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..::Football IV::..
- Thread starter Wolverine GTR
- Start date
Watford 2 Arsenal 1: Plucky Hornets rally to sting Gunners with late winner
Comeback kings Watford handed Arsenal a first defeat in eight matches as Marco Silva's men recovered from a one-goal deficit to snatch a dramatic 2-1 triumph at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Per Mertesacker marked his first Premier League start in 532 days with the opening goal, the defender converting Granit Xhaka's corner in the 39th minute, to put Arsene Wenger's side on course for a fifth successive win in all competitions.
However, Watford - who had scored late goals to pick up points away at Swansea City and West Brom in their last two outings - once again demonstrated their new-found resiliency under manager Silva.A 71st-minute equaliser from the penalty spot by substitute Troy Deeney got the hosts on level terms and set up a thrilling finish.
After Etienne Capoue hit the post, the game appeared set to finish all-square until Tom Cleverley popped up with an injury-time winner, completing the recovery mission and sending Watford above Arsenal and up to fourth in the table.
Cleverley - who had been easily beaten in the air for Mertesacker's header - was in the right place in the penalty area to convert a loose ball, meaning the Gunners are still yet to record an away league win this season.
The dramatic finish spectacularly bursts the fragile bubble of optimism that had been growing at Arsenal, who had put together an impressive run of form since a 4-0 hammering at Liverpool on August 27.
Wenger will rue his side's failure to hold onto a lead given to them by the most unlikely of goalscorers, club captain Mertesacker - who replaced the injured Shkodran Mustafi in the starting XI - celebrating a rare outing by breaking the deadlock with his side's first away goal in the league since May.
The set-piece effort came after Arsenal had struggled to break down a Watford side that mirrored their opponents by starting with a three-man back line, the visitors too often settling for long-range attempts or throwing in hopeful crosses.
Silva switched to 4-4-2 on the hour mark and the move paid off when club skipper Deeney - without a goal in his previous 13 league games - matched his Arsenal counterpart by converting from the spot after Hector Bellerin was adjudged to have pulled down Richarlison.
The equaliser came after Arsenal had twice fluffed their lines at the other end. Alex Iwobi and the fit-again Mesut Ozil, on as a replacement for the injured Danny Welbeck, were both guilty of putting ione-on-one attempts too close to goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, letting Watford off the hook.The closing minutes saw Arsenal come under siege, with the post helping them out when Capoue's first-time drive from Deeney's pass struck Mertesacker's chest and wrong-footed Petr Cech.
However, the woodwork failed to come to their rescue again when Cleverley arrived at the perfect time to slam home a dramatic winner three minutes into added time.
Comeback kings Watford handed Arsenal a first defeat in eight matches as Marco Silva's men recovered from a one-goal deficit to snatch a dramatic 2-1 triumph at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Per Mertesacker marked his first Premier League start in 532 days with the opening goal, the defender converting Granit Xhaka's corner in the 39th minute, to put Arsene Wenger's side on course for a fifth successive win in all competitions.
However, Watford - who had scored late goals to pick up points away at Swansea City and West Brom in their last two outings - once again demonstrated their new-found resiliency under manager Silva.A 71st-minute equaliser from the penalty spot by substitute Troy Deeney got the hosts on level terms and set up a thrilling finish.
After Etienne Capoue hit the post, the game appeared set to finish all-square until Tom Cleverley popped up with an injury-time winner, completing the recovery mission and sending Watford above Arsenal and up to fourth in the table.
Cleverley - who had been easily beaten in the air for Mertesacker's header - was in the right place in the penalty area to convert a loose ball, meaning the Gunners are still yet to record an away league win this season.
The dramatic finish spectacularly bursts the fragile bubble of optimism that had been growing at Arsenal, who had put together an impressive run of form since a 4-0 hammering at Liverpool on August 27.
Wenger will rue his side's failure to hold onto a lead given to them by the most unlikely of goalscorers, club captain Mertesacker - who replaced the injured Shkodran Mustafi in the starting XI - celebrating a rare outing by breaking the deadlock with his side's first away goal in the league since May.
The set-piece effort came after Arsenal had struggled to break down a Watford side that mirrored their opponents by starting with a three-man back line, the visitors too often settling for long-range attempts or throwing in hopeful crosses.
Silva switched to 4-4-2 on the hour mark and the move paid off when club skipper Deeney - without a goal in his previous 13 league games - matched his Arsenal counterpart by converting from the spot after Hector Bellerin was adjudged to have pulled down Richarlison.
The equaliser came after Arsenal had twice fluffed their lines at the other end. Alex Iwobi and the fit-again Mesut Ozil, on as a replacement for the injured Danny Welbeck, were both guilty of putting ione-on-one attempts too close to goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, letting Watford off the hook.The closing minutes saw Arsenal come under siege, with the post helping them out when Capoue's first-time drive from Deeney's pass struck Mertesacker's chest and wrong-footed Petr Cech.
However, the woodwork failed to come to their rescue again when Cleverley arrived at the perfect time to slam home a dramatic winner three minutes into added time.
Borussia Dortmund 2 RB Leipzig 3: Two penalties, two reds in five-goal thriller
Borussia Dortmund's unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season ended in dramatic fashion as RB Leipzig came from behind to snatch a heart-stopping 3-2 away win.
Both sides had players sent off in the second half but Leipzig held their nerve to inflict a first defeat in eight matches on Peter Bosz's men.The visitors were forced to do it the hard way after falling behind to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's early opener with Marcel Sabitzer and Yussuf Poulsen scoring to turn the contest on its head.
And Ralph Hasenhuttl's men looked on course for their fifth victory of the campaign when Sokratis Papastathopoulos was shown a straight red for conceding a penalty which Jean-Kevin Augustin converted.
Stefan Ilsanker also received his marching orders, though, and Aubameyang was able to reduce the deficit from the spot as he moved ahead of Robert Lewandowski in the scoring charts.But, after recording their first ever Bundesliga victory in this fixture last season, it was Leipzig who were yet again celebrating another milestone moment.
There was a frenetic tempo from the outset and it was Dortmund who scored first through Aubameyang.
The striker dispossessed Ilsanker, raced through on goal and coolly buried a fourth-minute opener beyond Peter Gulacsi.Leipzig should have found an instant response through Augustin, but Roman Burki produced a stellar one-on-one save with his legs.
Hasenhuttl's side only had to wait a matter of moments for an equaliser, though, as Marcel Halstenberg climbed high to head a free-kick into the path of Sabitzer, who nodded past Burki to make it 1-1.Aubameyang remained central to the breathless early action as he again found space in the area, only to be denied by a desperate Gulacsi block.
And the match took another dramatic twist when Portugal winger Bruma brilliantly raced around his marker on the left and held his composure to find Poulsen for a tap-in.
There was still time left in the half for Dortmund to go close to an equaliser, with Gulacsi once more smothering a close-range opportunity for Aubameyang.
The visitors' stunning fightback continued immediately after the restart with Sokratis dismissed for dragging down Augustin, who sent Burki the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
Their numerical advantage lasted less than 10 minutes, though, as Ilsanker picked up two bookings in as many minutes to give the hosts hope.Dortmund's comeback truly came to life just after the hour when VAR was used to award a contentious penalty for a trip by Dayot Upamecano on Aubameyang, the Gabon international making no mistake with his spot-kick.
But that was to prove their last moment of joy as Gulacsi decisively denied Aubameyang in stoppage time and Andriy Yarmolenko sent the rebound over a gaping target.
Borussia Dortmund's unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season ended in dramatic fashion as RB Leipzig came from behind to snatch a heart-stopping 3-2 away win.
Both sides had players sent off in the second half but Leipzig held their nerve to inflict a first defeat in eight matches on Peter Bosz's men.The visitors were forced to do it the hard way after falling behind to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's early opener with Marcel Sabitzer and Yussuf Poulsen scoring to turn the contest on its head.
And Ralph Hasenhuttl's men looked on course for their fifth victory of the campaign when Sokratis Papastathopoulos was shown a straight red for conceding a penalty which Jean-Kevin Augustin converted.
Stefan Ilsanker also received his marching orders, though, and Aubameyang was able to reduce the deficit from the spot as he moved ahead of Robert Lewandowski in the scoring charts.But, after recording their first ever Bundesliga victory in this fixture last season, it was Leipzig who were yet again celebrating another milestone moment.
There was a frenetic tempo from the outset and it was Dortmund who scored first through Aubameyang.
