Premier League Recap: Gameweek 9
As another Premier League gameweek approaches, it is time for us to take a proper look at what happened last weekend, with plenty of teams leaving it late to get the points that they required.
Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United
Chelsea earned themselves a point after Manchester United were on course to get themselves a vital set of three points. The game started out very even, yet the home side were clearly the better of the two in the first half, and their quality managed to open up United's leaky defence, when a corner was swung in, with Antonio Rudiger being left free in the box, to head it past David De Gea. Chelsea continued to threaten throughout the rest of the half and the beginning of the second, yet United were the ones to score next, after a mess in the Chelsea box caused utter confusion, only for Anthony Martial to control the ball brilliantly and blast it past Kepa Arrizabalaga to draw things level. Right after the goal, Chelsea troubled David De Gea, firstly with a header from David Luiz that just about edged past the goal, and also from a long-range strike by N'golo Kante, which De Gea was equal to. However, Manchester United got their lead just a few minutes after, as a ball from Marcus Rashford found Martial, who curled it calmly past the goalkeeper. Yet it somehow was not meant to be for United, as in the dying embers of the match, David Luiz rose high to head the ball right onto the post, with Rudiger heading it for the rebound, only for the attempt to be saved wonderfully by De Gea, yet Ross Barkley somehow found some space and tucked it away, handing Chelsea the point. Afterwards, there was an argument in the dug-out, with Jose Mourinho and one of Maurizio Sarri's assistants at the main stage, yet they managed to resolve everything and the match ended level.
AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Southampton
Bournemouth and Southampton could not find a way to break each other down, as the derby between the two sides ended scoreless. Both sides had plenty of chances, yet Bournemouth were the better of the two sides, missing loads of chances, as Josh King could not find the net, whilst Manolo Gabbiadini could not divert a header past the goalkeeper for Southampton. The game eventually finished level, being the most underwhelming game of the gameweek.
Cardiff City 4-2 Fulham
Cardiff got themselves their first win of the season against fellow promoted side Fulham. Fulham started off as the better side, and they quickly scored, as Andre Schurrle picked up the ball in the middle of the park and rifled home a sensational strike, one that will surely be a contender for goal of the month. Cardiff were quick to react, as a swift counter attack led to Josh Murphy being left free, as he only had to fire it past the goalkeeper. Cardiff did manage to turn it around, after a succession of balls not being cleared away from Fulham, only led to a ricochet falling to Bobby Reid, who tucked it under the goalkeeper. Fulham did manage to fight back, as Aleksandar Mitrovic set up Ryan Sessegnon, who toe poked it past the goalkeeper. In the second half, Callum Paterson restored Cardiff's lead with a trickling shot that just about got past Marcus Bettinelli. Cardiff got themselves some breathing space later on in the half, as Camarasa fed the ball right on Kadeem Harris, who just about got to the ball for the fourth and final goal in a thrilling match.
Manchester City 5-0 Burnley
Manchester City once again ran riot in the league, this time hammering Burnley by five goals to nil. Despite the scoreline, Joe Hart made some thrilling saves, one of which being against Sergio Aguero early on in the first half. However, the Englishman could not stop the Argentine getting his goal, as David Silva slid a ball into the host of players that were in the six yard box, as Aguero popped in and squeezed it into the net. Hart was once again called into action, as Bernardo Silva swung a perfect cross right on top of David Silva, yet Hart was positioned very well to palm it away. In the second half, City showed no mercy, and early on David Silva whipped a ball right into the path of Bernardo Silva, who rifled it past Hart. City's unsung hero, Fernandinho, managed to get himself a goal, as a loose ball fell to the Brazilian right on the edge of the box, as he curled it wonderfully past the defenders and into the net. As Riyad Mahrez was introduced into the game, he did not take long to stamp his mark on the fixture, as a ball was fed to him on the edge of the box, as he finessed the ball amazingly right into the top corner for City's fourth. Leroy Sane eventually got himself a goal as well, with Benjamin Mendy crossing the ball right to the German, who only needed it to touch it past Hart.
