Manchester City and Newcastle United served up a cracker, Arsenal are top of the standings as they remain the only side with an unblemished start, Chelsea could not find a way past a gingered Leeds United team, Tottenham Hotspur survived the Wolves and West Ham United are yet to record a point or score a goal this season as matchday three of the English Premier League provided a flurry of goals and outstanding football – with Manchester United and Liverpool set for a must-win clash on Monday night to conclude this round of activities.
Reigning champions, Manchester City showed character in a cracking game at St. James’ Park but they could not follow up their perfect start to the season as they came from 3-1 down to record a 3-3 draw against Newcastle United.
Ilkay Gündogan opened the scoring in five minutes for City but Miguel Almirón equalised for the Magpies in the 28th minute.
Newcastle, who were impressive against the champions, then sent their home crowd into jubilation as Callum Wilson scored to give them the lead on 39 minutes and the atmosphere was taken to another as Kieran Trippier scored a superb freekick nine minutes after the restart.
However, Pep Guardiola’s charges did not relent.
Erling Haaland pulled a goal back, with his third goal of the season, in the 61st minute and three minutes later, Bernardo Silva latched on to a quality through ball from Kevin De Bruyne to level matters and set up a grandstand finish – but neither team could get a winning goal as they settled for a share of the spoils.
Arsenal became the only team to retain their perfect record to the 2022-23 campaign as they won their third successive Premier League game – for the first time in 18 years – as they comfortably saw off AFC Bournemouth 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening.
Captain Martin Ødegaard broke the deadlock in the fifth minute of the game after superb work from Gabriel Jesus on the left hand side set up Gabriel Martinelli, whose shot was saved by Mark Travers and the Norwegian captain was on hand to slot home.
Six minutes later, Ødegaard netted again. This time, with superb work from Bukayo Saka and Ben White set up Jesus in the 18 yard area, whose first touch pleased Ødegaard who unleashed a ferocious strike to double Arsenal’s lead.
William Saliba then scored a wonder goal to net his first Premier League goal and Jesus’ 72nd minute goal which was ruled out for offside would have put the icing on the cake in what was a dominant performance from Mikel Arteta’s side.
The Gunners sit top of the table, two points ahead Man City, after amassing maximum points their opening three games.
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea put up a disastrous performance at Elland Road on Sunday as they were beaten 3-nil by Leeds United.
Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy committed a howler as he held onto the ball far too long just to be robbed by Brenden Aaronson, who slotted into an empty net in the 33rd minute.
Top scorer Rodrigo scored his fourth goal of the campaign with a header from a Jack Harrison freekick doubled Leeds’ lead four minutes later and Harrison resigned from provider to goalscorer in the second half as he secured the points nine minutes after the hourmark.
A combination of yellow cards, resulting to a red card to Kalidou Koulibaly wrapped up a poor day in the office for Tuchel’s men.
Tottenham Hotspur scraped a 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first game of the round on Saturday.
Following a poor opening 45, Antonio Conte’s charges were rescued by a Harry Kane header in the 64th minute as the England captain scored his 250th goal in all competitions for the North London club. The goal was also Kane’s 185th goal in the Premier League for Spurs as he leapfrogged Sergio Agüero for most goals for a single club in the division.
West Ham United are yet to win a game, record a point or score a goal as they were defeated by a visiting Brighton and Hove Albion side 0-2 at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Alexis MacAllister netted a penalty in the 22nd minute to break the deadlock and Leandro Trossard’s brilliant finish in the 66th minute secured maximum points for the Seagulls.
Everton and Nottingham Forest played out a one-all draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The game was sprung to life late on as Brennan Johnson scored in the 81st minute to give Forest the lead but Demarai Gray’s 88th minute goal helped both sides share the points.
A brace from Wilfried Zaha and another from Jean-Philippe Mateta helped Crystal Palace to a comeback 3-1 win against Aston Villa after Ollie Watkins fifth minute strike at Selhurst Park.
Che Adams’ double also helped Southampton come from a goal down to beat Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium.
James Maddison had given the Foxes the lead with a fine freekick in the 54th minute but Adams struck on 68 and 84 minutes to help the Saints leave with all three points.
Fulham defeated Brentford by the odd goal in five at Craven Cottage as Aleksandar Mitrovic’s late goal helped Marco Silva’s side to a 3-2 win.
Bobby Reid gave the London outfit the lead in the first minute of the contest and João Palhinha doubled their advantage with a goal in the 20th minute but the Bees stung back as Christian Nørgaard and Ivan Toney scored on 44 and 71 minutes.
Mitrovic sent the Fulham supporters into raptures as he scored his third goal of the season, netting in the last minute of normal time to steal maximum points.
Old Trafford will play host to the last game of the round as Manchester United and Liverpool will lock horns on Monday night in a rivalry which enters another phase as both sides have a must-win task.
Matchday three results in full
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Leicester City 1-2 Southampton
Crystal Palace 3-2 Aston Villa
Fulham 3-2 Brentford
AFC Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal
Sunday, August 21, 2022
Leeds United 3-0 Chelsea
West Ham United 0-2 Brighton and Hove Albion
Newcastle United 3-3 Manchester City
Fixture
Monday, August 22, 2022
Manchester United vs Liverpool – 8:00pm