The striker dispossessed Ilsanker, raced through on goal and coolly buried a fourth-minute opener beyond Peter Gulacsi.Leipzig should have found an instant response through Augustin, but Roman Burki produced a stellar one-on-one save with his legs.
Hasenhuttl's side only had to wait a matter of moments for an equaliser, though, as Marcel Halstenberg climbed high to head a free-kick into the path of Sabitzer, who nodded past Burki to make it 1-1.Aubameyang remained central to the breathless early action as he again found space in the area, only to be denied by a desperate Gulacsi block.
And the match took another dramatic twist when Portugal winger Bruma brilliantly raced around his marker on the left and held his composure to find Poulsen for a tap-in.
There was still time left in the half for Dortmund to go close to an equaliser, with Gulacsi once more smothering a close-range opportunity for Aubameyang.
The visitors' stunning fightback continued immediately after the restart with Sokratis dismissed for dragging down Augustin, who sent Burki the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
Their numerical advantage lasted less than 10 minutes, though, as Ilsanker picked up two bookings in as many minutes to give the hosts hope.Dortmund's comeback truly came to life just after the hour when VAR was used to award a contentious penalty for a trip by Dayot Upamecano on Aubameyang, the Gabon international making no mistake with his spot-kick.
But that was to prove their last moment of joy as Gulacsi decisively denied Aubameyang in stoppage time and Andriy Yarmolenko sent the rebound over a gaping target.
Juventus 1 Lazio 2: Immobile condemns champions to rare home defeat
Ciro Immobile struck twice and Paulo Dybala missed a penalty for the second Serie A game in succession as Lazio won 2-1 to hand Juventus a first home league defeat in 42 games.
Dybala's spot-kick woe came deep in stoppage time after referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni had used the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to rightly award Juve the chance to claim a point following a reckless challenge from Patric on Federico Bernardeschi.
But Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha dived low to his right to push Dybala's effort away before the final whistle went to condemn the Bianconeri to a first home defeat in Serie A since August 2015.
Juve's dominance at the Allianz Stadium has been one of the cornerstones of their six successive Serie A titles, but a growing sense that their Scudetto monopoly could be under serious threat will only increase after this eye-catching result.
The hosts had won their last six league meetings with Lazio to nil, and were on a revenge mission after their stunning stoppage-time defeat to Simone Inzaghi's side in the Supercoppa Italiana.Douglas Costa opened his Juventus account, while Gonzalo Higuain bizarrely and inadvertently hit the bar from a yard out as Massimiliano Allegri's men dominated the opening half.
But Lazio had designs on upsetting the champions once again and former Juve youngster Immobile struck twice inside seven minutes after the break to turn the game on its head and put the visitors on course for their first league win over Juve in 14 years.
Both goals came as a result of creaking defensive play between Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli and, having spurned a two-goal lead against Atalanta last time out - a game in which Dybala was foiled from 12 yards to snatch a win - questions may be asked of Allegri as Napoli's spectacular start to the season ramps up the pressure.
Allegri had opted to bench Dybala, despite the Bianconeri star failing to play a minute for Argentina during the international break, with Costa and Mario Mandzukic flanking Higuain in attack. With five Lazio players strung in front of a back three, chances were at a premium for the hosts, but they converted their first clear-cut opportunity.
Sami Khedira's snapshot drew a fine save from Strakosha, only for Costa to snaffle the rebound - the goal upheld by VAR after replays showed Bastos had played him onside on the far side.Strakosha denied Khedira more decisively with 10 minutes to play in the opening half, palming the German's blistering 30-yarder around the post.
The Allianz Stadium was collectively astonished when the score remained at 1-0 soon after when Higuain charged down Strakosha's clearance from no more than a yard out, only to see the ball incredibly rebound clear off the crossbar.
Lazio reached the interval having shown little sign of breaking their drought against the champions, but they pulled level just two minutes into the second half, Immobile curling beyond Buffon after he pulled away from Barzagli to latch onto Luis Alberto's pass.
Strakosha denied Higuain one-on-one as the striker's luckless game continued and Lazio stunned the home crowd soon after, Immobile again splitting the defence and rounding Gianluigi Buffon, who could only trip the striker.Immobile picked himself up to send Buffon the wrong way and put the rarest of wins in the minds of Lazio fans.
Allegri called for Dybala as Juve's attempts to get back into the game came to nought and he was soon in the thick of the action, seeing a cross to fellow substitute Bernadeschi just hooked clear by Stefan Radu.Dybala was denied by the post with a fizzing half-volley in the first minute of stoppage time, but looked set to be the hero when substitute Patric suffered a brain freeze with time almost up.
With the stage set, Dybala fluffed his lines again, Strakosha denying the South American to move Inzaghi's men level in the table with Juventus, who now look on anxiously as Napoli look to extend their advantage at the top against Roma.
Ciro Immobile struck twice and Paulo Dybala missed a penalty for the second Serie A game in succession as Lazio won 2-1 to hand Juventus a first home league defeat in 42 games.
Dybala's spot-kick woe came deep in stoppage time after referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni had used the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system to rightly award Juve the chance to claim a point following a reckless challenge from Patric on Federico Bernardeschi.
But Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha dived low to his right to push Dybala's effort away before the final whistle went to condemn the Bianconeri to a first home defeat in Serie A since August 2015.
Juve's dominance at the Allianz Stadium has been one of the cornerstones of their six successive Serie A titles, but a growing sense that their Scudetto monopoly could be under serious threat will only increase after this eye-catching result.
The hosts had won their last six league meetings with Lazio to nil, and were on a revenge mission after their stunning stoppage-time defeat to Simone Inzaghi's side in the Supercoppa Italiana.Douglas Costa opened his Juventus account, while Gonzalo Higuain bizarrely and inadvertently hit the bar from a yard out as Massimiliano Allegri's men dominated the opening half.
But Lazio had designs on upsetting the champions once again and former Juve youngster Immobile struck twice inside seven minutes after the break to turn the game on its head and put the visitors on course for their first league win over Juve in 14 years.
Both goals came as a result of creaking defensive play between Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli and, having spurned a two-goal lead against Atalanta last time out - a game in which Dybala was foiled from 12 yards to snatch a win - questions may be asked of Allegri as Napoli's spectacular start to the season ramps up the pressure.
Allegri had opted to bench Dybala, despite the Bianconeri star failing to play a minute for Argentina during the international break, with Costa and Mario Mandzukic flanking Higuain in attack. With five Lazio players strung in front of a back three, chances were at a premium for the hosts, but they converted their first clear-cut opportunity.
Sami Khedira's snapshot drew a fine save from Strakosha, only for Costa to snaffle the rebound - the goal upheld by VAR after replays showed Bastos had played him onside on the far side.Strakosha denied Khedira more decisively with 10 minutes to play in the opening half, palming the German's blistering 30-yarder around the post.
The Allianz Stadium was collectively astonished when the score remained at 1-0 soon after when Higuain charged down Strakosha's clearance from no more than a yard out, only to see the ball incredibly rebound clear off the crossbar.
Lazio reached the interval having shown little sign of breaking their drought against the champions, but they pulled level just two minutes into the second half, Immobile curling beyond Buffon after he pulled away from Barzagli to latch onto Luis Alberto's pass.
Strakosha denied Higuain one-on-one as the striker's luckless game continued and Lazio stunned the home crowd soon after, Immobile again splitting the defence and rounding Gianluigi Buffon, who could only trip the striker.Immobile picked himself up to send Buffon the wrong way and put the rarest of wins in the minds of Lazio fans.
Allegri called for Dybala as Juve's attempts to get back into the game came to nought and he was soon in the thick of the action, seeing a cross to fellow substitute Bernadeschi just hooked clear by Stefan Radu.Dybala was denied by the post with a fizzing half-volley in the first minute of stoppage time, but looked set to be the hero when substitute Patric suffered a brain freeze with time almost up.
With the stage set, Dybala fluffed his lines again, Strakosha denying the South American to move Inzaghi's men level in the table with Juventus, who now look on anxiously as Napoli look to extend their advantage at the top against Roma.
Getafe 1 Real Madrid 2: Ronaldo atones for astonishing miss with first LaLiga goal
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first LaLiga goal of the season to atone for an astonishing earlier miss and earn Real Madrid a hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe.
Having missed the start of the season through suspension, Ronaldo had not found the net in his first three league appearances and his duck looked set to continue in a largely frustrating contest against their neighbours.Zinedine Zidane's side took the lead when Karim Benzema capped off a counter-attack with a fine first-half finish.
