Matchweek 6 of the English Premier League.
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON 2021/2022
Welcome back to the updates on the EPL after the sixth round of matches. This week there was some excitement, especially with few teams underperforming and few teams firing to stay on top. Arsenal who had lost their first three matches have now won all their next three matches in a row. This week Gunners demolished their shambolic rivals Tottenham Spurs by 3-1 in a brilliant first half display. Spurs manager Nuno was cut to a sorry figure in his technical area as he watched his side taken to the cleaners by Arsenal in the first half where Spurs had pathetic display. The early promise of taking Spurs to top of the Premier League with their opening game victory over Manchester City this season seemed ages away as they were sunk without a trace before half-time. Everton is another team, which is having a good time so far this season when they beat Norwich 2-0. It also means the Toffees, who are on 13 points from six games, have now won their first three home games of a top flight season for the first time since 1990. Not to forget Brighton who are also in neck and neck race with 13 points from six matches. Altogether there are five teams locked on 13 points in the top six.
Manchester City VS Chelsea
In this week’s blockbuster encounter Manchester City produced an impressive display of soccer to end Chelsea's unbeaten start to this season with a deserved victory at Stamford Bridge. In the meeting between two sides fully expected to fight it out for this season's Premier League title, the reigning champions dominated against a strangely conservative Chelsea. Gabriel Jesus netted in the 53rd minute effort when the ball took a touch off Jorginho to beat Chelsea keeper Mendy motionless and beaten. This was City's right to the win against the team who had beaten them in last May's Champions League final. City would have scored more but Mendy produced two crucial saves of Jack Grealish. It was the perfect start to a crucial week for City and manager Pep Guardiola as they prepare to visit French’s all start studded (Messi, Mbappe and Neymar) team Paris St-Germain in the Champions League match this week and then they will be playing Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday.
With this victory Guardiola has become the most successful manager in City's history in terms of victories. Manchester City's start to the season has been mixed in some respects but this time the champions were back to their best in showing one of their main title rivals know they are here to defend their crown. Guardiola's side were in the front foot from the start as Chelsea seemed reluctant to attack. Guardiola was seen agitated as the game progressed, presumably because City were not able to finish off Chelsea despite controlling all aspects of the game. The chances came and went, Mendy made saves to keep Chelsea alive, but in the end all was well that ended well for City. Chelsea’s coach Tuchel has rightly been hailed for his tactics since his arrival at Chelsea, particularly when overcoming this same Manchester City side to win the Champions League in Porto. Here Tuchel was in bitter mood from the first whistle as Chelsea failed to dominate against City, although his set up of three defensive midfield players in Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic did not help. Chelsea strike pair of Lukaku and Werner were unable to make any progress, although the performances and touch of both strikers disappointed on occasions as they were unable to get into the game.
Manchester United VS Aston Villa
Bruno Fernandes missed a 93rd minute penalty as Aston Villa won at Old Trafford for the first time in 12 years in most pulsating match. Kortney Hause put Villa ahead with a powerful header in the 88th minutes before Villa’s defender handled inside the box to present Manchester United with a lifeline penalty. When substitute Cavani's header struck Hause's arm deep into stoppage time, referee Mike Dean immediately pointed to the spot. Fernandes, however, shot high over the bar in front of the Stretford End as United's unbeaten start to this season’s Premier League came to an end. Villa also missed two big chances before a dramatic final whistle. It capped a bitterly frustrating day for United. The Red Devils had 28 shots on the goal compared to only 7 by Villa yet they failed to find the net. It was also the first time Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score since re-signing this season. Suddenly, United and Solskjaer find themselves under pressure before Villarreal's Champions League visit to Old Trafford on Wednesday. Solskjaer is expected to deliver trophies this season after an expensive summer in the transfer market. With one avenue closed in the EFL Cup, they need to bounce back and beat Villarreal after losing their first group game against Young Boys of Switzerland.
Having already suffered an early Carabao Cup exit at the hands of West Ham, United have now lost their past two home games without scoring. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used his pre-match news conference to voice concerns about United's lack of penalties in recent weeks.
Liverpool VS Brentford
Yoane Wissa scored an equaliser in the 82nd minute as Brentford held Liverpool to a draw in one of the most thrilling encounter played at the Brentford Community Stadium. Wissa's dinked finish over Alisson rescued a point for the hosts who matched the Reds for long spells and had enough opportunities to claim even all three points. Ethan Pinnock had given Thomas Frank's side a deserved early lead netting home from close range at 27th minute after Toney flicked Canos low cross into the defender's path. Then Diogo Jota brought the visitors level just three minutes later rising unmarked to head home Henderson's cross into the corner from the edge of the six yard box. Mohamed Salah's 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool put the Reds ahead for the first time in 54th minute of the match only for Janelt to equalise once more after Jansson had rattled the crossbar. Curtis Jones regained the lead for visitors with a long range drive that took a deflection off Ajer on its way into the net, but Brentford and Wissa had the last laugh at 82nd minute with an equaliser again. The draw lifts unbeaten Liverpool a point clear at the top of the Premier League, with the Bees climbing to ninth. It was not the moment The Reds wanted as Mohamed Salah's big Liverpool moment spoilt by brilliant Bees. Bees certainly gave the Reds a run for their money in a pulsating, breathless, exciting and nail biting contest that could have gone either way. Both teams had efforts cleared off the line in a frantic opening, Bees’ Ajer denying Salah with a last gasp clearance before the line and then Reds Joel Matip hacked Mbeumo's effort out of harms way at the other end.
Salah is the 13th player to reach a century of league goals for the club, and the fourth to do so in the Premier League era after Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
The Bees were given a fantastic reception at the final whistle after claiming a hard-earned point that continues their fantastic start to life in the top flight this year.
TOP TEN TEAMS STANDING AFTER SIXTH ROUND OF EPL AS ON 28/09/2021
Here’s what you missed from last week:
Timeline of the EFL.
A short on Kickball.