All eyes were the Premier League’s latest arrival Jurgen Klopp, as Liverpool engaged in a goalless albeit entertaining draw against Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United emphatically dismissed Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park, in what was an emotional day for the Toffees, following the unexpected passing away of legendary manager Kendall Howard. Cristiano Ronaldo overtook Raul’s all-time Real Madrid scoring record, as Los Blancos registered a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante. In the absence of Lionel Messi, Neymar inspired his side to victory, as the Brazilian scored four goals in a 5-2 win against Rayo Vallecano.
Liverpool appointed former Borussia Dortmund and Mainz manager Jurgen Klopp, after Brendan Rodgers was sacked following a stalemate in the Merseyside derby and the eccentric German, who had promised ‘full-throttle football’, didn’t let the spectators down. Klopp played his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and his side took the game by the throat, as Tottenham failed to cope with the intense pressing in the opening 20 minutes. Divock Origi missed a glorious chance when his header struck the upright and the Belgian failed to score off the rebound. But as the first-half progressed, Liverpool slowly started to run out of steam, as Tottenham dominated the ball and Simon Mignolet was forced to make a couple of good saves.
It was an exhilarating first-half as both sides showed great industry but the second-half was a scrappy affair, as chances were few and far between. Liverpool aggressively pressed, often with 8 players in the opposition half, while Spurs threatened on the counter-attack. In the end both sides failed to find the back of the net and had to settle with a point apiece but both managers won’t be disheartened, after fine performances by their teams. Jurgen Klopp will take more positives than negatives out of this game, given the fact that regulars like Jordan Henderson, Christian Benteke, Danny Ings, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino were out through injury.
Manchester United brushed off all signs of fatigue following the international break, as the Red Devils registered a comfortable win over Everton. Tributes to club legend Kendall Howard dominated proceedings before kick-off but United ruined the mood with two quick goals in the 18th and 22nd minute. After Mata crossed the ball into the 18-yard-box following a short corner, Everton defended scrappily and Smalling chested the ball to the unmarked Morgan Schneiderlin at the far left, who finished with a firm shot into the bottom right. 4 minutes later, three Everton players gave the ball away in quick succession and on the counter-attack, Marcos Rojo put in an inviting cross to Ander Herrera, who ghosted in between two defenders, to head the ball into the ground and past Tim Howard. In the 62nd minute, Phil Jagielka clumsily gave the ball away and paid the price for the costly error, as Herrera niftily put in ball through to Wayne Rooney who sent the ball past Tim Howard, to score his first goal at his former home since 2007 and to confirm all three points for Louis van Gaal’s men.
Raheem Sterling scored his first career hattirck, as Mancehster City annihilated Bournemouth 5-1 at the Etihad. After yet another injury to Sergio Aguero, Wilfried Bony started as the spear of the City attack and didn’t disappoint scoring a goal in each half. Sterling, who moved from Liverpool to City in the summer, was often criticized for his lack of composure in front of goal but proved his critics wrong with a first-half hattrick, as Manchester City retained their position at the summit of the table.
Chelsea are back to winning ways, after a relatively easy 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Diego Costa opened the scoring, after Villa gave the ball away in their own half and the Blues got their second, when Diego Costa’s shot took a massive deflection off Alan Hutton.
Arsenal went all guns blazing with a superb second-half display, as the Gunners moved in to second place following an emphatic 3-0 win over Watford. Jaime Vardy move three clear at the top of the Premier League top scorer charts, as the dogged Englishman’s two second-half goals, including a 90th minute equaliser, mounted yet another comeback, this time against Southampton to grab a share of the points.
Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge of Sunderland ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat against West Brom, while Crystal Palace slumped to a 3-1 loss at home against West Ham, as the Hammers’ outstanding away form continues.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 324th Real Madrid goal against Levante and subsequently overtook club legend Raul’s record to become Real’s all-time top scorer. Marcelo opened the scoring when he pickpocketed the ball in the opposition half and played a quick one-two with Ronaldo, before smashing the ball into the far corner. Ronaldo doubled his side’s lead, when he rifled in a shot just outside the 18 yard-box past the hapless Levante ‘keeper into the bottom corner. Jese killed the game off with a clever piece of play at the left-wing, before thumping the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.
Barcelona survived a scare after Javi Guerra’s opener saw Rayo take the lead but the visitors couldn’t enjoy the lead for long, as Neymar was fouled in the box twice and converted his penalty on both occasions. The Brazilian completed his hattrick after he slammed in a loose ball following Luis Suarez’s shot and got his fourth a couple of minutes later, when he was put in by Suarez again, to hit the ball into an empty net. Neymar and Suarez combined again, this time Neymar the provider, when he sent in an inviting cross for Suarez to finish at the far-post. Sanchez Ruiz scored a late goal for Rayo but it proved to be no more than consolation, as Barcelona are joint-top of the La Liga with Real Madrid, although the Catalans have an inferior goal difference.
Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo EPL Jurgen Klopp liverpool
