It has been yet another unforgettable weekend in the Premier League, and the one performance that got all fans purring over the past couple of days was Manchester City’s at home to Watford.
After their surprise defeat against Norwich City last weekend, Guardiola’s men took Watford as their victim to show the previous match did not break the Champions.
The Hornets traveled to the Etihad hoping to avenge their FA Cup embarrassment against the Citizens. However, it would be fair to say that Saturday didn’t exactly go to plan.
City up to 4 in 15 minutes
City was in splendid form and romped home with an 8-0 win. It was the Citizen’s biggest ever Premier League win, and only fell one goal short of matching the league record set by Manchester United against Ipswich Town in 1995. The result never looked in doubt at the Etihad after David Silva found the net inside the first minute.
Ben Foster stated after the match that it was only a matter of time before City record a 10-0 win, and the Hornets will already be worrying that it might come against them later in the season. At 15 minutes, the score was already 4-0 and Watford was in shambles.
Bernardo Silva was the star of the show for City as he scored a brilliant hat-trick; the first of his career. Although, he almost spurned the chance to get this as he needed a second strike for his third goal after completely missing the ball with his first effort.
Master class midfield lesson from De Bruyne
Sergio Aguero maintained his excellent start to the season with 8 goals in six league matches. The Argentinean’s goal also meant that he has now scored in six consecutive league matches this season.
Riyad Mahrez also got on the score sheet as he was given a rare start ahead of Raheem Sterling, while Nicolas Otamendi avenged his mistake last weekend by scoring fifth inside 20 minutes. In truth, Watford didn’t really do a lot wrong and just caught City at the wrong possible time.
Kevin De Bruyne scored the eighth in the 85th minute to cap the performance of the season. The Belgium international makes this City side tick, and it’s almost impossible to believe that they managed to win a treble last season without him.
On this form, it looks like City will take some stopping. They still trail Liverpool in the title race, but they proved on the weekend that they are still the team to watch.
Meanwhile, Watford, after firing their coach Javi Gracia and bringing back Quique Flores, do not seem like they are much better right now. Their transfer day deadline spending hasn’t given any profit yet and with the 8-0 loss now they have the worst goal difference in the league.
Liverpool edge Chelsea and hold on to the lead
By the time Liverpool kicked off on Sunday the gap at the top of the league had been cut to two points. However, they managed to hold off a late Chelsea onslaught to maintain their advantage that they had going into the weekend.
VAR drama and Liverpool survive
The Premier League table leaders struck early through a superb Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick. Then, VAR threatened to ruin a very watchable game.
Cesar Azpilicueta had thought he had leveled the scores, only for VAR to quickly rule out the goal as Mason Mount had received a pass earlier in the attack in an offside position.
It was almost impossible to see in-play as it was millimeters and arguments over the goal continued as Mount’s involvement in the move, came to a clear stage before the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Regardless, the goal was disallowed, and within two minutes, Liverpool extended their lead. Chelsea’s defenders went AWOL and allowed Roberto Firmino a free header from six yards out.
The Reds seemed to be happy with their lead and sat back for the majority of the second half. N’Golo Kante pulled one back 20 minutes from time, but it was too little too late for Frank Lampard’s side.
It was a good game though, especially after both teams had entered with the wrong foot in the Champions League group stages mid-week. Lampard team showed perseverance and, even with adversities, had enough heart to battle til the end. The ‘Reds’ however, seem ‘all in’, to get the League Title that they are missing for more than 25 years.
Arsenal fight back in dramatic fashion
It was an eventful game at the Emirates as Arsenal twice came from behind to eventually secure all three points. John McGinn opened the scoring for Aston Villa before Nicolas Pepe scored his first goal for the club 15 minutes into the second half.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was also sent off for the Gunners, making the job even harder. Wesley put Villa back ahead within a minute of the equalizing goal before the Gunners scored twice in the final ten minutes to produce an unlikely turnaround.
Callum Chambers scored the equalizer before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winner with a free-kick. Arsenal takes another win, after their successful Thursday evening win against Frankfurt, for Europa League group stages.
And Aubameyang keeps beating records. The 30-year-old striker from Gabon has 16 goals in his last 16 games in all competitions for Arsenal.
Manchester United disappoint once again
The early game on Sunday saw Manchester United travel to West Ham United stadium, in London, but it was a disappointing afternoon for the Red Devils. Besides the injuries and the probable fatigue from the Thursday night clash with Astana, United should have done more.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side offered very little in the attacking third and looked incapable of even stringing together a pass. A goal from Andriy Yarmolenko trailed the ‘Reds’ of Manchester in the first half and Aaron Cresswell stunning late free-kick secured the 2-0 win for the Hammers.
Foxes keep Tottenham further from top 6
Saturday’s action kicked off with an entertaining clash between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Kane put the visitors ahead with a wonderful finish into the bottom left-hand corner.
However, Spurs’ poor away record continued as the Foxes managed a comeback, that put Leicester in a remarkable 3rd place in the league. A goal from fullback Ricardo Pereira and a late strike from James Maddison found the net in the final 20 minutes in front of a joyful King Power Stadium.
After disappointing midweek, allowing Olympiakos to make a comeback in the Champions League matchday, Tottenham let again an advantage slip. Meanwhile, Leicester continue an almost perfect start of the season: 11 points, 3 wins and 2 draws in 6 matches.
Norwich trip over Burnley
After the surprising victory over Manchester City, Norwich traveled all way from Carrow Road to Burnley, looking to make it a second win in a row.
However, defensive mistakes by the Canaries ensured that it was a routine win for the Clarets. Kiwi striker Chris Wood scored his first two goals of the season in the 2-0 win.
Burnley is in the 9th place and they seem to be heading for a more comfortable season that the last one, that saw them edging relegation.
Away Wins For Cherries and Blades
The Premier League weekend kicked off with a south coast derby between Southampton and Bournemouth. The Cherries produced arguably their most efficient performance of the season to run out 3-1 winners.
Nathan Ake and Harry Wilson put them into a 2-0 lead. A James Ward-Prowse penalty threatened to ruin the night, but Callum Wilson wrapped up the points in injury time. Bournemouth has 3 wins in 6 games and Eddie Howe proves once again that he is one of the most underrated managers in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the pressure on Marco Silva increased with a despondent 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park against newly-promoted Sheffield United. A Yerry Mina own goal put the Blades ahead before the break.
Lys Mousset wrapped up their deserved win with ten minutes remaining. Everton has already 3 defeats in 6 matches, which is especially disappointing after their Summer spending spree.
Sheffield, who were tipped as relegation favorites, keep their positive return season, with a comfortable midtable place.
Draws For Wolves and Seagulls
Wolves’ wait for a first win of the new season continued as they came from behind to secure a point at Selhurst Park. Palace went ahead through an own goal by Leander Dendoncker early in the second half.
It didn’t look like it was going to be the visitors day when Romain Saiss was sent off 15 minutes from time. However, Diogo Jota scored a late equalizer, but Wolves remain in the bottom three, after 6 games in the Premier League schedule.
Add to that their disappointing start of the Europa League group stages, and you have people casting doubts over the continuity of their manager.
Newcastle and Brighton played out a bore 0-0 draw on Saturday evening, with the better chances falling to the Seagulls.
However, the draw was probably the fair result, but the home fans made their displeasure known at the full-time whistle by booing off the players.
Premier League returns next weekend, with Manchester United hosting Arsenal, in a classic that will have us tuned.
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