MY ACCOUNT
There were goals galore as two of the Premier League’s biggest derbies dominated an entertaining weekend of football.
Manchester City and Arsenal both claimed bragging rights over their nearest rivals, while there were six goals at Anfield and five at Craven Cottage.
But who shone the brightest in the nine Matchday 9 games already played? LiveScore pick five players.
Miguel Almiron
The biggest criticism levelled at Miguel Almiron during his Newcastle career has been his lack of goals and assists.
But against Fulham he made a step in the right direction with two goals to go alongside his relentless work ethic and good play with the ball.
Almiron’s first was superb, a left-footed volley into the top corner, before he added a second in the 4-1 victory in West London to leave boss Eddie Howe thrilled.
“He’s capable of doing magical things and for me, his first goal was a magical goal,” Howe said.
“I’m delighted for Miggy. He’s such an infectious character and his work sort of epitomises our play so it was great so see him rewarded with two goals.”
Leandro Trossard
If Brighton fans feared the post-Graham Potter era, Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Liverpool helped alleviate those concerns.
And if they were worried about Leandro Trossard, linked with a move to Chelsea in recent weeks, that was misplaced.
Trossard, 27, scored a brilliant hat-trick at Anfield as he made it five goals in seven games against the Reds, more than he has managed against any other club in his career.
The first saw him beat Trent Alexander-Arnold before finding the bottom corner, while the second was another left-footed effort that thundered past Alisson from Solly March’s pass.
After throwing away that 2-0 lead, Trossard ensured the Seagulls would leave Merseyside with a point when he swept in at the back post in the closing stages.
Gianluca Scamacca
West Ham have been in desperate need of a spark to kick-start their season and boy did Gianluca Scamacca produce one.
The Italian rifled a wonderful strike into the top corner from the edge of the box to put the Hammers 1-0 up after a tetchy 29 minutes and on their way to a much-needed 2-0 win over Wolves.
Irons skipper Declan Rice said: “He has probably scored about 20 worldies since he’s been here, and I’ve just gone, ‘wow, he can hit a ball.’
“Gianluca has got one of the best strikes of a ball I have ever seen. It’s crazy. When it went into the top corner there was no surprise at all.
“When he gets the space, he can really deliver for us. So, I am buzzing that he scored. But his all-around contribution today, he really linked the game well, and he looks to be a real positive threat for us.”
Erling Haaland
No player had ever scored hat-tricks in three consecutive Premier League home games until Erling Haaland managed it yesterday.
It was also the first Manchester derby treble by a City player since Francis Lee’s in December 1970.
Michael Owen held the record for the quickest player to reach three Premier League hat-tricks (48 games) — a feat smashed by the prolific Norwegian who took just eight matches to reach the same milestone.
The only way you can really describe Haaland’s extraordinary start to life at the Etihad is by bringing out the incredible stats and the records he has already broken.
On top of the goals, City’s No9 also provided two assists as Pep Guardiola’s men demolished their neighbours 6-3.
Phil Foden
Phil Foden is unfortunate that as a Stockport-born Manchester City fan, his derby-day heroics have been overshadowed.
City had waited 52 years for a hat-trick against United, and then just nine minutes after Haaland completed his, Foden netted his third.
The first was a brilliant finish that left David de Gea with no chance, the second a poacher’s goal as he slid in at the back post and the composure he showed to score his third was typical of the 22-year-old.
This was his first treble and they were his 49th, 50th and 51st goals for City — it will have meant so much to do it against their fiercest rivals.
“What a talent, what a reality,” Guardiola said after the game. “He is a good lad, he lives for football.”
