After the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth postponed numerous games in September, all 20 of the English Premier League’s teams were back in full force this weekend.
Adding to the excitement, four of the ten games this weekend were listed as derbies, which are intense matches where two teams from the same area or city go head-to-head. Two of those matches featured some of the most famous fixtures in world football. Arsenal and Tottenham played in the 163rd North London Derby, while Manchester City hosted Manchester United in the 188th Manchester Derby. Along with all of that, many other games provided exciting storylines, goals and much more. It’s good for the EPL to be back, and it certainly did not disappoint this weekend. Without further ado, here’s a roundup for Matchweek 8 of the 2022-23 English Premier League Season.
Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham
Arsenal went into this match top of the table, and it stayed that way as the Gunners put in a dominant performance against their North London rivals. Thomas Partey opened the scoring for Arsenal as he curled a shot from outside the penalty area into the top right corner.Ten minutes later, Arsenal center back Gabriel gave away a penalty, and star Tottenham striker Harry Kane slotted the spot kick straight down the middle to level the score. However, Arsenal’s confidence didn’t waiver as its number 9 Gabriel Jesus scored his fifth goal of the season as he pounced on a rebound just four minutes after the half. It would only get better for Arsenal from there, as a mistimed challenge from Tottenham defender Emerson Royal caused him to see red, and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka scored against 10-man Tottenham to put North London firmly in red hands. This win secured Arsenal’s first place in the standings, while Tottenham took its first loss of the season in the progress, and it remains in third.
Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United
The first Manchester Derby of the season turned into a goal fest, as both teams combined to score nine goals in the game, which is a Manchester Derby single game record. However, that wasn’t even the most impressive statistic of the game. Manchester City came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, as striker Erling Haaland and winger Phil Foden both scored two goals apiece in the first half to put Man City up 4-0 going into the break. Manchester United did find some hope in the second half, as Brazilian winger Antony curled a shot into the bottom left corner to make it 4-1, but that belief was quickly dashed as both Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored to complete their respective hattricks. . Anthony Martial scored two consolation goals in the final 10 minutes for United, but that did little to take away from the incredible performance that Man City put together to dominate their rivals. However, the biggest story of the match was Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who put together one of the best performances not just in Manchester Derby history, but Premier League history. He coupled his hattrick with two assists, which is something only a handful of players in the league’s history have done. He now has 14 PL goals for City in 8 games this season, and he is on pace to destroy the Premier League record for most goals in a season, which is currently held by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Pep Guardiola and Manchester City keep pace at the top of the table with the win, while Erik Ten Haag and Manchester United learned they still have much work to do defensively in order to compete with the best in the league.
Liverpool 3-3 Brighton
New Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi had quite the test to start his life in the Premier League, as his squad looked to find a result in one of the toughest places to play in the league: Anfield. However, his Brighton team didn’t look fazed at all as they took a shock lead in the first 20 minutes. It was Leandro Trossard, who scored a pair of goals from close range with his left foot to put Brighton 2-0 ahead. Liverpool was forced to work from behind again, but it was able to turn the tide in its favor once again. Liverpool slowly chipped away through the middle of the game, and Roberto Firmino scored two goals of his own (one of them was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR later reversed the decision), and Liverpool got a little luck as Brighton defender Adam Webster scored an own goal from a Liverpool corner. Liverpool looked to see the game out, but Leandro Trossard scored his third goal of the game in the 83rd minute, stunning the Anfield crowd. Trossard finished the game as the third player to score a hat trick at Liverpool in Premier League history, and Brighton took a point at Liverpool for the second straight season. As for Liverpool, their struggle continues, with only 10 points to start the season, and 2 wins in 7, which will be worrisome to Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp.
