City cruise past Chelsea to go top

By Ryan Moran

  • Manchester City outclass a defensively lacklustre Chelsea side to go top on goal difference.
  • Manchester City, Leicester City and Manchester United’s records unblemished.
  • Norwich claim first win while Watford gain another point.

Last season’s champions take on last season’s runners up as Chelsea take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The weekend’s action also saw wins for Manchester United, Everton, Swansea, Leicester City and Norwich City.

The spotlight was on the Etihad Stadium this weekend as Chelsea travelled to Manchester City to turn the focus back onto the football. Elsewhere, Xherdan Shaqiri’s debut will have to wait another week along with Watford’s first win in this top flight campaign.

Manchester City 3-0 Chelsea

Outclassed. One team were full of determination, one having a striker more concerned with winning fouls, you can hazard a guess as to which is which. Chelsea had more possession but lacked threat in the final third, Eden Hazard had a golden opportunity in the second half after turning onto his stronger foot only to strike straight at Joe Hart.

A battle between Asmir Begovic and Sergio Aguero formed in the first half only for Aguero to take the upper hand, finding the bottom left corner while under pressure from three Chelsea defenders. Vincent Kompany followed this up with a header going in off the back post, Branislav Ivanovic not doing enough to prevent the Belgian jumping higher to score.

Fernandinho summed up a dominant City performance by striking into the far corner after the Champions failed to clear their lines on two occasions. Juan Cuadrado at fault, leaving his marker, allowing time to pick his spot.

Ironically, Diego Costa and Gary Cahill suffered blood injuries at the back end of the first half. This comes right in the middle of the riff between Jose Mourinho and the Chelsea medical staff after the Hazard incident last week. Ouch.

Southampton 0-3 Everton

A result not many would have predicted. Romelu Lukaku started his tally with a brace followed up by Ross Barkley’s second in two games, Southampton had nothing in reply. The Saints had their chances with Sadio Mane’s rifled shot equalled by Tim Howard.

Two minutes later Lukaku made Mane pay for not finishing by heading past Maarten Stekelenburg. The Toffee’s kept on pressing with the Belgian striker adding his and the away side’s second before Barkley added a third.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

Goals from Olivier Giroud and a Damien Delaney own goal earned Arsenal their first points of the new season. Giroud scissor kicked a Mesut Ozil cross into Julian Speroni’s goal. Elliot Ward cancelled the Frenchman’s opener when the defender scored 12 minutes later. There were chances for both sides as Connor Wickham hit the post before Alexis Sanchez’s header found the Palace defender, slicing into his own net.

Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United

The action kicked off on Friday at Villa Park where one goal was enough to separate the two sides. Adnan Januzaj struck the only goal of the game with pressure mounting on Wayne Rooney after another ineffective performance.

The Belgian winger’s right footed strike from the edge of the box past Brad Guzan saw United top the table, if only for 24 hours. Gabriel Agbonlahor had Villa’s only threatening effort on goal heading wide from a corner.

West Ham 1-2 Leicester

Momentum carries on for the Foxes as another win sees them sitting at the top of the league. After last week’s heroics, Reece Oxford was taught a harsh lesson in fast paced passing and moving from the away side. The England under 17 was relieved after 45 minutes with the Hammers 0-2 down.

Goals from Shinji Okazaki and Riyad Mahrez in the first half was enough to win the game. Dimitri Payet gave the Upton Park outfit a glimmer of hope only to end the game with 10 players. Adrian came up for a corner in the final minutes only to foul Jamie Vardy and see red.

Swansea 2-0 Newcastle United

The Swans are a side to be feared with their attacking French duo, adding another goal each to their season’s tallies either side of a Daryl Janmaat red card. Bafetimbi Gomis opened the scoring nine minutes in after rounding Tim Krul and placing the ball in the open goal.

Jefferson Montero’s pace and trickery was too much for Janmaat and foul after foul saw the Netherland’s international having an early bath. Montero then made use of the extra space on his wing, crossing for Andre Ayew to head in Swansea’s second of the game.

Sunderland 1-3 Norwich

Seven goals conceded in two games will be a cause for concern for Black Cat’s boss Dick Advocaat. Russell Martin opened the scoring after a Robbie Brady effort was parried, Steven Whittaker then double after neat play with Wes Hoolahan. Nathan Redmond then added to the home side’s misery with a third. Duncan Watmore did spare some of their blushes with a late goal, however with 3 goals to 1 the red’s still have no points on the board.

Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Stoke City

Spurs squandered a two goal lead to end the game with only a point from two games. It was a game of two halves, literally, with Eric Dier and Nacer Chadli scoring for Tottenham in the opening 45 minutes.

The White Hart Lane outfit will want to forget the second 45 minutes with a Marko Arnautovic penalty and a goal from Mame Biram Diouf to take a point back to Stoke. Toby Aldeweireld brought down Joselu to give Stoke a way back into the game.

Liverpool 1-0 AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth were taught another harsh lesson, if you don’t take your chances the other team will. The Cherries were unlucky not to take the lead when Tommy Elphick’s headed goal was disallowed for climbing on the back of Dejan Lovren. Christian Benteke then topped off the unlucky nature of the premier league, scoring from an offside position. More goals were inches away with Matt Ritchie hitting the post, Benteke could have made it two but could only hit the bar.

Of the other weekend’s results:

Watford 0-0 West Bromwich Albion

 

The Premier League continues on Saturday 22nd August with Liverpool travelling to Arsenal on Monday 24th August.

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