- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
Any team that has scored nine goals in a match day has to dominate the headlines as it rarely occurs – therefore, Leicester City have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with under manager Brendan Rodgers. At the other end of the spectrum Southampton would be bitterly disappointed with the manner in which they defended.
Despite the fact that there was a scoreless draw in Matchday 10, there was a total of thirty-eight goals scored – which equates to 3.8 per game. There was four draws from the ten games, which shows how close the Premier League is in terms of the difference between some of the teams – there are just two points separating seventh placed Manchester United from 15th placed Aston Villa.
There were three hat tricks scored – including two in one game – and in one game there was a remarkable two penalties saved. There was plenty to discuss in Matchday 10, with a lot of talking points that arose and issues to discuss.
1. Brendan Rodgers (Leicester City) – Leicester were ruthless in every sense of the word.
2. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) – Chelsea proved that they are possibly the form team of the competition.
3. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – Liverpool showed character in their comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur.
4. Roy Hodgson (Crystal Palace) – Crystal Palace did well to claim a point on the road to Arsenal.
5. Graham Potter (Brighton) – Brighton had a miraculous comeback win over Everton.
(Photo by Jon Bromley/ MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton) – Southampton failed to turn up in what was a demoralising loss to Leicester City that will put severe pressure on the Southampton coach.
Southampton v Leicester City
Southampton slaughtered!
Leicester City scored a remarkable nine goals! Even though Southampton defended poorly and went down to ten men early, nine goals is an incredible amount of goals to score in one game of football at Premier League level. Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez both finished the game with a hat trick of goals.
Magic moment: Leicester City’s fourth goal from Ayoze Perez was very impressive.
Who stood out from the pack? Ayoze Perez of Leicester City finished with one of two hat tricks for the game.
What went right? Pretty much everything for Leicester City.
What went wrong? Southampton went down to ten men early due to a red card awarded to Ryan Bertrand.
Manchester City v Aston Villa
City clinical in tricky encounter
In a game that Manchester City won three goals to nil, it would appear as if it was a fairly comfortable win – but that wasn’t the case. The game was in the balance at half time, with Manchester City nearly conceding a penalty that may have altered the result of the game.
Magic moment: Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson Santana de Moraes made a super double save, almost half way through the first half.
Who stood out from the pack? Kevin De Bruyne led from the front for Manchester City – he controlled the midfield and also finished the game with one assist.
What went right? Aston Villa performed valiantly in the first half – keeping the scoreboard scoreless at half time – and were even unlucky not to be awarded a penalty for a Manchester City handball.
What went wrong? Aston Villa were thoroughly outplayed in the second half.
Brighton v Everton
Brighton leave it late
It was a fairly even game of football and a draw may have been a fair result, but that’s not what happened – Everton were leading Brighton two goals to one late in the game, but they didn’t even get a single point.
Magic moment: Brighton’s Pascal Grob opened the scoring with an outstanding free kick.
Who stood out from the pack? Neal Maupay of Brighton was instrumental in them winning.
What went right? Everything for Brighton late in the game, as they managed to turn the game around.
What went wrong? Everton blew the chance to claim all three points, as they were leading relatively late in the game.
(Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United)
Watford v Bournemouth
The league is close
It was as exciting a scoreless draw as you will get as there were plenty of shots and attacking done, in a game where both teams failed to hit the back of the net. The game featured ninth placed Bournemouth against last placed Watford, but you wouldn’t have known it with the skills on display.
Magic moment: Diego Rico of Bournemouth had a superb shot from outside of the box, brilliantly saved by Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster in the first half.
Who stood out from the pack? Ben Foster helped Watford claim a point in what was a tough game against a decent Bournemouth team.
What went right? Everything for the goalkeepers and defences of the two respective teams – with no goals from eight shots on target.
What went wrong? Bournemouth finished with nearly 60 per cent possession and fifteen shots to Watford’s eight, yet they failed to convert their dominance on the scoreboard. Bournemouth captain Steve Cook hit the bar with a header in the first half.
