Sterling Treble Keeps City Top While Reds Hold Spurs

After an international break which saw two sides reveal new managers, the Premier League returned in stunning style with two games featuring 14 goals alone while the managers on debut had mixed starts.

Saturday's early kick-off came from White Hart Lane as Tottenham played host to Liverpool with the Reds under the stewardship of Jurgen Klopp for the first time.

A tight game saw both sides have good chances to score but to no avail as they shared the points and denied Klopp a perfect start after the 0-0 scoreline.

In the first of six 3pm games, Chelsea hosted Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge with both looking to improve on their mixed form. The Blues struck first on 34 minutes as Diego Costa put them ahead and the Spaniard looked to have scored a second on 54 minutes. However,  his effort deflected in off Alan Hutton for an own goal and 2-0 was enough for the hosts to seal a much needed win.


Crystal Palace looked to continue their high-flying status as they hosted fellow high-fliers West Ham United in a London derby. The Hammers started the better and went ahead on 22 minutes through Carl Jenkinson but were quickly pegged back by Yohan Cabaye's 25th minute penalty for 1-1.

The Eagles suffered a blow just before the interval as Dwight Gayle was sent off but they managed to hold at 1-1 until the final minutes when strikes from Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet sealed a 3-1 win for the Hammers.

Ahead of Everton's hosting of Manchester United at Goodison Park, the football world learnt of the shock passing of former Toffee's manager Howard Kendall who led them through their greatest period of success and was well remembered ahead of kick-off. For the hosts though it wasn't to be their day as they fell to a 3-0 defeat which started with an 18th minute opener from Morgan Schneiderlin which was rapidly followed by a second strike as Ander Herrera scored. The win was wrapped up on the hour mark as former Everton striker Wayne Rooney confirmed a 3-0 win.

Manchester City looked to remain on top of the table as they hosted Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium and they started superbly as Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Bony made it 2-0 inside 11 minutes.

The Cherries responded on 22 minutes through Glenn Murray but it was to be in vain as Sterling completed a first half hat-trick on 28 and 45 minutes for 4-1 at the interval with a fifth coming late on as Bony struck his second goal for a 5-1 triumph.

Leicester and Southampton faced off at the King Power Stadium as they both looked to close up on the top four and the hosts boosted their hopes with a rare strike from Jose Fonte before Virgil van Dijk doubled the lead on 37 minutes for 2-0. However, Leicester have been the experts at coming from behind this season and they continued as Jamie Vardy scored a brace on 66 and 90 minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Sunderland travelled to face West Brom at The Hawthorns looking for their first win of the season and with Sam Allardyce installed as manager, hopes were boosted but to their dismay their poor form was to continue. The Baggies sealed a narrow 1-0 win with a 55th minute strike from Saido Berahino which moved them away from the danger zone.

The evening kick-off saw another London derby as Watford hosted Arsenal at Vicarage Road and in a tight first half, the Hornets did well to hold the Gunners to a 0-0 scoreline. However, their joy turned to misery in the space of 13 minutes as Arsenal sealed a 3-0 win with strikes from Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey which puts them just two points off top spot.

Super Sunday saw a truly stunning game as Newcastle United hosted Norwich City at St James Park with the Magpies looking for their first win of the season and in an eight goal thriller their wait was at an end.

Georginio Wijnaldum put the hosts ahead on 13 minutes before Dieumerci Mbokani levelled just seven minutes later for 1-1. Wijnaldum struck again for 2-1 before Ayoze Perez made it three on 33 minutes only to have his effort instantly followed by a reply from Norwich as Nathan Redmond made it 3-2. Aleksandar Mitrovic regained the two goal lead for the Magpies at 4-2 on 64 minutes before Wijnaldum completed his hat-trick for 5-2 just two minutes later. Newcastle's first win was long confirmed but on 85 minutes came a special moment as Wijnaldum struck a stunning fourth for 6-2 to become the first player to score four for the Magpies since Andy Cole.

Monday Night Football saw Swansea City host Stoke City at the Liberty Stadium with both sides keen to distance themselves from the danger zone. Stoke made a perfect start as they were awarded a penalty inside four minutes which Bojan Krkic slotted in to put them ahead and 1-0 proved to be enough for the Potters to secure a win that moved them above their opponents into 11th.

Five Star Aguero Send City Top While Reds Draw Derby

Ahead of an International break, gameweek eight saw two managerial exits from sides which wasted leads in games they ended up drawing while a five goal haul from a certain Argentinian striker left denied a first win for the Magpies.

