Following a short break, the English Premier League resumed over the weekend with the matchweek eight games. All matchweek seven fixtures were postponed in the wake of the death of Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Seven games were cleared to go ahead as scheduled in matchweek eight. The three remaining games were postponed due to unavailability of enough policemen for the games.
A large number of police officers have been deployed for the Queen’s burial ceremony on Monday.
Games postponed are the Brighton vs Crystal Palace and Chelsea vs Liverpool games. The other being the fixture between Leeds United and Manchester United.
All Premier League games this weekend observed a minute’s silence before kick-off. This was in respect to the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II followed by the national anthem. There was also stadium-wide applause in the 70th minute in honour of her 70-year reign.
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Meanwhile, the fun and excitement were served hot over the weekend with plenty of action from across England.
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Fulham
The home side went ahead through Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi who headed home following a flick-on header from Ryan Yates.
Forest pushed to extend the lead but missed some opportunities while Fulham were denied an equalizer in the first half.
The leveller came nine minutes after the restart when former Chelsea player Willian sent in a delightful corner kick. Reliable defender Tosin Adarabioyo rose highest to head into the back of the net.
Three minutes later, JoĆ£o Palhinha’s curling shot from outside the box gave the London side the lead. Fulham grabbed their third within five minutes when Bobby Reid’s cross found Harrison Reed on the hour mark. Reed sent a well-placed low drive past Henderson to make it 3-1.
Lewis O’Brien scored another for Forest in the 77th but the team could not get a much needed equalizer.
With the matchweek eight Premier League result, Nottingham Forest have now lost four consecutive league games for the first time since a run of six losses in August and September, 1992.
Cooper worried… and he should
Reacting to the loss, Forest boss Steve Cooper stated: “I think a lot of it is self-inflicted. I don’t think we can just say things aren’t going our way.
“We just aren’t managing conceding the first goal very well. We want to keep a clean sheet. But when we do concede a goal we aren’t settled enough after it and there’s been a few occasions. Now where once one goes in, we look vulnerable and that was the case tonight.
“We took the lead and I thought we were okay in the first half. Fulham had more of the ball but we were fairly in control without the ball. And I actually thought we started the second half really well. I told the lads they have to play a lot better…”
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton
Steven Gerrard will be happy his team made Prince William proud with their victory over Southampton at the Villa Park.
The Prince, who is a Villa fan, had sent a message of support to the team before the game. In response, Gerrard had hoped for a win to honour the Prince.
Jacob Ramsey scored the only goal of the encounter to hand the home team all three points.
Viilla are now 15th on the table with seven points, level on points with Soton who are a position ahead.
Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo was introduced just before the commencement of the second forty-five. He made a difference for the away side but their turbulent and unimpressive start to the season continues.
Meanwhile, only Everton and Watford (15 each) have lost more Premier League matches in 2022 than Southampton (14).
Also, Ashley Young became the second oldest outfield player to start for Villa in the Premier League. He’s achieved that at 37 years and 69 days old.
Only Robert Pires in February 2011 against Blackburn Rovers (37 years, 120 days) beats Young to this record.
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Wolves 0-3 Manchester City
Manchester City made light work of 10-man Wolves at the Molineux with an emphatic win.
It is now 17 points in seven games for City as they remain one of the two unbeaten sides in the league this season. They are second on the log – level on points with Spurs and are only behind Arsenal – after the Premier League matchweek eight.
Jack Grealish opened scoring in less than a minute – 55 seconds to be precise – from a Kevin De Bruyne assist. It was the Englishman’s first goal since May.
City made it two in the 16th minute through no other than their talismanic frontman Erling Haaland. The Norwegian scored, unusually, from outside the box with his supposed weaker foot.
Haaland has now scored 14 goals in 10 games across all competitions for the Cityzens so far this season.
Nathan Collins was sent off in the 33rd minute for a high challenge on Grealish as City continued to dominate.
Phil Foden wrapped up things in the 69th with a well taken finish following good work from De Bruyne.
Newcastle 1-1 Bournemouth
Newcastle remain winless in six league outings following yet another draw with Bournemouth at the St. James’ Park.
Sweden international Alexander Isak scored his first goal at the club’s home ground.
The Magpies had gone behind when Philip Anyanwu Billing scored two minutes after the hour mark. His deft touch, directed towards goal, from a Jordan Zemura cross was enough to beat the goalkeeper.
The lead lasted for only five minutes before Isak converted from the spot after Jefferson Lerma was adjudged to have handled the ball.
Eddie Howe’s side have not won since the opening day of the Premier League season. They go into the international break tenth on the table with eight points.
Howe, while speaking to BBC Sport, said: “I don’t think we played particularly well, we were off our best level. One for us to reflect on.
“I am desperate to win, it feels like a long time for us. We need to win and compete and be the best versions of us.”
Tottenham 6-2 Leicester City
Tottenham destroyed Leicester at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium with Son Heung-min registering a fantastic hattrick.
The South Korean had not scored a single goal for Spurs in all competitions this season. He came off the bench to score thrice within 13 minutes as Antonio Conte’s side ruthlessly brushed aside Leicester.
Brendan Rodgers’ team has not won a single game this season and sit rock bottom of the log with only one point.
Despite going ahead in the sixth minute and level at half time, Leicester conceded four goals in the second period.
Youri Tielemans had scored from the penalty spot before Harry Kane equalized two minutes later. Eric Dier then gave the Lilywhites the lead before James Madison scored a sensational goal from Timothy Castagne’s assist.
Rodrigo Bentacur’s goal two minutes into the second half gave Spurs the lead for the second time in the game. However, the home team were not done as Son scored three of his own. His goals were assisted by Bentacur, Kane and Pierre-Emile HĆøjbjerg respectively.
The matchweek eight victory ensures Tottenham remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season.
Brentford 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal head into the international break top of the table following a superlative display against Brentford. The North London side are on 18 points after their Premier League matchweek eight encounter at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s boys deserve all the accolades as they were able to make Brentford look very ordinary. Brentford had given quite a number of teams problems this season – even beating Manchester United 4-0 this campaign.
The Gunners took the lead via William Saliba who flicked on a header from Bukayo Saka’s corner. The ball went off the post into the net before Gabriel Jesus scored to make it 2-0. It was his fourth goal of the season.
Fabio Vieira completed the rout when he scored a stunning shot from outside the 18-yard box after another Saka assist.
Of the 19 players to have scored on their first start for Arsenal in the Premier League, Fabio Vieira is the first to have found the net from outside the box.
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Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest ever player to appear in a Premier League match. The teenager sets the record at only 15 years and 181 days.
The young player came on for Vieira in the second minute of additional time during the match. Harvey Elliot held the previous record. He appeared for Fulham at the age of 16 years and 30 days (vs Wolves in May 2019).
Everton 1-0 West Ham
Neal Maulay scored his first goal for Everton in a hard-fought narrow win over West Ham at the Goodison Park.
It was the Toffees’ first league victory of the season and their second in all competitions.
His goal was assisted by the impressive Alex Iwobi who was lively throughout the encounter. Iwobi has been a key member of Frank Lampard’s team and it was no wonder the Nigerian was voted Man of the Match.
He has improved massively under Lampard and is undoubtedly an important figure in the team. The former Arsenal man has successfully executed his roles either as a No 10 or as a wing-back.
Iwobi has assisted three of Everton’s last four goals.
Everton have seven points from seven games and are now 13th on the Premier League table. Meanwhile, West Ham are 18th having accrued only four points across seven games after matchweek eight.
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