PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP: SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER

Featured Image Credit: Manchester Evening News

The International break may have meant no Premier League action for two weeks, but that did not stop the goal-fests continuing. This past Saturday saw 16 goals from the four fixtures as the Merseyside derby ended all square, Southampton scored late on to earn a point at Stamford Bridge, Manchester City pipped Arsenal by a singular goal and the day finished with Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Newcastle.

Everton 2-2 Liverpool

The most anticipated Merseyside Derby in recent years certainly didn’t disappoint on Saturday lunchtime as Liverpool and Everton played out an extremely entertaining 2-2 draw that was filled with controversy at Goodison Park.

Sadio Mane had his early opener cancelled out by Michael Keane’s header in the first half which saw both Seamus Coleman and Virgil Van Dijk replaced through injuries.

The latter fell victim to a wild challenge from Jordan Pickford, which despite an offside call, resulted in no disciplinary reaction for the Toffees Keeper.

In the second half Mohammed Salah regained the lead for Liverpool but the Reds were pegged back again when the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck ten minutes from the end.

Heading into the final moments of the game, tackles began flying in and Richarlison was rightly sent off for a crunching tackle on Thiago, who started his first game for the Reds.

Jordan Henderson thought he’d stolen all three points for the visitors when he fired home in added time but his goal was disallowed as Mane was deemed to be offside in the build-up.

Following the result, the two Merseyside clubs now occupy the top two positions in the League, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men keeping their unbeaten streak alive.

While Liverpool will wait in anticipation for the news of Van Dijk’s injury ahead of kicking off their Champions League campaign away to Ajax on Wednesday.

Chelsea 3-3 Southampton

The goal fests in the Premier League continued as Southampton struck late to earn a point in a thrilling stalemate against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Timo Werner scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea to give Franks Lampard’s side the lead and soon doubled his tally to put the Blues firmly in control half an hour into the game.

Despite being second best for the majority of the opening 45, Che Adams took advantage of some lazy play from Kai Havertz to slide in Danny Ings who reduced the deficit right before half time.

Adams was at the heart of Southampton’s play again in the second half, this time taking advantage of a lazy back pass from Kurt Zouma and some unconvincing keeping from Kepa Arrizabalaga to smash home for the equaliser.

Chelsea responded immediately though when a flowing move from the hosts was finished off by Havertz to restore the Blues lead.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side fought valiantly after going behind again and got their reward in the 92nd minute. Theo Walcott drove a cross-shot into the Chelsea box and Jannik Vestergaard stooped low to head past Kepa and earn the Saints a deserved point.

Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

Pep Guardiola got one over his protégé as Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game to give Manchester City all three points over Mikael Arteta’s Arsenal.

As expected, City dominated the ball in the early goings and halfway through the first half Sterling pounced on a parry from Bernd Leno to give Guardiola’s side the lead.

Bakayo Saka had Arsenal’s best chance forcing a very good save from Ederson when he was placed through by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Deadline day signing Thomas Partey came on for his Arsenal debut ten minutes from time but the only contribution the Ghanaian made was getting himself booked.

Guardiola will be happy with a rare clean sheet and the three points after a mixed start, while Arteta will be disappointed Arsenal couldn’t make more of an impact at the Etihad given City converted their only real chance.

Newcastle United 1-4 Manchester United

Manchester United responded emphatically to their embarrassment against Spurs, by scoring three goals in ten second-half minutes against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would have looked for an early goal to kill the nerves but instead were a goal behind after two minutes when Luke Shaw diverted the ball into his own net.

Surprising to most, Harry Maguire was left in the United side following his poor start to the season but he repaid his manager's faith when he headed home the equaliser.

Bruno Fernandes had a goal disallowed before Maguire’s leveller and missed a penalty midway through the second half, but that didn’t stop the Portuguese playmaker finishing lethally past Karl Darlow five minutes from time.

Goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford late on made the result look more convincing for the Red Devils, who move up to 14th in the table.

Steve Bruce’s Newcastle remain above their recent opponents but will be disappointed coming out of the game with no points.