Leicester City 4-0 Nottingham Forest
Leicester City became the final team to win a game in the Premier League this season on Monday, as it defeated fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest in emphatic fashion in the East Midlands Derby. It was actually Nottingham Forest who got the first chance of the game, as its striker Taiwo Awoniyi hit the left post on a one-on-on chance with the goalkeeper in the first half. Leicester made them pay following that opportunity, as a James Madison shot took a deflection off Forest defender Scott Mckenna that went into the net for the opener. Just two minutes later, Harvey Barnes scored a right foot shot into the left corner, and then it was smooth sailing for Leicester.. James Maddison followed his first goal with a fantastic free kick that made it three, and he set up Leicester’s fourth of the evening as Patson Daka finished off his pass with a backheel past Forest goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Leicester earned its first clean sheet of the season with the result, and it leapfrogged its opponents in the table, meaning Forest now sit in last place on goal difference. They also have conceded 16 goals in their last four games, which means that their manager Steve Cooper is on the verge of losing his job after another poor performance.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea
Chelsea’s new manager Graham Potter got his first win of his tenure at the Blues, as midfielder Conor Gallagher scored a stunning goal in the 89th minute to secure all three points in this London Derby. Gallagher’s goal hurt Palace fans quite a bit, because he was Crystal Palace’s player of the season last year while he was on loan from Chelsea. Palace did take the lead in this game through Odsonne Èdouard, but a first goal in Chelsea blue from striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leveled the score. There was also controversy in this game, as Chelsea defender Thiago Silva deliberately hit the ball away with his hand while he was on the ground, but he only received a yellow card on the play. That meant Chelsea kept all 11 players on the field, and Gallagher’s goal lifted them to 5th in the table, and Palace fell to 17th, which means it’s hovering just outside of the relegation zone.
Fulham 1-4 Newcastle
A red card from Fulham’s Nathaniel Chalobah in the eight minute of the match meant Fulham were in for a long day at Craven Cottage, and that’s exactly what was in store for them. Newcastle’s Callum Wilson scored the first for Newcastle just three minutes later, and Miguel Almirón followed with a stunning volley with his left foot to make it two for the Magpies. Sean Longstaff scored the third for Newcastle, and Almirón bagged his second of the day to cap off Newcastle’s impressive performance. Bobby De Cordova-Reid did make sure that Newcastle didn’t keep a clean sheet, as he scored a late goal for Fulham, but Newcastle still came away with a strong road win that puts them ahead of Fulham in the table.
Southampton 1-2 Everton
After a scoreless first half, all three goals in this contest were scored in the space of five minutes in the second half on the south coast. Southampton took the lead through a low strike from Joe Aribo, but that lead was almost immediately erased as Everton defender Conor Coady scored from a set piece, and Dwight McNeil fired a shot with his left foot past Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. On top of that, Coady and McNeil’s goals were their first for Everton respectively, and it gave Everton their first road win of the season. Southampton took their third straight loss as a result in the contest, while Everton now boast the best defensive record in the league under Frank Lampard.
Bournemouth 0-0 Brentford
Bournemouth and Brentford played out a goalless draw Saturday afternoon that didn’t see many chances, but there was a big decision made by referee Thomas Bramail to not give a penalty after Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer took down Bournemouth’s Jordan Zemura in the penalty area without getting the ball. The decision was checked by VAR and John Brooks, and they advised Bramail to take a second look at it, but the referee decided to uphold his initial choice. Brentford did have a couple of outside chances in the match, but it finished scoreless meaning Bournemouth’s remained unbeaten under manager Gary O’Neil, extending their streak to four games. Brentford haven’t scored in their past two games, but still sit in 10th place in the table.
West Ham 2-0 Wolves
The Hammers secured their first victory at home against Wolves at the London Stadium, as summer signing Gianluca Scamacca scored his first Premier League goal with a rocket from his right foot into the top right corner. Winger Jarrod Bowen also scored his first of the PL season with a volley of his own, and the win put some tough pressure off manager David Moyes. Wolves had 60% of the possession and they had some good chances at the start of the match, but they couldn’t find the back of the net yet again. With only three goals scored in the entire season and Wolves sitting 18th in the table, manager Bruno Lage was dismissed from his position following the defeat, meaning Wolves join Bournemouth and Chelsea as the three teams who have fired its head coaches so far this season.
Leeds United 0-0 Aston Villa
The second scoreless match of the weekend occurred at Elland Road on Sunday night, as 10-man Leeds held off Aston Villa and split the points. A late challenge by young Leeds attacker Luis Sinisterra earned him a yellow card 25 minutes in, but his clumsy decision early in the second half to block a free kick near midfield meant he was awarded a second yellow card. Sinisterra was then sent off, meaning Leeds had to play the majority of the second half a man down. Both teams traded chances in the game, but no one got closer than Villa attacker Phillipe Coutinho, whose flying volley hit the post minutes after Sinisterra’s red card. The rebound then fell to an open Ollie Watkins, who put the rebound wide and spoiled Villa’s best chance of the game. It was a spirited game, with seven yellow cards being awarded in total, but neither team could find the net. Steven Gerrard now has gone three unbeaten with the Villains, while Leeds are now winless in three games.