Sterling makes Premier League history, Leicester's 'diver' redeems himself, plus more winners and losers from 3pm

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It was another Saturday afternoon of Premier League action that veered between bedlam and brilliance. 

Manchester City extended their gap at the summit of the league to five points with a 3-1 victory against Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace prevailed in a basement battle against Burnley, winning 2-0 in south London.

Elsewhere Brighton came from a goal behind to beat Huddersfield 2-1; Leicester City made light-work of Watford winning 2-0 at the King Power Stadium and West Ham humbled Newcastle 3-0.

So after another enthralling afternoon of 3pm kick-offs, who were the winners and losers?

Winner: Javier Hernandez

Javier Hernandez started just his third Premier League game of the season this afternoon but the Mexican poacher duly repaid the faith shown in him by Manuel Pellegrini by cropping up with a very quintessential Chicharito goal in just the 11th minute, adding another in the second half.

Robert Snodgrass – who returned to the starting XI following his one-match suspension – whipped in an inch-perfect delivery with that lethal left boot of his; the cross was one of sheer brilliance, eluding the Newcastle defence before Hernandez poked home from just a few yards out.

His second was a lovely right-footed finished in the 63rd minute, and both goals now ensure that all 48 of Hernandez’s top-flight goals have come from inside the box, though he still remains eight away from Tim Cahill who netted all 56 of his Premier League goals from inside the area.

The former Manchester United marksman joined the ranks in east London with huge expectations on his shoulders, but having failed to replicate his Old Trafford form during his maiden campaign, the 30-year will be hoping to kick on and leave a lasting impression with the Hammers faithful this term.

Loser: Burnley defence

Burnley forged a formidable reputation last season for their defensive resolution, proving compact, organised and tenacious, but this term the Clarets look a shadow of their former selves. Sean Dyche’s men have now conceded 29 goals.

Across the entirety of last season, the Lancashire-based club conceded just 39, meaning they are now just 10 goals off that mark with just 14 matches played so far, while they are also lingering in the relegation zone as a result.

The first goal today was a catalogue of defensive errors and is perhaps indicative of their current fortunes at the back this term: James McArthur delivered a teasing ball into the Burnley box, but having evaded every player, it simply glided straight past Joe Hart who failed to even bat an eyelid.

Last season Burnley managed to keep 12 clean sheets across their 38 outings, meaning they had a 32% clean sheet record. That number has plummeted significantly this season, with just three cleans sheets at 21%.

Winner: James Maddison

Having exploded onto the scene with Leicester City this season, James Maddison is very much looking like a Premier League star in the making. What is even more impressive than his obvious footballing talent, is the 22-year-old’s attitude.

Having received a red card against Brighton and Hove Albion last week for two yellow cards – one for a cynical foul and the other for simulation – the Coventry-born midfielder not only took to social media to apologise, but he has also made amends by finding the back of the net on his return.

And it was a delectable finish as well. The Foxes’ No.10 burst forward with pace before receiving the ball from a fine Marc Albrighton pass; Maddison still had much to do with three Watford players closing him in, but three lovely touches took him away from the forthcoming onslaught before he fired home.

This was exactly the sort of reaction manager Claude Puel would have been hoping for, and should he continue producing performances reminiscent of this afternoon, then Gareth Southgate may have no choice but to award a maiden cap for the playmaker.

Loser: Steve Mounie

With Huddersfield Town in dire need of points at present they will certainly need to make every opportunity count, and having found themselves one to the good against Brighton this afternoon David Wagner would have been backing his side to see the match through.

The Terriers had conceded just one goal in their previous three matches prior to this afternoon – keeping clean sheets against Fulham and Wolves – but they were pegged back in the dying ember of the first half having been reduced to 10 men.

Steve Mounie the culprit this time, lunging in on Yves Bissouma with his studs showing in the 32nd minute. Michael Oliver was left no choice but to send the Benin international off – it was a real striker’s challenge – and the Seagulls would rub further salt in the wounds by grabbing a winner in the second half.

Winner: Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has become the first player in Premier League history to score in his first six appearances against a single opponent, and the victims of that unfortunate statistic are Bournemouth, who once again conceded to the England international.

Despite the Man City flier’s magnificent record against the Cherries, no-one would have been surprised had the 23-year-old netted this afternoon such has been his form this season under Pep Guardiola.

The incisive winger has once again taken his game to another level, and so far no player has scored more goals than Sterling (eight) in the Premier League this season, with Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also on eight apiece.

The goal was also a significant one at that, with both side’s stalemate at the Etihad until Sterling cropped up in the 57th minute. Sterling initially started the move before Danilo’s shot was parried out, but only as far as the City winger who duly tucked home.

Loser: Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez has lost his first ever home match against West Ham having previously gone six matches unbeaten against the Hammers on home turf during his stints in charge of Liverpool, Chelsea and now the Magpies.

Last season Slaven Bilic’s men capitulated at St James’ Park, but this time around the Spanish tactician could not mastermind a victory against the east London club, with his side falling 2-0, and in truth, it could have been three or four.

Newcastle were on a fantastic run of form prior to the match, having won three successive matches, as well as having gone four matches unbeaten in the league, but that form came to an abrupt end this afternoon as West Ham clinched only their second clean sheet of the season.

It was a flawless November for the Magpies having endured a devastating start to the season, and while this result will come as a bitter blow to Benitez, they still sit 15th in the league and will look to bounce back against Everton next week.

Winner: Andros Townsend

Andros Townsend has now scored and provided an assist in a single Premier League match for the first time since December 2017, and only the fourth time in his entire career, and what an emphatic way to do it.

The Eagles had not won a match across all competitions since September, a barren run that spanned across 10 matches, and while Roy Hodgson has often been criticised for his over-reliance on club talisman Wilfried Zaha, it was Townsend who stole the plaudits this afternoon.

Zaha is the club’s fulcrum but Townsend, on his day, can prove just as indispensable, the problem for Palace fans is that his day just does not come around enough, but his performance this afternoon will go a long way to alleviating the current frustrations presiding over Selhurst Park.

His goal was absolutely sensational as well, collecting the ball on the right before cutting in on his left and firing home a stunning curling effort reminiscent of the archetypal Arjen Robben goal.

The post Sterling becomes record-breaking Kryptonite: the winners and losers from the Premier League 3pm kick-offs appeared first on Squawka News.



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