On the weekend we said farewell to an innovative English coach and witnessed a wonder goal he would no doubt have approved of – for there was always something stylish about Terry Venables – a weekend of Premier League highlights began with a Saturday lunchtime clash between champions Manchester City and Liverpool.
It ended all square after Trent Alexander Arnold cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first half opener yet, as so often in the top flight on an almost weekly basis, there was controversy.
Pep Guardiola questioned the disallowing of Rúben Dias’s goal that would have given City a 2-0 lead by referring to the controversial “Newcastle-Arsenal action” when a Joelinton shove on Gabriel was allowed before Anthony Gordon’s winner at the start of this month.
Dias’s 67th-minute attempt featured a similar moment when Manuel Akanji rose to challenge goalkeeper Alisson, who dropped the ball and the Portuguese put it into the net only to see the goal ruled out by the referee, Chris Kavanagh, with no intervention by the VAR official.
Guardiola, however, will also know his side would likely have won the game had it not been for a number of spurned chances after Haaland’s opener.
The lunchtime draw presented Arsenal with the opportunity to return to the summit by early evening and they took full advantage – just!
It was hard not to feel some sympathy for Brentford who matched the Gunners for long spells and were two goal line clearances – exceptional clearances from Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko – away from taking the lead themselves.
It was also hard not to feel that this may prove a key moment in the title race as second half substitute Kai Havertz, who has largely struggled since his summer move across London from Chelsea, headed an 89th minute winner.
His cameo from the bench showed the difference in squad depths between the top clubs and the rest and rounded off a dramatic late victory for Mikel Arteta in his 200th match in charge of the North Londoners.
If it’s tough at the top of the Premier League, it’s even tougher at the bottom.
Spare a thought then for Burnley who cantered to the Championship title last term and seemed on course for only their second league win of the season until a late collapse at home to West Ham.
The Clarets led through a Jay Rodriguez penalty until four minutes from time when teenage substitute Divin Mubama pressurised Dara O’Shea to turn the ball into his own net before Tomas Soucek scored from Mohammed Kudus’ deep cross in stoppage time.
It was a devastating result for the home side who have now lost seven straight home games and suffer with each passing week.
Perhaps one victory will spark a run of victories because, right now, they appear understandably low on confidence.
If the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds don’t favour them, it is the same story for fellow newly promoted side Sheffield United whose 3-1 home defeat to Bournemouth is exactly the type of contest they should be winning if they are to stay in the top flight.
While the Blades were insipid, the Cherries were vibrant and, alongside two-goal Marcus Tavernier, had Justin Kluivert who has become only the third player to score in Europe’s top five leagues.
Previously on target in La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, the Dutchman pounced on an error from goalkeeper Wes Foderingham for the visitors’ second goal, his first in the Premier League.
Unlike Burnley and Sheffield United, Luton Town are proving the doubters wrong.
Their 2-1 victory at home to injury-hit Crystal Place was testament to their character and the misfortune of the Eagles who lost Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucoure within eight minutes of each other the second half,
If the Hatters are to survive and stand firm against the odds, it will be because of results like this.
Talking of standing firm,, that is exactly what Erik ten Hag urged Manchester United to do against ‘mad’ Everton, a term the Dutchman used to describe how their players and fans would be feeling about the 10-point penalty imposed on the club.
He challenged his side to meet fire with fire at Goodison Park against hosts fuelled by a sense of injustice after an independent commission imposed the sanction on the club a week ago for a breach of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules.
That they returned home with a 3-0 success was impressive, even if it could have been very different had Everton not proven quite so profligate in front of goal.
Of course, it helped that they had a quite stupendous goal from Argentine teenager Alejandro Garnacho after just three minutes to build upon – one which quashed some of the home fans’ early protests and was a wonder goal which is a contender for the goal of the season.
Earlier on Sunday, came a meeting between two managers making their mark at their respective clubs, Spurs and Aston Villa.
Villa edged the contest against hosts hit by injuries and suspensions, although they could feel aggrieved after no fewer than three Son Heung-Min goals were disallowed.
The day’s action was all pre-empted by the saddest news of the weekend, the passing of former Spurs and England boss Terry Venables.
After the announcement of news that shocked and saddened so many, the club held a minute’s applause prior to kick-off and players wore black armbands during the game as they remembered a much-loved and respected man.
His legacy will live on. RIP ‘Tel’.
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