Man City Vs. Newcastle 9/1/2018
The Blues took just eight minutes to break down Newcastle United when they tried an early formation suggesting they would be defending in numbers; it was just the start last year’s champions needed.
Benjamin Mendy picked up a loose pass and played the ball to Sterling, and the England winger went past two defenders before curling a shot beyond Martin Dubravka.
Though Newcastle had offered little threat, their first attacking move of any real quality resulted in an equalizing goal.
Kenedy spotted Salomon Rondon in space on the left of City’s box and caught the home defense out with a low cross that DeAndre Yedlin hit powerfully to give Ederson no chance.
With just three of Man City’s 11 shots on target, it was obvious that the visitor’s keeper hadn’t been tested enough.
As the Blues attacked the Newcastle box, Aguero looked for the chance to shoot but eventually rolled a short pass to Walker who put home a terrific low shot to put Manchester City back in control.
At around 65 minutes it should have been three as Aguero chipped the ball into Fernandinho’s path but the Newcastle goalkeeper saved at his feet, and David Silva then saw two efforts in quick succession scrambled clear by the Newcastle defense.
Silva then went close again a couple of minutes later as he came within a foot of converting Mahrez’s cross at the back post. Manchester City managed to claim a well-needed victory as it finished 2-1 to the blues.
Arsenal Vs. Cardiff 9/2/2018
Shkodran Mustafi headed Arsenal in front after 12 minutes from a corner, but Cardiff had several chances to level before Víctor Camarasa turned Joe Bennett’s cross home at the second attempt just before the half-time whistle.
The goals kept coming after half-time with a brilliant finish from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just outside the box which put Arsenal back ahead before Danny Ward leveled it up for Cardiff.
Lacazette dribbled around the Cardiff defense and fired a rocket of a shot inside Cardiff’s near post.
Harry Arter should have put Cardiff ahead inside seven minutes as the hosts stifled the space Arsenal wanted to play out from the back, but, after intercepting a pass from Petr Cech, which he played to Matteo Guendouzi, ended up blazing it over the bar when unmarked on the edge of the area.
Arsenal showed more clinical finishing when they took the lead soon after, as Ramsey’s corner was met with a header from Mustafi to leave Etheridge helpless in the Cardiff goal.
Arter had another good chance from Morrison’s knock-down but could not keep his shot down again, but just before half-time Cardiff finally got one back.
Granit Xhaka’s cross-field ball was picked off by Junior Hoilett, and Bennett’s cross took a deflection that fell kindly for Camarasa, who fired high into the net.
After half-time Arsenal began to win the midfield battle, but for all their possession they struggled to test Cardiff until Lacazette’s back flick found Aubameyang’s run and he curled a beautiful strike into the far corner.
Cardiff instantly responded, and Morrison was again used from a free-kick, this time to head back across goal where Ward was waiting to head in off the far post.
Just as Cardiff looked like they might earn an impressive point, Lucas Torreira’s pass into the box found Lacazette on the turn, and he struck a shot that Etheridge barely moved as it scraped inside his near post. Arsenal claimed the victory with the score ending up -2 at full time.
Man United Vs. Burnley 9/2/2018
Manchester United pleaded for a victory when Lukaku headed them ahead around the quarter mark. The Reds then doubled their tally with a close-range shot just before half-time.
Paul Pogba had a second-half penalty saved by Joe Hart; United had to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men when Marcus Rashford was shown a straight red card for headbutting Phil Bardsley.
However, Burnley showed little sign of making a late comeback, Sam Vokes header came the closest to getting one back, but it didn’t scare the Man United defense.
Lingard remained a threat but it was his teammate that combined United’s opener as Sanchez was allowed to pick out Lukaku with a cross from the left, and the Belgian headed his second goal of the season into the back of the net.
It was no more than United deserved and they could have had a second had it not been for Hart, who raced off his line to smother Lukaku on 36 minutes, but it was not long until the Burnley goalkeeper’s defenses were breached again.
Lingard was involved again as his shot ricocheted around the Burnley area, hitting off Ben Mee and the head of Ashley Westwood before falling perfectly for the lurking Lukaku, who slotted home to double United’s lead.
With United on the way to victory, the game burst into life as substitute Rashford drew a foul from Aaron Lennon in the area, but Pogba’s penalty was punched away by Hart.
Things took a turn for the worse for United three minutes later when Rashford was given his marching orders by referee Jon Moss for reacting angrily to a Bardsley tackle and throwing his head into the face of the Burnley defender.
But despite Burnley’s best effort, United had a measure of control despite falling to 10 men and saw out the victory with relative ease, with the final score ending up a well-deserved 2-0 to the Reds.
Liverpool Vs. Leister 9/1/2018
Liverpool overcame a terrible mistake by Alisson to beat Leicester City 2-1 Saturday and maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season.
The visitors led early on thanks to Sadio Mane’s well-taken 10th-minute strike. Mane managed to claim his fourth league goal of the season before Roberto Firmino’s downward header doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time.
However, Rachid Ghezzal on his first start for the Leister added to the scoreboard as he took advantage of an awful error by Alisson, who got caught in possession, to give the hosts hope just past the hour-mark.
Liverpool stayed in control as they played the ball around Leister’s attackers using up time to take the victory. The Reds came away with the win as the score ended up 2-1 Saturday morning.
Liverpool stays top of the table having won their first four league matches. Leister remains on six points after a second defeat of the campaign.
