A shock win, a drab draw, a five-goal thriller and more attacking artistry.
Saturday’s Premier League action yet again failed to disappoint with 12 goals scored across six fixtures.
Manchester City lost at Brighton to see them lose further ground on Liverpool[/caption]
The biggest surprise of the day was at the Amex Stadium where Brighton came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1.
In doing so, they have ensured that the Citizens have lost four games in a row for the first time since 2006.
City’s slip-up saw Liverpool have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points, which they did by beating Aston Villa 2-0.
Meanwhile Wolves recorded their first top-flight win this term after coming out on top against fellow strugglers Southampton in a 2-0 win at Molineux.
Elsewhere, Fulham beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in a fiery London derby at Selhurst park, with Brentford fighting back against Bournemouth to claim all three points in a 3-2 win.
Though it was another poor performance from West Ham under Julen Lopetegui, as they were held to a 0-0 draw with Everton at the London Stadium.
Here talkSPORT duo Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy reveal their winners and losers from Saturday’s action on the Game-Day Phone-In…
Winners
Matheus Cunha
The Brazilian chipped in with a goal and an assist for Wolves as he proved to be his side’s main man yet again.
His goal in the second half – his fifth of the campaign – was a goal of the season contender after finding the top left corner from range to leave ex-Chelsea defender Cundy waxing lyrical over him.
He said: “He set up [Pablo] Sarabia for the first goal, but his goal, what a strike, this boy has got so much quality.
“Ball at his feet, he travels at pace, there ain’t many players that can travel with the same pace with the ball at their feet than they can in a sprint.
“He will end up leaving Wolves, he’s going to end up being too good for them, he’s a top, top player.”
Yoane Wissa
The Brentford striker scored twice to help Brentford move into the top half of the table.
Only Erling Haaland [20] has now scored more non-penalty goals than Wissa [15] in the Premier League in 2024.
Praising the DR Congo international, Cundy stated: “He has now scored seven goals in his last five games at the Gtech Community Stadium.
“He is on fire, him and [Bryan] Mbuemo, they are good players. And Brentford are side, underestimate them at your peril, because they can turn you over.
“But Wissa and Mbuemo, they are two brilliant attacking players.”
Jordan Pickford
The Everton goalkeeper helped his save take a point back to Merseyside thanks to a wonder save in injury time to deny Danny Ings.
Ings’ deflected strike seemed destined to nestle into the roof of the net, only for Pickford to heroically tip it over the bar.
Cundy said of the stop: “What a save he makes, he made a couple of really good saves, but the one at the end, it’s at point-blank range.
“The thing that suits him, it’s above his head, it’s straight at him, but his reactions, he’s like a ninja.”
Pickford celebrated after the full-time whistle in what was a game lacking quality[/caption]
Losers
Rob Edwards
Dropping into the Championship, and Luton boss Edwards continues to find himself in deep water with the Hatters in serious trouble.
Luton are in danger of back-to-back relegations, with Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Middlesbrough leaving them in 21st spot.
From their 15 matches in England’s second-tier this season, they have won just four times – losing on eight occasions.
Fearing Luton could now relieve Edwards of his duties, O’Hara remarked: “It feels like he’s in here every week at the moment.
“But a 5-1 drubbing away from home, sitting 21st in the table, he’s having a nightmare.”
He added: “He’s waiting for the call [to inform him of sacking].”
Edwards is under pressure at Kenilworth Road with Luton sitting in the relegation zone[/caption]
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Bournemouth could have escaped with a point at the Gtech Community Stadium had Kepa not allowed Mikkel Damsgaard to equalise at his near post.
The Spaniard – on loan from Chelsea – failed to stop the Danish midfielder’s low effort from trickling in, before Wissa scored the winner moments later.
Criticising the former Real Madrid man, Cundy said: “It’s at the near post, and if he covers that near post, it doesn’t go in.
“The gap is tiny, it’s a good finish, but you shouldn’t get beat, the angle is so tight.
“If you cover the near post, the worse-case scenario is the attacker has got to drill the ball across the face of goal, if Kepa gets anything on it, it then goes back in.
“But Kepa has already gambled, and in doing so, he has left the space, [Damsgaard] finished it and they end up winning.”
Anyone at West Ham
West Ham were guilty of another lethargic display – much to the dismay of the Hammers fanbase who have been left bored by new boss Lopetegui’s style of play.
Languishing 14th in the table, West Ham have failed to impress this season having been tipped for a potential European spot due their summer transfer business.
Ripping into the east Londoners, Cundy said: “So here’s the deal, the fans, I feel for you guys, you paid money to be there, but there’s people there today, the stewards, the St John’s Ambulance, the referee, he had to run around amongst that turgid poop, he was amongst it all.
“He was there thinking, ‘Get me out of here,’ the manager, the camera crew, anyone, people that work up in the boxes, you have my sympathy.
“Luckily the chefs didn’t see it! No bubbles come out today.
“The ball boys, I feel for you ball boys, that was one of the worst games we’ve seen in a long time.”
O’Hara then simply stated: “It was an absolute nightmare of a game.”
Thins haven’t went to plan for Lopetegui at West Ham as of yet[/caption]
