New Premier League records, two missed penalties and epic comebacks.
It was another enthralling Saturday of top-flight football which saw 19 goals scored across eight matches.
As if there was any ever doubt, Erling Haaland showed why he’s arguably the world’s best striker by banging in twice in Manchester City’s 2-1 comeback win against Brentford.
In doing so, the Norway international created Premier League history by becoming the first player to score nine goals in the opening four matches.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now three points clear at the top following Liverpool’s shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, while their Merseyside rivals Everton once again blew a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 against Aston Villa.
Meanwhile Manchester United made Southampton pay for a missed spot-kick to win 3-0 at St Mary’s, with Bournemouth losing 1-0 to Chelsea after having a penalty well saved.
That affair on the south coast resulted in the most yellow cards in a Premier League match, meanwhile, there was plenty of drama in the draws between Crystal Palace and Leicester, Fulham and West Ham along with Brighton and Ipswich.
Here talkSPORT duo Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy reveal their winners and losers from Saturday’s action on the Game-Day Phone-In…
Winners
Nuno Espirito Santo/Callum Hudson Odoi
Nottingham Forest put in a flawless display away at Liverpool to win their first match at Anfield since 1969.
Callum Hudson-Odoi came off the bench to fire home a brilliant 72nd-minute to inflict a first defeat on new Reds boss Arne Slot.
Speaking of Forest’s deserved victory, Cundy said: “So Nuno, a lot of people felt that Hudson-Odoi should have started, the way he set up Nuno, he went there, contained.
“And he brought Hudson-Odoi on at the right time. Well done to him, he got the winner and if anyone has watched Hudson-Odoi play, it’s off the left-hand side, he opens his body and drills it across into that far corner.”
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Marcus Rashford
The Manchester United forward repaid Erik ten Hag’s faith in starting him by scoring his first goal in any competition since March.
And after receiving criticism in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break, Rashford reminded his critics what he is capable of.
O’Hara said of the forward: “Rashford deserved to be in there today because he played well.
Cundy added: “Once he got the goal he did, before the goal, he like every other Man United player were second best all over the pitch, so well done him.”
8
Danny Ings
The West Ham striker has struggled for form since linking up with the Hammers in 2022.
But he had a moment to remember away at Fulham as his last-gasp strike in the fifth minute of injury time – his first league goal since March – earned Julen Lopetegui’s side a share of the spoils.
Praising the 32-year-old, Cundy stated: “Of all the people to come off the bench and score… the much-maligned Danny Ings, he can’t get anywhere near the starting XI, so well done him.
“[Bernd] Leno, I don’t know if he could do a bit better [to keep out goal], but it’s a good strike.”
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Losers
Everton
The Toffees remain rooted to the bottom of the table having lost all four of their opening top-flight matches, with fans already fearing their time in the Premier League will be coming to an end.
They have also become just the second side in Premier League history to lose consecutive matches while boasting a two-goal lead.
Commenting on their latest collapse at Villa Park, O’Hara said: “It has to be Everton right? Everton have got to go in as number one, they were 2-0 up!”
Cundy: “This is heartbreak and an absolute dagger to the heart in so many ways,
“For the second game in a row, they were 2-0 up only to go 3-2 down.”
He added: “They’re bottom of the table with no points and minus-nine goal difference. This is terrible stuff.”
8
Jack Stephens
Just like Everton, newly-promoted Southampton have had a shocking start to the season, where they too are yet to pick up a point this term.
And skipper Stephens has added to their dismay by getting sent off against United for a reckless foul on Alejandro Garnacho, which sill see him miss the next three games through suspension.
O’Hara said of the defender: “Red card, back tackle, he deserved to get sent off.”
Cundy then remarked: “It’s one of those as a centre-half, he’s out of position, he’s in their [United] half, high up the pitch, Garnacho goes around him.
“And he sticks out a lazy leg, he wants to bring him down, the problem he’s got are he’s left his studs on his knee, and he goes down Garnacho, he rolls around.
“He’s made the most of it, and why wouldn’t you? But it’s a bad tackle, once you’ve been beat, you’ve got to stay beat and he gives away a foul and a red card, but the game was done by that point.”
O’Hara then stated: “Yeah it was just stupid, he gets three games [suspension] for that.”
8
Ebou Adams
Moving away from the Premier League and into the Championship, Derby midfielder Adams was guilty of an embarrassing miss in the 1-0 win against Cardiff.
Having appeared destined to score after pipping goalkeeper Jak Alnwick to the ball, the Gambia international failed to hit the target with an open goal at his mercy.
O’Hara said of the wasted chance: “If you haven’t seen this, it’s the worst miss I’ve ever seen. He’s through on goal, he’s done brilliant to get it over the ‘keeper on the halfway line, he’s running through.
“Literally, he’s the only person in that half and he misses.”
Cundy then chimed in by saying: “Well the defender is closing him down, but the defender can’t affect his decision.
“He can’t even hear him or feel him, and as he strikes it, he knows, the balls not even off the pitch and he’s on his knees almost crying. It’s an open goal and a terrible miss.”
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