Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea are the only three teams to end Week 3 with 100% records intact after wins against West Ham, Hull, and Burnley respectively.
A young man named Raheem continued to rebuild a reputation shattered by inept displays at the European Championships with another Sterling performance, this time at home to West Ham.
The English Premier League (EPL) favourites, Manchester City, have now taken maximum points from their first three games after a 3-1 win at The Etihad, which went from comfortable to jittery, to comfortable again.
The much-maligned Sterling opened the scoring after just seven minutes. The Spanish forward Nolito putting the ball on the plate for the former Liverpool star and he didn’t waste the opportunity. City dominated play from that point onward, and when Fernandinho headed City’s second goal in the 18th minute, it looked like the floodgates would open.
Kevin De Bruyne sent a free-kick inches over the bar; the Belgian then saw a shot deflected wide of the post, and Nolito missed a great opportunity seven minutes after the break.
Then, in the 58th minute, West Ham was back in the game after Michail Antonio headed his second goal of the season after smart work down the flank by Arthur Masuaku.
The goal had a funny effect on the Blues who suddenly withdrew into their shell. West Ham, without the brilliance of Dimitri Payet, couldn’t take advantage, and instead, it was City who came close several times towards the end of the game before Sterling pinched his second in injury time.
United Leave it Late to Set up Derby Blockbuster
The look on Mike Phelan’s face when David Meyler nearly scored the winner against Manchester United was priceless. The man who had spent 20-years at Old Trafford was laughing because he knew had that gone in they would have earned a glorious smash and grab victory.
Manchester United hammered Hull on a rainy day in the North. It wasn’t a polished performance for United. But it was one of dominance. Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini controlled the centre of the park, and Eric Bailly and Daley Blind looked assured and accomplished at the back.
The one concern for United fans, and it’s very early, is the form of Wayne Rooney. The Man Utd captain looked out of sorts during England’s dismal display in France, and he was the same against Hull. Either the arrivals of two massive stars in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba has affected him, or he is struggling to find a groove in a role that still doesn’t seem to be clear cut.
Both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford came off the bench and looked electrifying. Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, and Wayne Rooney should all be worrying about their place in the Manchester derby in a fortnight’s time.
Hull was valiant and so very nearly held on to a draw. United hit them with everything, but another rock solid performance from Curtis Davies, and an inspired shot-stopping performance from Eldin Jakupovic blocked them out until the 93rd minute when that whippet Rashford gave United their third consecutive win of the season.
Chelsea Blitz Burnley
Chelsea is the third side to start the season with a 100% record after an easy 3-0 win over Burnley. Eden Hazard was once again back to his best, opening the scoring with a sweet goal in the ninth minute. Willian made it two before half-time, and Victor Moses is starting to believe he has a future at Stamford Bridge sealing the three points with a tap-in in the 89th minute.
In truth, Chelsea could have scored ten, but it’s the big fat zero at the back that will please them the most. It was Chelsea’s first clean sheet at home since November 2015.
Spurs, Everton and Boro, Remain Unbeaten
Three more Premier League teams are yet to taste defeat this season.
Everton has now taken seven points from a possible nine after a 1-0 win at home to Stoke. The game’s only goal came from the penalty spot after Leighton Baines saw his shot rebound off the post and hit Shay Given in the back of the head to creep into the goal.
Middlesbrough has two draws and a win after a bore draw against West Brom, and Tottenham has the same stats after coming from behind to grab a draw in a scintillating game at home to Liverpool. James Milner put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time, and Danny Rose equalised for Spurs with 20-minutes left to play.
Here are the rest of the weekend’s results.
Week 3 Results
Tottenham 1 v 1 Liverpool
Chelsea 3 v 0 Burnley
Everton 1 v 0 Stoke
Southampton 1 v1 Sunderland
Watford 1 v 3 Arsenal
Crystal Palace 1 v 1 Bournemouth
Leicester 2 v 1 Swansea
Hull 0 v 1 Man Utd
West Brom 0 v 0 Middlesbrough
Man City 3 v 1 West Ham
Premier League Table
1. Man City – 9
2. Chelsea – 9
3. Man Utd – 9
4. Everton – 7
5. Hull – 6
6. Middlesbrough – 5
7. Tottenham – 5
8. Arsenal – 4
9. Leicester – 4
10. West Brom – 4
11. Liverpool – 4
12. West Ham – 3
13. Burnley – 3
14. Swansea – 3
15. Southampton – 2
16. Sunderland – 1
17. Crystal Palace – 1
18. Watford – 1
19. Bournemouth – 1
20. Stoke – 1
