Premier League Review.

A review of all this weekend’s Premier League football, including another shock loss for Chelsea, Manchester City maintain their 100% record, Manchester United edge Liverpool and an absolute cracking comeback from Leicester City.

Everton 3-1 Chelsea

Everton entertained last year’s champions and took all three points thanks to a wonderful Steven Naismith hat-trick which inflicted more pain on the defending champions. Naismith ironically didn’t start the match, but was called into action in the fourth minute when Muhamed Besic was injured. It took Naismith thirteen minutes to get on the score sheet, heading home from close range and giving Chelsea stand in keeper, Asmir Begovic, no chance. Five minutes later and Everton had doubled their lead. Naismith picking the ball up from twenty yards and beating Begovic to make it two for him, and two for Everton. Nine minutes before half time and Chelsea were back in the game, Nemanja Matic unleashing a powerful left footed strike into the back of Tim Howard’s net, in stoppage time of the first half Chelsea should have been level, John Terry couldn’t control his headed effort and saw it fly over the bar. Early into the second half and there was a moment of controversy at Goodison Park, Terry seemed to pass the ball back to Begovic but referee Andre Marriner waved away the home fans claim. Naismith finished his hat-trick and finished off Chelsea in the 82^nd minute, an inventive ball from Ross Barkley ripping open the Chelsea defense for Naismith to latch himself onto and neatly convert to assure all the points were the home teams.

Manchester united 3-1 Liverpool

Goals from Daley Blind, Ander Herrara and Anthony Martial assured that United would be taking all the points in this entertaining encounter. In the early stages of the match there wasn’t much to talk about. Simon Mignolet looked very uncomfortable with the ball at his feet and made two errors in handing the Red devils possession far too easy. Four minutes into the second period and the deadlock was broken, a very well worked free kick was the opener. Juan Mata laying off Blind to open the scoring. While the score was at 1-0 Liverpool had several chances to level the encounter, Chris Smalling making a match winning interception cutting off Christian Benteke to level things, while David De Gea kept out Danny Ings and Jordan Ibe respectively. Some great defending from Blind on the line made sure United were still 1-0 up. In the 70^th minute United doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Herrara beat Joe Gomez and drew the foul in, no complaints from the full back as it was a stonewall pentaly. Herrara stepped up and slotted home to make it 2-0 with twenty minutes to play. There was a small glimmer of hope due to an outstanding Benteke goal, Ibe’s deflected cross found its way to the Belgian whose overhead kick left De Gea with no chance. Two minutes later and the game was all but over, and what a way to present yourself to your new fans. Martial picked up the ball from the left flank, beat three Liverpool players and slotted home past Mignolet to make it 3-1. An absolute cracking solo effort.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester City

City assured that their 100% record stay intact thanks to a late goal from Nigerian, Kelechi Iheanacho. Samir Nasri should have opened the encounter within minutes at Selhurst Park but Alex McCarthy managed to keep out the Frenchman in impressive style. Palace had claims for a penalty turned down when it appeared Fernandinho clipped Yohan Cabaye and brought him down in the area, replays suggest there was clear contact but no penalty was given. Scott Dann was booked for a ugly tackle and City golden boy, Sergio Aguero. Aguero seeming to be in a lot of discomfort from the tackle, after attempting to shrug it off, Aguero signalled to the bench that he needed to be replaced, Kevin De Bruyne came on to make his Manchester City debut. Yaya Toure found himself in the book for a lunge sparking fury from Alan Pardew on the touchline, the Palace boss appeared to cross over to Manuel Pellegrini’s technical area which prompted the City boss and Pardew to have words, moments after and there were handshakes all round. Jesus Navas really should have put City one up when De Bruyne’s perfect ball was latched on by the Spaniard only for him to completely miscue his shot and miss an open net. 89^th minute and Palace should have edge ahead, Dwight Gayle making contact with the ball inside the area but putting it past the post. Seconds later and Gayle was made to pay as City got the goal they were searching for all afternoon. Iheanacho got to the rebound of a Nasri shot first and made sure all three points were going back to Manchester with them.

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City

Goals from Theo Walcott and Oliver Giroud assured Arsenal would get their first home league win of the season. Arsenal hit the post in the first fifteen minutes of the game, Sanchez twice unlucky not to open up his account for the day. Walcott found himself on the score sheet in the 31^st minute, a delightful ball from Mesut Ozil was met by Walcott who slotted past the impressive Jack Butland top open the scoring. If it wasn’t for Butland then the Gunners would have been three or four goals up by half time, the young Englishman proving week in week out that he can compete in the Premier League. The introduction of Giroud was one that worked, he managed to get himself on the score sheet in the 85^th minute with a powerful header from close range that beat Butland. Man of the match here would go to Jack Butland, he was unbelievable and kept Stoke from having an absolute hammering.

Norwich City 3-1 Bournemouth

Two new Premier League clubs met in this fascinating encounter and Carrow Road where the home team managed to beat a very impressive Bourenmouth side and record their first home win of the season. Goals from, Cameroon Jerome, Matt Jarvis and Wes Hoolahan was enough to see victory despite Steve Cook’s late reply late on. Norwich defender, Robbie Brady made a game changing tackle in the early stages on this match preventing Callum Wilson from probably opening the scoring. Jerome got on the score sheet ten minutes before half time and recorded his first Premier League goal of the season, a simple tap in from six yards out. Wilson hit the post for the visitors deep into first half stoppage time. Hoolahan doubled the host’s lead in the second half, his curling effort hitting the back of the net. Jarvis all but won the game in the 67^th minute when his effort saw the net. Cook managed to pull one back from the visitors, heading from inside the box.