Premier League: Week 4 Results

Perhaps the most predictable result of all this weekend was Nottingham Forest being smashed by Arsenal, 3-0, at the Emirates. New Nottingham Forest Manager Ange Postecoglou  has had virtually no time to indoctrinate his system in players who may or may not be suitable to said system. Early attempts at executing the manager’s favored high press on Saturday were abandoned. Arsenal dominated as would have been expected. The Gunners, however, will be ecstatic at the new faces which led the way on Saturday. Martin Zubimendi scored twice. Viktor Gyokeres scored his third goal of the season. Eberechi Eze had an assist. Winger Noni Madueke was perhaps Arsenal’s most impressive all-around performer and received a standing ovation when substituted. All those players are recent transfers brought in to try to finally put Arsenal over the top in its quest for a league title after three consecutive second place finishes.

Their task will be difficult as defending champion Liverpool remains perfect with four wins, including one over the Gunners. Despite that perfection, however, there have been some nervous moments for the Reds. Things were far from easy against newly promoted Burnley on Sunday before a 95th minute penalty conversion by Mohamed Salah delivered a 1-0 victory. The Clarets were solely intent on keeping Liverpool off the scoresheet and did not have a single shot on target. That strategy was working even after Burnley went down to 10 men in the 84th minute. The effort by the home side went for naught, however, when Burnley defender Hannibal used his arm to deflect a Liverpool cross into the box with just moments remining. While perfect on the season, Liverpool has now won each of its matches in the final ten minutes of play. The champions have shown character but also some dysfunction in an attack populated by numerous new weapons.

Alexander Isak is another attacking addition who was apparently unready at the weekend but could make his debut against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. Isak’s replacement at Newcastle, Nick Woltemade, scored the winner in the Magpies’ 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton despite having been with the club only a matter of days. With Yoane Wissa struggling with a knee injury picked up during the international break, Woltemade will again be heavily relied upon when Newcastle faces Barcelona in the Champions League on Thursday. Wolverhampton, meanwhile, has lost its opening four league matches for the first time in the club’s history.

Chelsea Manger Enzo Maresca tried to rotate his lineup in advance of the Blues’ Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich this week. Brentford proved a stubborn opponent, however, forcing Maresca to substitute in several stars for second half appearances. Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucarella were among the cavalry that Maresca called on. Despite the reinforcements, the Blues were stung by a 93rd minute goal from Fabio Carvalho which rescued a point for the homestanding Bees.

Fábio Carvalho's last four goals in the Premier League have been scored in the 89th minute or later 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/9nV4HwidLV

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 13, 2025

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will also have Champions League matches during the coming week against Napoli and Villareal, respectively. Both clubs will take confidence from easy wins in the Premier League over the weekend. Manchester City overwhelmed crosstown rival Manchester United 3-0 in a dominant derby performance as Phil Foden scored his first goal of the season for the Citizens and Erling Haaland found the net twice for his league leading fourth and fifth goals of the season. Jeremy Doku assisted on Foden’s opener and the first of Haaland’s two goals. Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the deadline day transfer from PSG, recorded a clean sheet in his first Premier League start. Meanwhile, new lows continue to be the norm for Manchester United. Four points from the Red Devils’ first four league matches equals a futile beginning last witnessed at the start of Manchester United’s 1992/93 season. Both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur fielded their worst ever Premier League sides last season. While Manchester United continues to wallow, Tottenham Hotspur is giving supporters reason to hope for a better table finish than last season’s abhorrent 17th place debacle. Spurs are currently third in the Premier League table after winning for the third time under new manager Thomas Frank. After Saturday’s 3- 0 win over London rival West Ham, the north London side has conceded only one league goal, a far cry from the mad shootouts of the Postecoglou era.

Bournemouth is also breathing the rarefied air of the top four as the Cherries won for a third consecutive time, defeating Brighton 2-1 as Antoine Semenyo’s penalty kick in the 61st minute proved the winner for the Cherries. Semenyo also assisted on the first Bournemouth goal by Alex Scott and now has five goal contributions on the young season.

Fulham relied on an own goal by Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson to defeat the Whites 1-0 at Craven Cottage. The 94th minute error was heartbreaking for a Leeds side which is expected to struggle for points and survival this season.

