An Irish international was on target with a crucial goal for a Premier League club for the third weekend running. Following Chiedozie Ogbene’s first EPL goal on Oct. 21 and Evan Ferguson adding to his tally the next week, Nathan Collins headed the winner for Brentford, who came back from being 2-1 down to beat West Ham 3-2 at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Dublin-born defender had scored two Premier Leagues goals during his time with Burnley, though none during his season with Wolves.
On Saturday, Manchester City improved their goal difference and went top of the table after their 6-1 home win over Bournemouth, and they’re still there after Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham went down to their first defeat of the season, a 4-1 home loss to Chelsea Monday night.
In the controversial, chaotic and dramatic London game, Spurs had two players sent off. In the 33rd minute, Romero won possession in his own penalty area, but the force of his tackle was adjudged to be dangerous; while Udogie was sent off in the for a second bookable offence in the 55th minute. However, it was then 1-1 and it took the Blues another 20 minutes to break down Spurs, at which point the young Senegalese star Nicholas Jackson got a hat-trick. It was a victorious return by manager Mauricio Pochettino to his old club
City manager Pep Guardiola says the club has found another supreme young talent in 21-year-old Belgium winger Jeremy Doku. The £55.4m summer signing from Rennes scored the opener and added four assists as City extended their record of winning every home game they have played in all competitions in 2023 to 22. As Guardiola pointed out, they achieved their biggest win of the season without any significant contribution from Erling Haaland, who apparently felt a pain in his ankle just before the break and was replaced by Foden at half-time. At Borussia Dortmund, Haaland had injury issues which led to three absences of around a month. Since he joined City the most he has sat out is a couple of matches. However, Guardiola didn’t seem too concerned about the Norwegian, who has scored 65 times in 69 games for City, saying, ‘‘It was a twist of his ankle.’’
It was a bad weekend for North London because Arsenal also suffered their first league defeat of the season, going down 1-0 to Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Anthony Gordon’s controversial second-half winner gave the Geordies victory in what was a feisty encounter. Gordon’s 64th-minute strike summed up a dogfight of a game, with the video assistant referee checking for whether the ball had gone out of play, for a foul and for offside before Newcastle were finally allowed to celebrate what turned out to be the winner.
Liverpool are up to third on goal difference after an injury time equaliser from Luis Diaz earned them a point against Luton at Kenilworth Road. Diaz’s father, who was kidnapped in Colombia two weeks ago is still missing and after scoring Luis lifted his jersey to show a T-shirt with the words ‘freedom for papa’ in Spanish. Ireland’s Ogbene had another eye-catching performance on the wing for Luton.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes took the pressure off his manager Erik ten Hag for now with an injury time winner away to Fulham on Saturday, a win which lifts United up to eighth place in the table. Earlier in the week Marcus Rashford’s birthday celebrations hours after United’s 3-0 defeat to City in the Manchester derby, were described by manager ten Hag as ‘‘unacceptable’’ and he said that the player had apologised to him. But Rashford was a late withdrawal from the squad on Saturday away to Fulham.
Burnley were the runaway winners of the Championship last season, but they are certainly finding it much tougher in the EPL. On Saturday the Clarets lost their sixth consecutive home game, going down 2-0 to Crystal Palace at Turf Moor. Dara O’Shea started for Burnley, but Josh Cullen was suspended after picking up five yellow cards, while Michael Obafemi is still out with a long-term injury.
Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman made a welcome return to competitive action after five months out injured in Everton under-21s game against Manchester United on Saturday. The Donegal man played the opening 45 minutes at Leigh Sports Village as he works his way towards full fitness following the medial knee ligament injury he sustained against Leicester City in May. Everton manager Sean Dyche said he is keen for Coleman to test his fitness before he can rejoin the senior squad. Dyche said: ‘‘Seamus is going well. He needs some game time of course, but he is training very well and I think he is pleased to be back on the grass.”
EPL results: Brentford 3, West Ham 2; Burnley 0, Crystal Palace 2; Everton 1, Brighton 1; Fulham 0, Manchester Utd 1; Liverpool 1, Luton Town 1; Manchester City 6, Bournemouth 1; Newcastle Utd 1, Arsenal 0; Nottingham Forest 2, Aston Villa 0; Sheffield Utd 1, Wolves 0. Tottenham 1, Chelsea 4.
