Score: Liverpool 2 - 1 Everton

Liverpool tried a new tactic—score early and often and then spend the rest of the game looking chaotic and vulnerable. Once again it’s worked out for them. An early goal for Gravenberch and a second from Ekitike gave them a platform from which they could defend resolutely. They did enough — even if it looked nervy at times.

They dominated early, enjoyed comfortable control of the midfield, and were clinically efficient: 3 shots on target, 2 goals is about as “make them pay” as it gets.

Speaking of that Gravenberch strike… oh baby. Salah clips a cross that’s hovering, Gravenberch meets it just as it bounces, leans back, and hooks it over Pickford. Romantic. Then he turned playmaker — his pass through the defense set Ekitike up for number two.

Everton did stir in the second half. Idrissa Gueye pulled one back in the 58th minute after Grealish and Ndiaye combined, exposing gaps down Liverpool’s flanks. They had the momentum late—Liverpool’s composure was tested.

Still, that first-half punch made the difference. Liverpool scored twice from their best opportunities and then survived when Everton pushed. Gravenberch was rightly named Player of the Match, having scythed through midfield, scored, and assisted.

Score: Brighton 2 - 2 Spurs

Brighton just cannot help themselves. Two-nil up, cruising, swaggering even, and yet somehow they walk away with only a point. Spurs fought back admirably, yes, but the bigger story is Brighton once again shooting themselves in the foot. Just like opening day against Fulham, they coughed up a late equalizer and two points went begging.

It started so well. Minteh pounced in the eighth minute, darting through and rounding Vicario with the sort of composure that makes you think this might be Brighton’s night. When Ayari rifled one in from distance on the half hour, the Amex was bouncing. Two goals to the good, Spurs on the ropes, Brighton playing with bite and tempo.

And then — unraveling. Spurs got a lifeline just before halftime, Richarlison scrambling one in after Kudus’ shot wasn’t dealt with. Suddenly that cushion was cut in half, and you could feel the wobble set in. From that point on it was Tottenham with all the control. They finished the match with nearly 64% possession, 10 corners to Brighton’s measly two, and by the end were camped permanently in Brighton’s defensive third.

Brighton still had their moments, 12 shots to Spurs’ 11, but only four of those worked Vicario. Contrast that with Spurs’ efficiency: three shots on target, two goals, and relentless pressure in the final half hour. The equalizer, of course, summed it up. Kudus whips a ball into the box, Van Hecke sticks out a leg, and suddenly it’s 2-2. Own goal, gut punch, collapse complete.

For Spurs it feels like a win disguised as a draw — character shown, a comeback engineered, momentum built. For Brighton, it’s the same old nightmare: the inability to close. Twice already this season they’ve lost winning positions late. Numbers don’t lie — they’ve now dropped four points from winning positions in just five games. If this pattern keeps up, it’ll be mid-table mediocrity instead of the European push they keep promising.

Score: Burnley 1 -1 Forest

The script looked set: Forest land a sucker-punch in the 2nd minute through Neco Williams, and Burnley looked like they’d been sucker-punched. Their fans winced. But Burnley dusted themselves off, and in the 20th minute Jaidon Anthony leveled. From then on it was dogged resistance. Forest controlled 63 % of the possession, but Burnley turned fewer touches into more danger — their dribble success rate sat at around 65 % against Forest’s 40 % (they made what they had count).

Forest peppered the box, tested Dubravka multiple times, yet couldn’t break through again. The scoreline ends 1-1, but the feeling is clear: Forest dominate the ball, Burnley survive. And in a season where confidence is everything, that point might feel heavier to Forest than to the Clarets.

Score: West Ham 1 - 2 Crystal Palace

This one felt inevitable. Palace were sharper, more composed, especially in tight spaces, and West Ham kept looking for answers they didn’t have. Palace opened the scoring just before halftime via Mateta. West Ham came out swinging after the break — Bowen pulled one back in the 49th. You could almost hear the drumbeat for a comeback. But then, in the 68th, Tyrick Mitchell struck — volleying home in emphatic style. 2-1. Game over.

