Some of the top clubs are licking their wounds after the weekend results as the Premier League table at the top seems less fixed than recent seasons. Liverpool sprinted back into the lead with Mohamed Salah striking the winner at Anfield to defeat a pesky Brighton side. The Reds moved past Manchester City into the top spot as the Citizens lost for the first time in 33 matches in a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth. Arsenal, meanwhile, lost for a second time amid a three-match winless run as Newcastle defeated the Gunners 2-1 at St James Park. Aston Villa lost its tenuous grip on the top four in a 4-1 embarrassment at Tottenham Hotspur. Both Villa and Arsenal fell out of the top four. Nottingham Forest is now in third place after the Tricky Trees defeated West Ham 3-0 for their third consecutive win. Chelsea is fourth by virtue of a goal differential advantage over Arsenal and Aston Villa after the Blues picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United. The tightly congested Premier League table sees Bournemouth and Newcastle level on points in 9th and 10th position, respectively, just three points removed from the top four after both clubs knocked off traditional powers on the weekend.
Liverpool, of course, is no stranger to a title race. There were understandable questions, however, as to how the transition to a new manager would go after a long period of prosperity under the legendary Jurgen Klopp. Things are going just fine under Arne Slot, however, as the transition has gone as smoothly as could be hoped for. The major difference to date is greater attention to the defensive end of the pitch where the Reds have conceded only six goals this season. Only one other Premier League side has conceded less than eleven goals. Some things, of course, have not changed, such as the sight of a curling left-footed strike by Salah leading Liverpool to victory.
Things have changed quickly for Manchester City. Saturday’s loss to Bournemouth not only put an end to a club record 32 match Premier League unbeaten run which included 26 victories and six draws for the serial titlists, but also marked a second consecutive loss for the Citizens after an EFL Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur during the week. Injuries, many in the defensive end, have riddled Manchester City’s squad. The embattled back line saw Ruben Dias the latest to miss action on Saturday, joining center back partner John Stones on the injury list. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake played through injuries on Saturday while Kenny Walker returned to the lineup despite having not trained in almost three weeks. Bournemouth has now claimed the scalps of both Arsenal and Manchester City in the last three weeks. Saturday’s victory was the Cherries’ first ever topflight win over Manchester City.
Arsenal failed to score for the second time in three weeks in its match at St. James’s Park as the absence of midfield maestro Martin Odegaard is taking a heavy toll. There is also the ongoing discussion, of course, as to whether the Gunners need a true striker as the early season form of converted midfielder Kai Havertz has cooled considerably. Arsenal faced a Newcastle side at St. James which was desperate to snap a five-match winless league run which had put the job security of Manager Eddie Howe in question. The Magpies, however, were buoyed by a midweek Cup win over Chelsea and a 12th minute Alexander Isak goal on Saturday goal put them in control in front of the roaring Toon army. From there, it was Newcastle’s defense which put the final stamp on the 1-0 victory over an Arsenal side which could find no answers in attack.
Nottingham Forest moved past Arsenal and three other clubs as the Tricky Trees moved from seventh to third place in the table with their 3-0 defeat of West Ham. It marked the first time in more than a quarter of a century that the Tricky Tress have won three consecutive Premier League matches. The clean sheet was the fifth of the season for virtually impenetrable Forest as only Liverpool have kept their opponents off the scoresheet more often than the Tricky Trees who have thrived under Manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s pragmatic and disciplined approach. Much of the club’s scoring, meanwhile, has come from striker Chris Wood who, after again finding the net on Saturday, has eight goals in this season’s ten matches and is just one short of tying the career mark for Nottingham Forest.
Surprising Forest also scored a win off the pitch this week as Arsenal Sporting Director Edu Gaspar has resigned his post with the Gunners to take up a position for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. In addition to the Tricky Trees, Marinakis, known for fiery outbursts when displeased with officiating, also owns Olympiakos and Rio Aves with rumored intensions to add to that group. The win at the City Ground was surprisingly just the second home win of the season for Nottingham Forest which has enjoyed most of its success on the road with only Liverpool having a better away record.Chris Wood again. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zg9Un2h9IP
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) November 2, 2024
Aston Villa had been undefeated on the road until Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Rejuvenated Spurs responded to last week’s disappointing league loss at Crystal Palace by toppling Manchester City in the Carabao Cup during the week and then inflicting Villa’s first away loss in convincing fashion. Dominic Solanke, relatively quiet this season after his splashy offseason acquisition, scored twice for Spurs. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, two individuals singled out for poor performance last week against Palace, also stepped up for Manager Ange Postecoglou’s side. Kulusevski assisted on the first of Solanke’s goals while Maddison finished off the scoring in the 96th minute.
Chelsea’s point against Manchester United moved it level on points with both Aston Villa and Arsenal and into possession of fourth place in the table based on goal differential. A rare goal from Moises Caicedo proved the equalizer for Chelsea just four minutes after Bruno Fernandes had given United the lead on a 70th minute penalty kick. It was Caicedo’s first goal of the season and fourth in 90 appearances for Chelsea. The Ecuadoran’s calling card is breaking up the opponents’ attacks, something he is doing with unparalleled success this season as he leads the Premier League in combined tackles and interceptions. Manchester United Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy remained unbeaten as he waits to hand the reins over to permanent appointment Ruben Amorim with the Red Devils having toasted Leicester 5-2 in the Carabao Cup during the week.
Leicester recovered from that pasting to earn a point at fellow promoted side Ipswich Town on Saturday. Former Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew scored his second league goal of the season for the Foxes with his equalizing strike in the 94th minute.
Palace also shared points this weekend when center back Marc Guehi tied matters in the 77th minute at Wolverhampton. The Eagles got their earlier goal courtesy of fellow defender Trevor Chalobah as Crystal Palace found a way to overcome the meager threat posed by its attacking players. Only Southampton has scored fewer goals this season than the Eagles who were without star Eberechi Eze for the match.
The prayers of the Southampton Saints were answered in the 85th minute when Adam Armstrong scored to stun Everton 1-0 for the Saints’ first win of the season. The Saints victory ended a five-match unbeaten run for Everton and gave Southampton supporters at St. Mary’s a sliver of hope that the Saints might yet ascend from the relegation zone.
Week 10 in the Premier League ended in dramatic fashion Monday when Fulham’s Harry Wilson scored twice in stoppage time to give the Cottagers a come from behind 2-1 win over Brentford at Craven Cottage. The Bees have now dropped 14 points from winning positions this season.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment: