Premier League Recap: Gameweek 4
Gameweek 4 was a great one to watch for every football fan in the world, with plenty of goals, as only four teams managed to get a clean sheet, without there being a single nil-nil draw. Apart from this, a few sides slipped up and lost some very precious points so early on in the season.
Leicester City 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool managed to retain their 100% record in the league this season, even though they conceded their first goal of the season. Liverpool got off to a brilliant start, as they constantly troubled the Leicester defence with their frightening attacking trio, and after just ten minutes, Sadio Mane tucked the ball away into the net to open the scoring. Liverpool continued to dominate, and right on the stroke of half-time, a corner was whipped in which Roberto Firmino met brilliantly with his head in order to double their lead. However, Leicester started the second half very strongly, pushing Liverpool to their limits, but they only managed to score after a mistake from Alisson, who was caught in two minds with the ball, and eventually, Kelechi Iheanacho stole the ball from him and set up Rachid Ghezzal for an easy goal. However, it would not be enough for the Foxes, as Liverpool ended up on top.
Brighton and Hove Albion 2-2 Fulham
Both sides managed to get a point after a very tight fixture between two sides who are locked in mid-table. The game started off as expected, with both sides having chances to score, yet Fulham managed to convert their chance. A wonderful move by the London club ended off with Jean Michael Seri scooping the ball above the Brighton defence and perfectly into Andre Schurrle's path so that the German has an easy goal. After half-time, Aleksandar Mitrovic added to the scoreline, after he had a chance saved by Mathew Ryan, yet he still finished off the rebound. Afterwards, Brighton started to control the match even more, and a chance fel to Glenn Murray in the box, who made no mistake in converting the shot into a goal for the Seagulls. To add more insult to injury, Mitrovic gave Brighton a chance to tie things up, after he handled the ball in his own box, awarding Brighton a penalty, which Murray tucked away as calmly as ever, leveling the game up.
Chelsea 2-0 AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea also retained their 100% record in the league, after a match that was filled with clear-cut chances that ended up being missed. Bournemouth had the first of those chances, after a brilliant ball found Callum Wilson free, yet he did not connect well with the ball and skied it over the bar. After the chance, Chelsea got up to the other end, and after some brilliant work from Eden Hazard, the Belgian spotted Marcos Alonso in some space, yet he could only hit the post in the process. Chelsea and Bournemouth had two other brilliant chances, falling to Alonso and Ake respectively, yet they both could not score. It took a piece of brilliance from Pedro to open up the scoring, after a cool fake-shot past Ake freed him some space to nestle the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box. Hazard's influence in the game got even stronger as the game wore on, and he eventually got himself on the scoresheet, as he drifted in some space and skipped past a defender, finishing the ball off with his left foot into the bottom corner.
Crystal Palace 0-2 Southampton
Danny Ings continued his brilliant start to his Saints' career with a very early goal in the second half after a delicious ball from Cedric found him free in the box in order to finish first time. Crystal Palace did threaten to level the scores up, with James McArthur hitting the woodwork after the goal from Danny Ings. Southampton got themselves a penalty later on in the match, after a shot from Charlie Austin was diverted off-target by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, yet the Englishman could not convert the penalty, as it was saved excellently by Wayne Hennessey. Southampton also hit the bar, after a shot from Danny Ings was saved by Hennessey and then fell straight in Mohamed Elyounoussi's path, who could only hit the bar. Christian Benteke missed a glorious chance late on, as he had a free header saved by Alex McCarthy, keeping Southampton in the lead. Southampton double the scoreline very late on in the match, as Palace committed men forward, leaving Pierre Hojbjerg free to finish the game off.
Everton 1-1 Huddersfield Town
Everton and Huddersfield had to share the points between them in what was a match that Everton clearly dominated. The Blues had the majority of the chances throughout the match, but the scoreline was opened up by Huddersfield, after Philip Billing was left free in the box to head in a goal from a corner kick. However, Huddersfield's lead lasted less than two minutes, as Lucas Digne swung a cross in from the left wing, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed in to equalise. Everton continued to have glorious chances throughout the game, one in particular falling to Gylfi Sigurdsson, yet they could not take the lead, as the match ended in a draw.