But Getafe surprisingly levelled against the run of play 11 minutes into the second half as Jorge Molina continued his excellent run of form against Madrid.Ronaldo was then presented with a golden chance to seal the points, only to somehow shoot wide from a yard out.
It looked as if that profligacy would prove costly, but the Portugal forward made amends by latching onto Isco's wonderful lofted ball over the top and lashing a half-volley beyond Vicente Guaita.
The win cuts the gap to leaders Barcelona to four points, though Luis Enrique's men could extend that back to seven with victory at Atletico Madrid later on Saturday. Ronaldo almost opened the scoring in stunning fashion as he saw his half-volley kept out by a diving save from Guaita down to his right.
Getafe reduced Madrid to efforts from long-range for much of the first half, Ronaldo seeing a strike from the edge of the area comfortably saved by Guaita.
Benzema, who teed Ronaldo up for his earlier chance, then fired over the bar after a clever flick from his strike partner, but Getafe did not heed that warning as the Frenchman put Madrid ahead in the 39th minute.
The hosts wastefully gave the ball away from a free-kick and Madrid rapidly launched a counter-attack with the aid of a deflected pass into the path of Benzema, who fired into the bottom-left corner.
Madrid quickly set out to double their lead upon the restart and Getafe were very fortunate not to concede during a passage of play in which Ronaldo and Lucas Vazquez each could have scored before Marcelo saw an effort tipped over by Guaita. But Zidane's men were pegged back just three minutes later in contentious fashion. Faycal Fajr got down the right and his low cross was turned home by Molina, though replays indicated the veteran striker was offside.
Ronaldo failed to hit the target with a free-kick before then inexplicably spurning an opportunity to settle the contest from point-blank range after a free-kick diverted into his path in the 73rd minute.Theo Hernandez had the ball in the net but was correctly flagged for offside and Mauro Arambarri was unable to test Kiko Casilla, playing in place of the injured Keylor Navas, with an ambitious effort.
Getafe hearts were broken in the 85th minute, though, as Ronaldo returned to his usual form with a reminder of his finishing prowess to secure maximum points.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first LaLiga goal of the season to atone for an astonishing earlier miss and earn Real Madrid a hard-fought 2-1 win at Getafe.
Having missed the start of the season through suspension, Ronaldo had not found the net in his first three league appearances and his duck looked set to continue in a largely frustrating contest against their neighbours.Zinedine Zidane's side took the lead when Karim Benzema capped off a counter-attack with a fine first-half finish.
But Getafe surprisingly levelled against the run of play 11 minutes into the second half as Jorge Molina continued his excellent run of form against Madrid.Ronaldo was then presented with a golden chance to seal the points, only to somehow shoot wide from a yard out.
It looked as if that profligacy would prove costly, but the Portugal forward made amends by latching onto Isco's wonderful lofted ball over the top and lashing a half-volley beyond Vicente Guaita.
The win cuts the gap to leaders Barcelona to four points, though Luis Enrique's men could extend that back to seven with victory at Atletico Madrid later on Saturday. Ronaldo almost opened the scoring in stunning fashion as he saw his half-volley kept out by a diving save from Guaita down to his right.
Getafe reduced Madrid to efforts from long-range for much of the first half, Ronaldo seeing a strike from the edge of the area comfortably saved by Guaita.
Benzema, who teed Ronaldo up for his earlier chance, then fired over the bar after a clever flick from his strike partner, but Getafe did not heed that warning as the Frenchman put Madrid ahead in the 39th minute.
The hosts wastefully gave the ball away from a free-kick and Madrid rapidly launched a counter-attack with the aid of a deflected pass into the path of Benzema, who fired into the bottom-left corner.
Madrid quickly set out to double their lead upon the restart and Getafe were very fortunate not to concede during a passage of play in which Ronaldo and Lucas Vazquez each could have scored before Marcelo saw an effort tipped over by Guaita. But Zidane's men were pegged back just three minutes later in contentious fashion. Faycal Fajr got down the right and his low cross was turned home by Molina, though replays indicated the veteran striker was offside.
Ronaldo failed to hit the target with a free-kick before then inexplicably spurning an opportunity to settle the contest from point-blank range after a free-kick diverted into his path in the 73rd minute.Theo Hernandez had the ball in the net but was correctly flagged for offside and Mauro Arambarri was unable to test Kiko Casilla, playing in place of the injured Keylor Navas, with an ambitious effort.
Getafe hearts were broken in the 85th minute, though, as Ronaldo returned to his usual form with a reminder of his finishing prowess to secure maximum points.
Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0: Old rivals fail to match the rhetoric once more
Manchester United proved a stifling presence at Anfield once again as they closed out a 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Jose Mourinho's side were criticised for a lack of ambition in last season's stalemate and any change in approach brought about by their lofty position in the Premier League was negligible on this occasion.
United, who edged one point ahead Manchester City at the summit ahead of their neighbours hosting Stoke City, had David de Gea to thank for a magnificent first-half save to deny Joel Matip.
Romelu Lukaku was unable to make it eight goals in as many top-flight games for Mourinho's men when he botched a one-on-one opportunity on the stroke of half-time.
If it was mildly perplexing to see a side in such previously prolific goalscoring form isolate Lukaku for long periods before the break, the second period descended into a Liverpool attack versus United defence.
Jurgen Klopp's men were unable to find a way through and have now won just one out of eight in all competitions – Mourinho must hope he does not regret showing so much respect to opponents in such form come May.
Anfield rose to acclaim club great Kenny Dalglish before kick-off, the ground's Centenary Stand having been renamed in his honour, but the early exchanges were desperately short on the moments of attacking inspiration the Scotland international made his calling card.
Antonio Valencia made an expertly timed tackle on Philippe Coutinho following a darting crossfield run from Mohamed Salah – Liverpool's brightest forward, who was just unable to turn in Roberto Firmino's deflected 20th-minute cross at the near post.
United enjoyed their best spell of the first half around the half hour, when Nemanja Matic sliced an ambitious left-footed effort just beyond the top corner, but they had goalkeeper De Gea to thank for preserving parity in the 34th minute.
Firmino was the provider once more and centre-back Joel Matip - still up from a half-cleared corner - prodded goalwards from close range, only for De Gea to brilliantly intervene with his boot. From the rebound Salah skewed his shot wastefully wideRomelu Lukaku was largely forced to feed off scraps up front for United and drew Anfield ire for clashes with Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren.
In between those flashpoints he should have scored a 43rd minute opener following fine interplay from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial, but Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet stood firm.
Philippe Coutinho was to the fore as Liverpool began the second half in the ascendancy and his compatriot Firmino saw a speculative strike deflected into the side netting with De Gea wrongfooted.
The Brazilian duo were punching encouraging gaps into United's compact defensive set-up as Georginio Wijnaldum lifted an attempt over before Emre Can failed to convert a magnificent 56th-minute cross from Gomez.
Coutinho went down tamely in search of a penalty as the hour passed and a seemingly vulnerable United doubled down on their limited approach. A scampering Salah saw a Firmino cross agonisingly evade him at the far post in the 71st minute and clear-cut chances proved elusive.Liverpool have 13 points from eight matches and could conclude the weekend in ninth position.
United will be no lower than second after a dispiritingly limited venture that an injury list featuring Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini should not excuse.
Crystal Palace 2 Chelsea 1: Returning Zaha has Eagles soaring at last
Wilfried Zaha returned to inspire Crystal Palace as the Eagles recorded their first goals and points of the season en route to consigning Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Flying winger Zaha injured his right knee during the opening-day defeat to Huddersfield Town and has been powerless as Palace lost their opening seven league matches without scoring a goal.
Another defeat to nil would have set an unwanted English league record at nine, including one at the end of last season, but Selhurst Park erupted early on when an Andros Townsend cross crept past Thibaut Courtois via a combination of Yohan Cabaye and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Tiemoue Bakayoko was given the freedom of the Palace area to head home his first Premier League goal and level the scores, but the influential Zaha – who was a menace throughout – restored Palace's lead shortly before the break with a cool finish.An inevitable second-half barrage arrived from Chelsea and Cesc Fabregas lashed an effort against the crossbar, but Palace clung on for a priceless victory.
It marks another disappointment for Antonio Conte, whose side were beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester City last time out and the Blues now trail Pep Guardiola's league leaders by nine points.
Palace remain bottom of the table, seven points adrift of 17th, but the return of Zaha will give Roy Hodgson – who tasted victory as Palace boss for the first time – renewed optimism.
