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As we reach what I am calling officially ¼ way through the season, the same question is being asked everywhere - can anyone stop Leeds United? The Whites end the round 6 points clear of the rest, with 5 straight wins in the league and just short of a 3 goal per match average. Tim Davey’s men are on fire, and this week they faced a Sheffield Wednesday low on confidence and points as top played bottom. It took 5 minutes for Berardi, one of the summer signings to have had a massive impact, to open the scoring with a header, and you would have expected the home side to collapse as the fans went very quiet - they didn’t and gave Leeds actually a real run for their money, with more chances and equal possession. It’s a big sign when a side has a quiet game but still scrapes through to get 3 points and this was exactly that. Leeds keeper Alisson stepped up with 13 saves and the away team held on for a 1-0 victory and extended their lead at the top. Tim Davey was at pains to remind everyone that we are still only 10 games in, but his team are looking the part at the moment. Wednesday remain rooted at the foot of the table and need a bit of luck to change.
MOM : Alisson (Leeds)
Spurs stay in second but if Leeds were convincing, their performance showed how far away from the finished package they are. Newcastle were the visitors to North London who themselves have made a strong start. The visitors took the lead when De Tomas, who has been central to all good things that the Magpies have done this year, found James Ward-Prowse with a monster pass and he scored with a strike in off the post on 13 minutes. Just as Tottenham were regrouping Daniel Podence had a moment of madness and headbutted Llorente. As the ref reached for a yellow, which seemed very lenient, Podence swore in his face and called him a cheat which earned him the full red and Spurs were down to 10 men. As the mayhem ensued, Newcastle capitalised, and Llorente found De Tomas who doubled the lead for the away team and sent the home side into half time in a state of shock. It seems like Podence himself gave the half time talk, as Davide Calabria, the Spurs defender also headbutted Llorente just after the break, to get a yellow, and having learnt from earlier he kept his mouth shut and somehow stayed on the field. It was all Spurs second half despite the 1 man advantage, but without one of the strikers the breakthrough never came and Leon Bailey’s spell book was exhausted. Newcastle shut up shop towards the end for what was a superb result for the Geordies and a statement of their intent to be at the top table.
MOM : Raul de Tomas (Newcastle)
The champions, Man City, were looking to get back amongst the leaders as they travelled to Barnsley, who are having a great season so far. The pressure seemed to be off the home team as Oakwell was in a party mood, with the fans hoping not to see a ‘return to form’ thrashing from the Citizens. In the 21st minute Maximiano, who has been one of Barnsley’s heroes so far this season, let a shot from Silva slip through to give City the lead. Ant Harris immediately made 3 positional changes and amazingly 5 minutes later the stadium erupted as Mitoma equalised to make it 1-1. This is how it stayed until half time and Barnsley looked like no pushovers. 20 minutes into the second half it was Mitoma again, found by Maddison to squeeze home his second for 2-1 Barnsley. Harris and all of the Barnsley fans grabbed as many buses as they could to cover the goal as they looked to shut up shop, and somehow Mitoma found himself with an opportunity again. He blasted it towards goal and Ederson, who would save it all day long normally, dropped the ball into the goal to give the Japanese star his hat-trick and a 3-1 lead. The fans were doing the conga in the stand and singing ‘Can we play you every week’ as Rovella hit back to make it 3-2, and the nerves jangled - but substitute HAraslin thought we had sealed the win when he scored what looked like a perfectly good goal with 6 minutes left. VAR disallowed it, and Ant Harris went absolutely nuts. It was an interesting tactic from the Barnsley manager, who after wasting lots of time and breaking any momentum City could get, was sent off by the ref and had to watch the game from the stands - which seemed to be exactly what he wanted, as he was seen alongside the supporters who were all standing to see their team home as the party began. He was lifted aloft and carried back down to the pitch at full-time as his team celebrated a memorable victory against the Manchester giants. There could only be one man of the match as Mitoma grabbed the match ball and became the Premiership’s top scorer, with 10 this season. City boss Nick Lovell will be scratching his head after this one. Barnsley move up to 5th.
