Premier League Preview: Match Week Four

The Premier League resumes following an international break which paused the young season. Only three matches are in the books but some trendlines are clear. Manchester City continues to dominate as Erling Haaland is scoring goals for fun. Liverpool looks just fine under their new manager Arne Slot. Manchester United’s performance continues to edge Manager Erik ten Hag toward the exit. Chelsea shows flashes but not consistency amid continuing self-imposed drama. Surprises include an undefeated Brighton led by 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler who was named Premier League Manager of the Month for August.

An unpleasant surprise has been how hopeless Everton looks as the prospect of yet another relegation battle beckons for Toffee supporters. Tottenham Hotspur, entering this weekend’s north London derby, is a question mark. Spurs have won one, drawn one and lost one over three matches. The loss was to a stubborn Newcastle side at St. James Park, but the Magpies are a club that Spurs should beat if Europe is the goal. A thumping win over helpless Everton means little. An opening draw with newly promoted Leicester was embarrassing. Son Heung-min needs help up front and injuries to forwards Dominic Solanke and Richarlison have not been helpful towards that end. Reports that Solanke returned to training this week could provide an unexpected derby boost. More certain is that center back Micky van de Ven will make his return for Spurs.

Arsenal, meanwhile, is likely to be without two key players with an injured Martin Odegaard likely to join suspended Declan Rice on the sideline. Odegaard injured his ankle playing for Norway earlier this week and was sporting crutches upon his return to England. Remarkably, however, Arteta refuses to rule his captain out of the rivalry match. If Odegaard plays, it will be a tribute to modern medicine. If he sits or is ineffective, the Gunners, already damaged by the absence of Rice, could be in trouble at the home of their rival.

Manchester United has had its share of injury woes but it should not matter at winless Southampton on Saturday. The Saints look to be in store for a long prayerful season, the full sum of their scoring to date being a 95th minute consolation goal in a 3-1 loss at Brentford.

The Bees will be facing a bit more firepower this weekend when they visit the Etihad to face Manchester City  though that firepower could be diminished if league leading scorer Erling Haaland is absent for compassionate leave, an open question on Friday after Haaland suffered the loss of a close family friend. Brentford, to its credit, has been dangerous in attack despite the loss of striker Ivan Toney. Only five clubs have scored more goals than the Bees’ front-line duo of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. The two will be up against a Manchester City defense which will be missing Nathan Ake who was stretchered off with a hamstring injury during the Netherlands’ draw with Germany on Tuesday.

Mbeumo x Wissa x Dreaming

Modern #Barclaysmen pic.twitter.com/wN8hvqR24w

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 10, 2024

Aston Villa should boost its goal total this weekend when Everton’s porous defense takes to the pitch at Villa Park. Striker Ollie Watkins is yet to find the net this season and will be happy to see the generous defenders from Merseyside who have conceded a league leading 10 goals this season. That Everton has scored only two goals to date is not a surprise after the club scored fewer goals than any surviving club last season. However, the unexpected defensive debacle, so unusual for a Sean Dyche managed club, could spell doom for the Toffees if not corrected.

Wolverhampton is the other returning club which is currently rattling around in the relegation zone. There was some encouragement in capturing a point at Nottingham Forest before the break, but the competitiveness of Manager Gary O’Neil’s squad was diminished by a debilitating transfer window which showed little support for the manager. Wolves will host Newcastle at Molineux Stadium where their last home match was a 6-2 humiliation by Chelsea.

Nottingham Forest was expected to be in the survival fight this season at the bottom of the table. That may still be the case, but Manager Nuno Espiritu Santo has his side off to a surprisingly solid start, unblemished yet by defeat. Unfortunately, the Trees are almost surely going to be chopped down this weekend at Anfield by Liverpool. New Liverpool Manager Arne Slot has won all three of his matches to date with his club yet to concede a goal. A clean sheet against the Trees on Saturday would mark the first time a Premier League manager has posted a clean sheet in his first four league matches. On the other end of the pitch, only Manchester City has scored more goals though three matches than the seven that Liverpool has deposited in opponents’ nets. Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz each have three goals with Diogo Jota having contributed the other Liverpool score.

Salah also has three assists this season, putting him one behind league leading facilitator Cole Palmer. The Chelsea ace and his revolving cadre of high-priced teammates are at Bournemouth this weekend but as is common, most of the talk surrounding the London club this week focuses on its eccentric ownership doings. The current drama revolves around a reported rift between ownership groups. Each side, one led by Todd Boehly and the other headed by Behdad Eghbali, wants to buy the other out. Neither side seems to want to sell though. Chelsea supporters are not happy with any of the owners. Bournemouth enters Week 4 without a defeat after two draws and a rollicking win over Everton which saw the Cherries overcome a two-goal deficit by scoring three late goals after the 86-minute mark.

Chelsea, meanwhile, was stung before the break when a second half goal by Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze saw the Blues drop points in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridger. The Eagles will return home to Selhurst Park on Saturday to host newly promoted Leicester City. The transfer window, which saw the early defection of winger Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, was not nearly as calamitous as feared for Crystal Palace. The club was able to fend off Newcastle’s interest in defender Marc Guehi, striker Eddie Nketiah was added from Arsenal, and Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah joins the Eagles on loan to help replace the departed Joachim Andersen. Crystal Palace Manager Oliver Glasner should now have the pieces to work with to continue the positive trajectory for the Eagles which began with his arrival in Croydon last season. Leicester, meanwhile, remains a prime candidate for demotion, with or without an expected point deduction from the Premier League for financial misdealing. Leicester Manager Steve Cooper is reportedly already feeling his seat become warm as he attempts this weekend to win for just the second time in his last 17 Premier League matches dating to his time at Nottingham Forest. Leicester’s Jordan Ayew will experience a homecoming at Selhurst. The goal starved but hard working Ghanian forward spent six years with Crystal Palace before moving to the Foxes this past window.

Elsewhere in London on Saturday, Fulham will play host to a derby with West Ham. The Cottagers won both contests against the Hammers last season and Fulham Manager Marco Silva has won all six of his matches versus the Hammers. Silva, however, has been less successful facing new West Ham Manager Julen Lopetegui who he hasn’t beaten in their three prior matchups.

Brighton Manager Fabian Hurzeler, fresh off winning the Manager of the Month award, will look to extend his Seagulls’ undefeated run against newly promoted Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys pulled out an encouraging 1-1 draw at Fulham after being rudely greeted back to the Premier League by Liverpool and Manchester City in two opening losses. 

More Bad News For Arsenal

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury during Norway’s win over Austria on Monday. The Arsenal captain boarded a flight back to England on crutches. That is more bad news for Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta as a north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur awaits this weekend. Recently acquired defender Riccardo Calafiore suffered a calf injury during this international break and left the Italian team for treatment back in England. Another Gunners newcomer, Mikel Merino, was unavailable for Spain this break because he fractured his shoulder on his first day of training with Arsenal. Declan Rice, meanwhile, is healthy and even scored a goal for England versus Ireland but is suspended for Sunday’s Premier League match after his red card versus Brighton prior to the break.

The availability issues increase the challenge for Arsenal against their rivals in a match which seems more important than it should be in just the fourth week of the season. Arsenal disappointingly dropped points in the 1-1 draw with Brighton. Serial Premier League titlist Manchester City, meanwhile, remains perfect as does a Liverpool side which does not seem diminished by the departure of iconic manager Jurgen Klopp. More dropped points from the Gunners, particularly against rival Spurs, would most certainly fray the nerves of Arsenal supporters.