Zaha provided Palace with fresh attacking impetus and he forced Courtois into an early save after collecting Townsend's low left-wing cross and turning Gary Cahill in the area.
The wait for a goal was over in the 11th minute. James McArthur cleverly slipped a pass to Townsend, whose drilled cross ricocheted off Cabaye's knee under a challenge from David Luiz and clipped Azpilicueta before squirming past Courtois.
Palace's frailties were exposed with startling ease just seven minutes later, though, as Cesc Fabregas fired in a corner from the right that Bakayoko headed in unmarked for his first Premier League goal.
Zaha lashed an effort past the left post, while more poor marking at a corner led to Michy Batshuayi – deputising for the injured Alvaro Morata in one of four Chelsea changes – heading wastefully over the crossbar.Chelsea then lost Victor Moses to a hamstring injury before their misery increased on the stroke of half-time.
Mamadou Sakho powered deep into Chelsea's half and fed Zaha, who brilliantly jinked inside Azpilicueta before placing his shot across Courtois into the bottom-right corner.
Chelsea upped the tempo early in the second half and Fabregas' stinging 25-yard drive beat veteran goalkeeper Julian Speroni – playing in place of the injured Wayne Hennessey – but rattled the bar.
The visitors continued to create the better second-half chances and Marcos Alonso looped a header over from Willian's corner just after the hour before Pedro's long-distance drive was saved by Speroni.Palace should have put the game to bed in the closing stages when Courtois spilled Townsend's 25-yard effort, but Patrick van Aanholt somehow drilled wide on the follow up with the goal gaping.
It almost proved a costly miss as Sakho recklessly tried to backheel out of danger against Charly Musonda, but thankfully for a raucous home crowd Fabregas drilled wide.
Wilfried Zaha returned to inspire Crystal Palace as the Eagles recorded their first goals and points of the season en route to consigning Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League defeats.
Flying winger Zaha injured his right knee during the opening-day defeat to Huddersfield Town and has been powerless as Palace lost their opening seven league matches without scoring a goal.
Another defeat to nil would have set an unwanted English league record at nine, including one at the end of last season, but Selhurst Park erupted early on when an Andros Townsend cross crept past Thibaut Courtois via a combination of Yohan Cabaye and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Tiemoue Bakayoko was given the freedom of the Palace area to head home his first Premier League goal and level the scores, but the influential Zaha – who was a menace throughout – restored Palace's lead shortly before the break with a cool finish.An inevitable second-half barrage arrived from Chelsea and Cesc Fabregas lashed an effort against the crossbar, but Palace clung on for a priceless victory.
It marks another disappointment for Antonio Conte, whose side were beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester City last time out and the Blues now trail Pep Guardiola's league leaders by nine points.
Palace remain bottom of the table, seven points adrift of 17th, but the return of Zaha will give Roy Hodgson – who tasted victory as Palace boss for the first time – renewed optimism.
Zaha provided Palace with fresh attacking impetus and he forced Courtois into an early save after collecting Townsend's low left-wing cross and turning Gary Cahill in the area.
The wait for a goal was over in the 11th minute. James McArthur cleverly slipped a pass to Townsend, whose drilled cross ricocheted off Cabaye's knee under a challenge from David Luiz and clipped Azpilicueta before squirming past Courtois.
Palace's frailties were exposed with startling ease just seven minutes later, though, as Cesc Fabregas fired in a corner from the right that Bakayoko headed in unmarked for his first Premier League goal.
Zaha lashed an effort past the left post, while more poor marking at a corner led to Michy Batshuayi – deputising for the injured Alvaro Morata in one of four Chelsea changes – heading wastefully over the crossbar.Chelsea then lost Victor Moses to a hamstring injury before their misery increased on the stroke of half-time.
Mamadou Sakho powered deep into Chelsea's half and fed Zaha, who brilliantly jinked inside Azpilicueta before placing his shot across Courtois into the bottom-right corner.
Chelsea upped the tempo early in the second half and Fabregas' stinging 25-yard drive beat veteran goalkeeper Julian Speroni – playing in place of the injured Wayne Hennessey – but rattled the bar.
The visitors continued to create the better second-half chances and Marcos Alonso looped a header over from Willian's corner just after the hour before Pedro's long-distance drive was saved by Speroni.Palace should have put the game to bed in the closing stages when Courtois spilled Townsend's 25-yard effort, but Patrick van Aanholt somehow drilled wide on the follow up with the goal gaping.
It almost proved a costly miss as Sakho recklessly tried to backheel out of danger against Charly Musonda, but thankfully for a raucous home crowd Fabregas drilled wide.
Manchester City 7 Stoke City 2: Guardiola's side run riot to move two clear at the top
Manchester City moved two points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Liverpool had temporarily lifted them to the summit but City took full advantage of their rivals' dropped points with a rampant display against a dismal Stoke side.Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and David Silva had them 3-0 up in less than half an hour as a ragged visiting defence made life easy for Pep Guardiola's front three.
Stoke did threaten a comeback either side of half-time, with Mame Diouf firing home before his header deflected in off Kyle Walker to make it 3-2, but hope of a shock result did not last long.Jesus scored his second and Leroy Sane his first from two exceptional passes from Kevin De Bruyne, making his 100th appearance for the club, either side of a stunning strike from Fernandinho.
Guardiola made some changes in the closing stages – although Sergio Aguero, back from a broken rib, stayed on the bench – as City looked to save some energy for next week's Champions League meeting with Napoli.
The substitutions did little to disrupt City's rhythm, though, as Bernardo Silva finished in the closing stages to seal a seventh win from eight games that opens up a gap at the top of the table.
Sane should have opened the scoring after seven minutes but instead blasted over the bar from point-blank range, but it did not take City long to strike.With 17 minutes played, Kyle Walker was allowed time and space inside the penalty area just yards from Jack Butland's left-hand post, and his cut-back was turned in by Gabriel Jesus.
It was 2-0 barely 90 seconds later. De Bruyne's fine throughball found Sane, who had been played onside by Erik Pieters, and he unselfishly laid the ball off to Sterling to tap home.Stoke had scarcely managed any spell of possession before City bagged a third, with David Silva controlling Sterling's cut-back before prodding past Butland from six yards.
It looked all-too easy for the home side but Stoke at least snatched a lifeline before the break. Xherdan Shaqiri released Jese Rodriguez down the right and he combined well with Diouf, who drilled a shot in off Fabian Delph's extended leg and beyond Ederson.
Matters become more uncomfortable for the home side less than three minutes after the restart, as Diouf's header from debutant Thomas Edwards' curling cross deflected off Walker and into the net, prompting jubilant celebrations in front of the away fans.
But City restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes later. Bruno Martins-Indi was caught dithering in possession and De Bruyne took full advantage, racing down the right before sending in a superb low cross to the unmarked Jesus, who fired high into the net.
Fernandinho then produced the best goal of the match, a thunderous strike from 25 yards out that went in off the crossbar, as Stoke's defence allowed the Brazilian all the time he needed to set himself and let fly. Five minutes later and City had their sixth, De Bruyne's stunning pass picking out Sane's run into the left of the area, the Germany star side-footing beyond Butland at the near post.
There was time enough for Bernardo Silva to score his first Premier League goal, gathering in Sterling's pass after Stoke failed to clear before poking a finish into the bottom-right corner, capping another devastating display from City that has given them a boost in the title race.
Manchester City moved two points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 7-2 thrashing of Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Liverpool had temporarily lifted them to the summit but City took full advantage of their rivals' dropped points with a rampant display against a dismal Stoke side.Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and David Silva had them 3-0 up in less than half an hour as a ragged visiting defence made life easy for Pep Guardiola's front three.
Stoke did threaten a comeback either side of half-time, with Mame Diouf firing home before his header deflected in off Kyle Walker to make it 3-2, but hope of a shock result did not last long.Jesus scored his second and Leroy Sane his first from two exceptional passes from Kevin De Bruyne, making his 100th appearance for the club, either side of a stunning strike from Fernandinho.
Guardiola made some changes in the closing stages – although Sergio Aguero, back from a broken rib, stayed on the bench – as City looked to save some energy for next week's Champions League meeting with Napoli.
The substitutions did little to disrupt City's rhythm, though, as Bernardo Silva finished in the closing stages to seal a seventh win from eight games that opens up a gap at the top of the table.
Sane should have opened the scoring after seven minutes but instead blasted over the bar from point-blank range, but it did not take City long to strike.With 17 minutes played, Kyle Walker was allowed time and space inside the penalty area just yards from Jack Butland's left-hand post, and his cut-back was turned in by Gabriel Jesus.
