Here’s what happened this weekend in the Premier League, in case you missed it…
READ ALL ABOUT IT
• Saturday: Wolves win thriller, Arsenal tops Chelsea & more
• Liverpool making moves: Reds re-sign Alexander-Arnold
• Sunday: Man City blanks Huddersfield & more
WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Wolves 4, Leicester City 3 || Bournemouth 2, West Ham United 0 || Liverpool 4, Crystal Palace 3 || Manchester United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 || Newcastle United 3, Cardiff City 0 || Southampton 2, Everton 1 || Watford 0, Burnley 0 || Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0 || Huddersfield Town 0, Manchester City 3 || Fulham 1, Tottenham 2
WHAT STOOD OUT
Liverpool maintains 4-point lead on Man City
James Sharman and Danny Dichio discuss Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace and Manchester United continuing its winning streak since changing managers.
Beware of Wolves
Wolves continue to draw headlines in their first Premier League season since 2012, as a 4-3 home win over Leicester City allowed manager Nuno Espirito’s side to climb to eighth in the table. Diogo Jota was the hero for the Wolves on Saturday, with the Portuguese completing his hat trick with an injury-time winner in what went down as one of the best matches of the season thus far.
Wolves have held their own against the elite upon their return to the English topflight, recording wins over Chelsea and Tottenham (and against Liverpool in the FA Cup), and earning draws against both Manchester clubs and Arsenal. Their fearless style of play has breathed life into the Premier League this term and won plaudits from neutrals, appreciative of the fact that a promoted side plays with such fearlessness, instead of taking a more pragmatic approach.
With Espirito in charge, a solid roster – highlighted by the Portuguese trio of Jota, Joao Moutinho and goalkeeper Patricio – Wolves have been the revelation of the campaign thus far, and look set to stay in the Premier League for the foreseeable future, rather than go back down to the Championship. And that’s a good thing.
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa admits to spying
Danny Dichio and James Sharman discuss Marcelo Bielsa admitting to spying on another team and if it is that big of a deal.
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BEST GOAL
Watch as Marcus Rashford is able to bend the ball into the far corner to give Manchester United a 2-0 lead against Brighton & Hover Albion.
BEST MOMENT
BEST MATCH
Diogo Jota scored in the 93rd minute to complete his hat trick and allow Wolves to stun Leicester City 4-3 in a match-of-the-season candidate.
BEST TWEET
WORTH REPEATING
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri had some interesting things to say about his team’s performance after suffering a 2-0 road loss to Arsenal.
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Manchester City’s Ederson is the new breed of goalkeeper.
CRISIS CLUB OF THE WEEK
James Sharman and Danny Dichio talk about how Leicester City fans are getting a reality check.
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question:
[polldaddy poll=10216208]
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Diogo Jota is the first Wolves player to score a top-flight hat trick since John Richards in October 1977.
• Mohamed Salah scored his 50th Premier League goal in his 72nd appearance on Saturday. Only Andy Cole (65), Alan Shearer (66) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) have reached the milestone in fewer appearances.
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the first ever Manchester United manager to win his first six league games in charge of the club.
• Callum Wilson is only the second player to score 10 or more goals in a Premier League season for Bournemouth, after Josh King in 2016-17.
• Arsenal has won more points (eight) in seven games against “big six” opponents than all of last season (six points).
• Ryan Babel debuted for Fulham on Sunday. His previous Premier League start was on December 6, 2010 for Liverpool – a stretch of 2,967 days.
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Diogo Jata, Wolves: The Portuguese midfielder bagged three goals vs. Leicester, completing his hat trick with an injury-time winner.
2) Mohamed Salah, Liverpool: Bagged a brace in the Reds’ win over Crystal Palace at Anfield.
3) Joao Moutinho, Wolves: Became the first Wolves player to record two assists in a Premier League game since Kevin Doyle vs. Swansea City in April 2012.
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