Now Arteta must puzzle what his lineup will look like. The manager could call on former Chelsea man Jorginho in Rice’s place for the game against Spurs. That is if the Italian international is still a Gunner. Rumors are circulating this week that Turkish side Galatasaray is seeking to acquire Jorginho before the Turkish window closes September 13. The midfielder is restless after not seeing the pitch in Arsenal’s first three matches. That could change this weekend. If Odegaard is out, we could see super sub Leandro Trossard begin the match although where he would play is another question. The Belgian could slide directly into Odegaard’s vacated spot in midfield. Alternatively, Trossard could play up front with one-time central midfielder Kai Havertz dropping deeper from his current forward role.

Taking over Trossard’s “spark plug” off the bench role might then be the newly acquired Raheem Sterling. The Premier League veteran is poised to debut for his fourth “top six” club after Chelsea shuffled him off to Arsenal on loan in notorious fashion before the window closed. Sterling featured for Chelsea during preseason but then was abruptly told he was not in the plans of Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca. Forbidden to train with the Chelsea regulars and stripped of his uniform number, Sterling was then quickly shipped off to Arsenal amid uproar over his poor treatment. Chelsea will reportedly be paying the greater part of Sterling’s wages as Arsenal becomes the beneficiary of Chelsea’s self-induced drama. The former Liverpool and Manchester City winger might also be a candidate to replace the underperforming Gabriel Martinelli in Arteta’s lineup against Spurs. Sterling has had success in the past against Arsenal’s rival, scoring six goals and notching five assists in 21 Premier League appearances versus Tottenham Hotspur.

Finally, some good news for the Gunners is that Gabriel Jesus could return from a groin injury which has kept him out of the last two matches. The Brazilian’s readiness and Arteta’s willingness to employ him remain a bit fuzzy, however. The manager though will need as many hands as possible on deck over the next two weeks. After the weekend’s derby, Arsenal plays a Champions League match in Italy the following Thursday at Atalanta. Three days after Atalanta comes a Premier League match that the entire world will be watching when the Gunners pay a visit to Manchester City.  

Premier League Results Match Week 3: Arsenal Drops Points At Home To Brighton; Another Haaland Hat Trick Leads Manchester City Over Hammers; Liverpool Sails By Manchester United; Chelsea and Crystal Palace Draw At Stamford Bridge; Everton Makes History In Epic Loss To Cherries

Mikel Arteta was, of course, in full voice as he criticized the second yellow card that sent Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice off in the 49th minute at the Emirates. Brighton would score a tying goal nine minutes later as the surprising Seagulls remained undefeated by securing a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. Rice’s second infraction was, of course, both obvious and silly as the English international was carded for delaying a restart. The Gunners had earlier taken the  lead when Kai Havertz scored in the 38th minute, his second goal of the season, assisted by Bukayo Saka. All momentum changed, however, when Rice received his first Premier League red card when he nudged the ball as Brighton’s Joel Veltman was trying to take a free kick. Rice had earlier fouled Veltman for his first yellow card and the second yellow left the Gunners to battle most of the second half with ten men. Brighton pressed its advantage and broke through in the 58th minute when Joao Pedro scored the equalizer. Both clubs now have identical records of two wins and a draw from three matches. Brighton should be ecstatic at their undefeated start under new manager Fabian Hurzeler.

When the ball drops for João Pedro , you know what’s about to happen next.

Refreshingly clinical. pic.twitter.com/vSuTUMUFZC

— Ryan (@ryanadsett) August 31, 2024

Arsenal, on the other hand, may already be worried about losing ground to fellow title contenders Manchester City and Liverpool, both of whom remain perfect after three matches. Erling Haaland continued his torrid start to the season, finding the net three times in Manchester City’s 3-1 win over West Ham. The Norwegian goal machine has seven goals on the season after his second consecutive hat trick and has now scored 70 Premier League goals in 69 matches for Manchester City.