MOM : Kaoru Mitoma (Barnsley)
Speculation coming out of Burnley is that boss Simon Hill is on borrowed time, and they are rumoured to be looking at the transfer market to change things up. This week saw Crystal PAlace visit Turf Moor, and an opportunity for the Clarets to get back on track. One new signing, Ekitite, started really well and scored after 5 minutes to put the home side ahead and settle some nerves. His strike partner Morata then followed with another on 10 minutes to make it 2-0, and it was smiles all round on the Burnley bench. Palace take a bit of putting away though, and as the players were still congratulating themselves Fabinho hit a stunning volley to make it 2-1, and then on 26 minutes Eze silenced the fans with an equaliser which went through the keepers legs. Hill is rumoured to be looking at replacement keepers and this won’t have helped Agirrezabala’s case. On halftime Hill looked furious as again his keeper maybe could have done better with De Paul’s shot which crept in just before the whistle to make it 3-2 Palace and an amazing comeback from 2-0. The Burnley fans actually really got behind their team in the second half, and Guedes rewarded them with an equaliser for Burnley 12 minutes in. 3-3 was how it stayed, and a result that won’t ease the pressure on Hill, but a hugely entertaining game from 2 good sides.
MOM : Rodrigo De Paul (Palace)
Chelsea went into their home game against Cardiff after 2 defeats on the bounce, and needed to get back to winning ways. Cardiff have delighted in surprising people this year and probably fancied this after 3 straight defeats themselves. Allan Saint-Maximin has been one of the bright notes for Chelsea and it was he who opened the scoring on 28th minutes with a shot which Alsop maybe could have done better with. Chelsea dominated from then on, and the result never looked in doubt despite no more goals. Kevin De Bruyne put on a masterful display in midfield for Chelsea. The club have been heavily linked with Roberto Firmino in recent weeks with Chiesa potentially leaving, which again will strengthen Steve Talbot’s side as they ratchet up the table.
MOM : Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea)
Despite at his own admission a slow start, Steve Outten must be quietly pleased with the stealth-like progress that his side have made of late. Facing an beleaguered Everton side at Goodison, who again played Confais at defensive midfield, who again looked massively out of his depth, Man Utd attacked relentlessly, Fati, Gordon and Porro causing problems for the home side. On 33 minutes Adeyemi turned his defender and finished to take the lead and it looked like the floodgates would open. Fati was clean through just before the half time whistle and taken out by Marcao, who had already seen yellow, so was sent off only to make the Toffees task harder. United kept on attacking and had an amazing 34 attempts on goal to Everton’s 12, but no more goals came. David de Gea in the Everton goal made a season record 16 saves to keep it respectable, and the Red Devils march on ominously - 6 games unbeaten in the league now and snapping at Tottenham’s heels in 3rd.
MOM : Karim Adeyemi (Man U)
Liverpool welcomed Arsenal to Anfield as two giants of English football went head to head. Liverpool’s recent upturn in form was mirrored by Arsenal’s drop off, and this game was exactly the tale of that. On the half hour the Kop erupted as VAR intervened to allow Guirassy’s strike which had hit the bar and bounced in and out. Liverpool tried to consolidate, and Savic had an opportunity to clear just before half time with pressure from the Arsenal attack. His clearance ballooned up and backwards over his keeper to score a spectacular own goal and to equalise for Arsenal - 1-1 at half time. Liverpool stayed focussed and looked like they would settle for a draw, which Arsenal would probably have taken as well - Liverpool bringing on Forlin and Khedira for Halifa and Mahrez for the last third. As the 90th minute struck, Khedira interchanged with the winger to receive a cross that he headed into the net to take all 3 points and start the singing at Anfield. There was no way back for Arsenal and another 3 points for Graeme Edwards men who haven’t lost in 4 and are moving in the right direction. Arsenal who have lost 3 of the last 4 will be looking to stop the rot after a solid start to the season. Kevin Mbabu earned his 3rd man of the match award for The Reds in the last 4 with a commanding performance in defence, and Liverpool were worth the 3 points.