It was 2-0 barely 90 seconds later. De Bruyne's fine throughball found Sane, who had been played onside by Erik Pieters, and he unselfishly laid the ball off to Sterling to tap home.Stoke had scarcely managed any spell of possession before City bagged a third, with David Silva controlling Sterling's cut-back before prodding past Butland from six yards.
It looked all-too easy for the home side but Stoke at least snatched a lifeline before the break. Xherdan Shaqiri released Jese Rodriguez down the right and he combined well with Diouf, who drilled a shot in off Fabian Delph's extended leg and beyond Ederson.
Matters become more uncomfortable for the home side less than three minutes after the restart, as Diouf's header from debutant Thomas Edwards' curling cross deflected off Walker and into the net, prompting jubilant celebrations in front of the away fans.
But City restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes later. Bruno Martins-Indi was caught dithering in possession and De Bruyne took full advantage, racing down the right before sending in a superb low cross to the unmarked Jesus, who fired high into the net.
Fernandinho then produced the best goal of the match, a thunderous strike from 25 yards out that went in off the crossbar, as Stoke's defence allowed the Brazilian all the time he needed to set himself and let fly. Five minutes later and City had their sixth, De Bruyne's stunning pass picking out Sane's run into the left of the area, the Germany star side-footing beyond Butland at the near post.
There was time enough for Bernardo Silva to score his first Premier League goal, gathering in Sterling's pass after Stoke failed to clear before poking a finish into the bottom-right corner, capping another devastating display from City that has given them a boost in the title race.
Roma 0 Napoli 1: Landmark Insigne goal maintains Partenopei's flawless start to season
A first-half Lorenzo Insigne goal maintained Napoli's 100 per cent start to the season as a 1-0 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico extended their lead at the Serie A summit to five points.Maurizio Sarri's side dominated from the outset and took full advantage of Juventus' 2-1 defeat to Lazio earlier in the day.
There was a touch of good fortune about the diminutive Insigne's strike - the 100th goal of his career - after 20 minutes as the ball was deflected invitingly into his path by a Roma defender, and the Italy international coolly slotted past Alisson into the bottom-left corner.
Dries Mertens, who has already scored seven times this season, had two excellent chances to add to his tally in the first half but was thwarted by Alisson on both occasions.The Belgian then had another glorious chance 10 minutes into the second period after he had picked the pocket of Kostas Manolas, but he skewed his effort wide of the far post.
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina was a virtual spectator but produced a superb save with 20 minutes remaining to tip substitute Federico Fazio's nodded effort onto the post, while Edin Dzeko clipped the crossbar with a late header as the hosts tried in vain to grab an equaliser.
A first-half Lorenzo Insigne goal maintained Napoli's 100 per cent start to the season as a 1-0 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico extended their lead at the Serie A summit to five points.Maurizio Sarri's side dominated from the outset and took full advantage of Juventus' 2-1 defeat to Lazio earlier in the day.
There was a touch of good fortune about the diminutive Insigne's strike - the 100th goal of his career - after 20 minutes as the ball was deflected invitingly into his path by a Roma defender, and the Italy international coolly slotted past Alisson into the bottom-left corner.
Dries Mertens, who has already scored seven times this season, had two excellent chances to add to his tally in the first half but was thwarted by Alisson on both occasions.The Belgian then had another glorious chance 10 minutes into the second period after he had picked the pocket of Kostas Manolas, but he skewed his effort wide of the far post.
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina was a virtual spectator but produced a superb save with 20 minutes remaining to tip substitute Federico Fazio's nodded effort onto the post, while Edin Dzeko clipped the crossbar with a late header as the hosts tried in vain to grab an equaliser.
Atletico Madrid 1 Barcelona 1: Suarez denies Simeone's men late on
Diego Simeone's winless run against Barcelona in LaLiga continued as Luis Suarez's late equaliser held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atleti have now not won in their last 15 league meetings with Barca - a run that stretches back to February 2010, almost two years prior to Simeone's appointment.
It appeared as though that miserable streak would finally end on Saturday, as Saul Niguez's stylish first-half strike looked to have set up a victory for the hosts over a Barca team that had won its first seven matches this term.But leaders Barca built momentum in the second half, with Lionel Messi striking the post and spurning further chances before the leveller deservedly arrived.
Suarez, marginalised in the first half but much improved after the break, stooped to meet Sergi Roberto's cross from the right and headed down past Jan Oblak with eight minutes remaining.
The visitors pushed for a winner, but Atleti held firm to ensure Ernesto Valverde's men failed to win in LaLiga for the first time this season. Their advantage over Real Madrid stands at five points.
Messi had carried Argentina to the 2018 World Cup in midweek with a pivotal hat-trick in qualification and showed no signs of weariness as he wriggled through the Atletico defence inside the opening minute and prodded just wide.
A lively start to the contest continued as Antoine Griezmann tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his near post and the same player then skipped beyond Gerard Pique's challenge to draw another smart stop from the goalkeeper.
Pique's involvement was met with jeers as pro-Spanish chants echoed around the stadium - a result of Catalonia's independence referendum, supported by the defender, which was declared illegal in Spain's constitutional court - and his discomfort only increased as Barcelona fell behind after 21 minutes.
Saul took possession at the end of a fine team move to arrow a 20-yard strike across Ter Stegen and into the bottom-right corner.Although the visitors dominated the remainder of the first half, chances were few and far between as the Atleti back line effectively marshalled Messi and Suarez.
Oblak parried clear when Suarez finally worked a yard of space to shoot on target 10 minutes after the restart, before Messi's free-kick defeated the keeper and instead bounced away off the upright.
With the pressure building on the home goal, Messi charged into the area to fire straight at Oblak and then drilled wide when he looked destined to score.Further smothering saves from Samuel Umtiti and Suarez followed, but Oblak was finally beaten by the latter in the closing stages.Substitute Roberto delivered beautifully for Suarez to crash a header into the net, becoming the first domestic opposition player to score at the Wanda and earning Barca a deserved draw.
Messi had a last-ditch opportunity to take all three points with another free-kick, but his firm drive was gathered by Oblak as the full-time whistle blew.
Diego Simeone's winless run against Barcelona in LaLiga continued as Luis Suarez's late equaliser held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atleti have now not won in their last 15 league meetings with Barca - a run that stretches back to February 2010, almost two years prior to Simeone's appointment.
It appeared as though that miserable streak would finally end on Saturday, as Saul Niguez's stylish first-half strike looked to have set up a victory for the hosts over a Barca team that had won its first seven matches this term.But leaders Barca built momentum in the second half, with Lionel Messi striking the post and spurning further chances before the leveller deservedly arrived.
Suarez, marginalised in the first half but much improved after the break, stooped to meet Sergi Roberto's cross from the right and headed down past Jan Oblak with eight minutes remaining.
The visitors pushed for a winner, but Atleti held firm to ensure Ernesto Valverde's men failed to win in LaLiga for the first time this season. Their advantage over Real Madrid stands at five points.
Messi had carried Argentina to the 2018 World Cup in midweek with a pivotal hat-trick in qualification and showed no signs of weariness as he wriggled through the Atletico defence inside the opening minute and prodded just wide.
A lively start to the contest continued as Antoine Griezmann tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his near post and the same player then skipped beyond Gerard Pique's challenge to draw another smart stop from the goalkeeper.
Pique's involvement was met with jeers as pro-Spanish chants echoed around the stadium - a result of Catalonia's independence referendum, supported by the defender, which was declared illegal in Spain's constitutional court - and his discomfort only increased as Barcelona fell behind after 21 minutes.
Saul took possession at the end of a fine team move to arrow a 20-yard strike across Ter Stegen and into the bottom-right corner.Although the visitors dominated the remainder of the first half, chances were few and far between as the Atleti back line effectively marshalled Messi and Suarez.
Oblak parried clear when Suarez finally worked a yard of space to shoot on target 10 minutes after the restart, before Messi's free-kick defeated the keeper and instead bounced away off the upright.
With the pressure building on the home goal, Messi charged into the area to fire straight at Oblak and then drilled wide when he looked destined to score.Further smothering saves from Samuel Umtiti and Suarez followed, but Oblak was finally beaten by the latter in the closing stages.Substitute Roberto delivered beautifully for Suarez to crash a header into the net, becoming the first domestic opposition player to score at the Wanda and earning Barca a deserved draw.
