Premier League takeaways: Manchester United win ugly; Liverpool set data; Arsenal, Man Metropolis stage comebacks

Saturday’s Premier Leauge matches had one thing for everybody as there have been targets galore. Manchester United broke a seven recreation away dropping streak with a victory at Southampton earlier than Liverpool hung 9 targets on newly promoted Bournemouth. Everton and Brentford performed to the one draw of the day whereas Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis picked up comeback victories. Let’s examine in on what went on across the league.

Arsenal present resiliency

It wasn’t straightforward for the Gunners as Fulham pushed them to their limits however Arsenal are nonetheless good after a 2-1 house victory over Fulham. Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring in an unlikely approach by choosing off Gabriel Magalhaes.  Gabriel was put below stress after receiving a cross however tried to play out of the again as a substitute of kicking it lengthy.

The aim was in opposition to the run of play as Arsenal had been attacking properly, however Bernd Leno was having a great day defending the Fulham internet, holding up below fixed stress. Arsenal lastly bought their aim within the sixty fourth minute through Martin Odegaard who scored his third aim within the final two matches for Arsenal. Marco Silva tried to shut out the match by subbing on Issa Diop to guard the tie however Leno’s good day was dented following a nook. 

Leno fell down in a tangle with William Saliba earlier than Gabriel made up for his mistake by scoring the winner to maintain Arsenal’s run as the one good crew within the Premier League alive. 

Whereas it is arduous to evaluate how good Arsenal are this early within the season, these are the kind of video games the place they may have dropped factors previously. Fulham will really feel arduous performed by the outcome, however below Silva they seem like a crew that may keep away from the drop within the Premier League this season. With midweek matches beginning quickly, we’ll start to see what these groups are fabricated from as the trials of the season improve.

Roberto Firmino has himself a day

Liverpool rolled to a record-tying 9-0 victory over newly promoted Bournemouth behind two targets and three assists from Robert Firmino. Like Liverpool, the Brazillian ahead has had a tough begin to the season. With no aim contributions in Liverpool’s opening day draw to Fulham, it appeared like Firmino’s days main the road could be numbered with Darwin Nunez ready within the wings. However a crimson card for Nunez gave Firmino one other probability that he would reap the benefits of. With Nunez nonetheless suspended for Liverpool’s midweek tie in opposition to Newcastle United, Firmino can have one other probability to indicate what he can carry an attacking menace to the match.

Pascal Gross raises the warmth for Brighton

It was a day the place it appeared like Brighton’s lack of menace main the road would come again to chunk them. However eventuallyl a well-recognized duo of Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross bought the job performed in opposition to Leeds United. Gross has had an electrical begin to the Premier League season scoring three targets, aiding one, and creating 9 possibilities throughout Brighton’s 4 video games thus far. He floated into area to be picked out by Trossard earlier than driving a shot previous Illan Meslier. It was a great crew aim from Brighton, however one which they might rating extra typically by enhancing at ahead.

Leeds can have wished to do higher with their possibilities solely testing the keeper twice from their ten makes an attempt. New signing Luis Sinisterra, particularly, had an excellent shot from level clean vary which he someway managed to tug broad. He’ll want constant minutes to stop snatching at possibilities.  Graham Potter has fairly knowledgeable setup in his Brighton crew and so they’re pushing on the prime of the Premier League desk for a purpose. With Marc Cucurella gone to Chelsea, Pervis Estupinan made his debut and was advantageous defensively however will need to enhance his wayward passing as he will get extra time transferring ahead.

Chelsea wrestle however persevere for all three factors

It appeared like Chelsea had been on their option to one other disappointing outcome when Conor Gallagher was dismissed within the twenty eighth minute for selecting up two yellow playing cards. Ruben Loftus-Cheek drew a penalty for the Blues, however Kai Havertz continued his disappointing begin to the season by being dominated offside two overturn the penalty probability and it regarded prefer it was simply going to be a type of days for the Blues. 

However, within the second half, Chelsea pushed Marc Cucurella and Reece James into extra pure wing again positions and reaped the rewards through a Raheem Sterling brace. These had been the primary targets scored from open play by a Chelsea attacker this season which highlights their struggles. Mason Mount was withdrawn on the half persevering with his disaapointing begin to the season whereas Kai Havertz was additionally largely absent, although maybe understandably given the crew was down a aim. However Sterling delivered and it is rapidly seeming that this assault is just going to go so far as Sterling takes them.

As for Leicester, as Wesley Fofana closes in on heading to Chelsea, issues are starting to spiral for the Foxes. They have not made any signings but and are in nineteenth place solely 4 matches into the season. Permitting ten targets after dropping keeper Kasper Schmeichel, the protection wants enhancements and quick. The assault has been advantageous, scoring six targets, however the shine from their run at a Champions League place within the 2020-21 season is gone after an eighth place end final season and extra regression occurring now.

Manchester United takes a step in the appropriate course

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United finish a seven match dropping streak away from house with a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Saint Mary’s Stadium on Saturday. The one aim of the match was a properly constructed crew aim that resulted in Diogo Dalot discovering Bruno Fernandes in a pocket of area for an excellent end. The outcome from United is a welcome one, however it’s a day throughout which issues might’ve gone otherwise had United let frustration from Southampton’s stiff protection and well timed blocks within the field set in.

In the course of the dropping streak, which stretches again to March, Manchester United solely scored two targets whereas permitting 21 into their very own internet. So the truth that they keept a clear sheet is massively necessary, particularly after United averaged three targets per recreation over their dropping streak away from Previous Trafford. 

It was all the time destined to finish this fashion. Within the first half, it felt like extra of the identical might occur as regardless of Manchester United’s finest efforts the Saints protection, led by Armel Bella-Kotchap, held sturdy. United took eight pictures within the first interval for an xG of 1.88 however solely 4 examined Gavin Bazunu as a consequence of Kyle Walker-Peters and Bella-Kotchap blocking two pictures every to maintain issues degree heading into the half. Although a lot of United’s manufacturing got here from a single run of play the place they fired on internet 4 instances from level clean vary with out managing to interrupt by means of. 

Sustained stress would trigger the wall of Saints to interrupt within the fifty fifth minute. The United assault of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga had the Southampton protection sitting deep which allowed Dalot to chop the ball again to Fernandes who scored his first aim of the season in fashion.

The aim upped United’s perception within the match as they pushed for an additional however had been unable to discover a breakthrough. Casemiro made his debut from the bench within the eightieth minute however United needed to stand up to an onslaught from Southampton to finish the match. Whereas the crew has the work fee to make it by means of the primary 60 minutes or so, closing video games out is not their sturdy swimsuit but. It took a clearance off the road from Dalot deep into stoppage time from a Kyle Walker-Peters shot to protect the clear sheet, however an unpleasant win continues to be a win and given United’s struggles to start out the season and their lengthy highway dropping streak, even ugly wins have been arduous to return by, particularly away from house.

However the room for enchancment is evident for Te Hag’s males. Southampton outshot Manchester United 9 to zero after the sixtieth minute however United escaped as they solely put two pictures on course. Some was by design as ten Hag’s crew was capable of sit deep whereas the Saints compelled the difficulty however with a one aim lead Manchester United want an attacking menace on the counterattack to shut out video games. Cristiano Ronaldo was launched into the sport within the 68th minute however he did not present that, not taking a single shot whereas he was on the pitch. Anthony Martial is perhaps a most popular choice going ahead however he’s as soon as once more nursing an harm, as he has for a lot of his profession. 

Finally, i’s a great outcome to finish the dropping streak, however United might want to enhance in massive methods earlier than they are often declared something near again.