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.