MOM : Kevin Mbabu (Liverpool)
Southampton hosted Leicester at St Marys, unbeaten in their previous 4, and Leicester winless in 4 after a brilliant start. It was a very cagey start with neither side prepared to commit and Martinelli broke the deadlock with a long range effort on 34 minutes to give the home side the lead. This is how it stayed until the hour mark, when Saints keeper Sa, who has at times pulled off heroics for them, made a clumsy challenge on Marusic to give the referee no choice but to award a penalty to the Foxes. Simeone stepped up, and given the pressure and the need for points for his team, showed his composure with a cheeky Panenka to equalise form the spot. Southampton seemed furious at this and 2 minutes later they were even more so as Kante hit a screamer to put the away side ahead - both goals created by incisive passes from Torres. Saints attacked, Leicester shut up shop, and again had a chance to finish the game when Sa took out Knoche this time and was very, very lucky to stay on. This time Simeone’s spot kick went over the bar as he went for power, but the Leicester men hung on to a crucial victory for them. Saints will be hugely disappointed to lose a game that they completely dominated, and Leicester delighted with their smash and grab mission
MOM : Giovanni Simeone (Leicester)
Bottom of the form table saw Villa take on Watford at Vicarage Road, both sides winless in their last 5 games. Villa broke the deadlock when Jesus, who has been clinical for them this season, scored to make it 1-0 after following his own shot up that had hit the bar. Villa then got a lucky break as MArtinez scored to make it 2-0 when he looked miles offside, and the home fans prepared for another defeat. 15 minutes into the second half, Todibo who has been very good for Villa all season, scored with a superb strike which created huge unrest in the stands. The players were taken off the pitch for their safety as missiles were thrown on to the pitch and the offenders were ejected, and Villa held on for a 3-0 win that was far less comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
MOM : Jean-Clair Todibo (Villa)
West Ham welcomed Blackburn who have been on a mini run of late with the dangerous Heung-Min Son in their line-up. The Hammers dominated from the start and Blacburn’s cause wasn’t helped by defender Carlos having to be replaced in the 14th minute through injury. West Ham toiled away to find a breakthrough but Blackburn stayed strong and held the home side to a 0-0 draw that they would have taken before the game. Majecki performed heroics in the Blackburn goal to keep out Palmer and Fernandes and West Ham will definitely see this as two points dropped
MOM : Radoslaw Majecki ( Blackburn)
Team of the Week: Allison (Leeds) , Burn (Everton) , Knoche (Leicester), Mbabu (Liverpool), Berchiche(Chelsea) , Gavi (Man Utd), Foden (Man C), De Paul (Palace). De Bruyne (Chelsea), Mitoma (Barnsley), Adeyemi (Man U)
Performance of the Week : Barnsley boss Ant Harris said before the game that he would be happy for the season to end - maybe not just yet as the Oakwell boys continue to ruffle a few feathers. A stunning 3-2 win over the Champions with a Mitoma hat-trick the pick of their strong results so far.
Shocker of the week: Spurs will have been disappointed with their defeat at home to Newcastle which halted their march and extended Leeds gap at the top
As we are quarter way through the season;
Player of the ‘Month’ - Antonio Rudiger (Leeds)
Young Player of the month : Gavi (Man Utd)
Team of the Month:
Areola (Leicester), Rudiger (Leeds), Dunk (Leicester), Aguerd (Blackburn), Mbabu (Liverpool), Caicedo (Leeds), Gavi (Man U), Valverde (Man U), Bailey (Spurs), Mitoma (Barnsley), de Tomas (Newcastle)
Manager of the Month : Tim Davey (Leeds United)