Messi had a last-ditch opportunity to take all three points with another free-kick, but his firm drive was gathered by Oblak as the full-time whistle blew.
Dijon 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2: Meunier heroics put Ligue 1 leaders six points clear
Thomas Meunier scored a dramatic double, including a stoppage-time winner, as Paris Saint-Germain salvaged a 2-1 away win over Dijon to move six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
In a dramatic finale, Meunier netted two minutes into additional time to ensure PSG took full advantage of champions Monaco's last-gasp defeat to Lyon.A superb goal from Benjamin Jeannot, who smashed in a sensational volley with three minutes remaining, looked to have rescued a point for Dijon on Saturday.
But Meunier, who had previously netted a second-half opener, popped up to strike again – the right-back now has seven goals for club and country already this season.Earlier, Dani Alves hit the woodwork in one of the rare moments of quality in a quiet first half that saw Dijon restrict PSG.
And host of missed chances from Kylian Mbappe almost haunted the visitors as they failed to convert their second-half dominance into goals prior to the late drama.
PSG were not at their formidable best but now have 25 points from a possible 27 in a fine start to the domestic campaign. Dijon, meanwhile, sit 17th with only one victory from their first nine games.
Angel Di Maria - brought into the starting line-up in place of Edinson Cavani after the Uruguayan's international exploits - threatened first as his curling effort from just outside the area was pushed away by Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet.
The hosts were more than holding their own and Jordan Mane volleyed narrowly wide, before PSG keeper Alphonse Areola had to react impressively to parry away a powerful, swerving strike from Kwon Chang-hoon.Despite a lacklustre showing in a quiet first half, PSG came close to going into the break in front, Alves sending a magnificent 30-yard free-kick dipping towards the top corner, although his effort ultimately hit the angle between post and bar.
Heroic Dijon defending denied PSG early in the second half, Julian Draxler and Mbappe both having close-range efforts kept out by last-ditch blocks from Papy Djilobodji and Oussama Haddadi.
Djilobodji then produced an overhead kick at the other end which Areola had to push wide, while Di Maria should have scored after a mistake from Reynet left him out of position, the midfielder blasting over when only Dijon defenders stood between him and the goal-line.PSG were upping the pressure and Mbappe soon fired over from another golden chance, failing to find the target from inside the six-yard box after a great right-wing cross by Di Maria.
Reynet saved from Mbappe at the second attempt as the forward raced on to an Alves throughball shortly before PSG hit the woodwork for the second time in the match from the resulting corner, with Marquinhos heading against the bar after Neymar's delivery.
The inspired Dijon keeper saved twice more from Mbappe in PSG's next attacks, the second seeing him get down to make a key stop after Di Maria had impressively given the France international another shooting opportunity from only six yards out. PSG finally made the breakthrough with 20 minutes remaining, Meunier beating Reynet at his near post on a rebound caused by Neymar's initial effort being saved.
But just as Unai Emery's men looked like they were successfully taking the sting out of the game, a stunning moment saw Dijon move level. A high ball from the back caused havoc between Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos, allowing Jeannot to send a magnificent volley over Areola and in.
PSG were not to be denied, though, with good work from Mbappe down the left teeing up Meunier's effort, which only just crossed the line as the visitors' chances of regaining their Ligue 1 crown were further strengthened.
Thomas Meunier scored a dramatic double, including a stoppage-time winner, as Paris Saint-Germain salvaged a 2-1 away win over Dijon to move six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
In a dramatic finale, Meunier netted two minutes into additional time to ensure PSG took full advantage of champions Monaco's last-gasp defeat to Lyon.A superb goal from Benjamin Jeannot, who smashed in a sensational volley with three minutes remaining, looked to have rescued a point for Dijon on Saturday.
But Meunier, who had previously netted a second-half opener, popped up to strike again – the right-back now has seven goals for club and country already this season.Earlier, Dani Alves hit the woodwork in one of the rare moments of quality in a quiet first half that saw Dijon restrict PSG.
And host of missed chances from Kylian Mbappe almost haunted the visitors as they failed to convert their second-half dominance into goals prior to the late drama.
PSG were not at their formidable best but now have 25 points from a possible 27 in a fine start to the domestic campaign. Dijon, meanwhile, sit 17th with only one victory from their first nine games.
Angel Di Maria - brought into the starting line-up in place of Edinson Cavani after the Uruguayan's international exploits - threatened first as his curling effort from just outside the area was pushed away by Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet.
The hosts were more than holding their own and Jordan Mane volleyed narrowly wide, before PSG keeper Alphonse Areola had to react impressively to parry away a powerful, swerving strike from Kwon Chang-hoon.Despite a lacklustre showing in a quiet first half, PSG came close to going into the break in front, Alves sending a magnificent 30-yard free-kick dipping towards the top corner, although his effort ultimately hit the angle between post and bar.
Heroic Dijon defending denied PSG early in the second half, Julian Draxler and Mbappe both having close-range efforts kept out by last-ditch blocks from Papy Djilobodji and Oussama Haddadi.
Djilobodji then produced an overhead kick at the other end which Areola had to push wide, while Di Maria should have scored after a mistake from Reynet left him out of position, the midfielder blasting over when only Dijon defenders stood between him and the goal-line.PSG were upping the pressure and Mbappe soon fired over from another golden chance, failing to find the target from inside the six-yard box after a great right-wing cross by Di Maria.
Reynet saved from Mbappe at the second attempt as the forward raced on to an Alves throughball shortly before PSG hit the woodwork for the second time in the match from the resulting corner, with Marquinhos heading against the bar after Neymar's delivery.
The inspired Dijon keeper saved twice more from Mbappe in PSG's next attacks, the second seeing him get down to make a key stop after Di Maria had impressively given the France international another shooting opportunity from only six yards out. PSG finally made the breakthrough with 20 minutes remaining, Meunier beating Reynet at his near post on a rebound caused by Neymar's initial effort being saved.
But just as Unai Emery's men looked like they were successfully taking the sting out of the game, a stunning moment saw Dijon move level. A high ball from the back caused havoc between Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos, allowing Jeannot to send a magnificent volley over Areola and in.
PSG were not to be denied, though, with good work from Mbappe down the left teeing up Meunier's effort, which only just crossed the line as the visitors' chances of regaining their Ligue 1 crown were further strengthened.
Tottenham 1 Bournemouth 0: Eriksen strike ends Spurs' Wembley woe
Christian Eriksen scored the only goal of the game as Tottenham finally scraped to their first Premier League win at Wembley against struggling Bournemouth.
Having left White Hart Lane at the end of last season, Spurs had started the new league campaign with a loss and two draws at their adopted home before belatedly securing a 1-0 victory at the national stadium on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino had, in his pre-match news conference, taken issue with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's reference to Tottenham as "the Harry Kane team" - and it was Eriksen, not the England international, who inspired this much-needed triumph.
An unwanted record had become a distinct possibility for the hosts by the end of a dreary first half, with Spurs potentially becoming the first side in the history of English league football to take maximum points from their first four away games while failing to win the equivalent number of home fixtures.
But Eriksen forged an opener with his side's first attack after the restart and Pochettino's men never looked like relinquishing their lead from that point, even if further goals were not forthcoming.
This result ensures third-placed Tottenham stay within five points of table-topping City, while Bournemouth remain in the bottom three after one win from eight matches.
That it took Kane the best part of 10 minutes to touch the ball said much for Bournemouth's improved five-man defence limiting Tottenham to speculative balls from deep. A heavy Eriksen touch in the area cost him the opportunity to shoot at goal, before Dele Alli flicked over the crossbar from the Denmark international's drilled centre.
The visitors almost opened the scoring just before the midway point, but Davinson Sanchez crucially diverted Junior Stanislas' strike wide after Adam Smith's pass had carved open the Spurs back line.
Hugo Lloris brilliantly prevented an Eric Dier own goal with a low save as Bournemouth kept the pressure on and, with the home side scrambling to clear, Lewis Cook blasted over.
A first chance for Kane arrived shortly after the half-hour mark, but he scuffed an effort straight at Asmir Begovic and Toby Alderweireld nodded off target from the subsequent corner.
Given the plodding nature of the opening period, there was a tangible sense of relief among the home supporters as Eriksen took less than two minutes of the second half to break the deadlock.The midfielder was granted time and space by a mistimed Simon Francis challenge on the edge of the area and calmly stroked into the bottom-left corner.
