Sports
🔬 The Debrief on Saturday’s Premier League action
Eight games took place on Saturday as the Premier League provided more shocks, thrills and comebacks.
Here’s how it all went down.
What happened?
Two goals from Nicolas Jackson helped Chelsea breeze past West Ham 3-0 in the lunchtime kickoff.
Jhon Durán scored again as Aston Villa came from a goal behind to beat Wolves 3-1 in the midlands derby.
Goals from summer signings Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson helped Fulham record an impressive 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table Everton hung onto a point for the first time this season despite a late Leicester City goal, with the two relegation candidates sharing a 1-1 draw.
Merseyside rivals Liverpool had no such problems, brushing aside Bournemouth 3-0 courtesy of two goals from Luiz DÃaz.
In the battle of the newly promoted sides, a stoppage time goal from Sam Morsy snatched a point for Ipswich Town.
And Manchester United rounded off the day’s action with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, in which the goalkeepers were the heroes at both ends.
Player of the day
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson enjoyed a fine afternoon with two goals and an assist as he helped his side demolish West Ham 3-0.
From one of the most maligned strikers in the Premier League last season, the ex-Villarreal attacker has found his shooting boots and is now undroppable for Enzo Maresca.
📸 Justin Setterfield – 2024 Getty Images
Who needed Osimhen anyway?
Stat of the day
Brentford love a fast start, scoring after 30 seconds against Tottenham.
But maybe Thomas Frank should warn them to just tone it down a little in the opening stages….
Brentford are the first side in the competition’s history to score in the opening minute of back-to-back Premier League games and lose both matches.
Maybe there is such a thing as scoring too early. 😅 pic.twitter.com/Xg4R0BUUAE
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 21, 2024
What this means
Liverpool’s win took them to the top of the Premier League before Man City host Arsenal on Sunday, while Aston Villa also move to 12 points and behind the Reds on goal difference.
Everton’s point moved them off the bottom of the table and above Wolves, despite the two sides having identical points, goals scored, conceded and difference.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are one of six sides are still looking for their first win of the season.
What they said
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admitted that his side struggled in the first half against Wolves, but enjoyed the second half far more. “We were suffering in the first half but the second half was completely different. I am very happy because we won. It was very important we changed our energy and we played to win in the second half.”
Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou was happy to finally get rewards for Tottenham’s performances, saying: “Our performances have been good all year but today we got the result as well which is the most pleasing bit. We should have won by a fair bit more but we still got the job done.”
Fulham goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe is already feeling right at home after moving from Arsenal over the summer: “I’m really confident at the moment and comfortable with everything. I’ve got to keep going and keep working hard.
And despite throwing away a lead for the third successive week, Sean Dyche was happy with Everton’s performance:Â “There are lots of positive signs. A ball falls to them in an unfortunate moment and that is the way it is going at the moment, but I thought that there was a big shift in our play today.”
📸 Marc Atkins – 2024 Getty Images
What comes next?
There are just two games on Sunday before another packed midweek of action in other competitions, but they are two big clashes.
Firstly, unbeaten Brighton play host to Nottingham Forest, before Arsenal travel to the Etihad to take on Manchester City in an early-season title clash.