Premier League Results Match Week 7: Top Three Unchanged As Reds, Gunners and Citizens Prevail; Goalless Grind by Aston Villa and Manchester United; Epic Collapse By Spurs; Hammers Pound The Tractor Boys; Chelsea Drops Points In Melee At The Bridge; Wolves Stung By Bees

Liverpool posted its fifth clean sheet in seven Premier League matches as the table leaders edged Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park. Diogo Jota’s ninth minute goal was all that was required as the Reds faced little challenge from Crystal Palace. The Eagles remain mired in the relegation zone, continuing to search for their first win of this season. Crystal Palace bemoaned a potential penalty call when Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk purportedly grabbed Marc Guehi. While the call was debatable, the argument was sadly the only energy the Eagles displayed on the day.

Arsenal pummeled another of the league’s winless punching bags in a 3-1 win over Southampton as Bukayo Saka set up Arsenal’s first two goals before scoring himself in the 88th minute. Kai Havertz was the beneficiary of Saka’s first assist, finding the net for a club leading fourth time this season as the former Chelsea man scored in a seventh consecutive Emirates appearance. The home crowd was initially shocked by a Southampton goal which gave the Saints an improbable lead before Arsenal began to roll to their 400th home win in the Premier League. Only Manchester United had previously reached that milestone.

Manchester City remained level with Arsenal, one point behind Liverpool, by defeating Fulham 3-2. As was the case with Arsenal, Manchester City also played the role of gracious host by allowing their visitors to score the opening goal. Mateo Kovacic, however, then played the unlikely hero for the defending champions as the midfielder scored twice in succession. A Jeremy Doku goal put the Citizens beyond the reach of an 88th minute consolation goal by the Cottagers.

Homestanding Chelsea also conceded the game’s first goal to Nottingham Forest. A Noni Madueke goal  brought the Blues level, but Chelsea was then unable to capitalize on an ensuing man advantage. Forest’s James Ward-Prowse was disqualified in the 78th minute but Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels stood tall with numerous key saves to preserve the away point for the Tricky Trees. The scrappy contest will likely see disciplinary action against both clubs for failing to control their players after a melee in the closing stages. As it is, both Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana will be suspended for Chelsea’s next league match after they became the first Premier League players this season to pick up five yellow cards. Chelsea as a team were assessed six yellow cards on Sunday for the second time this season. Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca dismisses the seeming indiscipline as he professes to “like the spirit of the team.”

Aston Villa remains level on points with fourth place Chelsea after a somnolent goalless slog with Manchester United. The ugly point by Manchester United may well save the job of Manager Eric ten Hag at least for a few weeks. Ten Hag’s pleas for patience with what he characterizes as a long-term project are a bit comical, however, considering his man of the match on Sunday was 36-year-old Jonny Evans who played his first league match with the Red Devils back in 2008. The Dutch manager’s short-term fate is reportedly to be discussed during an ownership meeting planned for this week. Aston Villa were lackluster, perhaps an understandable let down after an exhilarating Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Brighton, meanwhile, rose from ninth to sixth place in the table with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur. Another “Spursy” performance saw Tottenham Hotspur lose for a league record 10th time after leading a match by two goals as a two-goal halftime lead disappeared with the concession of three second half goals inside of 18 minutes. While the goals reflected individual player mistakes by Tottenham Hotspur players, debate continues on the net viability of Manager Ange Postecoglou’s high risk / high reward system of play. Summer transfer acquisitions Yankuba Minteh and Georginio Rutter  scored the fist two goals of the Seagull comeback before Premier League veteran Danny Welbeck headed in the winner. The final goal was indicative of Spurs’ play as neither the cross nor Welbeck’s header was contested by Tottenham Hotspur defenders. Postecoglou after the match would describe his club’s play as “bad as it gets.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle United were one of the three clubs which Brighton leapfrogged on the weekend as the Magpies were held to a goalless draw at Everton. The Toffees’ Jordan Pickford more than earned his first clean sheet of the Premier League season when the England keeper stopped a penalty try from Anthony Gordon. The miss was particularly disappointing for Newcastle’s Gordon who made 78 appearances for Everton after his childhood signing by the club. An acrimonious 2023 exit led some supporters and even official club sources to delight in his misfortune at Goodison Park Saturday. Everton moved two points clear of the relegation line as the Toffees have captured four of their last six available points.

Leicester secured its first victory of the season to improve its own survival prospects as the Foxes defeated visiting Bournemouth 1-0 at King Power Stadium. Facundo Buonanaotte, on loan to the Foxes from Brighton, scored his second goal of the season as Leicester took the lead in a match for only the second time this season. Absent a feared points deduction form the league, the Foxes are currently best poised of the newly promoted sides to stick around for another year.

The Foxes are 15th in the table, jumping over Ipswich Town which was hammered 4-1 at West Ham on Saturday. Julen Lopetegui scored his first victory as a West Ham manager at London Stadium after starting his managerial tenure with three consecutive home defeats. The fireworks started early on Saturday as each club scored within the opening two minutes of play. The Tractor Boys were finished, however, after Liam Delap’s fourth goal of the season. The Hammers would go on to score three more times to lessen the pressure on their new manager who was being rumored to quickly become their former manager. The three points move West Ham to 12th in the table, level with Bournemouth and Manchester United and two points behind Brentford.

The Bees on Saturday swarmed all over bottom of the table Wolverhampton in a 5-3 goal fest. The Wolves levelled twice early on before the home side poured on three consecutive goals, rendering a Wolves stoppage time goal meaningless. Brentford ended a three-match winless run with the win. Winless Wolves have captured just a single point this season and have conceded a staggering 21 goals in their seven matches.