Chelsea’s young stars, who led the club’s strong finish last season, had a day on Sunday. Noni Madueke had himself a hat trick. PFA Young Player of the Year Cole Palmer had three assists and a goal. Striker Niclas Jackson had a goal and an assist. Wolverhampton were left to look foolish in a 6-2 home embarrassment. Chelsea were thought the fools the past few weeks for their unusual personnel management which has seen a bloated squad experience more churn. Even Madueke had been the subject of transfer rumors, and at risk of losing minutes to newcomers, before his three-goal output on Sunday. Palmer, of course, is the club’s crown jewel and the man they call “Cold” delivered his first breakout performance of the young season, assisting all three of Madueke’s goals in addition to his own tally. The chemistry between Palmer and Madueke was undeniable, and one can only hope that Manager Enzo Maresca builds on that relationship amid Chelsea’s revolving door of lineups.
An injury to Romeo Lavia dropped Enzo Fernandez deeper along Moises Caicedo while Pamer moved inside to his more comfortable Number Ten position where Fernandez spent an uncomfortable shift against Manchester City the week before. Madueke slotted in on the right flank and excelled. Maresca’s system was evident on Sunday with Chelsea dominating possession and staying on the front foot throughout the match. To cap off an outstanding day, the final goal was the product of two of the club’s newcomers, Joao Felix scoring on an assist by Pedro Neto. Defensively, there’s still vulnerability, but the Blues look to have the goal potential to energize skeptical supporters. That'll do. #CFC | #WOLCHE pic.twitter.com/Ac2zcXdRzx
Arsenal is intent that this will be their year after running second to Manchester City the past two seasons. Things were certainly different on Saturday when Arsenal removed the hex that ex-manager Unai Emery seemed to possess over the Gunners. The London side were 2-0 winners at Villa Park. Last season Arsenal not only lost twice to Aston Villa but failed to score a goal across the two losing efforts. Saturday’s win was also just the second win against Emery in eight meetings. Things were again far form easy on Saturday for the Gunners. Aston Villa had the better chances with Ollie Watkins uncharacteristically failing to convert on two golden chances. The Gunners finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the 67th minute on a goal by substitute Leandro Trossard who continues to bid for a place in Manager Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup. A rare goal by midfielder Thomas Patey then removed all doubt as to the outcome ten minutes after Trossard’s breakthrough. Arsenal joins contenders Manchester City and Liverpool and surprising Brighton and Hove Albion as the Premier League sides with perfect records after two matches.
Brighton, and the Seagulls’ 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler were 2-1 winners at home over Manchester United when Joao Pedro scored a stoppage time winner. No other club has lost in stoppage time as often as the six such defeats suffered since Eric ten Hag arrived at Manchester United. One-time Red Devil Danny Welbeck scored against his old club to open Saturday’s proceedings and give Brighton a 32nd minute advantage. Welbeck’s’ 100th career goal across all competitions was the sixth time he has scored against the Red Devils. Manchester United levelled in the second half on Saturday when Amad Diallo opened his account. A courageous performance saw the 22-year-old Diallo score just a day after the passing of his mother. Joshua Zirkzee would be ruled offside on a potential winner for Manchester United before Joao Pedro delivered the dagger in the fifth minute of stoppage.
There was little doubt as to the outcome at the Etihad where Manchester City spanked newcomers Ipswich Town 4-1. Erling Haaland scored a hat trick, the first coming by penalty, and Kevin De Bruyne had a goal and an assist to down the overmatched Tractor Boys.
Tottenham Hotspur also scored four times to win 4-0 over Everton. Son Heung-min found the net twice against an Everton side which has now conceded seven goals and failed to score any of its own in its two opening matches. Yves Bissouma returned from a club-imposed suspension to open the scoring for Spurs. Everton, meanwhile, managed just a single shot on target with Spurs controlling over 71% of possession. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s howler contributed to Everton’s woes when the England keeper was robbed of the ball by Son before the Korean international scored his first goal into an empty net.
While things look dire at Everton, Nottingham Forest is picking up points to try to separate itself from the relegation battlers. The Tricky Trees scored their first victory of the season and remained undefeated after a 1-0 win over Southampton. Morgan Gibbs-White provided the match’s only score with his 70th minute goal. The Saints, meanwhile, join Everton as the only sides yet to score a goal this season.
Crystal Palace surprisingly, is one of five Premier League clubs to have lost both games this season. The Eagles were superb down the stretch of last season under new manager Oliver Glasner, but now are trying to remain competitive while larger clubs poach their best players. Gone is electric young winger Miachel Olise. Gone is center back stalwart Joachim Andersen. Eagle supporters still have their fingers crossed that defender Marc Guehi and midfielder Eberechi Eze are still with the club when the transfer window closes on August 31. Palace suffered their second straight defeat Saturday, losing 2-0 to West Ham. West Ham Manager Julen Lopetegui recorded his first Premier League win when Hammers Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowne scored second half goals at Selhurst Park.
Controversy clouded the finish of a 1-1 draw between Bournemouth and Newcastle on the south coast. The Cherries’ Dango Ouattara seemingly scored the winner three minutes into stoppage time, but VAR disagreed. The ball was determined on review to have come off the upper arm of the Bournemouth player, rather than his shoulder, and the goal was chalked off, much to the dismay of the Cherries and their home supporters. Bournemouth begins the season with two consecutive 1-1 draws. Newcastle was quite happy to head home with a questionable point.
Mohamed Salah scored for the second consecutive match and Luis Diaz had a goal and an assist to make Manager Arne Slot’s Anfield debut a success in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brentford. The visiting Bees played a second consecutive match without an appearance by striker Ivan Toney who remains the subject of transfer speculation. Liverpool, meanwhile, remains perfect heading into next week’s confrontation with historic rival Manchester United where Slot will face another Dutch manager in United’s Eric ten Hag.
Two former Arsenal prodigies scored in Fulham’s 2-1 victory over Leicester. Newly acquired Emile Smith Rowe scored the opener at Craven Cottage. After a tying goal by Leicester’s Wout Faes, Iwobi decided the contest with his 70th minute strike. The Cottagers were the far more threatening side on the day with 31 touches in their opponents’ box versus just six for the Foxes. Fulham Manager Marco Silva, however, is still hoping to add a striker capable of converting more of those opportunities.
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