Nobody scored any goals in the remaining two Premier League matches. Sunderland accomplished what fellow promoted sides Leeds and Burnley could not do in capturing a point from a goalless match at Crystal Palace. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs fended off late scoring chances by the Eagles to move the Cats to seven points after a promising first four matches back in the top tier. Like Burnley, Sunderland had no shots on target but unlike the Clarets were able to see out the game on the broad shoulders of their goalkeeper.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, though surely disappointed in failing to secure a desired transfer move, nevertheless delivered when needed in his return to the pitch for the Villans Saturday at Everton. The Argentine keeper thwarted Everton’s best chance when Michael Keane got on the end of a Jack Grealish cross for what could have been the match winner. Martinez’s teammates continue to keep their opponents’ nets safe from intrusion. Aston Villa managed just a single shot on target in Saturday’s slog of a game and has not scored a goal all season. Were the season to end today, Aston Villa would be relegated along with West Ham and Wolverhampton.

Premier League Week 4 Preview: Santo Sacked By Nottingham Forest, Ange Postecoglou Takes Over Versus Arsenal

Nuno Espirito Santo is out as Nottingham Forest Manager. Replacing him is Ange Postecoglou who left a mixed legacy upon his own recent departure from Tottenham Hotspur. Santo, who also came to Wolves after a turn as Spurs manager, valiantly rescued Forest from the brink of relegation in 2023/24 to capture a place in Europe with a seventh place finish last season. Strangely, however, Santo seemed intent on plotting his own demise. The taciturn manager placed himself on the hot seat by going public on a souring relationship with Owner Evangelos Marinakis. The fiery and emotional Marinakis is not one to be trifled with and talks between the two men over the international break failed to resolve their differences. Santo was sacked and immediately replaced with Postecoglou on Tuesday.

Ange Postecoglou

The new Nottingham Forest manager will have his work cut out for him as his aggressive high line defense is diametrically different from the defensive teachings of Santo. Postecoglou inherits a club which was still settling after several summer personnel changes and must now contend with the unaccustomed rigors of balancing European and domestic competition. Postecoglou was unable to balance both at Tottenham Hotspur, leading to a paradoxical and controversial end to his tour in north London. The Australian manager led Spurs to the worst Premier League season of any club not relegated after an ugly mess which saw his club lose 22 of its 38 league matches.

Still, Postecoglou delivered the first silverware for the club in 17 years, putting all his focus on the Europa League and seeming to care little for the club’s Premier League labors. Even the Europa League trophy, however, was tainted from the moment it was hoisted following an ugly and uninspiring win in the final over the worst Manchester United team in the Premier League era. The disastrous league season could not be ignored and Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after celebrating his Europa League win. The Australian manager became increasingly cantankerous under unrelenting criticism of his performance last season. Rather than taking time to reflect and recharge, Postecoglou is now back into the fray as his new journey starts Saturday at Arsenal. The new manger must be aware that his new boss is not a patient man.

The tumult at Forest nudged the Manchester derby just a bit down the headlines. Sunday’s match at the Etihad, however, will provide further evidence as to whether Manchester United manager Ruben Amroim should join Santo on the unemployment line. Amorim’s record in the Premier League is exceptionally poor as he has reached 15 league losses more quickly than any manager in the competition’s history. He also lost the Europa League to Postecoglou in a matchup of underperforming managers last spring. A loss to League Two side Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup two weeks ago was a new low. And yet most Premier League fans would be surprised to know that Manchester United stands above their crosstown rivals, Manchester City, in the current Premier League table after the Red Devils squeaked by newly promoted Burnley in their last match. For all the doom and gloom, United is unbeaten in its two league matches since a narrow 1-0 loss to Arsenal on opening weekend. While doing nothing to quell the uncertainty surrounding Manager Ruben Amorim, those last two results put the Red Devils a point above gold plated manager Pep Guardiola and his surprisingly vulnerable Manchester City side. The Citizens lost at Brighton last week after being stunned at the Etihad by Tottenham Hotspur the week before.

