After midweek UEFA Champions League and Europa League action the Premier League teams were back in action on the weekend. From last year Champions to aspiring champions, from minnows to heavy weights, all were out there to prove a point to grasp some early advantage at still early days of the season. Though five matches are nothing but in the what many regard as the most competitive football leagues of the world every match counts. Here is a look at the results and highlights of the 5th round matches.
Liverpool 2:1 Chelsea
Chelsea under the new management came short against the Reds. Jordon Henderson spectacular strike was the difference between the two teams. Liverpool took a 2-0 lead in the first half, Chelsea courtesy Diego Costa managed to pull one back in the second half but ended short tasting their first defeat this season at home.
After their 5th round matches both the teams sit tied at 10 points each at 5th and 6th places in the table.
Manchester City 4:0 Bournemouth
City are yet to lose a match under new manager Pep Guardiola. They made it 5 wins in 5 watches and an overall 8 in 8 in all competitions. On Saturday they destroyed their opponents and went on another rampage scoring 4 goals. And all this without their star man Sergio Aguero. Kevin De Bruyne was again the chief tormentor and opened the scoring in the 15th minute. It was one way traffic then with Sterling, Iheanacho and Gundagon all on the score sheet for the home side. The only let down was the sending off of Spanish striker Nolito in the 86th minute for head butting an opponent.
With this win City sit top of the standings with 15 points and have already started to open a gap against their rivals.
Hull City 1:4 Arsenal
The Gunners put behind their 1-1 draw against PSG midweek to register a comprehensive away wins against Hull City. Alexis Sanchez kept up his tremendous premier League form scoring two goals. Though he was guilty of failing to convert from the spot. Hull’s Livermore was given marching orders in the 40th minute for a use of hands in the box. Alexis took the penalty duty but failed only to see his low effort saved by Hull goalkeeper.
Arsenal’s latest buy Swiss International Xhaka playing his first match in Premier League was also on the score sheet to complete a dream debut for the English side. The win helped Arsenal move third on the table with 10 points 5 behind the leaders City.
Leicester City 3:0 Burnley
The Foxes finished a perfect week with a win in their first ever Champions League match and another in the Premier league. The reigning Champions record signing Islam Slimani marked his Premier League debut with two goals to give the home team a convincing win against Burnley.
Slimani scored twice in four minutes of the added time of the first half which proved to the defining moment of the match. The win was only Leicester’s second win in 5 matches. If they are to repeat their last season heroics they will have to win more regularly.
Watford 3:1 Manchester United
Jose Mourinho’s side lost their third match running. After an unlikely defeat in the Europa Cup there was high hope that United will bounce back but all it ended was in humiliation. A 3:1 was United’s first in over a decade, it was the first time Jose has lost three matches in a row since he last managed Porto in 2002.
In a summer where United spend record amount on transfer activity bringing in best of the best players three loses in a row has put question marks and fans are still reeling as if it was LVG era over again. Watford took the lead in the first half, United fought back in the second to level the proceedings with a much improved performance and when it seemed that they might be able to snatch a winner, Watford scored a second. And to make it worse United conceded a penalty in the 95th minute to add to the jubilation of Watford side.
United after 5 matches sit seventh in the table with 9 points.
Tottenham 1:0 Sunderland
Spurs along with Manchester City and Everton remain the only side Unbeaten in the competition. Harry Kane scored the winner in the 59th minute against a winless Sunderland side who have been able to get only 1 point in their last 5 matches.
the scoreline for Sunderland would have been worse had it not been for their keeper who was in some inspirational form. It was Tottenham 22nd attempt on goal which finally managed to provide the breakthrough. However inspite of the win injuries to key players including the goal scorer Harry Kane who was stretchered off due to ankle injury will hurt their prospects as the season progresses.
Tottenham currently sit 3rd on the table with 11 points.