The third match day had ten games that would be interesting to the neutral spectator, with no scoreless draws for the second week in a row, plus loads of goals and attacking football.
There are only three unbeaten teams – Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester City – with Liverpool the only team to have won all three of their games.
If match day three is the beginning of a trend, then the Premier League is going to be tight all season. There is just one point separating fifth-placed Manchester United from 19th-placed Newcastle United. There isn’t much separating the top four teams from the rest of the league.
Top five coaches
1. Steve Bruce (Newcastle United)
2. Manuel Pellegrini (West Ham United)
3. Dean Smith (Aston Villa)
4. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
5. Daniel Farke (Norwich City)
Coaches under the pump
Javi Gracia (Watford)
Watford are the only team in the Premier League yet to claim a point.
Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth lost a game to Manchester City that they could well have claimed at least a point in. They gave Manchester City too much respect, parking the bus for much of the first half.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United)
Manchester United have just one point from their last two games, with Solskjaer’s management not up to scratch.
Aston Villa vs Everton
Everton fail to capitalise
Everton lost a game that they controlled from a possession perspective, having nearly two thirds of the ball, but to no avail.
Magic moment: The first goal scored by Aston Villa’s Wesley Moraes near the midway point of the first half was an exquisite finish.
Who stood out from the pack? Wesley scored the opening goal of the game that set the scene for an Aston Villa victory.
What went right? Aston Villa got their first points of the Premier League season with an upset victory over an Everton team that was unbeaten prior to match day three.
What went wrong? There were just four shots on target from both teams combined.
Norwich City vs Chelsea
Game of the season
This was a great game of football, with the balance of play ebbing and flowing. In the end, Chelsea had too much class in the front third for the brave Norwich.
Magic moment: Teemu Pukki scored Norwich’s second equaliser.
Who stood out from the pack? Pukki finished the game with a goal and an assist.
What went right? The game was played at a high intensity. Credit has to go to Norwich for continuing to try and attack. They continued to gamble.
What went wrong? There were five goals in total, which indicates both defences were not up to standard.
Brighton vs Southampton
Southampton win
The game was fairly even as far as the balance of play was concerned, but Southampton were victorious and that’s the main stat that matters. Southampton won the game thanks to two goals that were both scored by them in the second half.
Magic moment: Southampton’s Moussa Djenepo scored the first goal of the match with an exquisite finish early in the second half.
Who stood out from the pack? Southampton’s Nathan Redmond scored the second goal of the game. Redmond was probably the most influential player on the pitch.
What went right? The game was fairly even from a statistical perspective. Southampton collected their first points of the Premier League season.
What went wrong? Brighton suffered their first loss of the Premier League season. Florin Andone was sent off in the final third of the first half for a reckless challenge that cost his team immensely. Brighton were denied taking the lead thanks to VAR deciding that the goal scored from a corner be overturned.
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
Red Devils left red-faced by another penalty miss
Manchester United had 20 shots and had almost three quarters of the possession yet they lost the game.
Magic Moment: Manchester United’s Daniel James scored an exquisite equaliser near stoppage time in the second half.
Who stood out from the pack? James deserves a lot of credit for his performance, despite the fact that Manchester United lost the game.
What went right? Crystal Palace scored two goals from just three shots on target.
What went wrong? Manchester United missed a penalty for the second week in a row. This time it was Marcus Rashford, not Paul Pogba. Rashford can consider himself slightly unlucky as the ball hit the post from the penalty that he took after the midway point of the second half, which would have levelled the scores.
(Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Sheffield United vs Leicester City
Leicester remain unbeaten
This was a fairly even contest, but Leicester City scraped home in what was an extremely tight game of football. Both teams would have marked seen this game as one that they would look to claim all three points on offer.
Magic moments: Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United scored an amazing equaliser with a clinical header in the second half. Leicester substitute Harvey Barnes scored an exquisite goal after the midway point of the second half, which proved to be the winning goal.
Who stood out from the pack? Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy was the best player on the field, having a big impact on the result of the game. Vardy helped Leicester claim all three points.
What went right? The game was in the balance for its entirety.
