Recent Premier League records, two missed penalties and epic comebacks.
It was one other enthralling Saturday of top-flight football which saw 19 goals scored across eight matches.
As if there was any ever doubt, Erling Haaland showed why he’s arguably the world’s best striker by banging in twice in Manchester City’s 2-1 comeback win against Brentford.
In doing so, the Norway international created Premier League history by becoming the primary player to attain nine goals within the opening 4 matches.
Pep Guardiola’s side are actually three points clear at the highest following Liverpool’s shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, while their Merseyside rivals Everton once more blew a two-goal result in lose 3-2 against Aston Villa.
Meanwhile Manchester United made Southampton pay for a missed spot-kick to win 3-0 at St Mary’s, with Bournemouth losing 1-0 to Chelsea after having a penalty well saved.
That affair on the south coast resulted in probably the most yellow cards in a Premier League match, meanwhile, there was loads of drama within the draws between Crystal Palace and Leicester, Fulham and West Ham together with Brighton and Ipswich.
Here talkSPORT duo Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy reveal their winners and losers from Saturday’s motion on the Game-Day Phone-In…
Winners
Nuno Espirito Santo/Callum Hudson Odoi
Nottingham Forest put in a flawless display away at Liverpool to win their first match at Anfield since 1969.
Callum Hudson-Odoi got here off the bench to fireplace home a superb 72nd-minute to inflict a primary defeat on recent Reds boss Arne Slot.
Speaking of Forest’s deserved victory, Cundy said: “So Nuno, a number of people felt that Hudson-Odoi must have began, the best way he arrange Nuno, he went there, contained.
“And he brought Hudson-Odoi on at the proper time. Well done to him, he got the winner and if anyone has watched Hudson-Odoi play, it’s off the left-hand side, he opens his body and drills it across into that far corner.”
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Marcus Rashford
The Manchester United forward repaid Erik ten Hag’s faith in starting him by scoring his first goal in any competition since March.
And after receiving criticism within the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break, Rashford reminded his critics what he’s able to.
O’Hara said of the forward: “Rashford deserved to be in there today because he played well.
Cundy added: “Once he got the goal he did, before the goal, he like every other Man United player were second best everywhere in the pitch, so well done him.”
8
Danny Ings
The West Ham striker has struggled for form since linking up with the Hammers in 2022.
But he had a moment to recollect away at Fulham as his last-gasp strike within the fifth minute of injury time – his first league goal since March – earned Julen Lopetegui’s side a share of the spoils.
Praising the 32-year-old, Cundy stated: “Of all of the people to return off the bench and rating… the much-maligned Danny Ings, he cannot get anywhere near the starting XI, so well done him.
“[Bernd] Leno, I do not know if he could do a bit higher [to keep out goal], however it’s an excellent strike.”
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Losers
Everton
The Toffees remain rooted to the underside of the table having lost all 4 of their opening top-flight matches, with fans already fearing their time within the Premier League will probably be coming to an end.
They’ve also develop into just the second side in Premier League history to lose consecutive matches while boasting a two-goal lead.
Commenting on their latest collapse at Villa Park, O’Hara said: “It must be Everton right? Everton have gotten to go in as primary, they were 2-0 up!”
Cundy: “That is heartbreak and an absolute dagger to the guts in so some ways,
“For the second game in a row, they were 2-0 up only to go 3-2 down.”
He added: “They’re bottom of the table with no points and minus-nine goal difference. That is terrible stuff.”
8
Jack Stephens
Identical to Everton, newly-promoted Southampton have had a shocking begin to the season, where they too are yet to select up a degree this term.
And skipper Stephens has added to their dismay by getting sent off against United for a reckless foul on Alejandro Garnacho, which sill see him miss the subsequent three games through suspension.
O’Hara said of the defender: “Red card, back tackle, he deserved to get sent off.”
Cundy then remarked: “It’s considered one of those as a centre-half, he’s out of position, he’s of their [United] half, high up the pitch, Garnacho goes around him.
“And he stands out a lazy leg, he desires to bring him down, the issue he’s got are he’s left his studs on his knee, and he goes down Garnacho, he rolls around.
“He’s made probably the most of it, and why would not you? Nevertheless it’s a foul tackle, once you have been beat, you have got to remain beat and he gives away a foul and a red card, however the game was done by that time.”
O’Hara then stated: “Yeah it was just silly, he gets three games [suspension] for that.”
8
Ebou Adams
Moving away from the Premier League and into the Championship, Derby midfielder Adams was guilty of an embarrassing miss within the 1-0 win against Cardiff.
Having appeared destined to attain after pipping goalkeeper Jak Alnwick to the ball, the Gambia international didn’t hit the goal with an open goal at his mercy.
O’Hara said of the wasted likelihood: “In the event you have not seen this, it is the worst miss I’ve ever seen. He’s through on goal, he’s done good to get it over the ‘keeper on the halfway line, he’s running through.
“Literally, he’s the one person in that half and he misses.”
Cundy then chimed in by saying: “Well the defender is closing him down, however the defender cannot affect his decision.
“He cannot even hear him or feel him, and as he strikes it, he knows, the balls not even off the pitch and he’s on his knees almost crying. It’s an open goal and a terrible miss.”
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