Kane was correctly denied a headed second by an offside flag, before Begovic twice smothered at the forward's feet as Tottenham looked to put the game to bed.Instead, the hosts were forced to see out the victory through a nervy final 25 minutes, with Lloris' near post save keeping substitute Jermain Defoe from earning Bournemouth a point against his former side.
Spurs could still have added to the score-line, however, with Begovic producing a strong stop from Eriksen's drive and then watching Alli's stooping header wide.
Christian Eriksen scored the only goal of the game as Tottenham finally scraped to their first Premier League win at Wembley against struggling Bournemouth.
Having left White Hart Lane at the end of last season, Spurs had started the new league campaign with a loss and two draws at their adopted home before belatedly securing a 1-0 victory at the national stadium on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino had, in his pre-match news conference, taken issue with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's reference to Tottenham as "the Harry Kane team" - and it was Eriksen, not the England international, who inspired this much-needed triumph.
An unwanted record had become a distinct possibility for the hosts by the end of a dreary first half, with Spurs potentially becoming the first side in the history of English league football to take maximum points from their first four away games while failing to win the equivalent number of home fixtures.
But Eriksen forged an opener with his side's first attack after the restart and Pochettino's men never looked like relinquishing their lead from that point, even if further goals were not forthcoming.
This result ensures third-placed Tottenham stay within five points of table-topping City, while Bournemouth remain in the bottom three after one win from eight matches.
That it took Kane the best part of 10 minutes to touch the ball said much for Bournemouth's improved five-man defence limiting Tottenham to speculative balls from deep. A heavy Eriksen touch in the area cost him the opportunity to shoot at goal, before Dele Alli flicked over the crossbar from the Denmark international's drilled centre.
The visitors almost opened the scoring just before the midway point, but Davinson Sanchez crucially diverted Junior Stanislas' strike wide after Adam Smith's pass had carved open the Spurs back line.
Hugo Lloris brilliantly prevented an Eric Dier own goal with a low save as Bournemouth kept the pressure on and, with the home side scrambling to clear, Lewis Cook blasted over.
A first chance for Kane arrived shortly after the half-hour mark, but he scuffed an effort straight at Asmir Begovic and Toby Alderweireld nodded off target from the subsequent corner.
Given the plodding nature of the opening period, there was a tangible sense of relief among the home supporters as Eriksen took less than two minutes of the second half to break the deadlock.The midfielder was granted time and space by a mistimed Simon Francis challenge on the edge of the area and calmly stroked into the bottom-left corner.
Kane was correctly denied a headed second by an offside flag, before Begovic twice smothered at the forward's feet as Tottenham looked to put the game to bed.Instead, the hosts were forced to see out the victory through a nervy final 25 minutes, with Lloris' near post save keeping substitute Jermain Defoe from earning Bournemouth a point against his former side.
Spurs could still have added to the score-line, however, with Begovic producing a strong stop from Eriksen's drive and then watching Alli's stooping header wide.
Bayern Munich 5 Freiburg 0: Heynckes celebrates successful homecoming
Kingsley Coman scored on his 50th Bundesliga appearance to help give Jupp Heynckes a homecoming to remember as Bayern Munich cruised to a 5-0 home win over Freiburg.
Back in charge for the fourth time, Heynckes encountered few troubles in guiding the champions back to winning ways as two first-half goals effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Sven Ulreich proved his value as Manuel Neuer's injury replacement with an important early save from Ryan Kent, with the Bavarian giants taking advantage through Julian Schuster's own goal.
The Freiburg captain became the first player in over 26 years to find his own net in successive Bundesliga matches and the error was compounded when Coman struck prior to the interval.Thiago Alcantara wrapped up three points just after the hour to momentarily reduce Borussia Dortmund's lead at the top to two points.
Robert Lewandowski added a fourth and Joshua Kimmich put the icing on the cake with a sumptuous fifth as Heynckes' reign started as his last finished in 2013 - in style.
Bayern's party was almost spoiled inside six minutes as Liverpool loanee Kent was played through on goal, but Ulreich spread himself well to save with his feet.Kent's wasted chance proved costly as the hosts went ahead just two minutes later. Coman found Alaba on the overlap and the Austrian's low cross was bundled in for an own goal by Schuster.Javi Martinez then directed a header wide from Joshua Kimmich's corner as Heynckes' men stamped their authority on possession and territory.
Freiburg were not without their chances on the counter-attack, though, with Kent seeing another attempt blocked, before a fast-arriving Mike Frantz headed Christian Gunter's teasing cross narrowly around the post.
And the visitors came to rue their misfortune once more when Alexander Schwolow's initial save from Arjen Robben fell kindly for Coman to head in a second shortly before the break.
Christian Streich's side did well to steady over the opening 15 minutes of the second half, until Bayern had appeals for a penalty denied by the Video Assistant Referee. Instead, it was left to midfielder Thiago to make it 3-0 just beyond the hour with a fizzing low finish into the bottom right corner from outside the area.
Bayern did suffer a setback when Martinez was forced off clutching his shoulder, but they soon put that to one side as Thomas Muller won possession on the right and found Lewandowski for a simple finish.Schwolow then saved skipper Schuster from heading in a second own goal of the match, although that did little to brighten a difficult afternoon for last season's seventh-placed side.
And there was still time for the home side to add fifth as Coman turned provider, pulling a clever pass across the face for Kimmich to delightfully backheel in at point-blank range.
Kingsley Coman scored on his 50th Bundesliga appearance to help give Jupp Heynckes a homecoming to remember as Bayern Munich cruised to a 5-0 home win over Freiburg.
Back in charge for the fourth time, Heynckes encountered few troubles in guiding the champions back to winning ways as two first-half goals effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Sven Ulreich proved his value as Manuel Neuer's injury replacement with an important early save from Ryan Kent, with the Bavarian giants taking advantage through Julian Schuster's own goal.
The Freiburg captain became the first player in over 26 years to find his own net in successive Bundesliga matches and the error was compounded when Coman struck prior to the interval.Thiago Alcantara wrapped up three points just after the hour to momentarily reduce Borussia Dortmund's lead at the top to two points.
Robert Lewandowski added a fourth and Joshua Kimmich put the icing on the cake with a sumptuous fifth as Heynckes' reign started as his last finished in 2013 - in style.
Bayern's party was almost spoiled inside six minutes as Liverpool loanee Kent was played through on goal, but Ulreich spread himself well to save with his feet.Kent's wasted chance proved costly as the hosts went ahead just two minutes later. Coman found Alaba on the overlap and the Austrian's low cross was bundled in for an own goal by Schuster.Javi Martinez then directed a header wide from Joshua Kimmich's corner as Heynckes' men stamped their authority on possession and territory.
Freiburg were not without their chances on the counter-attack, though, with Kent seeing another attempt blocked, before a fast-arriving Mike Frantz headed Christian Gunter's teasing cross narrowly around the post.
And the visitors came to rue their misfortune once more when Alexander Schwolow's initial save from Arjen Robben fell kindly for Coman to head in a second shortly before the break.
Christian Streich's side did well to steady over the opening 15 minutes of the second half, until Bayern had appeals for a penalty denied by the Video Assistant Referee. Instead, it was left to midfielder Thiago to make it 3-0 just beyond the hour with a fizzing low finish into the bottom right corner from outside the area.
Bayern did suffer a setback when Martinez was forced off clutching his shoulder, but they soon put that to one side as Thomas Muller won possession on the right and found Lewandowski for a simple finish.Schwolow then saved skipper Schuster from heading in a second own goal of the match, although that did little to brighten a difficult afternoon for last season's seventh-placed side.
And there was still time for the home side to add fifth as Coman turned provider, pulling a clever pass across the face for Kimmich to delightfully backheel in at point-blank range.
Mourinho blames dour Man Utd display at Liverpool on having 'no bench'Jose Mourinho claims that he did not have the options on his Manchester United bench to respond to Liverpool and make their drab 0-0 draw at Anfield a more engaging spectacle.Romelu Lukaku had the chance to give United the lead shortly before half-time after David de Gea stunningly denied Joel Matip in the first half.
But United, who headed into the match with 21 goals in seven Premier League outings this season, failed to function as any kind of attacking force after the interval, while Liverpool were frustrated by the disciplined defensive ranks before them.
Mourinho is without midfielders Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini to long-term injuries and felt he could not readjust to compete with Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Giorginio Wijnaldum in that area of the field.
"I was feeling that I need my bench but we had no bench," Mourinho told Sky Sports, having left Spain playmaker Juan Mata as an unused substitute and introduced an extra defender in Victor Lindelof during stoppage time.
