Premier League Week 5 Results: Chelsea Implodes Versus Manchester United; Liverpool Prevails in Merseyside Derby To Remain Perfect; Arsenal Salvages Point Versus Manchester City; Potter On The Brink At West Ham After Loss To Crystal Palace; Bournemouth and Newcastle Battle To Goalless Draw; Ange And Forest Nick A Point At Burnley

Chelsea supporters will want to quickly move on from a terrible week for the club. Last Wednesday, the Blues were shredded by Harry Kane and Bayern Munich. Saturday, it was an unimposing Manchester United side which proved too much to overcome for an imploding Chelsea side in a 2-1 Red Devil victory at Old Trafford. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was red carded five minutes in for a takedown of Manchester United’s Bryan Mbuemo. Less than ten minutes later Bruno Fernandez put the Red Devils ahead. Casemiro then doubled the home side’s lead before receiving a red card of his own in stoppage time of a first half filled with infamous firsts. The match was the first in Premier League history to feature two goals, two red cards and three substitutions by half time. Two of those substitutions were made by Chelsea when Sanchez headed for the exit. The third substitution came when Cole Palmer experienced a recurrence of the groin injury he has been battling for several weeks. His departure Saturday further trimmed the attack options for Chelsea which had already taken Pedro Neto and Estevao out of the game in favor of a more defensive scheme after Sanchez’s dismissal. When Andrey Santos subbed in for Palmer at the 21-minute mark, it marked the earliest use of three substitutions by any club in Premier League history. The match was essentially over at halftime as conditions worsened under a relentless rainfall and even a goal by Trevor Chalobah in the 80th minute failed to energize an otherwise lethargic Chelsea.

Ryan Gravenberch

League leading Liverpool also did its work in the first half before conceding a second half consolation score to Everton in a 2-1 Red victory in the Merseyside derby. Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Etitike found the net for Liverpool’s first half advantage which was enough to survive a second half goal by Everton’s  Idrissa Gueye and mark a fourth consecutive one goal margin of victory for the Reds. Liverpool is perfect after five games and boasts a roster so strong that recent transfers Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were not even in the starting lineup for the derby.

Arsenal is now five points behind Liverpool after salvaging a point from a 1-1 home draw with Manchester City. The Gunners equalized in stoppage time when Eberechi Eze threaded a ball to fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli for the tying tally in the 93rd minute. Manchester City claimed the away point and almost won by uncharacteristically “parking the bus” in the second half to protect a one goal advantage provided by Erling Haalnd’s first half goal. Arsenal is level on 10 points with Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth, all three clubs trailing Liverpool by five points after all three clubs deadlocked with their opponents over the weekend.

Spurs overcame a two-goal deficit to grab an away point in a 2-2 final at Brighton. Tottenham Hotspur were already down two goals before Richarlison pulled one back just before halftime. The visitors then pressed for the equalizer throughout a dominant second half. While failing to convert their own chances, Spurs gained the point when Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke deflected a Mohammed Kudus cross into the Seagulls’ net.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, was unable to find the net at home in a goalless draw with Newcastle. Former Bournemouth Manager Eddie Howe was frustrated once again versus his former club as the former Cherries’ legend has failed to defeat Bournemouth in the Premier League since taking over Newcastle four years ago. Newcastle has now been involved in three scoreless Premier League matches this season.

Just a point below Arsenal, Spurs and Bournemouth in the table is a Crystal Palace side which is now unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions. The Eagles swooped into London Stadium on Saturday and  emerged with a 2-1 win over the Hammers. Palace defender Tyrik Mitchell was the unlikely hero as his 68th minute strike sent West Ham down to defeat. The Crystal Palace left back had last scored a goal 686 days ago. West Ham is in turmoil with protesting supporters calling for the removal of current board members David Sullivan and Karen Brady before the match. Manager Graham Potter has had a disastrous run since replacing Julen Lopetegui who was the immediate replacement for David Moyes, a manager who led the Hammers to their first trophy in 43 years. Potter has won six times and collected 23 points in 23 Premier League matches since taking charge. Lopetegui achieved that point total in three fewer matches. The successive managerial failures have placed blame on the board though the more immediate likelihood is yet another managerial change. Potter was serenaded on Saturday by visiting Crystal Palace supporters chanting “You’re being sacked in the morning.”

A name rumored as Potter’s replacement is Nuno Espirito Santo, recently sacked at Nottingham Forest. Santo’s replacement at Forest, Ange Postecoglou, got his first point as manager of the Tricky trees with a 1-1 draw at Burnley. The Australin manger will now lead the Trees into their first European match in 30 years on Wednesday, an event made possible by the work of former manager Santo last season.

Wolverhampton made a curious managerial decision last week. Manager Vitor Pereira was inked to a new three-year extension despite his club sitting at the bottom of the Premier League table, winless and pointless for the season. The losing continued Saturday when Wolverhampton lost at home to newly promoted Leeds 3-1. All the newly promoted sides appear more competitive than those who have paid brief visits to the Premier League in recent seasons.

The new sides were unbeaten on the weekend with Sunderland drawing 1-1 with visiting Aston Villa. Villa is currently in the relegation zone with Wolverhampton and West Ham. At least the Villans scored their first goal of the season in the draw with the Black Cats.

Brentford is only one point above the drop line after five matches following a 3-1 defeat at Fulham. New Bees’ Manager Keith Andrews has been dealt a difficult hand with the transfer losses of stars such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa which have been crippling. Brentford’s total of four points from its five matches is the club’s lowest in five years. More concerning is that the Bees have surrendered eight points from winning positions in the Premier League already this season.