RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The Premier League Weekend as a Movie: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
🎬 If this weekend were a movie, Manchester United would absolutely be the opening scene where everything goes wrong.
🎥 Best Picture
The match that defined the weekend
Goals have not been in short supply when Chelsea and Brighton meet of late, with an average of 4.25 per game across their last eight meetings.
There were seven scored at Stamford Bridge this weekend, as Chelsea came out on top in a thriller.
The Blues blitzed Brighton early to race into a three-goal lead inside 32 minutes, but Malick Yalcouye's hit brought Brighton back into the game. A Joao Pedro own goal made things nervier for Chelsea, only for the nerveless Cole Palmer to restore their two-goal lead. Pascal Gross added a consolation for Brighton late on but Chelsea held on to claim the points.
Incredibly, Xabi Alonso's side had only 26% of the possession.
⭐ Best Actor
Player of the weekend
Rayan Cherki is utterly mesmerising to watch when in this mood.
The Frenchman took the game by the scruff of the neck as Manchester City cruised past Crystal Palace on Friday evening, with the sort of performance that creates excitement around what his ceiling might actually be.
A twinkle-toed first saw him waltz through the Eagles defence before steering home with a cute finish, before Cherki clattered home a second from the edge of the area to deflate the Eagles, moments after the hosts had got back into the game. With Cherki's dancing feet and Erling Haaland's ruthless efficiency, it would be foolish to count City out of a title tilt.
🎬 Best Director
Manager of the weekend
Credit where credit's due, Sergej Jakirović has had a dream start to the season with Hull City . Some suggested The Tigers were destined for the drop after a shock promotion last term, but Hull sit second with maximum points after two games.
Jakirović's side followed their upset of Manchester United with a hard-fought win at Coventry City, claiming the points in an early six-pointer against their fellow promoted side. It's early days, but Hull could not have wished for a better start. They're yet to concede a goal since promotion.
🦹 Best Villain
The weekend's antagonist
We're not entirely sure why the Brighton fans chose to boo former favourite Joao Pedro, following a fairly amicable exit, but the Chelsea forward was not going to stand for it.
After receiving a less-than-friendly reception from the travelling Seagulls' supporters, Pedro diverted towards them to celebrate after scoring for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. His signature celebration was followed by pointing at the Club World Cup badge, and showing them the score...
Perfect pantomime villain shithousery.
🤯 Plot Twist
The result/event nobody saw coming
There was an expectation that Liverpool would respond this weekend after an unconvincing draw at Newcastle on Andoni Iraola's debut. The Reds welcomed Nottingham Forest to Anfield, with the visitors losing at home to Leeds on the opening weekend.
Just as they did last weekend, Liverpool fell behind twice before eventually rescuing a result, but remain winless under Iraola. It's too soon to write any side off, but Liverpool do not look a side capable of challenging the top teams as things stand.
Perhaps, however, their latest setback should not have surprised. Liverpool are now winless against Nottingham Forest at Anfield for three consecutive Premier League seasons, after Forest ended a 55-year wait for a win at Liverpool in 2024.
🎭 Supporting Actor
Someone who didn't get the headlines
Nico Gonzalez only signed for Newcastle in midweek, but he was thrust straight into the side at Spurs this weekend.
Matched up against the man he has replaced this summer, Sandro Tonali, Gonzalez was all class in an impressive win in North London. The Spaniard strutted around the pitch and demanded possession, while showcasing his expansive passing range with some stunning cross-field balls.
His 48 completed passes were the most by a Newcastle debutant in the Premier League since Tonali in August 2023 (also 48).
🍿 The Scene Everyone Is Talking About
The single moment dominating Monday's football conversation
Should it have been disallowed? Was it a deliberate handball? Are the handball laws still a mess?
Manchester United's second goal against Hull City has had everyone talking, after Harry Maguire handled in the build-up before blasting in, via a wicked deflection off Jacob Greaves.
A quirk in Premier League rules mean Maguire's effort was allowed to stand, given his initial shot was heading off target. But with question marks over whether the handball was accidental and the fact that Maguire was directly involved in scoring a goal immediately after handling, it's opened up an entire new can of worms around the laws of the game.
🔮 The Sequel
The storyline carrying into next weekend
Tottenham Hotspur have thrown the kitchen sink at it in the transfer market this summer. After successive 17th-place finishes, the North Londoners have twice broken their transfer record, set a new summer-high spend, and will have acquired the four most expensive signings in club history all in this window, once Iliman Ndiaye's £60m move from Everton is finalised.
However, that spending spree has not led to instant results and Roberto De Zerbi has huge problems.
After a disaster at Brentford last week, Spurs succumbed to a second straight loss against Newcastle. It's the first time the club have lost their opening two matches of a league campaign without scoring since the 1974-75 season. They finished 19th that season...
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