Manchester United 2-0 Leicester
Manchester United maintained their perfect start to the league season as two substitutes did the business for the home side in the final 20 minutes of this game. Leicester were largely disciplined in defence - even if Jamie Vardy cut an isolated figure up front - until the game’s first major moment on the 51st minute.
Kasper Schmeichel (1) has now saved more Premier League penalties at Old Trafford than Peter Schmeichel (0)
At this point, Anthony Martial’s cross hit the arm of Danny Simpson, causing ref Michael Oliver to point to the spot. However a superb save from Kasper Schmeichel - his third save in the last five penalties he’s faced for Leicester - denied Romelu Lukaku a third successive league goal for his new club.
Riyad Mahrez drew a good save from David de Gea shortly after at the other end, but Jose Mourinho then changed the game decisively. Juan Mata was brought off (of course he was) after 67 minutes for Marcus Rashford - and three minutes later the 19-year-old had put United into the lead. Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s cross was met by Rashford, whose shot bounced off the ground and although Schmeichel got a hand to it, the Dane was unable to keep it out.
Mkhitaryan was substituted shortly afterwards and his replacement Marouane Fellaini sealed the match with a close finish on the 82nd minute. United climbed back to the top of the table, 10 goals scored in three games, none conceded and still with room to improve. Formidable.
Goals: Rashford 70’, Fellaini 82’
Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City
Late drama in an action-packed 12.30pm kick-off, as Bournemouth looked set for their first point of the season – only for Raheem Sterling to score a winner in the seventh minute of added time. Sterling’s late shot looped off a Bournemouth defender, over goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, and into the net.
This was just minutes after Josh King had had a chance to win the game for Bournemouth. Adding to the chaos at the end, Sterling was sent off by Mike Dean - in the 99th minute of the match, no less - for a second booking due to his celebrating his goal among the away fans.
Raheem Sterling has now scored six Premier League goals against Bournemouth; more than versus any other club in the competition
It was a heartbreaking finale for the home side in a match that had started well for them. Bournemouth opened the scoring as left-back Charlie Daniels belted a dazzling half-volley from just outside the area, sending the ball off the woodwork over the line.
That was after 13 minutes, but the away side made it 1-1 just eight minutes later. Gabriel Jesus got the run on Nathan Ake, latched onto David Silva’s through-ball and swept the ball coolly into the back of the net.
This seemed to rattle Ake and he was perhaps lucky not to be sent off soon afterwards. Jesus robbed the defender of possession, leading Ake to bring down the Brazilian striker before he could have a run clear at goal.
Both sides hit the post in the second half (King for Bournemouth, then Nicolas Otamendi with a header for City). Yet despite, Pep Guardiola bringing Sergio Aguero on after 66 minutes, the Cherries looked set to take their first ever Premier League points off Manchester City. Then, deep into added time, Sterling added a late twist.
Goals: Daniels 13' -- Jesus 21', Sterling 97'
Crystal Palace 0-2 Swansea
Tammy Abraham's goal was Swansea City's first shot on target in the Premier League in 2017/18 (223 mins without one)
Frank de Boer’s woeful start to life as a Premier League manager continued with a home loss to Swansea making it no points from Crystal Palace’s opening three matches. Boos could be heard at Selhurst Park at the half-time whistle, after Tammy Abraham’s goal meant Swansea went into the break with a 1-0 lead. The Chelsea loanee striker always looked a smart summer recruit - and first goal for the Swans was an excellent finish.
If De Boer was hoping his half-time talk would change matters, he was in for a nasty shock. Martin Kelly - the Palace defender who failed to stop Abraham for Swansea’s first goal - lost possession on the halfway line to Kyle Naughton. The full-back played in Jordan Ayew, whose shot came back off Palace keeper Wayne Hennessy, leaving Ayew with a simple tap-in for 2-0.
A comedy of defensive errors - but it was only Swansea, with their first league win of the season - who were smiling at Selhurst Park. The mood of the home fans was understandably bleak.
Goals: Abraham 44', Ayew 48'
Huddersfield 0-0 Southampton
Huddersfield, with six points from their first two Premier League matches, were understandably in confident mood from the outset of this match. Yet while the home side were largely on the front foot, Southampton keeper Fraser Forster managed to keep them at bay throughout the first half.
The home side continued to keep the Saints busy early in the second half, with Aaron Mooy and Elias Kachunga impressing. Yet as the game wore on and the Terriers tired, Southampton came on strong at the end. James Ward-Prowse had a penalty shout turned down (correctly), but the Saints couldn't find a late winner.
Plenty of intent and defensive discipline on show from both sides, but a draw was probably the fair result. Unlikely to be the first game up on Match of the Day tonight.
Newcastle 3-0 West Ham
Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle got their first points of the season via a one-sided 3-0 win against a West Ham side who barely threatened the home side’s goal.
The scoring started with a goal on his Newcastle debut for Joselu to enliven the mood at St. James’ Park in the first half. It was a scrappy finish a from a fine pass from Christian Atsu - the winger who looked dangerous throughout - but the Spanish striker was understandably delighted.
Newcastle made it to 2-0 on 73 minutes as the impressive Matt Ritchie ferreted the ball from Manuel Lanzini, then put in a pinpoint cross for Ciaran Clark to head home. By the time Aleksander Mitrovic put the full stop on Newcastle’s victory with a late third, West Ham fans were already filing out of the ground. That’s now 10 goals conceded - and no points - in the first three matches of the season for Slaven Bilic’s side.
Goals: Joselu 36', Clark 73' , Mitrovic 86'
Watford 0-0 Brighton
Miguel Britos has been given the most red cards in the Premier League since the start of 2016/17 with three sendings off
A two-footed horror challenge by Miguel Britos was the big talking point of the first half of this match, as Watford were rightly down to 10 men after 24 minutes. The Uruguayan defender had the audacity to complain about the red card after his lunge on Anthony Knockaert, which the Brighton schemer did well to partly avoid and save himself from serious harm.
That meant Watford boss Marco Silva had to act quickly, hooking Nordin Arambat and bringing on Craig Cathcart to take Britos’s place in defence. Watford made it into the half-time level at 0-0, but Silva had a fresh challenge to deal with just two minutes the break. Cathcart himself pulled up injured and had to be replaced by Peruvian winger Andre Carrillo.
Hardly ideal for the home side, yet Brighton seemed unable to capitalise on their man advantage. They largely held possession but didn’t look particularly likely to score as the match petered out into a 0-0 draw. Brighton get their first Premier League point - but still haven’t scored in the league - while Watford will be pleased with a draw despite Britos’s red card.
