Good Monday morning, TSFers! It was a wild first week in the Premier League, as you’d expect. So many matches didn’t go to script and that’s why they play the games! The action wraps up today with Fulham hosting Chelsea at 3 pm, broadcast on USA Network. Arsenal don’t play until Monday next week (@ Aston Villa), so they’ll have plenty of time to work new signing Ezri Konsa into the mix and for Bruno Guimaraes’ minor muscle issue to heal.
Hull City 2 – Manchester United 0 One-time Arsenal man (0 competitive
senior appearances) Semi Ajayi opened the scoring for Hull in the 17th minute from a corner and centerback Nobel Mendy doubled the lead in the 38th from a set piece. United looked poor and struggled to generate chances. I can’t decide if the Hull City supporters’ “mauling” gesture that they do en masse is cool or weird.
Ipswich Town 2 – Sunderland 1
A 90th-minute winner from Jack Clarke lifted the Tractor Boys to three points in their first match back in the Premier League. The newly promoted side had taken the lead through record-signing Emersonn, set up by excellent work from Julio Enciso but a brilliant free kick from Nilson Angulo leveled the score before halftime. Ipswich minority owner and superfan Ed Sheeran showed up at the official Premier League watch party in Toronto to enjoy the match with supporters, which looked fun.
Everton 2 – Crystal Palace 0
Goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry either side of halftime were enough for Everton to claim the points at home to Crystal Palace. The Toffees rode a bit of good fortune and good goalkeeping, too. With the match at 0-0, JP Mateta missed a glorious chance and hit a post, and Jordan Pickford made a brilliant save to tip an Eddie Nketiah shot onto the post. Palace defender Chadi Riad was stretchered off midway through the second half with what looked like a serious knee injury.
Nottingham Forest 0 – Leeds 1
An 88th-minute free kick from Anton Stach shocked the home crowd at the City Ground and snagged the points for visiting Leeds United. Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic hit a post and Igor Jesus was wasteful with two good chances. They were the better side for most of the match, but when you don’t take your chances, you can get burned! The sides will meet again tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Carabao Cup.
Brentford 3 – Spurs 0
All that money spent (with more on the way to Manchester City) to get swept aside by Brentford in the opener. Never change, Tottenham. Spurs’ £100M midfielder Sandro Tonali was comprehensively out-dueled by the £41M Mamadou Sangare, who many around the game were surprised the Bees were able to sign for such a low fee. Keane Lewis-Potter opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Vitaly Janelt doubled the lead in the 33rd, and Michael Kayode put the game away in the 49th. Igor Thiago hit the post from a penalty to keep it from being 4.
Manchester City 2 – Bournemouth 1
City left it quite late against the Cherries but ended up taking full points. Marc Guehi, who played as a midfield partner to Elliot Anderson, scored in the 84th minute, and Josko Gvardiol found a winner in the 91st, set up by Rayan Cherki to overturn Marcus Tavernier’s 26th minute marker. City generated plenty more chances than the visitors, but Bournemouth had their moments, too.
Brighton 4 – Aston Villa 0
The Seagulls were up 4-0 inside 32 minutes. New Villa signing Joao Gomes received a straight red for kicking Georginio Rutter in frustration in the 40th minute. And that was all she wrote. Brighton scored from a Lindelof OG in the 8th minute, from De Cuyper in the 18th, and Jack Hinshelwood scored a brace in two minutes (30, 31). Villa have so much work to do before the close of the transfer window on September 2nd.
Newcastle 2 – Liverpool 2
The clubs split the points on a day where both clubs honored Kevin Keegan, who passed last month. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring in the 5th minute. Cody Gakpo equalized in the 55th only to see Joe Willock put Newcastle back ahead in the 57th. The Magpies had a couple decent chances to open up a two-goal lead but couldn’t manage it. Lewis Hall then gave away a very late penalty, which Dominik Szoboszlai converted. Alexander Isak had a rough day on his return to St. James’ Park. Yoanne Wissa, his replacement on Tyneside, had an excellent outing.
An interesting stat that probably means nothing at all in the grand scheme of things — home sides went 7-1-1 over the weekend.