What hurts West Ham most is the contrast between volume and punch. They had 57 % possession, equal corner numbers (8 apiece) — yet it was Palace who did the damage. Palace dribbled smarter (83 % success vs West Ham’s 67 %) and punished error.

West Ham will look in the mirror: they weren’t undone by being out-possessioned, but by being out-thought when it mattered. Palace? They took their moments, delivered their cuts, left with three points.

Score: Wolves 1 - 3 Leeds

Leeds didn’t just nick it — they stomped. They showed up ready to exploit gaps, and Wolves couldn’t plug them. The home side looked ragged on transitions, slow to recover, caught in possession, and outworked in the midfield. Leeds, on the flip, got in behind, stretched the pitch, and turned every loose ball into a chance.

Wolves might whisper about better luck or small margins, but 1-3 doesn’t lie. This was a statement, and the hosts were in no position to stop it.

Score: United 2 - 1 Chelsea

United beat Chelsea 2-1, but this was as much a tale of chaos and controversy as it was football. An early red card for Robert Sánchez changed everything — Chelsea’s keeper rushing out, misjudging, leaving his side with 80 minutes to improvise. Maresca’s response? Bizarre. He hooked Estevão and Neto, two of Chelsea’s brightest sparks, and then lost Palmer anyway to a groin injury. Three creative outlets gone in half an hour, and with them most of Chelsea’s threat.

United took advantage, as you’d expect, but when Casemiro was sent off the numbers on the pitch evened up. You’d think Chelsea might have grown into it then, but the improvement never came. The passing was slow, the movement predictable, and United’s back line were rarely stretched.

The big talking point: Joao Pedro tumbles in the box. Penalty shout. Tight, very tight. Mazraoui maybe, maybe gets a touch on the ball before clipping Pedro. You’ve seen them given — just not this time.

And then there’s the goal. Bruno Fernandes sweeping in, the flag stays down, VAR gives it. Onside. Fine, except just a week ago against Burnley, the exact same type of goal — identical lines, identical margins — was chalked off. Both times in United’s favor. Arsène’s new offside law can’t come quick enough, because right now consistency is a punchline.

United leave with the points, Chelsea leave with bruises and questions. A red card, strange substitutions, key men lost, and still they never laid a glove on a United side that invited them to.

Score: Fulham 3 - 1 Brentford

Finally, a performance that matched expectations. Fulham looked alive, fluid, sharp. Brentford could poke and prod, but Fulham answered with teeth. The hosts punished sloppy defending, converted chances, and controlled the tempo when they needed it.

Brentford might argue they had moments, but Fulham made theirs count. 3-1 is emphatic enough that context becomes luxury — the result speaks.

Score: Cherries 0 - 0 Magpies

A cagey affair. Neither side managed to claim dominance. Chances were scarce. Newcastle pressed, Bournemouth sat in. In the end, a stalemate — one that favors neither, pinches from both.

Draws like this are telling: when two teams can’t break each other down, it’s down to moments. But there were none.

Score: Sunderland 1 - 1 Villa

A cagey affair. Neither side managed to claim dominance. Chances were scarce. Newcastle pressed, Bournemouth Sunderland pressed, Villa sat in (phew lost my head there for a second). In the end, a stalemate — one that favors neither, pinches from both.

Draws like this are telling: when two teams can’t break each other down, it’s down to moments. But there were none.

Score: Arsenal 1 - 1 Manchester City

Pep’s side should’ve slept easier after Haaland bursts forward and puts City ahead in the 9th. Arsenal look rattled, slow, forced to chase. Then the substitutions: Eberechi Eze injects life, Arsenal lean forward, commit men. And then in stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli (from off the bench as ever) lobs the keeper — 1-1.

City had just 32.8% possession (record low for one of their matches) yet looked dangerous, efficient. Arsenal had more of the ball, but only really carved things out in final third combos after the break. That equaliser feels both inevitable and deserved.

Arteta had a few words about fairness and dominance after the match. The truth is Pep played a masterclass for 75 minutes. He went the Full Mourinho. Then he did what Pep so often does, made a raft of Galaxy Brain moves. The result was City were tired, lacking any ability or impetus to get up the field and find a second goal to seal the game. They were punished. Eze surely has to be starting every game from here on out, no?