"I need to play against their three – Henderson, Can and Wijnaldum - with power and energy and we had no power and energy."I had [Ander] Herrera and [Nemanja] Matic and no-one on the bench to make a difference.
"If I have solutions on the bench then I can do things like I did before in the victories at Swansea and Southampton."
England duo Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford came on to little effect, the latter having dropped to the bench after returning from international duty with a knock.
Far from thinking the attention should be focused on his own tactics, Mourinho felt opposite number Jurgen Klopp should come under scrutiny for making his first changes 11 minutes from time and merely using Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke as straight replacements for his front three or Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
"I know that for you and the experts it's easy to speak," he added."Liverpool's midfield is really strong and they never changed. They are faster than us and I had no chance to bring the game in another direction."
Moses joins Morata and Kante as Chelsea's hamstring woes mount
Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses had to be removed from Saturday's match at Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury. The Nigerian pulled up in the first half at Selhurst Park, and was replaced by Davide Zappacosta in the 40th minute.
The injury to Moses continues an awful run of hamstring luck for Chelsea, who have also lost Alvaro Morata and N'Golo Kante to the same injury within the span of two weeks.
Moses has started six of Chelea's eight Premier League matches this term, after becoming a fixture in the Blues line-up during their title-winning campaign last season.
Palace went on to win Saturday's game by a 2-1 score, after netting their first two league goals of the season. Following the defeat, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte lamented the club's worsening injury situation.
“I think, in this moment, for us it's a very difficult moment," Conte said.
"When you start a game without Morata and without Kante, it's not simple.
"Above all if, during the game, another important player in your team has an injury too like Victor Moses. I hope to have him back very soon because this moment is very difficult for us."To lose three or four players ... it's a big problem for us. But, despite this, we have to find the will to fight. I think this season will be very difficult and, for this reason, we have to put 150 per cent in.
"It's not enough to put 100 per cent in like last season. I think this season, me first, the staff and the players have to put in 150 per cent because the season will be very difficult."
Chelsea wing-back Victor Moses had to be removed from Saturday's match at Crystal Palace with a hamstring injury. The Nigerian pulled up in the first half at Selhurst Park, and was replaced by Davide Zappacosta in the 40th minute.
The injury to Moses continues an awful run of hamstring luck for Chelsea, who have also lost Alvaro Morata and N'Golo Kante to the same injury within the span of two weeks.
Moses has started six of Chelea's eight Premier League matches this term, after becoming a fixture in the Blues line-up during their title-winning campaign last season.
Palace went on to win Saturday's game by a 2-1 score, after netting their first two league goals of the season. Following the defeat, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte lamented the club's worsening injury situation.
“I think, in this moment, for us it's a very difficult moment," Conte said.
"When you start a game without Morata and without Kante, it's not simple.
"Above all if, during the game, another important player in your team has an injury too like Victor Moses. I hope to have him back very soon because this moment is very difficult for us."To lose three or four players ... it's a big problem for us. But, despite this, we have to find the will to fight. I think this season will be very difficult and, for this reason, we have to put 150 per cent in.
"It's not enough to put 100 per cent in like last season. I think this season, me first, the staff and the players have to put in 150 per cent because the season will be very difficult."
'You don't know what you're doing!' - Wenger faces further fan fury after woeful Watford defeat
Arsenal’s fan unrest from last season appeared to be going away after an impressive run of results at the start of the current campaign but defeat against Watford on a chilly Saturday evening at Vicarage Road showed that it is going to be a long slog for Arsene Wenger’s men again this term.
Chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ and ‘We want Wenger out!’ could be heard among the Gunners faithful as the full-time whistle went at the end of a 2-1 loss and memories immediately flashed back to the vocal protests from the trying 2016-17 campaign.
Social media has amplified supporter opinion and there is no longer any hiding for players or managers who don’t perform – and it will be of no consolation to Wenger that his Arsenal side should have been out of sight before Watford equalised and subsequently went on to score a late winner.
In fact, it will merely compound his sense of frustration. Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil both missed gilt-edged opportunities to put Arsenal two goals clear and the lack of incisiveness will come as a worry to Wenger, who thought he had found the perfect goal getter in summer signing Alexandre Lacazette.
The decision to omit Alexis Sanchez from the squad due to his travails with Chile was partly down to the mental and physical effects of his country's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, yet the 28-year-old would have been nailed on to bury those aforementioned chances if he started the game.
Furthermore, when Wenger decided to sell Wojciech Szczesny in the summer transfer window, it was a decision met with some frustration from many Arsenal fans.
The Polish shot-stopper had fallen out of favour with the manager following his smoking in the changing-room showers after a defeat at St Mary’s Stadium and he was subsequently sent out on loan for two seasons to Roma, where he was statistically one of the best goalkeepers in Europe last season.
Three months later, Arsenal are in a familiar position at the start of the season where they are conceding penalties and looking vulnerable defensively following a series of injuries at the back. Troy Deeney’s successful spot-kick against the Gunners at Vicarage Road was the 12th in all competitions that Petr Cech has failed to save for Arsenal.
The cold hard truth is that Wenger should consider signing a new goalkeeper as a replacement for a player who looks past his sell by date.
The Frenchman took several months before deciding to sign a two-year contract extension and perhaps the better decision would have been to walk away from a club which has been stale for over a decade because even though Wenger will never admit that he made the wrong decision, the fans will certainly continue to let him know that they feel he did.
Arsenal’s fan unrest from last season appeared to be going away after an impressive run of results at the start of the current campaign but defeat against Watford on a chilly Saturday evening at Vicarage Road showed that it is going to be a long slog for Arsene Wenger’s men again this term.
Chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing!’ and ‘We want Wenger out!’ could be heard among the Gunners faithful as the full-time whistle went at the end of a 2-1 loss and memories immediately flashed back to the vocal protests from the trying 2016-17 campaign.
Social media has amplified supporter opinion and there is no longer any hiding for players or managers who don’t perform – and it will be of no consolation to Wenger that his Arsenal side should have been out of sight before Watford equalised and subsequently went on to score a late winner.
In fact, it will merely compound his sense of frustration. Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil both missed gilt-edged opportunities to put Arsenal two goals clear and the lack of incisiveness will come as a worry to Wenger, who thought he had found the perfect goal getter in summer signing Alexandre Lacazette.
The decision to omit Alexis Sanchez from the squad due to his travails with Chile was partly down to the mental and physical effects of his country's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, yet the 28-year-old would have been nailed on to bury those aforementioned chances if he started the game.
Furthermore, when Wenger decided to sell Wojciech Szczesny in the summer transfer window, it was a decision met with some frustration from many Arsenal fans.
The Polish shot-stopper had fallen out of favour with the manager following his smoking in the changing-room showers after a defeat at St Mary’s Stadium and he was subsequently sent out on loan for two seasons to Roma, where he was statistically one of the best goalkeepers in Europe last season.
Three months later, Arsenal are in a familiar position at the start of the season where they are conceding penalties and looking vulnerable defensively following a series of injuries at the back. Troy Deeney’s successful spot-kick against the Gunners at Vicarage Road was the 12th in all competitions that Petr Cech has failed to save for Arsenal.
The cold hard truth is that Wenger should consider signing a new goalkeeper as a replacement for a player who looks past his sell by date.
The Frenchman took several months before deciding to sign a two-year contract extension and perhaps the better decision would have been to walk away from a club which has been stale for over a decade because even though Wenger will never admit that he made the wrong decision, the fans will certainly continue to let him know that they feel he did.
Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.10.15
Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2017.10.15
Brighton Vs Everton
Southampton Vs Newcastle
LA Liga Fixtures 2017.10.15
LA Liga Fixtures 2017.10.15
Eibar Vs Deportivo
Girona Vs Villareal
Malaga Vs Leganes
Real Betis Vs Valencia
Eibar Vs Deportivo
Girona Vs Villareal
Malaga Vs Leganes
Real Betis Vs Valencia
Serie A Fixtures 2017.10.15
Serie A Fixtures 2017.10.15
Fiorentina Vs Udinese
Bologna Vs Spal
Cagliari Vs Genoa
Crotone Vs Torino
Sampdoria Vs Atalanta
Sassuolo Vs Chievo
Inter Vs AC Milan
Fiorentina Vs Udinese
Bologna Vs Spal
Cagliari Vs Genoa
Crotone Vs Torino
Sampdoria Vs Atalanta
Sassuolo Vs Chievo
Inter Vs AC Milan
