Matchday 7 of the Premier League is done and dusted with players having headed for the international break.
Not a single game in the recent round of Premier League fixtures failed to live up to its billing. A total of 24 goals were scored across the 10 games, which featured two stalemates—Burnley vs Norwich City and Brighton vs Arsenal.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 5 talking points from Premier League Matchday 7.
Manchester United drop points at home again
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted a response from his side after a lucky 2-1 Champions League victory over Villarreal at Old Trafford. And he got that from his boys, who produced a scintillating first half of football and deservedly led through Anthony Martial at home against Everton on Saturday.
As good as the first half was, you’d imagine the Red Devils to produce something similar after the break and take all three points. However, that wasn’t the case as Andros Townsend helped Everton level the score with a swift counter-attack that started from a Man United corner.
In the end, Solskjaer’s side were lucky to escape with a draw after Everton defender Yerry Mina’s late winner was disallowed by VAR for a marginal offside decision. Same old problems surfaced for Solskjaer and co. for the second weekend running as they dropped points at home again in Matchday 7.
Liverpool and Manchester City play out a thrilling 2-2 draw
The two most dominant forces in English football for the past four seasons, Liverpool and Manchester City played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Manchester City outclassed Liverpool in the first half but had no goals to show for their dominance. Instead, they had to twice come from behind after the break to return home with a point.
Jurgen Klopp must have certainly given a pep talk in the dressing room after the disjointed first-half that saw Liverpool come out all guns blazing after the interval. The Reds boss can take comfort from the fact that his team matched City in the second half, and if not for a heroic block from Rodri, could have won the contest.
Despite dropping points, both Liverpool and Man City find themselves second and third on the table respectively and will be happy with what transpired in Matchday 7.
Super-sub Yoane Wissa strikes again for Brentford!
Brentford are loving life with the Premier League big boys and Thomas Frank added another feather to his cap by beating David Moyes’ West Ham 2-1 in the London derby at the London Stadium in Matchday 7.
Yoane Wissa, a summer signing from Lorient, has made quite an impact in English football. Last weekend, Wissa had come off the bench and scored against Liverpool within four minutes to help Brentford earn a point. This time around, the DR Congo international popped up from the bench to score the winner at West Ham with virtually the last kick of the game.
Wissa’s winner at the London Stadium made it five goals in six games across all competitions, four of those outings coming off the bench. His career at Brentford has just started but the France-born forward has done enough to endear himself to the fans.
Norwich City break their duck… finally!
Norwich City ended their dismal run of Premier League defeats on Saturday by holding hosts Burnley to a 0-0 draw.
In a scrappy game that lacked real quality and purpose at times at Turf Moor, Daniel Farke would be the happier of the two managers. A stalemate in Lancashire earned the Canaries their first Premier League point of the season that will give Farke some breathing space heading into the October international break.
Everyone associated with Norwich City will be relieved with the fact that their run of 16 consecutive defeats across two top-flight seasons is finally over.
Watford sack manager Xisco Munoz
Watford sacking manager Xisco Munoz on Sunday doesn’t come as a surprise for fans and neutrals alike, given the Pozzo family’s hastiness to sack coaches amidst a poor run of results.
The Hornets’ 1-0 defeat to Leeds United on Saturday proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Munoz, who was appointed manager in December. The Spaniard, 41, who replaced Vladimir Ivic, helped Watford win promotion to the Premier League last season but has been shown the door after watching the club struggle on their top-flight return.
Former Chelsea and Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has been swiftly appointed as Watford’s next manager on a 2-year deal but if results don’t go the Italian tactician’s way, expect the Pozzo family to be themselves and do the honours!
