MY ACCOUNT
After a grand total of one day without Premier League football, the action returned on Saturday and there was a change at the top of the Premier League.
That’s right, Chelsea slipped up again and handed the initiative to Manchester City and Liverpool, both of whom were victorious later in the day.
There was also a change at the bottom as Newcastle United left the foot of the table – at least until Sunday – meaning there are three sides all on 10 points in the relegation places.
Without any further ado, let’s look at the best of the day’s action with a pick of Opta’s post-match facts…
West Ham 3-2 Chelsea: Blues dealt Hammer blow
Chelsea are off the Premier League summit as a result of their defeat at London rivals West Ham, who continue to confound doubters under David Moyes.
They found themselves behind at the break but came on stronger in the second half, becoming the first team to beat Chelsea after the Blues had been leading at half-time since Wolves in December 2018 – that was a run of 48 games unbeaten when ahead at the halfway mark of a game.
Further to that, it was only the third time in Thomas Tuchel’s 53 games in charge that Chelsea have conceded more than one goal in a game.
One of West Ham’s goalscorers surely felt confident – after all, Manuel Lanzini’s goal was his 11th in London derbies, or 48 per cent of his Premier League total (23), the highest ratio of any player in the competition’s history with at least 20 goals scored.
There was also a first to celebrate. Arthur Masuaku opened his West Ham account in his 96th match, with the left-back’s momentous goal also proving to be the winner.
The win moved West Ham to within six points of their visitors, with the Hammers fourth.
Watford 1-3 Manchester City: Hornets are cannon fodder
Even if Pep Guardiola’s City did not arrive in fine form, few would have given Watford a chance here – and the match went just as most were expecting.
Watford’s record against City was woeful at best already – now they’ve conceded 41 goals in 13 meetings with them in the Premier League, the most they have let in against any single side in the competition.
Similarly, the 3.2 goals per game they concede on average in this fixture is the most by one side against another among all Premier League fixtures played at least 10 times.
That one-sided nature also reflects on Guardiola, who has won all 10 of his managerial games against Watford in all competitions by an aggregate score of 42-4, his best 100 per cent winning record over any side.
City are now unbeaten across their past 19 meetings with Watford (W17 D2, all competitions), netting 62 goals in this run – they’ve only ever had a longer unbeaten run once before against a specific team (22 games against Norwich from 1965-1981).
Wolves 0-1 Liverpool: Origi comes up trumps as Reds steal it at the death… again
It wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but Liverpool got the job done to move above Chelsea and stay just a point behind new leaders City.
Only just, though.
Divock Origi spared Jurgen Klopp’s blushes with a stoppage-time winner, the Belgian continuing his habit of being a decisive and useful option off the bench.
That was his 10th goal as a substitute in the Premier League for the Reds, a club record.
Liverpool have now scored the winning goal after the 90th minute on 39 occasions in the Premier League, at least 13 more than any other team.
There was also good news for Mohamed Salah – he didn’t score, but his assist for Origi’s winner ensured he’s been involved in a goal in each of his last 13 top-flight appearances, a record only Jamie Vardy (15) has ever surpassed.
Newcastle United 1-0 Burnley: Howe’s about that?
At long last, every team in this season’s Premier League now has at least a one in the wins column – Newcastle defeated Burnley at St James’ Park to finally get off the mark.
Newcastle had not won any of their previous 15 matches in all competitions, losing seven and drawing the other eight.
Additionally, it was only their second clean sheet of the season, the other also coincidentally coming against Burnley in the EFL Cup back in August.
Of course it was also Eddie Howe’s first win since being appointed by the club, with Callum Wilson – who also played under the manager at Bournemouth – delivering the goods.
It was Wilson’s 43rd Premier League goal for Howe, a record only Joshua King (48) has bettered for him.
While it remains to be see if Howe is able to keep Newcastle up, there’s no doubt he’s got them playing on the front foot more, as they are averaging 15 shots (five on target) each game compared to 11 (three) prior to his arrival in 2021-22.
Southampton 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion: Saints give it up
Just when Southampton thought they had the points in the bag, Brighton pulled it back.
Brighton were down to 10 men, having had Leandro Trossard taken off injured after using all their substitutes, but Neal Maupay struck deep into stoppage time to seal a draw.
That was Brighton’s fourth (of eight) away Premier League goal to have been scored in the 89th minute or later this term, and the third netted by Maupay.
Brighton remain winless in 10 league games, their longest top-flight run since 1983, but they celebrated it like a win – for Southampton, it felt like a defeat.
Saints have now dropped 71 points from winning positions in the league under Ralph Hasenhuttl, 15 more than any other team since his December 2018 appointment.