An opening laugher over Wolverhampton now seems more a judgement on a poor opponent than the strength of Guardiola’s club. The Citizens have been surprisingly ineffective in attack since opening weekend as Manchester City could sorely use other attack options besides Erling Haaland. As good as the world class Norwegian striker is, the club appears one-dimensional with few options outside its prized asset. The decline of a still young Phil Foden remains a puzzle while relative newcomers such as Omar Mamoush and Tijjani Reijnders are yet to step up in league competition. Marmoush will not make an impact this weekend due to a knee injury suffered on international assignment. Manchester United supporters will be looking to see whether summer signing Benjamin Sesko, receives his first Premier League start. There is an inordinate amount of doubt surrounding the prospects of a player inked to a premium deal who has been unable to crack Amorim’s starting lineup. The health of Matheus Cunha is also a question for the Red Devils. The winger, signed after a breakout season at Wolverhampton, suffered a hamstring injury in United’s last match but is supposedly racing the clock to get back for the derby matchup. Manchester United has been surprisingly good against their rivals despite an inequality in roster and management in recent years. The Red Devils took both Premier League matches last season, including a 2-1 victory at the Etihad.

Things get even rougher for Burnley following their loss to Manchester United before the break when Liverpool visits Turf Moor in Sunday’s other match. The defending champions, perfect in their three matches this season, could unveil their latest prize in striker Alexander Isak though the Premier League’s most expensively acquired player will likely need some time for fitness and acclimation before playing meaningful minutes for Liverpool. A galaxy of attacking players allows the Reds to be cautious in launching their newest weapon. Isak’s former club, Newcastle, will be home at St James’s Park to face Wolverhampton. Wolves look in dire relegation jeopardy after shipping eight goals while scoring just twice in three league losses so far. Isak did not participate in any of Newcastle’s matches before his transfer as he pressed for his transfer in the most petulant manner possible.

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, meanwhile, was a consummate professional as he continued to captain Crystal Palace amid reports of his own rumored transfer to Liverpool. It proved more than rumor as a deal seemed done, and Guehi took his Liverpool physical on deadline day. Crystal Palace pulled out at the last minute, however, and we will see if Guehi’s professionalism continues when Sunderland visits Selhurst Park to play the Eagles on Saturday.

Elsewhere in London, there are two derby contests on Saturday. West Ham, shock winners over Nottingham Forest in their last outing, host Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea is at Brentford. The unbeaten Blues are waiting on the fitness of Cole Palmer’s groin and will be without Liam Delap for 10-12 weeks after the striker underwent surgery on his hamstring. Even more pressure falls on the production of Joao Pedro who has found the net twice this season while assisting on two other Chelsea seven goals this season. Brentford has little sympathy. The top two scorers for the Bees last season have moved on, Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and Yoane Wissa to Newcastle. Leeds will also be in London to face Fulham. The Whites have struggled for goals but have captured valuable points with an opening 1-0 defeat of Everton and a scoreless draw before the break with Newcastle.

Everton responded to its opening defeat with two victories and will try to make it three in a row when Aston Villa makes its first visit to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Merseyside. Villa has been spiraling with two losses in a row after its opening weekend goalless draw with Newcastle and is the only Premier League side not to score a goal this season.

Bournemouth needed just one goal in each of its last two matches to capture six points. The Cherries host Brighton on Saturday with the Seagulls returning to action after a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City before the break.

Premier League Week 3 Results

A single moment of brilliance was all that separated two title contenders on Sunday. Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai scored a wonder goal from an 83rd minute free kick opportunity to give Liverpool the victory in a closely contested battle at Anfield. Szoboszlai’s curving blast from more than 30 yards capped an outstanding afternoon for the Hungarian international who played a second consecutive match at right back for Liverpool. The midfielder displayed his versatility once again, expertly shutting down the left flank of Arsenal’s attack and then demonstrating his proficiency at set pieces to defeat the Gunners. With Sunday’s defeat, Arsenal extended its winless Premier League run at Anfield to thirteen matches. Liverpool emerges from the weekend as the only Premier League club with a perfect record after three matches and was measurably strengthened before the close of the transfer window on Monday. Alexander Isak is now Liverpool bound after a torturous soap opera between the striker and his former club Newcastle. Adding Isak, the league’s second highest goal scorer last season, to defending champion Liverpool must be daunting to other Premier League contenders.