West Ham United 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham remained rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, after a late goal from Wolves put them to the sword. The Hammers got the better of the chances in the opening forty-five minutes, forcing Rui Patricio to a number of brilliant saves, one in particular from Michail Antonio. Wolves started to grow more into the match as time wore on, with Raul Jimenez having a couple of glorious chances to open up the scoring, but he either saw them saved by Fabianski, or else he mishit them. Marko Arnautovic forced Rui Patricio to another magnificent save, after skipping past the defenders very easily, yet the Portuguese goalkeeper stood in his way. Wolves got the three points after a very, very late goal from Adama Traore, who showed his breathtaking pace, as he finished the ball past the Polish goalkeeper.
Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United
Last season's Premier League champions got back to winning ways, after dispatching Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle team. City got off to a great start, with Raheem Sterling cutting in from the left wing, in order to curl the ball past the reach of the goalkeeper to open up the scoring. Although City were dominant as always, Newcastle did manage to find an equaliser, as a brilliant ball from Salomon Rondon found DeAndre Yedlin free in the box after a great run from the back, in order to score a goal against the run of play. However, City got their lead back in the second half, after Kyle Walker rifled the ball into the back of the net from outside the box for a stunning goal to give them the three points.
Cardiff City 2-3 Arsenal
Arsenal got themselves back-to-back wins after a very entertaining match against Cardiff. Arsenal constantly tried to play the ball out from the back, yet they were only causing themselves even more problems, with Petr Cech in one instance, clearing the ball straight into Harry Arter, who could only fire the ball above the bar. However, Arsenal got the lead in the first half after a whipped in corner from Granit Xhaka found Shkodran Mustafi free in the box to power it past Neil Etheridge. Alexandre Lacazette hit the post just a few moments after, however the ball could not fall to another Arsenal player for the rebound. Right on the stroke of half-time, Cardiff got themselves back in the game, after a cross from Joe Bennett found Victor Camarasa, who turned and whacked the ball past Petr Cech. After the interval, Lacazette and Aubameyang's partnership started to form more and more, and after a tidy flick from the Frenchman, Aubameyang found some space, as he curled the ball brilliantly past the goalkeeper to regain their lead. However, Cardiff would not lie down, as a freekick from Joe Ralls found Sean Morrison, who headed it to Danny Ward, as he himself headed it on excellently past Petr Cech to level the tie once again. Arsenal did manage to grab all of the points in the final ten minutes, as a ball from Lucas Torreira found Lacazette in the box, who turned swiftly and powered the ball in the near post. The Frenchman deserved the goal, as he was Arsenal's standout player throughout the whole match.
Burnley 0-2 Manchester United
Manchester United got themselves a win after a very bad start to their Premier League season, as they continued to give Burnley a miserable start to their own season. United started off very brightly, constantly troubling the Burnley defence that is usually so resolute, with the front three functioning very well between them. United's dominance was repaid in the first half with two goals from Romelu Lukaku, one a header from an Alexis Sanchez cross, and the other a rebound from a wicked shot by Jesse Lingard. The dominance continued in the second half, as Marcus Rashford was tripped in the box, however Paul Pogba saw his penalty saved by Joe Hart. After that, United had a crazy few minutes, as Marcus Rashford and Phil Bardsley got in an argument between them that resulted in the young English striker being sent off for the first time in his career, with Bardsley only being yellow carded. Burnley could have had a player sent off late on in the match, as Ben Mee, who was their last man, clearly handled the ball as he fell over, taking it away from Romelu Lukaku, denying him a goal-scoring opportunity. However, United managed to hold on and bag a precious set of three points.
Watford 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Watford stunned Spurs as they managed to overturn them and retain their 100% record in the league this season. Spurs started off the strongest of the two sides, yet they could not convert their chances, one in particular for Dele Alli who could only head over the bar. Watford were very unlucky in the manner that they went behind, as a cross from Lucas Moura hit Abdoulaye Doucoure in the chest, and the ball diverted into the net. However, Watford remained strong in the second half, and got themselves back in the game after a cross from Jose Holebas was met strongly by Troy Deeney with his head, as he equalised for the Hornets. Watford were not done yet, as another cross from Holebas gave Spurs a lot of problems, with Craig Cathcart finding a pocket of space in the box in order to head it home for Watford, granting them three points and third place in the league for now.
Out of all of the results, which one was your favourite and why?
