Premier League Notes - Week 3

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 3

The third week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw: 

30 goals - most by CHE/WHU/LIV/MCI = 3 each

284 shots - most by Liverpool = 25

79 on target - most by West Ham = 10

101 corners - most by CHE/BRI/MUN/WAT = 8 each

199 fouls - most by CRY/EVE = 18 each

33 bookings - most by Crystal Palace = 4

1 red card - Andone for Brighton

4 penalties - 3 scored (Noble for West Ham, Salah for Liverpool, Jiménez for Wolves)

#ASTEVE

It was a miserable Friday night for Marco Silva and his men. Goals from club record £22m signing Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi lifted Dean Smith's side up to 11th in the table and gave Aston Villa their first win in the top flight since February 2016. Everton have failed to come from behind at the interval to win a Premier League game since September 2015 at West Brom (W0 D5 L33 since), suffering only their third league defeat in their past 14 matches in the competition (W7 D4 L3).

#NORCHE

Frank Lampard’s first win came with Chelsea’s youngest starting line-up in the Premier League since February 1994. But Norwich didn’t make it easy for them at Carrow Road, equalising twice, despite all the visitors’ dominance! Tammy Abraham is the youngest Blues player to score a Premier League brace since Mark Nicholls in January 1998, helping his side to the three points.

#BRISOU

Brighton's sending off came from what looked like a career ending tackle! Florian Andone was shown a straight red card on the half-hour mark following a high, rash challenge on Saints defender Yan Valery. Albion manager Graham Potter said he "can't defend" the Romanian’s challenge. The Seagulls were out of the game after that, unable to form much opposition nor competition. Southampton's opening goal was a stunner! Moussa Djenepo broke the deadlock with a fine strike moments after coming on as a second-half substitute. Another super sub!

#MUNCRY

Man Who? Crystal Palace pounced, making all the home side’s dominance count for zero. Daniel James thought he had rescued a point for the home side in the final minute of normal time. But full-back Patrick van Aanholt netted in the 93rd minute equaliser off Wilfried Zaha's burst forward, becoming only the second player to score a 90th-minute winner against United in the Premier League after Thierry Henry for Arsenal in January 2007, and the first to do so at Old Trafford. Roy Hodgson’s men like to travel, 60% of their points last season came on the road. This was their first victory at the famous Manchester ground since 1989, making Marcus Rashford rue his missed spot kick earlier in the second half - deja vue for the Red Devils after Paul Pogba’s missed penalty last week. Manchester United have won only one of their past nine matches, scoring just eight goals and conceding 16. Ole’s at the wheel...

#SHULEI

Super subs at Sheffield United as well: Harvey Barnes snatched the winner from the edge of the box six minutes after coming on, recording the Foxes’ first league win of the season and Chris Wilder's side only their second defeat in 21 matches. Former Wednesday player and boo man Jamie Vardy had given Leicester the lead at Bramall Lane, before club record signing Oliver McBurnie headed in the equaliser for the home side and the sub's heart-breaker. 

#WATWHU

There was a penalty within the opening couple of minutes at Watford! Like Aston Villa conceded last week, making the mountain too high to climb straight away. West Ham pounced and won comfortable thanks to the spot kick and record signing Sébastian Haller’s brace. Despite all the chances and effort, it’s been a miserable start for the Hornets, three defeats out of three games. Javi Gracia's side, who sit bottom of the table, have now lost seven successive games in all competitions for the first time since 1999.

#LIVARS

Liverpool recorded their 12th consecutive Premier League win, equalling their best sequence in the top flight under Sir Kenny Dalglish between April and October 1990. Mohamed Salah has been involved in 77 goals in 77 games, 57 goals and 20 assists. It was a comfortable home win against Arsenal, Joël Matip with the opening header before the great Egyptian added his brace, helped by David Luiz’s idiotic foul in the box, pulling him down by the shirt and handing the Reds a penalty. And then Mo embarrassed the former blue again out on the touchline at the start of a dazzling run that ended with a low, curling finish into the bottom corner just before the hour. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has faced Arsenal eight times without defeat in the Premier League (W5 D3). Vielen Dank!

#BOUMCI

Manchester City cruised to a win at Bournemouth, no shocks or surprises there. David Silva starred in his 400th appearance for the club, contributing to all three goals = Sergio Agüero’s brace taking him to 400 goals for club and country, 235 of them for City, and Raheem Sterling’s poke in. The Cherries, who drop to 10th place, continued a miserable run against the Citizens, that has seen them concede 28 times in their last nine league meetings. Pep Guardiola's side has won all nine of their top-flight games against Bournemouth - the best 100% win record by a team over an opponent in top-flight history.

#TOTNEW

Club record £40m signing Joelinton with his first Newcastle goal served Steve Bruce his first points as Magpies manager, stunning Tottenham at Wembley. The Brazilian striker took advantage of sleepy defending to control substitute Christian Atsu's pass beautifully before drilling past Hugo Lloris. Spurs lacked the creativity to break down a resolute Newcastle side, whose four-man midfield kept sitting deep in front of a back five. Bruce hopes Newcastle win "will shut a few people up". Tell that the fans who have travelled more than 1,000 miles over the past two weekends. But hey, they definitely weren't complaining on their way back from London this time!

