This weekend in the Premier League: Liverpool thrash Man United, Arsenal & Brighton share points, another Haaland hat-trick & more
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Matchday three of the 2024/25 Premier League season delivered a weekend of action-packed football featuring standout performances, dramatic results, and key moments that will be remembered for weeks to come.
As we prepare to head into the international break, here’s a recap of all the action from matchday three.
Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool: The Reds dominate at Old Trafford
Liverpool made a massive statement of intent in the Premier League over the weekend, thrashing historical rivals Man United 3-0 in the electrifying Northwest derby at Old Trafford.
Luis Diaz was the star of the show, netting a brace in the first half to put Liverpool in control. Mohamed Salah added a third goal in the second half, sealing the victory and capping off a superb team performance.
Man United struggled to manoeuvre Liverpool’s well-coordinated high press and cope with their intensity and fluidity.
Their defence was porous throughout, and they were fortunate not to concede more goals. The defeat piles pressure on Man United manager Erik Ten Hag as the Red Devils continue their shaky start to the season.
Man United will travel to newly-promoted Southampton after the international break. Fans who secure Man Utd tickets on Seatsnet.com will be hoping to see the team bounce back from consecutive defeats.
On the other hand, Liverpool are showing great promise under new coach Arne Slot. The Reds have now won all three of their opening league matches, scoring seven goals and keeping three clean sheets.
Slot’s tactical acumen and Liverpool’s impressive performances have already sparked talk of a potential title challenge. But it’s a bit too early to make any bold assertions.
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace: Toothless Blues settle for disappointing draw in London derby
Chelsea’s inconsistent form continued on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues dominated possession but failed to convert their chances, leaving fans frustrated with the dropped points.
Nicolas Jackson put Chelsea ahead in the 20th minute after poking home a drilled cross from Cole Palmer, but Eberechi Eze levelled for Palace just before half time with a sublime finish.
Chelsea had several more chances to take the lead in the second half, but they were unable to beat Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. The Eagles held firm defensively and made the most of their limited opportunities.
Manchester City 3-1 West Ham: Haaland hat-trick powers City to victory
Manchester City continued their dominant start to the Premier League season with a convincing 3-1 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Erling Braut Haaland once again stole the show, netting a hat-trick to extend his remarkable goal-scoring streak and help the club extend their unbeaten start to the season.
The Norwegian striker’s clinical finishing proved to be the difference between the two sides. His treble took his tally for the season to an astonishing seven goals in just three matches.
After his five-star display against Ipswich Town, Haaland became the first Premier League player to score two hat-tricks in the opening three games of a season.
His seven-goal tally is also a new record for the most goals scored in the opening three games of a Premier League campaign.
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton: Ten-man Gunners claim hard-fought draw on home turf
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Brighton & Hove Albion side at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners took the lead early on through Kai Havertz, but Brighton hit back with a well-taken goal from Joao Pedro.
Arsenal’s hopes of securing all three points were dashed when Declan Rice was sent off for two bookable offences, leaving Mikel Arteta’s men to hold on for the draw with ten men.
It was a disappointing result for the Gunners, who are now two points behind the reigning champions, Man City.
Meanwhile, Fabian Hurzeler will be pleased with the performance from his side. They showed great character to come from behind and earn a point against a strong Arsenal side.
Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Magpies edge Spurs in tight encounter
Newcastle United claimed their second win of the season after edging Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at St. James’ Park thanks to goals from Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak.
The Magpies took an early lead through Barnes’ clinical finish, but the visitors responded with a Dan Burn own goal.
Just when it seemed the game was heading for a draw, Isak stepped up with a moment of brilliance, slotting home the winner to give Newcastle all three points.
Eddie Howe’s side dominated large portions of the match, controlling the tempo and limiting Spurs’ opportunities.
Despite their efforts, Tottenham struggled to create clear-cut chances and were ultimately punished for their inefficiency, especially in the final third.
The result adds to Tottenham’s shaky start to the season but will be a significant boost to Newcastle’s top-four hopes.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Mbeumo brace seals win for the Bees
Bryan Mbeumo’s scintillating performance was the catalyst for Brentford’s 3-1 triumph over Southampton at the Brentford Community Stadium.
The Cameroonian forward netted a brace, and Yoane Wissa added another goal to seal a comfortable victory for Thomas Frank’s side.
Southampton managed to pull one back through Yukinari Sugawara, but they were ultimately outclassed by Brentford’s relentless attacking play.
The victory means the Bees have now won two of their opening three games and currently sit sixth in the table, while Southampton are still looking for their first points after returning to the Premier League.
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City: Onana & Duran on target as Villans edge the Foxes
Aston Villa claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over Leicester City in a tightly contested match at King Power Stadium.
Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran found the net for Villa, while Facundo Buonanotte pulled one back for the Foxes, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
The game was an end-to-end encounter, but Villa’s clinical finishing proved to be the decisive factor. The victory takes them to seventh on the Premier League table after winning two of their opening three games (L1).
Meanwhile, Leicester are still struggling to find their feet after returning to the top-flight and have picked up just one point from their three games.
Fulham 1-1 Ipswich Town: Early Drama at Portman Road
A thrilling encounter at Portman Road saw Ipswich Town and Fulham battle to a 1-1 draw in their Premier League encounter.
The newly promoted Tractor Boys drew first blood through Liam Delap, who found the net with a piledriver in the 15th minute. However, Fulham hit back swiftly, with Adama Traore equalizing just 17 minutes later.
Both teams threw everything forward in search of a winner, but neither could break the deadlock.
The result leaves Ipswich with a valuable point as they aim to avoid relegation, while Fulham will rue missed opportunities to secure all three points.
Bournemouth 3-2 Everton: Late Comeback Stuns the Toffees
Bournemouth staged a historic comeback to defeat Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park in a pulsating Premier League encounter.
The Toffees appeared to be cruising to victory after Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane put them two goals ahead.
However, Bournemouth responded with a stunning second-half display, led by Antoine Semenyo’s goal.
The Cherries completed their comeback in dramatic fashion, with Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra both scoring in stoppage time to secure a memorable win.
The victory lifts Bournemouth into the top half of the table, while Everton’s defensive woes continue to be a major concern for manager Sean Dyche.
The Toffees will need to address their defensive frailties if they are to avoid a relegation battle this season.