Saturday's early kick-off came from Selhurst Park as high-flying Crystal Palace hosted West Brom with the hosts keen to close the gap at the top. A tight first half saw the sides remain level into the interval but Palace struck on 68 minutes through Yannick Bolasie before a late penalty from Yohan Cabaye wrapped up a 2-0 win.

In the first of a quintet of 3pm games, Aston Villa played host to Stoke City at Villa Park with both sides looking to move closer to the top half of the table. Stoke make the breakthrough just ten minutes into the second half as Marko Arnautovic secured a welcome three points which moved the Potters clear of the drop zone.



A battle between two of the newly promoted sides saw Bournemouth host Watford at the Vitality Stadium with both looking to boost mixed starts to the season. The Cherries struck first as summer signing Glenn Murray gave them the lead on 28 minutes but the Hornets struck back just before the interval as Odion Ighalo continued his superb scoring streak with a 45th minute equaliser which was enough to ensure a share of the points.


After a woeful start to the season, Newcastle travelled to the Etihad Stadium to face a Manchester City side who were keen to return to the top of the table and extend the Magpies poor run without a win. Newcastle stunned the City faithful as Aleksandar Mitrovic gave them the lead on 18 minutes, City levelled with four minutes left of the half through Sergio Aguero and the sides went into the break at 1-1.

Aguero ran riot in the second half as he completed his hat-trick within five minutes of the restart for 3-1 with Kevin De Bruyne adding a strike on 53 minutes for 4-1. However, Aguero's assault on the Magpies resumed just eight minutes later as he struck twice more in as many minutes to complete a stunning 17 minutes for the hosts and as they cruised to a 6-1 triumph.

Leicester City made a superb start to the season and looked to continue their high-flying as they travelled to Carrow Road to face Norwich City who looked to move into the top half. The Foxes started well and went ahead on 28 minutes through a Jamie Vardy penalty before Jeff Schlupp doubled the lead two minutes after the interval. Norwich stayed in the hunt and pulled one back on 68 minutes as Dieumerci Mbokani struck for 2-1 which is how the game ended.

Sunderland's miserable start to the season had the chance to improve as they hosted high-flying West Ham United and their hopes were given an early boost as Steven Fletcher and Jermain Lens put them 2-0 ahead inside 22 minutes. The Hammers cut the gap just before half-time through Carl Jenkinson and they were given a double boost either side of the hour mark as the hosts went down to 10 via Lens being dismissed and Dmitri Payet slotted in an equaliser for 2-2 to deny the hosts a first win and leave them in the bottom three. The result led to Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat leaving his post with them sitting in 19th.

The evening kick-off saw Chelsea host Southampton at Stamford Bridge with the Champions desperate to boost their flagging start to the season while the Saints hoped to remain in the top half of the table. The Blues started well and went ahead inside ten minutes after a superb effort from Willian but they went into the interval on level terms after Steven Davis' 43rd minute equaliser.

Southampton completed their comeback on the hour as Sadio Mané put them in front before a stunning strike from Graziano Pellé secured the points and a 3-1 victory to leave Chelsea in 16th.

Super Sunday began with the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park as city rivals Everton and Liverpool faced off with the Reds looking to boost a mixed start to the season while the Toffees were keen to move into the top four. As expected the first half was a closely fought one but despite being level at the interval both sides were on the board, Danny Ings put the Reds ahead on 41 minutes only for his effort to be cancelled out by Romelu Lukaku's 45th minute leveller. The sides remained level and shared the spoils but the result proved to be the last for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers who was sacked just two hours after the final whistle.


The second televised game saw fierce rivals Arsenal and Manchester United meet at the Emirates Stadium with the Gunners looking to leapfrog their opponents into second while United looked to reclaim top spot from City. An amazing start from the hosts saw them race into a 2-0 lead inside seven minutes as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil struck in the space of two minutes. Sanchez doubled his tally on 19 minutes and the Gunners looked set to embarrass the visitors. However, the three goal gap remained as they secure the win and left United with work to do in the International break.

The final game of the weekend saw Swansea host Tottenham at the Liberty Stadium with both hoping to move up the table. Swansea started the better of the two sides a they took a 16th minute lead after a header from the in-form Andre Ayew but were soon pegged back by a clever free-kick from Christian Eriksen. Tottenham's joy was short lived as a bizarre own goal from Harry Kane restored the lead for the Swans but alike their first deficit, the visitors drew level with a second free-kick from Eriksen on 65 minutes to ensure they took away a point.

