By Ryan Moran
- Manchester United go top as Manchester City were beaten by Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
- Alexis Sanchez scores his first Premier League hat-trick in Arsenal’s win over Leicester City.
- Chelsea recover from 2-0 down to rescue a point against strugglers Newcastle.
Manchester United comfortably beat Sunderland while Tottenham handed Manchester City their second defeat of the season. Arsenal moved above Leicester after their 5-2 win while Chelsea’s troubles continued with a draw against Newcastle United.
Newcastle will feel they lost two points as super substitutes Ramires and Willian rescued a late point for Chelsea while Sunderland suffered another loss this time to Manchester United. Key players missing for Manchester City continue to have a profound effect on their form as they lose for a second successive league game.
Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland
With every loss, more pressure mounts on Dick Advocaat as the Black Cats are still yet to win in seven attempts in the Premier League this season. Memphis Depay opened the scoring four minutes into first half stoppage time, followed up by Wayne Rooney’s first league goal assisted by standout player Anthony Martial. Juan Mata added a 90th minute goal to confirm the result and summon the away side to their fifth defeat in seven games.
Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea
As the old Chelsea looked to be coming back, a lacklustre first half cost the blues as Ayoze Perez capitalised on miscommunication between Kurt Zouma and Branislav Ivanovic to volley against the inside of the post. Georginio Wijnaldum added a second to put the Magpies in control. Changes were made for the last 20, most notably Ramires and Willian coming on. Both midfielders had a game changing effect as Ramires fired in from 25 yards to give the away side a lifeline. The latter of the two substitutes crossed in from a free kick only for his Brazilian counterpart and fellow substitute to miss the header, leaving Tim Krul impaired as to where the ball was, going straight in from the set piece.
Tottenham 4-1 Manchester City
After losing their 100% home record, keeping their away record would have been a must. This result shows how crucial the likes of Vincent Kompany and David Villa are to the away side. Add to that the fact Joe Hart was also side lined due to only managing one full session all week, the impact these players have both on the field and in the dressing room is clear. Kevin De Bruyne put the former league leaders into the lead, shooting into the far corner. From that point, the game went from bad to worse as Eric Dier pulled back an equaliser. This goal was controversial as Kyle Walker was offside when playing a ball into the box, only for a limp clearance to fall to Dier who fired in from distance off the post. Toby Aldeweireld headed in from a corner as Willy Caballero was in no man’s land. Harry Kane then scored from an offside position after Christian Eriksen’s free kick hit the bar, coming back to Kane who steered the ball into the net. Erik Lamela then added a fourth after great work out on the right wing by Clinton N’Jie. Their second loss allowed their City rivals United to climb to the top of the table.
Leicester City 2-5 Arsenal
Alexis Sanchez scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal as Jamie Vardy’s brace couldn’t stop the Foxes losing. Vardy opened the scoring before Theo Walcott equalised from a counter attacking move by the Gunners. Sanchez netted the next three, the first from close range, added a second from a header before the Chile international completed his hat trick with the best of the three goals, firing low and hard past Kasper Schmeichel. England international Vardy pulled one back to spare his side’s blushes only for Olivier Giroud to make it five goals for the away side.
Liverpool 3-2 Aston Villa
Liverpool’s cup exertions didn’t inhibit the result but the return of Daniel Sturridge definitely influenced the result in the home side’s favour. James Milner opened the scoring with the fastest goal of the campaign at 63 seconds, firing low past Brad Guzan. The second half produced four goals as Sturridge added his first of two, volleying with the outside of his left foot into the far corner. Rudy Gestede then pulled a goal back for Villa from close before the Liverpool striker added his second a minute later, passing into the corner with his weak foot. Gestede scored a second from a header with 20 minutes left to play. Brendan Rodgers’ side held out for the three points with the return of one of their key players playing a major role in the result.
West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Everton
Everton came from two goals down to achieve a feat achieved in seldom. Saido Berahino scored his second goal in two games to put the Baggies in the lead before Craig Dawson headed in with 36 minutes to play. One minute after, Romelu Lukaku gave the Toffees a fighting chance, scoring a header past Boaz Myhill. Arouna Kone brought the scores level as the Belgian striker turned provider. Lukaku added his second and the away side’s third with six minutes to play. Gerard Deulofeu set up both of the striker’s goals in half an hour Tony Pulis will want to forget. The blues move up to fifth in the table as a result of the three points as the home side fall below Chelsea into 15th on goal difference.
In the weekend’s other fixtures:
Virgil Van Dijk scored his first goal for the Southampton as Swansea’s poor run continues after a good start to the season. Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane also scored before Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a consolation penalty after Neil Taylor was fouled by Jose Fonte. Stoke City won their first game of the season against AFC Bournemouth with Jonathan Walters and Mame Biram Diouf scoring either side of a Dan Gosling deflected effort. Callum Wilson suffered a knee injury that ended his afternoon, a blow for the Cherries adding to their expensive injury list of Max Gradel and Tyrone Mings.
West Ham and Norwich shared the spoils as Norwich found themselves ahead twice only for the Hammers to come back twice. Robbie Brady and Nathan Redmond on the scoresheet for the Canaries while Diafra Sakho equalised before Cheikhou Kouyate struck a loose ball hard into the net, earning a point for his side. A Yohan Cabaye penalty was enough to seal the victory for Crystal Palace over Watford when Wilfried Zaha was tripped by Allan Nyom to move the Eagles up to sixth.
Southampton 3-1 Swansea City
Stoke City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
West Ham United 2-2 Norwich
Watford 0-1 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace meet West Bromwich Albion at Selhurst Park in the lunchtime kick off in the next round of Premier League fixtures starting next Saturday 3rd October.
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