The full story of the weekend's Premier League action

Big wins, clubs in crisis, pressure building

It has been another fun-packed weekend in the Premier League

Author | Olivia T

It all started on Friday night at Elland Road and two managers facing off that both desperately needed a win. 

Leeds United get first home win since opening day

Brenden Aaronson needed only three minutes to put the hosts ahead, capitalising on slack defending after Noah Okafor’s header was pushed out. Joe Rodon then doubled the advantage just past the quarter hour, rising unchallenged to meet a Sean Longstaff corner. It marked the earliest Leeds had established a two-goal lead in the top flight for more than two decades.

Mateus Fernandes offered the faintest of late consolations in the 90th minute, yet it could not prevent a third straight defeat in what is now West Ham’s worst top-flight start since the early 1970s. Nuno Espirito Santo remains winless after four matches in charge, his task made tougher by an injury to the young defender Scarles and a Lucas Paqueta finish ruled out by VAR.

Dramatic late winner for Sunderland at Stamford Bridge

Sunderland climbed to second place in the Premier League after a dramatic late winner from Chemsdine Talbi shocked Chelsea.

Regis Le Bris’ team looked set to secure a hard-earned point in west London, only to seize all three when Talbi swept in from the edge of the area deep into stoppage time following a swift break upfield. It marked Sunderland’s second away victory of the campaign and came despite Chelsea striking first. Another fantastic win in what has been a very impressive start to their first Premier League campaign since 2016/2017.

Did Fulham deserve a point against Newcastle United

Jacob Murphy had put Newcastle ahead after a defensive lapse, but Fulham responded impressively after the interval. Saša Lukić levelled the contest with his first goal of the campaign, rewarding the visitors’ renewed energy.

Both sides pressed for a decisive moment in the closing stages. Newcastle carved out the clearer openings and finally capitalised when Guimarães reacted quickest after Bernd Leno had initially kept out William Osula.

Momentum starting to build for Ruben Amorim

Before the dramatic ending, Ruben Amorim’s side appeared to be in total control after an hour. Matheus Cunha ended a 16-game wait for his first goal for the club with a composed finish, Casemiro’s deflected strike doubled the lead and Mbeumo added a neat third to underline United’s authority.

That calm disappeared in the closing stages. Danny Welbeck curled in a superb free-kick against his former club with 16 minutes left. Then, two minutes into the seven added, Charalampos Kostoulas glanced in a near-post header to spark real concern among the home side. United needed Mbeumo again to settle frayed nerves, the forward drilling home his second from close range to ensure Amorim could celebrate another valuable win.

Brentford deepened the gloom surrounding the Premier League champions

Within five minutes, Michael Kayode’s long throw caused chaos in the visiting defence, Kristoffer Ajer flicking on and Dango Ouattara pouncing to put Brentford ahead. The home side continued to unsettle Liverpool, and their second arrived just before the interval. Mikkel Damsgaard threaded a superb pass through for Kevin Schade, who raced clear and finished confidently beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili. Milos Kerkez endured another uncomfortable night and it was his intervention in first-half stoppage time that briefly offered Liverpool hope. 

Brentford remained in control after the restart. Their two-goal advantage was restored on the hour following a VAR check that ruled Virgil van Dijk had fouled Ouattara on the edge of the penalty area. Igor Thiago converted from the spot and, although Mohamed Salah’s sharp finish late on introduced a hint of jeopardy, a fourth consecutive league defeat soon became reality on a sobering evening for Slot.

Sean Dyche's first league game in charge of Forest ended in defeat

Forest's afternoon took a bizarre turn when Marcus Tavernier’s corner flew over Matz Sels and directly into the net. Dyche’s side were left frustrated by the decision to award the corner, arguing Tavernier’s cross had come off Neco Williams and then rebounded off the Bournemouth winger before going out of play.

There was no controversy surrounding the second goal. Eli Junior Kroupi seized upon a loose ball and drove a crisp, low strike into the bottom corner from 30 yards, sealing his fourth goal in just three appearances for the Cherries.

City's winning run ends at Aston Villa

Matty Cash struck the winner after 19 minutes, guiding a left-footed effort home from the edge of the area following a corner. City protested the award of the set-piece, arguing that Lucas Digne had fouled Matheus Nunes in the lead-up.

City might have equalised moments later when Phil Foden slipped a clever pass into Erling Haaland. The forward, usually so clinical, saw his low drive blocked by Emiliano Martinez.

A battling performance from Arteta’s side.

Eberechi Eze struck against his former club as Arsenal edged past Crystal Palace to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League.  Eze delivered the decisive moment from a familiar Arsenal routine. Declan Rice swung a free-kick into the box, Gabriel climbed highest to knock it down and Eze reacted with an acrobatic finish into the bottom corner.

Palace, still nursing the disappointment of their midweek defeat to AEK Larnaca, showed occasional signs of life. Jean-Philippe Mateta worked tirelessly up front and gave Arsenal’s defence something to think about, yet David Raya remained largely untested.

Burnley fans delighted with win at Wolves

Zian Flemming's first-half double had put Burnley in control, but Jorgen Strand Larsen's penalty and Marshall Munetsi's header brought the hosts level before half-time.

When it looked like both sides were going to settle for a point, Lyle Foster scored an injury-time winner to break Wolves hearts and give Burnley their first away win of the season. 

Tottenham Hotspur become first away team to win at Everton’s new stadium 

Spurs asserted control early on, with captain Micky van de Ven twice capitalising on set pieces in the first half. Everton struggled to respond, and Pape Matar Sarr sealed a convincing victory with a second-half header, set up by former Toffees striker Richarlison.

Following a lacklustre Champions League display against Monaco, where Tottenham managed only two attempts on target, Ange Postecoglou turned to Randal Kolo Muani to lead the line in place of former Everton striker Richarlison. The summer arrival struggled to impose himself and was replaced by Richarlison after an hour, although Spurs ultimately did not require a major impact from their forward line. Instead, it was centre-back Micky van de Ven who provided the decisive attacking threat.