Europa League Matchday Two Results

Champions League Matchday Two Results

United On Top While Reds Edge Villa

After a mixed gameweek six for the top sides, gameweek seven saw a new record for the season as it became the highest scoring weekend so far as all but six sides registered two goals with two sides hitting nine between them.

The weekend began with the Saturday lunchtime game between Tottenham and current leaders Manchester City at White Hart Lane. City's perfect start had been ended against West Ham so when Kevin De Bruyne put City 1-0 up after 25 minutes, no one would have predicted what happened next hour as City were blown away by the Londoners.

Eric Dier equalised just before the interval for 1-1 before two goals in 11 minutes from Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane put the hosts 3-1 up. The hammer blow for the hosts came on 79 minutes as Erik Lamela struck to seal a famous 4-1 triumph.

Leicester looked to take advantage at the top as they hosted Arsenal at the King Power Stadium but despite the Foxes taking a 13th minute lead through Jamie Vardy, it was to be miserable afternoon for the hosts as Arsenal ran riot. Theo Walcott levelled on 18 minutes before an Alexis Sanchez hat-trick (33,57,81) put the Gunners in control at 4-1, Vardy scored his second on 89 minutes for 4-2 but it was in vain as Olivier Giroud restored the Gunners three goal lead as he sealed a 5-2 win in the final minutes.


The afternoon saw five 3pm games with so I will start alphabetically with the action from Anfield as Liverpool hosted Aston Villa looking to improve on a mixed start to the season. The Reds made a perfect start with James Milner striking the opening goal inside two minutes and Daniel Sturridge opened his account for the season just before the hour mark for 2-0.

Villa replied superbly with a five minute brace from Rudy Gestede (66,71) but his strikes sandwiched a second for Sturridge which proved to be enough for the hosts to secure a 3-2 win.

Manchester United had the chance to replace their city rivals at the top as they took on Sunderland at Old Trafford and they struck an opener late in the first half through Memphis Depay which was instantly added to after the restart by Wayne Rooney for 2-0. Sunderland have had a woeful start to the season and it got worse late on as Juan Mata slotted in a third for United to complete a comfortable 3-0 win.

Southampton looked to boost their mixed start to the season as they hosted Swansea City at St Mary's and they made a good start as summer signing Virgil Van Dijk opened his account for the club on 11 minutes. Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mané increased the lead to 3-0 either side of the hour mark and with the result sealed, Swansea had the last say on the score as Gylfi Sigurdsson slotted in an 83rd minute penalty for a 3-1 final score.

Stoke have had a strange start to the season as ahead of the hosting of Bournemouth at the Britannia Stadium they were inside the bottom three. Their pursuit to exit the relegation places was boosted on 32 minutes through Jon Walters' opener but with the win seemingly in sight, they were pegged back on 76 minutes as the Cherries equalised through Dan Gosling. The Potters did secure a passage out of the bottom three with seven minutes remaining as Mame Biram Diouf sealed a 2-1 win.


West Ham United have started superbly and had the chance to close up at the top as they hosted Norwich City but it was the Canaries who made the better start as they took the lead inside nine minutes through Robbie Brady. Diafra Sakho equalised for the Hammers on 33 minutes and as the sides looked destined for a draw in the final ten minutes, Norwich regained the lead with seven minutes remaining through Nathan Redmond but their joy was curtailed in the final minutes by an equaliser from Cheikhou Kouyate for a point each at 2-2.

The evening kick-off looked like a mismatch based on form but as Newcastle United hosted Chelsea at St James' Park, the Magpies opened the scoring as Ayoze Perez gave them a surprise lead three minutes before the interval. Georginio Wijnaldum doubled the lead on the hour and it looked like the hosts were on course for their first win of the season. However, it wasn't to be as the Blues firstly cut the gap through Ramires on 79 minutes before salvaging a point in the final minutes through Willian to leave the Magpies at the bottom of the table.

Sunday's action saw a London derby between Watford and Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road and it was the Eagles who came out on top as they secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Yohan Cabaye penalty in the 71st minute.

Monday Night Football saw a five goal thriller as West Bromwich Albion hosted Everton at The Hawthorns. The Baggies took the lead four minutes before the interval through Saido Berahino before doubling their lead just ten minutes after the restart through Craig Dawson. Everton have made a good start to the season so far and continued in that fashion with a superb comeback to secure a 3-2 win. Romelu Lukaku struck within a minute of Dawson's strike before Arouna Kone levelled on 75 minutes but the Toffees sealed the points with six minutes left of the 90 to move up to fifth. 

