, and there is a sense that a turnaround may be in the offing.
As for Liverpool, they had something of an off day, with a number of their top players almost anonymous for the duration of the clash. Mohamed Salah, for instance, barely got a touch of the ball, and a lot of credit should go to the way Lampard’s midfield ran the game, with Alex Iwobi and Amadou Onana both being superb.
Brentford 5-2 Leeds United
Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United were well known for having a porous defence, and it appears this issue still haunts the Elland Road side. While Jesse Marsch has started the season solidly, the West Yorkshire side does have to address the number of goals they concede.
That is not to take anything away from Thomas Frank’s magnificent Brentford side, and especially hat-trick hero Ivan Toney, as the Bees simply had too much for their opposition and put away their chances with aplomb and the West London side now sits up in eighth place having netted an impressive 15 goals in their six games thus far.
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United
This local derby is one that has led to a great deal of scrutiny following a late VAR decision that was universally panned. Thomas Tuchel’s side had another off day and went behind to a Michail Antonio goal on the hour but battled back to go back ahead thanks to goals from subs Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz.
Then late on, new signing Maxwell Cornet, who arrived from Burnley this summer, levelled for the Hammers only for VAR to be called into play, leading referee Andy Madley to overturn his original decision, having adjudged Jarrod Bowen of fouling keeper Edouard Mendy in the build-up.
The decision angered Hammers boss David Moyes who was left infuriated at the manner of his side’s undeserved defeat.
“The goalkeeper comes to take it and actually fumbles it out of his hands five or six yards, so he could never recover it,”
“Then he acted as if he had a shoulder injury. I’m amazed that VAR sent the referee to see it.”
“It was a ridiculously bad decision. I’d question VAR as much as the referee, but the referee should have stuck to his own guns – there is no excuse for that not to be a goal, none whatsoever. The sad thing is this is the level of the weak refereeing at the moment.”
Newcastle United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Eddie Howe was left similarly dismayed as his side also had a goal chalked off following a VAR decision, one that left his side with a point from the visit of Crystal Palace to St James’ Park.
Tyrick Mitchell had netted an own goal only for the referee to be called to review his initial decision to award it, and Michael Salisbury subsequently decided that Joe Willock had fouled keeper Vicente Guaita.
Alexander Isak should have netted for the home side when he was sent clear through on goal, and in the end, both sides, who have a win each after six games, had to settle for a draw.
Nottingham Forest 2-3 AFC Bournemouth
Caretaker boss Gary O’Neill has done his chances of being named a full-time successor to Scott Parker no harm as his Cherries side came back from two goals down to secure a hugely important win away at the City Ground.
Cheikhou Kouyate headed in the opener for the home side, and Brennan Johnston scored a penalty to put Forest well in control, but the visitors produced a marvellous turnaround in the second half.
First, Philip Billing scored from long distance, and Dominic Solanke levelled before Jaidon Anthony scored a winner in the 87th minute, giving the south-coast side a memorable win on the road.
Tottenham 2-1 Fulham
Antonio Conte’s side made it six games unbeaten with a narrow win over London rivals Fulham. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fired into the bottom corner five minutes before half-time, and Harry Kane doubled the lead with 15 minutes left.
Aleksandr Mitrovic scored his sixth of the season to leave Tottenham nervously holding on for a win they fully deserved.
The North London club had a total of 23 shots on goal, with ten on target, and picked up three points to maintain their position in the top four.
On the performance, Conte was pleased, though will have wanted to ease to victory a little more comfortably;
“Today we played a really good game. In this type of game, you need to become killer and to close the game because we have seen if you keep the game open, it can happen when your opponent score and you finish the game with worries. Two goals and some offside, but I’m delighted for the performance; we have seen positive things; we have to recover well and prepare ourselves for the Champions League this week.”
“I think the final result, we deserved much more for the chances we created, but at the same time, congratulations to Fulham because they showed a really good team, but I’m happy because we got the three points.”
Wolves 1-0 Southampton
Bruno Lage’s side finally picked up their first win of the season with Daniel Podence pouncing from close range late in the first half. Southampton may have felt hard done by as they had plenty of opportunities to get something from their trip to Molineux.
Che Adams had chances to grab a point for the visitors, but the Saints were unable to get past Wolves keeper Jose Sa, who impressed between the sticks.
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester City
Steven Gerrard will have been pleased with the work rate put in by his Aston Villa side as they managed to secure a much-needed point from the visit of title holders Manchester City from a game that could have gone either way.
Pep Guardiola’s side had chances to put City ahead in the first half, but they had to wait until early in the second for Erling Haaland to net his now customary Premier League goal, his tenth thus far this season, but against the odds, Aston Villa did not lie down and showed their mettle.
With 15 minutes to play, Leon Bailey struck a beauty past Ederson after good work from Jacob Ramsay, and there was even time for Philippe Coutinho to net a goal that was then ruled out for offside, a decision that turned out to be incorrect.
On the whole, Gerrard was the happier of the two managers;
“No one gave us any hope or any chance before a ball was kicked,”
“I’m really pleased and proud of what the players gave us, and no one can begrudge us a point, and it’s a big point.”
“But the players need to take that confidence moving forwards. You hope it’s a foundation, but it’s only a big point if you reset and back it up against Leicester and Southampton.”
“The danger is if you think you’re moving in the right direction but don’t reset. There has been a lot of external noise, and rightly so, but it’s now for me to lead even more and be stronger.”
“We need to stick together and keep developing.”
Brighton 5-2 Leicester City
If Brendan Rodgers felt his Foxes tenure was under threat prior to kick-off at the Amex, then he will be doubly concerned after the way his team capitulated against superior opposition on the south coast.
Leicester City went ahead early on from Kelechi Iheanacho but then conceded twice in quick succession but managed to once again fight back with Patson Daka making it 2-2 after an entertaining half-hour.
Alexis Mac Allister, who was superb throughout, scored a worldie only to see it ruled out after a four-minute VAR check, but Graham Potter’s side were undeterred and turned the screws on their relegation-threatened rivals.
Leandro Trossard put Brighton ahead after great work from Pascal Gross, and Mac Allister then netted a penalty before scoring a screamer of a free-kick deep into injury time to make it 5-2, leaving Rodgers sweating.
Manchester United 3-1 Arsenal
Once again, VAR played a part as Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side picked up their fourth win in a row and ended Arsenal’s 100% record in the process. Gabriel Martinelli had put Arsenal ahead only to see the goal overturned.
New signing Antony then calmly finished to put Man United ahead with ten minutes of the first half to play. In the second half, Arsenal controlled much of the possession and were a constant threat and earned a deserved equalizer when Bukayo Saka scored on the hour.
However, Man United battled back, and two goals from a rejuvenated Marcus Rashford in an eight-minute spell sealed the points for the home side.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was left reeling but believes the defeat may end up doing his side some good in the long run;
“The game was there for the taking,”
“We haven’t won it because we lacked some discipline in some moments, and we weren’t ruthless enough in front of goal.”
“If we play with more courage, we win the game. It is a big lesson – if you want to win here, you have to do everything so right.”
Arsenal still sit top of the table, and Man United moved up to fifth with Dutch manager ten Hag very much starting to see his side consistently deliver the goods.
