Manchester United 1 – Tottenham 0
Manchester United beat the Spurs 1-0 playing the perfect Mourinho game. Martial scored the winner in the 81st minute. The Frenchman got behind a long ball headed forward by Romelu Lukaku. The Red Devils got the lead and it felt it was all over, setting up defensively after the goal. The win lets them keep pace with Manchester City. Tottenham’s heavy creative style was not existent at Old Trafford as they weren’t passing the ball quickly around the box like you are used to and failed to create a real significant chance.
Mourinho went to a back three with Tottenham missing their main striker Harry Kane and it worked to perfection. It kept all of Spurs play in front on them. Mourinho found a winner from the bench as the back and worth fight from Rashford and martial continues. When the Frenchmen came in found the back of the net.
The game also saw a return for Chris Smalling, the English center back had only three appearances coming into the game but he shined. Mou put him in the middle of the back three and it was a success, he was the player of the game. Successful in the air and clearing the ball right in overtime, he was the leading the defensive performance on Saturday.
Spurs on the other side looked completely different without Kane. While its understandable to underperform while missing your leading goal scorer you expected a least a couple of chances from the north London side. Tottenham had the majority of the ball but did nothing with it. The Spurs best chance was a very difficult half volley. This game adds another name to the long list of big games that Pochettino side keeps missing out on. When Tottenham start performing better in these kind of matches, then they can be actual tittle contenders.
Now both teams have midweek Champions League games with United playing today versus Benfica and Tottenham face Real Madrid in Wembley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeZ5TaJVRVE
Manchester City 3- West Brom 2
Manchester City continues to look unstoppable on offense and very shaky at the back. They have beautiful offense but still, show moments of weakness at the back. The encouraging part is the offense and creative playing style seems to travel. they have scored in every game this season and have failed to have a dull performance to date.
Though conceding two goals to a limited west Brom side is something that must be fixed soon before it starts affecting the team results. Both goals came from lack of communication, one with Ederson coming out of turn not reading his back line. The second came when Otamendi tried to chest the ball back to his keeper and Matt Phillips intercepted it and put it in.
Manchester City is still a top of the table and in prime position to continue this fine form. Everyone being rotated in the squad seems to perform well, which makes this team scary. they have yet to be held scoreless and if they resolved the issues at the back they might be the team in Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WgHR3MzM1w
Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea keep pace
Liverpool gets a much needed 3-0 nothing win versus Huddersfield where they finally looked like the free flowing, high pressing team we are use to seeing. They had over 75% of passion int he game and gets Jurgen Klopp’s hot seat got a little colder. They now sit in sixth place in the table and three points out of the Champions League spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYsduAh16h0
Arsenal also had a much-needed home win although theirs was less impressive. They came back in the second half against Swansea. The win is great for the gunner’s confidence and they came back in the game they were getting physically bullied playing the classic Arsenal way. The Lacazette, Sanchez and Ozil front line look as good as any in the premier league. Arsenal may not be the title contenders they always are but by no means are they a mid-table club this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IEL6kGimmk
The last result of the big dogs was a Chelsea 1-0 win on the road at Bournemouth. The blues still seem like a team trying to find its identity this year, which is weird to say about the former champions. They got lucky in their goal but created many chances but nothing gets finished. The team is blending well at the back and they maintain possession but they can’t seem to find the goals like they did last year. The Blues are still true title contenders and performance like this one shows it. Even when the chances aren’t going in they get the result. Last year Chelsea had a horrible start and went on a record run, it is still early in the season they can still get it together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN6NBiNmzWA
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