Liverpool kept pace with the defending champions by defeating Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Luis Diaz scored a brace and Mohamed Salah had a goal and two assists as Liverpool Manager Arne Slot continued his perfect record in the Premier League. Manchester United’s midfield was overrun by their quicker Liverpool counterparts. Casemiro was dispossessed in the lead up to both Diaz goals and the former Real Madrid great was given the hook at halftime by Manchester United Manager Eric ten Hag. Casemiro’s midfield partner, promising youngster Kobbie Mainoo, also had a rough afternoon and lost the ball to Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister leading to Salah’s goal. The Red Devils certainly rued not having newly acquired defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte registered in time for the match. Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, continues to play like he is the answer to the Reds’ own defensive midfield concerns. Liverpool remains the only Premier League club not to have conceded a goal this season.

Newcastle United is level with Arsenal and Brighton on points after a 2-1 win at St. James Park over Tottenham Hotspur in a match where Spurs dominated play but was unable to capitalize upon its chances. Newcastle played conservatively but succeeded with its counterattack. The winner came when Spurs center back Cristian Romero was caught going forward as Newcastle attacked the space left in the Spurs defense. Joelinton found Jacob Murphy who crossed to Alexander Isak for the winner. Sandro Tonali made his return for the Magpies on Sunday after a lengthy betting suspension and received a warm welcome from supporters.

Brentford and Aston Villa each have two victories on the season after defeating newly promoted clubs on the weekend. Brentford pounded winless Southampton 3-1 as the Bees’ Bryan Mbeumo scored twice and forward partner Yoane Wissa added the third and final goal. The teammates have scored all five of the Bees’ goals this season with the Bees’ former striker Ivan Toney now having finalized a transfer to Saudi Arabia.

Aston Villa were 2-1 winners at Leicester as Villa’s super sub Jhon Duran scored in the 61st minute after coming on in relief of striker Ollie Watkins. It was Duran’s second match winner of the young season.

Newly promoted Ipswich Town got its first point of the season with a 1-1 draw versus Fulham. Twenty-one-year-old forward Liam Delap, acquired from Manchester City this summer, staked the Tractor Boys to the lead in the 14th minute. Not even an equalizer from Fulham’s Adama Traore could detract from the joy of Portman Road supporters in securing their first Premier League point in 22 years.

Less excited were the Chelsea supporters at Stamford Bridge who saw Crystal Palace take home a point when Eberechi Eze equalized after an opening goal by Chelsea’s Niclas Jackson. It was an all too typical day for the Chelsea forward. He scored a goal but bottled two later opportunities that could have given Chelsea the winner. His immaturity was on display when he received a yellow card for delaying play. Still, his contributions at the center of Chelsea’s attack are likely underestimated amid Chelsea’s perpetual search for  a different striker. Cole Palmer facilitated Jackson’s  goal against the Eagles on Sunday with  his league leading fourth assist. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, relied on Eze’s strike and some fine goalkeeping from Dean Hendersen, who notched six saves on the day, to end a steak of 13 consecutive losses against Chelsea and register the Eagles’ first point of the season.

The unhappiest fans of the weekend were likely those streaming out of Goodison Park after Everton collapsed in the late stages of a 3-2 loss to Bournemouth. The Toffees, who had failed to win, draw or even score going into the day, were leading by a 2-0 margin until Bournemouth began its comeback with an 87th minute goal by Antonio Semenyo. Stoppage time goals by Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra stole all three points for the Cherries in classic “smash and grab” fashion. The epic collapse by Everton was the first time in Premier League history that a club had lost after holding a two-goal lead into the 87th minute of play. The concern after two disappointing Everton losses to start the season had waned just a bit for 86 minutes until exploding into a cacophony of despair for the club that now sits dead last at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Wolverhampton resides with Everton and Southampton in the relegation places despite gaining a point in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Forest remarkably stayed undefeated after Saturday’s draw despite scoring only three goals in three matches. Wolverhampton earned its first point of the season when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde scored in the 12t minute, just two minutes after Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood had opened the scoring.