Newcastle United 0-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton got a very fortunate win against Newcastle, leaving the Magpies rooted to the bottom of the table. The goal came in the first half, as a shot from Jose Izqueirdo took a wicked deflection off of Beram Kayal and it went into the net, with the goal being awarded to the central midfielder. Brighton managed to hold on for a precious set of three points away against Newcastle.
West Ham United 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham continued on with their winning run in the league with a narrow win against their London rivals, West Ham. The game was very heated and even right from the very beginning, with both sides looking as if they were about the score, only for the defenders to make some vital blocks. However, Spurs were the ones to get the decisive goal, when a ball from Moussa Sissoko found Erik Lamela, who headed it right past Lukasz Fabianski and into the net. Fabianski was forced to make an outstanding double save from Lamela and Sissoko late on in the first half, keeping Spurs' lead by only one goal. In the second half, the most notable chance fell to Marko Arnautovic, who timed his jump to head the ball into the top corner, only to be matched wonderfully by Hugo Lloris, who rose and tipped it right past the goal. Hugo Lloris was called into action once again, with Arnautovic blasting the ball right into the goalkeeper, hence the game ended with Spurs on top.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Watford
Watford managed to inflict a hard loss on Wolves as they secured their place in the top half of the table for another week. The opening goal came after just 20 minutes, with Abdoulaye Doucoure set up the ball for Etienne Capoue to strike, and he did some brilliantly, with plenty of power to take it past Rui Patricio. Less than a minute after the goal, Watford were in again, and Roberto Pereyra found himself in the box, free to lob it past Patricio and into the net for the second goal of the match, one that secured the win for Watford.
Huddersfield Town 0-1 Liverpool
Although not necessarily playing that well, Liverpool scraped a win against Huddersfield, who looked threatening in various stages of the match. Alisson was spared some blushes in the first half, as the ball was passed back to him, yet he somehow smashed it into the onrushing Huddersfield attacker and was lucky that it did not divert into his own net. Liverpool's goal did come a few moments after that chance, as Xherdan Shaqiri skipped past a few midfielders and slotted a ball into Mohamed Salah's path, with the Egyptian tucking it away past the goalkeeper with his weaker right foot. Liverpool were on the edge once again in the half, as Jonathan Hogg smashed a wonderful half volley right onto the post, as Alisson stood no chance of keeping it out. After all of their intent, Huddersfield still could not find an equaliser, and so Liverpool came out of the match as winners, maintaining their unbeaten run.
Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace
Everton left it late against Crystal Palace, yet they still deserved the win much more than their opponents. However, for a moment or two Everton were in deep trouble, as Palace were awarded a penalty early on in the first half, yet Luka Milivojevic, who is normally very composed when taking penalties, smacked it right in the middle, only for Jordan Pickford to save it with his trailing leg. Everton were motivated after the save, and they got themselves two goals in the space of two minutes in the final stage of the match, the first coming after Ademola Lookman crossed the ball into the box, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin rising above the defenders to score the opener. The second came after Palace were caught on the break having committed plenty of players to get an equaliser, leaving Cenk Tosun free to run past the few defenders left and poke it past Wayne Hennessey to ensure the win.
Arsenal 3-1 Leicester City
Arsenal retained their wonderful form, taking themselves to fourth place with a win against Leicester. The Gunners were excellent throughout the course of the match, creating plenty of chances through the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil. However, Arsenal were momentarily shocked, as for all of their dominance they went behind after a shot was diverted off of Hector Bellerin, taking it past Bernd Leno and into the net for a Leicester goal. However, Arsenal got themselves level right before half-time, as Bellerin crossed a ball excellently to Ozil, who rolled it past Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly with a first-time shot. In the second half, Arsenal were on fire, as Bellerin was once again the artist of the goal, as he crossed it to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the second. Aubameyang got himself a second for the match, with a move that started right from an Arsenal goal-kick, with the Gunners working the ball past the Leicester midfield and defence wonderfully, eventually finding Mesut Ozil, who lobbed it right to Aubameyang, who only needed to slot it into the empty net, handing Arsenal another win.