Champions League/Europa League Matchday 1

City Slip To Hammers As Canaries Hold Reds

After the first week of European action for six of the 20 sides in the league, domestic duties resumed with the fabled 'European hangover' in the thoughts but despite surfacing, it only affected half of the sides.

Saturday's lunchtime game saw a fierce London derby at Stamford Bridge as Champions League duo Chelsea and Arsenal faced off. A tense first half saw the sides remain level but only in terms of the score as a scuffle between Diego Costa and Gabriel resulted in the latter being dismissed with his second booking. Chelsea took just eight minutes to utilise their numerical advantage as Kurt Zouma made it 1-0 on 53 minutes.

Arsenal's afternoon got worse rather than better as they were reduced to nine men on 79 minutes as Santi Cazorla received his second booking leaving the Gunners with a huge task to even salvage a draw, such an even was denied though as Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 win in the final minutes.

Another derby took place in the 3pm games at Villa Park as Aston Villa hosted close rivals West Brom. A close game overall saw the Baggies secure a narrow 1-0 victory as Saido Berahino struck a 39th minute winner.

Bournemouth looked to continue a fine start to the season as they hosted struggling Sunderland at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries made a perfect start as they raced into a 2-0 lead inside nine minutes with strikes from Callum Wilson and Matt Richie. Sunderland's afternoon continued to be a poor one as they went down to 10 men on 74 minutes with the dismissal of Younes Kaboul and it proved to be the last impact on the game as the hosts held on for the win. 

Newcastle's start to the season has been one to forget for the Magpies faithful so as they hosted Watford at St James Park, confidence was low as it proved to be correct after just 10 minutes as Odion Ighalo put the visitors ahead. He added a second goal on 28 minutes as it looked to be another bad day for the Magpies. Pre-match statistics saw Daryl Janmaat stand out as the best attacker for the hosts despite being the right back but he continued that streak by pulling a goal back on 62 minutes but it was just a consolation as the Hornets claimed a 2-1 win.

After a stunning start to the season, Leicester travelled to face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium looking to close up at the top. Stoke started the better of the two sides as Bojan Krkic opened his account for the season inside 13 minutes before Jon Walters did the same on 20 minutes for 2-0.

The Foxes came from two down to win 3-2 against Aston Villa last week and such spirit seemed to surface for a second time as Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy drew them level on 52 and 69 minutes. However, that was how it ended as the Foxes slipped to fourth after the 2-2 draw.

Swansea and Everton completed the 3pm kick-offs as they faced off at the Liberty Stadium but unlike the other games, this one failed to feature a goal as the sides drew 0-0. The only significant action came in the final minutes as substitute Kevin Mirallas lasted just over two minutes before being sent off. 


'Saturday Night Football' saw league leaders Manchester City host West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium with the Hammers looking to complete a trilogy of away wins after success at Arsenal and Liverpool. The started the pursuit to success superbly as Victor Moses opened the scoring after just six minutes to stun the home crowd and their despair grew as Diafra Sakho doubled the lead for the visitors on 31 minutes. City remained in the hunt as Kevin De Bruyne opened his account just before the interval for 2-1.

However, it was to be a famous day for both sides as West Ham held on for the win to complete a trilogy only three other sides have achieved and in doing so they condemned City to their first defeat in the league and their second in the same week after a loss in Europe to Juventus.

Sunday's early game saw Tottenham host Crystal Palace in a London derby at White Hart Lane with the hosts looking to improve on a mixed start to the season. They did just that as summer signing Son Heung-Min made it three goals in two games as he struck on 68 minutes to secure a 1-0 win after scoring a debut brace against Qarabag on Thursday night.

The late games began with Liverpool's hosting of Norwich City at Anfield with the Reds under pressure after resting several 'stars' in a 1-1 draw against Bordeaux on Thursday. A tight first half saw the sides remain level into the interval but an instant impact from substitute Danny Ings put the hosts ahead on 48 minutes.

However, the Reds had to settle for a point alike Thursday as they were pegged back on the hour mark by a Russell Martin equaliser as the Canaries made it 1-1.

The televised game saw Southampton host Manchester United at St Mary's and the game proved to be the most exciting of the weekend as the sides played their part in a five-goal thriller. The hosts struck first as Graziano Pellé made it 1-0 after 13 minutes before Anthony Martial levelled for the visitors on 35 minutes. The United youngster doubled his tally just five minutes after the interval for 2-1 before Juan Mata extended the lead to 3-1 on 68 minutes. Southampton set up a frantic finish after Pellé made it 3-2 with 86 minutes on the clock but the visitors held on for the win.