Chelsea, however, seems intent on being one of those contenders. The Blues put down Fulham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to remain unbeaten with two victories following an opening week draw. Striker Joao Pedro scored his second goal of the season on a towering header in first half stoppage time to break up a scoreless match which had seen earlier controversy. A Fulham goal by 18-year-old Josh King in the 21st minute was chalked off for a questionable foul in Fulham’s build up. So egregious was the finding that the video assistant referee was removed from his next VAR assignment the very next day. There was also question surrounding the legitimacy of a handball violation which led to Chelsea’s second half insurance goal on an Enzo Fernandez penalty kick. A hamstring injury to Chelsea forward Liam Delap had the Blues scrambling  for insurance coverage on their front line after the match and before Monday’s close of the transfer window. Delap could be out as long as eight weeks, throwing Chelsea into panic mode. First, a loan of Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich was put on hold even though the striker was already in Munich for his medical. Jackson and his agent were more than a bit displeased by that development and a loan with an expected purchase obligation was finalized for Jackson on Monday after Chelsea were able to recall another loaned striker, Marc Guiu, back from Sunderland. Guiu had only just arrived on Wearside in the first week of August.

Spurs fell for the first time in the young season in a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. After an encouraging first two weeks by its forward players, a stagnant attack on Saturday once again raised concern as to whether there will be enough goals from Manager Thomas Frank’s side. A fifth minute deflected strike from Bournemouth’s Evanilson was all that was required against a Spurs side which did not register a shot on target until the 68th minute. Tottenham Hotspur sought to improve its attack by adding forward Randal Kolo Muani via a loan deal with PSG on Monday.

Manchester City would seem to carry more than enough attacking threat, but the results are not bearing that out. The Citizens lost for the second week in a row 2-1 at Brighton, despite Erling Haaland scoring his 100th goal in just his 88th Premier League appearance on Sunday. The Norwegian’s 34th minute goal ended the scoring for the Citizens who were unable to even manage a shot on target in the second half. Brighton, meanwhile, drew level on a penalty kick by James Milner who became the Premier League’s second oldest goal scorer in the 67th minute. Manchester City were put on their heels as Brighton pressed for a winner and were rewarded with Brajan Gruda’s 89th minute match winner. The Citizens, meanwhile, ended a two-match experiment with James Trafford in goal as they secured the signature of PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on Monday.

Manchester United’s winner on Saturday came even later than Brighton’s late drama. Bruno Fernandes buried a 97th minute penalty kick to put away Burnley 3-2. Three points is always the objective but the narrow escape at Old Trafford versus a promoted side in a must-win situation for Manager Ruben Amorim does not inspire a great deal of confidence.

Nottingham Forest supporters, meanwhile, were non-plussed by the abominable performance of their Tricky Trees at the City Ground versus West Ham. The Hammers had scored one goal while shipping eight in two opening losses before chopping down the Trees 3-0 on Sunday. All three West Ham goals came after the 83-minute mark in a late collapse by Nottingham Forest. West Ham Manager Graham Potter can now breathe a sigh of relief while Nuno Espirito Santo faces an uncomfortable conversation with owner Evangelos Marinakis during the international break.

Wolverhampton was also a loser at home by a 3-2 margin to Everton. A third straight defeat at least saw Wolves find the net for the first time this season. Everton, meanwhile, benefited from recent transfer additions. Jack Grealish assisted on two of the Everton goals while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had a goal and an assist for the Toffees.

Sunderland has won both of its matches at the Stadium of Light this season after a 2-1 triumph over Brentford. Wilson Isidor drilled a dramatic 96th minute winner to push the Cats across the finish line as Isidor became only the second Sunderland player to score in his first two Premier League appearances.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was one of the Eagles’ three goal scorers in a 3-0 beatdown of Aston Villa. There will likely be more goals to come from Guehi in an Eagles shirt after a transfer deadline day move to Liverpool fell though. Crystal Palace Manager Oliver Glasner is said to have been responsible for blocking Guehi’s dream move and the relationship between manager and player will need monitoring going forward.

Now former Newcastle player Alexander Isak got his Liverpool transfer wish granted for a Premier League record price on Monday. The departure of the Premier League’s second leading scorer from last season followed a dismal 0-0 outcome at Leeds for the punchless Magpies on Saturday. Newcastle bolstered its depleted attack with new signings Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart) and Yoane Wissa (Brentford). Woltemade, announced earlier in the week, was a spectator Saturday as paperwork was still to be finalized on Saturday. Wissa was a deadline day deal.