 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Two goals from Sadio Mane just after half-time eased champions Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over 10-man Chelsea in the Premier League season's first heavyweight clash, at Stamford Bridge, on Sunday.
A dull game never threatened to live up to the eight-goal thriller when the side's met in July, and it proved all-too-easy for Liverpool to lay down the season's first big marker although Chelsea were architects of their own downfall.
Chelsea managed only one goal attempt in the first half but were solid enough until Danish defender Andreas Christensen was sent off shortly before the interval for hauling down Mane.
Mane headed Liverpool in front five minutes after the interval and four minutes later took advantage of a dreadful error by Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga as the hosts crumbled.
Liverpool gave new midfield signing Thiago Alcantara a debut off the bench but the Spaniard's first impact was to offer Chelsea a lifeline by fouling Timo Werner to concede a penalty with a little under 20 minutes remaining.
But Jorginho's effort was saved by the otherwise redundant Alisson Becker to spare Liverpool any late tension.
Liverpool have won both their opening games while Chelsea have three points.
Leicester fight back to give Rodgers milestone win
Leicester City came from behind to secure a 4-2 home win over Burnley on Sunday which was also a milestone 100th Premier League victory for their manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Foxes top the table, leading a group of five teams on a maximum six points from two games, with a superior goal difference after their opening 3-0 success at promoted West Bromwich Albion.
It was no more than Leicester deserved after falling behind to an early Chris Wood strike, as they displayed a wealth of attacking talent against the battling visitors.
Wood volleyed the ball past Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from seven metres in the 10th minute after getting the better of James Justin, who failed to clear a Charlie Taylor cross from the left flank.
Harvey Barnes equalised in the 20th after some good work by Jamie Vardy, who shook off two defenders and laid the ball back unselfishly to Timothy Castagne who in turn squared it for Barnes to side-foot it home.
Castagne racked up another assist in the 50th minute as his fizzing low cross to Vardy was turned into his own net by Erik Pieters, with Leicester moving up a gear after the break.
Justin made amends for sloppy defending at Burnley's opening goal when he netted the home team's third around the hour mark, benefiting from nifty footwork by Ayoze Perez who set up the right back to slot the ball in at the far post.
Jimmy Dunne pulled one back for the visitors in the 73rd minute when he beat his marker to the ball and headed in a long Dwight McNeil free kick before Dennis Praet secured the win with the best goal of the match.
The Belgian midfielder unleashed an unstoppable shot past Burnley keeper Nick Pope from 18 metres before Wood hit the post for the visitors in the dying minutes of an action-packed clash at King Power stadium.
Burnley are at home to Southampton in their next game on Saturday while Leicester visit Manchester City next Sunday.
Son, Kane lead Spurs rout of Southampton
Son Heung-min scored four goals, set up by Harry Kane, as Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal down to overwhelm Southampton 5-2 on Sunday and earn their first Premier League win of the season.
In an action-packed first half at St Mary's, both sides had a goal ruled out by VAR before Danny Ings finished well from a tight angle in the 32nd minute to put Southampton ahead.
The hosts deserved their lead and had chances to add a second before Son, with Spurs' first shot at goal, latched onto a fine first-time pass from Kane before equalising in first-half stoppage time.
That same combination unlocked the hosts two minutes after the break, with Son taking advantage of a high Saints defensive line before racing clear to score.
Son's first Premier League hat-trick was completed in the 64th minute before Kane set him up again with a sublime pass 17 minutes from time.
It was the first time one player has assisted another's Premier League hat-trick since 2003, when Thierry Henry set up Freddie Ljungberg's treble for Arsenal against Sunderland.
Kane himself completed the rout with a close-range finish before Ings grabbed a late Southampton consolation from the penalty spot.
"It is incredible to score four in the Premier League," Son said. "Four amazing assists from Harry, he deserves the man of the match award.
"We have been working for five season together now. We know what we like and work hard on our relationship on and off the pitch. Hopefully, there are many more goals to come."
The scoreline flattered Tottenham, who only had five shots on target -- two less than Southampton -- but their clinical finishing made all the difference.
It is now three defeats from three in all competitions for Saints this season.
"It is hard to take," Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said. "At the beginning we were very good. Our heads dropped after their goal in the first half and we gave in too easy.
"The opponent was not pressured on the ball at all -- the defending was a disaster."
Maupay strikes twice as Brighton ease to win at Newcastle
Brighton and Hove Albion got their Premier League season up and running with a clinical 3-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park after an early brace by Neal Maupay.
The Frenchman put Brighton ahead from the penalty spot in the fourth minute when Allan Saint-Maximin brought down Tariq Lamptey after the teenage wing-back cut inside from the right and darted into the box.
Lamptey, 10 days shy of his 20th birthday, was also involved in Brighton's second three minutes later, releasing Leandro Trossard down the right.
The Belgian fired in a low cross that Maupay slotted home from close range and though the goal was initially disallowed for an offside in the build-up, referee Kevin Friend overturned his decision after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR).
The home side showed more fight after the restart and Callum Wilson spurned Newcastle's best chance to cut the deficit when he headed over from close range in the 63rd minute after Brighton were caught trying to play out from the back.
Trossard hit the post in the 71st minute before the visitors extended their lead late on when Aaron Connolly curled the ball home after being picked out by Maupay to complete a comfortable win for Brighton.
Newcastle, who opened their campaign with victory over West Ham United last weekend, struggled to contend with Brighton's 3-5-2 formation and failed to muster a shot on target.
"When you're 2-0 down after seven minutes then it becomes difficult against a team who base their style on possession," Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said.
"We've been beaten badly at home so we have to expect what's coming. You can't go up and down, which in the 15/16 months I've been here has happened. We've gone from having a decent week to throwing in a hand grenade like that so we have to accept the criticism."
The only blemish for Brighton, who lost their opening game of the season to Chelsea, was a red card for midfielder Yves Bissouma in the 89th minute for catching Jamal Lewis in the face with a wild swing of his boot.
Victory moved Brighton, who host Manchester United in the league next, up to eighth in the table while Newcastle slipped to 11th.