#WOLBUR

Raúl Jiménez's penalty in the 97th minute was the latest ever Premier League goal by Wolves, just their second shot on target in the game, grabbing his side a point against Burnley. Ashley Barnes looked to have won it for the Clarets after pouncing from around 25 yards - his fourth goal in three Premier League games this season - against a disjointed Wolves side playing their third game inside a week. Nuno Espírito Sante's side has drawn their first three games of a league campaign for the first time since 1938-39, when they finished second in the top flight. Good omen? The Wanderers are unbeaten in their last 10 home games in the Premier League (W6 D4); their longest run without defeat in the top flight since April to October 1979 (also 10 games). Brilliant run!

So, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Wolves were the only three home sides not to suffer defeat! #HomeSweetHome

My Predictions - Actual Results

Aston Villa 1:2 Everton - 2:0

Norwich 1:1 Chelsea - 2:3

Brighton 2:2 Southampton - 0:2

Man United 2:0 Crystal Palace - 1:2

Sheff United 1:1 Leicester - 1:2

Watford 0:0 West Ham - 1:3

Liverpool 4:2 Arsenal - 3:1

Bournemouth 0:4 Man City - 1:3

Tottenham 2:1 Newcastle - 0:1

Wolves 2:2 Burnley - 1:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, Sky Sports and RMC Sport live coverage.

Salah Seals Reds Comeback at Selhurst Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - CPFC 1:2 LFC

Liverpool bagged all three points against Crystal Palace thanks to top scorer Mohamed Salah's late winner after a less convincing performance by the Reds in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Selhurst Park.

Click here for my ByTheMinute match coverage.

It was Jürgen Klopp's 100th Premier League match in charge, his record being W54 D28 L18 and seeing 324 goals with this result.

Only Manuel Pellegrini saw more goals in his first 100 PL games with Manchester City (329).

With this win, the Reds completed the double over the London side for the first time since 1997-98.

Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic put the home side ahead from the spot after 12:26 minutes, following Loris Karius barging into Wilfried Zaha.

It wasn't the start the visitors wanted and the hosts kept frustrating the hell out of the Reds.

Sadio Mané was booked for his overdramatised diving antiques just over halfway through the first half.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took his time, replays showing James McArthur had made no contact, instead of making something of the chance, with the ball in the box, the Senegalese decided to go down.

The Eagles fans booed him on after that, he headed the ball in minutes later, to be flagged offside.

Just before the break, Mané's downward header was kept out well by Wayne Hennessey.

The interval saw no changes, former Reds boss Roy Hodgson surely the happier with his side's stubborn display against the shaky visitors.

But it didn't last long, four minutes after the restart Mané levelled from close range fed by James Milner from the left.

Former Liverpool forward Christian Benteke missed a couple of sitters wide, making life too easy for Karius after the keeper's shaky start.

Mané was lucky to escape a second caution and sending off with just under half an hour to go when he was involved in a bit of a tangle and rumble and picked up the ball after falling down once again.

A free kick was given against the number 19, but nothing further, Palace were not happy, Klopp took him off seconds later.

Karius made a cracking save denying Patrick van Aanholt, keeping out a nice left footed free kick into the top left corner, it stayed 1-1.

Sub Adam Lallana didn't last long, being replaced by Dejan Lovren just a few minutes after coming on for Georginio Wijnaldum.

Palace kept pushing but were unable to release a shot nor get anything on target.

Momo made it 1-2 with his 29th league goal of the season in the 84th minute.

The PL top scorer collected and took the shot patiently inside the box, netting from close range into the bottom left corner, assisted nicely by man of the match Andy Robertson from the left.

The Egyptian is now just three goals short of breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's 2007-08 Premier League scoring record.

With this defeat, Palace have lost each of their last four home games against Liverpool in all competitions and drop down to 17th just two points above the drop zone.

Three points keeps LFC comfy in third, five points ahead of Tottenham in fourth and only two points behind United in second, but both have games in hand.

And this match was definitely not a confidence gainer for the Reds ahead of their Champions League quarter final first leg clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.

No matter what Klopp tries to blame it on, criticising the ref or whatever, the Reds were just not good enough most of the match and have to do much better to have a hint of a chance to progress against the league leaders.

Palace Goal: Milivojevic pen 13'.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 49' & Salah 84'.

HT Stats: PAL 1-0 LIV
Possession: 24%-76%
Shots: 2-12
On target: 2-4
Corners: 1-4
Fouls: 4-5
Yellow cards: 2-2

FT Stats: PAL 1-2 LIV
Possession: 30%-70%
Shots: 6-16
On target: 3-6
Corners: 4-6
Fouls: 6-8
Yellow cards: 2-2

CPFC Team: 13 Hennessey; 3 van Aanholt, 12 Sakho, 34 Kelly, 29 Wan-Bissaka (24 Fosu-Mensah 88'); 7 Cabaye (8 Loftus-Cheek 73'), 4 Milivoyevic (c), 18 McArthur (booked 45'); 11 Zaha, 17 Benteke (booked 38'), 10 Townsend. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 14 Lee Chung-yong, 16 Cavilieri, 23 Souaré, 24 Delaney, 44 Riedewald.

LFC Team: 1 Karius (booked 12'); 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (20 Lallana 65' (6 Lovren 70')), 14 Henderson (c), 7 Milner; 19 Mané (booked 24') (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 64'), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 2 Clyne, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Andy Robertson
Ground: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 25,807

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD, Twitter and Sky Sports coverage.