From history-making Wolves to Sigurdsson’s stunner: Winners and losers from the Premier League 3pm kick-offs

in , , , , , , ,

Thrills, spills, red cards and spot-kicks feature in a thoroughly entertaining round of 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League. 

Spurs only managed one goal against visitors Cardiff at Wembley, but it was all they needed to take all three points after a disappointing defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Bournemouth did the most for their goal difference as they smashed Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road. Burnley and Huddersfield shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor, Wolves edged past Crystal Palace to win 0-1 meaning the Eagles still haven’t registered a win at home yet this season and Gylfi Sigurdsson’s late winner helped Everton collect their first three points on the road this season.

Here are five winners and four losers from today’s 3pm kick offs.

Winners

Bernard

The 26-year-old Brazilian has made a good impression at Goodison Park since arriving in the summer from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Toffees have been lacking a truly creative and composed midfielder since Mikel Arteta left for Arsenal many years ago. Some Evertonians have got very excited and are even describing the midfielder as their own David Silva after he provided his second Premier League assist on his first start of the season.

Bernard is very nimble on the ball and he showed this in spades as he created space for himself onto the left flank. His chipped cross was met by the fingertips of Kasper Schmeichel, but the ball travelled only as far as fellow Brazilian Richarlison who netted his fourth goal of the season.

Eric Dier

Dier helped his side get over their mid-week blues in the Champions League, where they were defeated 2-4 by Spanish giants Barcelona, by grabbing his first Premier League goal in 546 days since he scored against Watford in April 2017.

Despite their defeat on Wednesday, Dier demonstrated to some of his long-term doubters just why he’s so valuable to the north Londoners with an exemplary performance against the Catalans when he came on in the second half.

Dier’s goal wasn’t the most spectacular he’ll score in his career. Davinson Sanchez’s header was wayward and weak, bit if fell comfortably at the feet of the Englishman who poked it home from close range.

Wolves’ XI

Wolves are the first side in Premier League history to begin their first eight games with the same starting line-up and it’s beginning to pay off as they draw level on points with Arsenal.

Nuno Espírito Santo is having success by sticking with his guns and his side’s 1-0 win at Selhurst Park extended their unbeaten run to six games, the first time they have done so in the top-flight since April 1979.

Iceland

Johann Berg Gudmundsson created another golden opportunity for Sam Vokes’ punishing forehead. Four of Vokes’ last Premier League goals have come from his head, while three of those were assisted by Gudmundsson.

The 27-year-old now has 12 Premier League assists since the start of last season. Only Leroy Sané (17), Kevin De Bruyne (16) and Raheem Sterling (13) have more.

Meanwhile, Gudmundsson’s compatriot Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his 50th Premier League goal. Since making his debut for the Toffees the Icelander has scored 19 goals from outside the box drawing level with Philippe Coutinho.

Winner

Josh King

Whe asked to think of Norwegian footballers one immediately thinks about Manchester United’s and possibly the Premier League’s greatest super-sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who famously scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final after coming on from the bench.

King is a starter and one day it’s his name that will be at the forefront of your mind when thinking about great Norwegian players in the Premier League, as his brace against Watford this afternoon takes the Norway international’s tally to 34 goals in 108 Premier League appearances; it also helped his side record their biggest away win in the Premier League.

Only four Norwegians have scored more Premier League goals than King: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (91), Steffen Iversen (40), John Carew (38) and Tore Andre Flo (38).

Losers

Sharon Warnock

Prior to Cardiff’s journey to Wembley Stadium this afternoon the papers were reporting that Warnock’s position with the Bluebirds is on thin ice.

Friday was Warnock’s two-year anniversary with the Welsh club, but he has a torrid time so far in the Premier League with his side failing to register a win in eight games. Warnock even admitted that if those poor results that it would be “someone else’s problem” in the future.

CARDIFF, WALES – AUGUST 04: A detailed view of the parking space of Neil Warnock, Manager of Cardiff City prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match between Cardiff City and Real Betis at Cardiff City Stadium on August 4, 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The 69-year-old tactician seems pretty upbeat about getting the sack, admitting that the ‘worst-case’ scenario would provide him with a nice relaxing Christmas and more time with his wife, Sharon.  “I could go away for a few weeks with Sharon, go to Italy for a few weeks, have a nice relax and a good Christmas. And that’s looking at the downside.”

Only it’s Sharon who could be the real loser here, as after the distracting holiday she will probably have to cope with him moping aimlessly around the house a lot more.

Jonas Lossl

The Danish gloveman joined the Terriers last season after falling out of favour with Mainz. In the last campaign, the ‘keeper made a good impression, playing in every Premier League game and keeping 10 clean sheets.

Lossl has not managed to keep his goal line safe thus far this season, with no clean sheets in six appearances in the Premier League.

This afternoon the Dane fell victim to a Burnley free kick delivered crisply from Johann Berg Gudmundsson straight onto the forehead of Sam Vokes who scored his first goal goal at home in the Premier League since May 2017.

Christian Kabasele

The Congolese-born Belgian defender has a poor start the season and saw red for the second time this afternoon after bringing down Bournemouth’s Joshua King in the box.

The first red card he received also gave away a penalty against Tottenham for a foul on Dele Alli in the Carabao Cup, Kabasele won his appeal for that challenge, but is unlikely he will have the same fortune this time around.

Kabasele now has the unwelcome and miserable record of conceding two penalties and receiving two red cards in his last three games, but at least he’s not alone.

Wes Morgan has now received two red cards in his last three Premier League games after receiving his marching orders in Leicester’s defeat to Everton.

Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace’s home ground is a traditional ground and a very pleasant place to go and watch Premier League action, well at least for away fans this season.

Selhurst Park is becoming a rent-a-fortress for other sides as the Eagles have failed to register a win at home in the Premier League so far this campaign without even scoring a goal.

With only seven points on the board so far, Roy Hodgson’s men will have to improve their home record or risk another relegation battle.

The post From history-making Wolves to Sigurdsson’s stunner: Winners and losers from the Premier League 3pm kick-offs appeared first on Squawka News.



From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2y3YqFi
Labels: , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)