What went wrong? It’s unfortunate that Sheffield United lost their first game of the current Premier League season as they were extremely competitive on match day three, having one more shot on target than Leicester and sharing possession.
Watford vs West Ham
Watford left empty-handed for third successive game
It was a good game of football, but West Ham won the game fairly comfortably in the end.
Magic Moments: West Ham’s Sebastien Haller nearly scored an unbelievable goal but was denied by Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster. Haller’s second goal of the game was a bicycle kick that was extremely intelligent.
Who stood out from the pack? Haller finished the game with a brace.
What went right? West Ham were extremely efficient going forward. They finished with ten shots on target from a total of 16 shots. Mark Noble showed Manchester United how to take a penalty. Watford’s Andre Gray equalised near the midway point of the first half.
What went wrong? Watford had just three shots on target from a total of 23 shots. They were very inefficient in the front third. Watford’s Abdoulaye Doucouré missed a great opportunity to put them ahead near the end of the first half, which proved costly for his side. Both teams hit the frame of the goal in the first half. Watford’s Will Hughes missed a regulation goal early in the second half.
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Gunners outclassed
Liverpool were too good for Arsenal, who will finish mid-table if this game is a any indication. Arsenal were outplayed in a game where they should have been prepared for Liverpool to attack.
Magic moment: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s second goal of the game was a brilliant finish. Salah made it look easy.
Who stood out from the pack? Salah scored a brace.
What went right? Liverpool kept attempting to attack, finishing the game with 25 shots. The endeavour and intent was evident.
What went wrong? Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian made a shocking error early in the game, which Arsenal failed to capitalise on. Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal missed a golden chance to break the deadlock in the first half.
(AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Bournemouth vs Manchester City
City clinical
Manchester City won a game that they controlled, and although they had less shots on target than Bournemouth, they still won the game.
Magic moment: Bournemouth substitute Harry Wilson scored an outstanding goal. Wilson took a free kick that was virtually impossible to stop in first-half stoppage time to reduce the deficit to one goal and give Bournemouth some hope of getting a result.
Who stood out from the pack? Sergio Aguero scored two goals, which meant Aguero was the most influential player on the field.
What went right? Manchester City were extremely good in the final third, with three of the five shots that they had on target resulting in goals. Unbelievably, Bournemouth had seven out of their ten shots on target, which shows that there were positives to take out of the game for the home team.
What went wrong? Manchester City goal keeper Ederson received a yellow card for an extremely reckless challenge early in the game, which should have been a red. That decision made a massive difference to the result of the game. Bournemouth should have attacked more early in the game, which was poor coaching by manager Eddie Howe, as they showed Manchester City too much respect.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United
Spurs somehow drop all three points
Newcastle won a game that Tottenham dominated from a possession perspective. Incredibly, Tottenham had over four fifths of the ball, yet lost the game by the narrowest of margins.
Magic moment: Newcastle United’s Joelinton broke the deadlock with an outstanding finish.
Who stood out from the pack? Joelinton was the difference between the two teams, with the only goal of the game, which was vital for Newcastle.
What went right? Newcastle collected their first points of the Premier League season. They were more efficient in the final third, having three shots on target and scoring a goal, despite Tottenham controlling possession.
What went wrong? Tottenham had one less shot on target than Newcastle, despite having more than double the amount of shots and controlling the balance of play as well as the tempo of the match.
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Burnley
Spoils shared in weekend’s only draw
It’s incredible that the only game where the spoils were shared came in the final game of the round and it was a score draw as well. Wolverhampton controlled the balance of play, with nearly two thirds of the ball.
Magic moment: Burnley’s Ashley Barnes scored a freakish goal from outside the penalty area.
Who stood out from the pack? Barnes scored Burnley’s only goal of the match, with what was a cracking finish.
What went right? The game went down to the wire with Wolverhampton levelling the scores thanks to a penalty scored by Raul Jimenez in second-half stoppage time.
What went wrong? Burnley had four shots on target as opposed to Wolverhampton’s two, yet they didn’t claim all three points and therefore will view this game as two points dropped.
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