West Ham United v Sheffield United
Both teams level in the game and on points
The game finished 1-1 and both teams sit on thirteen points as it stands – with Sheffield United in eighth place and West Ham in tenth – which indicates how important goal difference may well be.
Magic moment: David McGoldrick of Sheffield United had a shot that appeared destined for the back of the net saved by West Ham goalkeeper Roberto Jiminez in the first half.
Who stood out from the pack? Andriy Yarmolenko helped West Ham claim a point.
What went right? Both teams had four shots on target so it’s fair to say that a draw was a fair result.
What went wrong? Sheffield United would be disappointed that they allowed West Ham to break the deadlock near the halftime break.
Burnley v Chelsea
Burnley fight back, but to no avail
The story of the day was the fact that Chelsea may have improved, but they need to remain vigilant and wary of complacency as – while they may have scored four goals – they let Burnley score a couple of their own, albeit late on. Chelsea were impressive on the whole though, with the story of the day being Christian Pulisic.
Magic moment: Jay Rodriguez of Burnley scored an unbelievable goal from distance.
Who stood out from the pack? Christian Pulisic staked his claim to be a regular starter for Chelsea with a clinical hat trick.
What went right? There were six goals scored collectively by the two teams from a combined total of twelve shots on target – which is a ratio of exactly half when comparing goals to shots on target.
What went wrong? Chelsea would be disappointed with conceding two late goals.
(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, file)
Newcastle United v Wolverhampton
All square
Wolverhampton controlled possession and had five shots on target to Newcastle United’s two, which indicates that they should have won the game when analysing it from a statistical perspective.
Magic moment: Jamaal Lascelles of Newcastle United scored the first goal of the game with a clinical header in the first half.
Who stood out from the pack? Jamaal Lascelles scored the all important first goal of the game.
What went right? The game was a tightly fought contest, which is what you’d expect in a game between two teams that are separated by three points on the Premier League table.
What went wrong? Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka – who’s normally quite reliable – made an error which led to Wolverhampton scoring the decisive equalising goal.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
An Aussie decides the result, but it’s not a player!
The game was one that Arsenal deserved to claim all three points in, as the Gunners had what appeared to be a certain goal ruled out late thanks to the VAR officiated by Aussie Jarred Gillett. If that goal stood Arsenal would have led three goals to two – but instead the game finished at 2-2.
Magic moment: It may not have been a difficult goal to score but – for the fact that it was the equalising goal – the goal scored by Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew in the second half was a magic moment in a game where all four goals scored were relatively straight forward.
Who stood out from the pack? Jordan Ayew scored the equaliser to make the score 2-2 early in the second half.
What went right? Everything for Arsenal early on as they claimed a 2-0 lead in the opening stages of the game. From an attacking perspective a lot went right, with a total of four goals from ten shots.
What went wrong? The reaction of Granit Xhaka to the fans after being substituted was appalling – and it appears as if he will no longer be captain of the club because of it.
(Photo by Visionhaus)
Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool post comeback win
Liverpool fought back from conceding an early goal – courtesy of Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur – to win the game 2-1 and maintain their six point lead on the Premier League table.
Magic moment: Paulo Gazzaniga – the goalkeeper of Tottenham – made a super double save just after the midway point of the first half.
Who stood out from the pack? Paulo Gazzaniga kept Tottenham in the game from a scoreboard perspective – he made a string of saves that meant the game was in the balance for its entirety.
What went right? Tottenham Hotspur scored a goal early on – goals change games, especially when they are scored early on and the game was extremely exciting from start to finish.
What went wrong? Mohamed Salah may have suffered an injury. Liverpool should have won the game comprehensively as they finished with just two goals from a total of thirteen shots on target.
Norwich City v Manchester United
Man U back on track for now
Manchester United won a game that they would have expected to win by 3-1.
Magic moments: Tim Krul saved two penalties, both of which were world-class stops.
Who stood out from the pack? Tim Krul kept the scoreboard respectable from a Norwich City perspective.
What went right? Norwich City managed to score a consolation goal late on. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both missed a penalty, but made up for it by scoring a goal in open play.
What went wrong? Manchester United missed both of their opportunities from the penalty spot.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.