EPL Weekly Wrap | All the Premier League News – Gameweek 3

Gameweek 3 had a bit of everything. Arsenal fought back to beat Chelsea at the Emirates, Haaland scored his 300th career club goal, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles announced himself at Everton with a stoppage-time debut screamer against Manchester United. 

Elsewhere, Fulham and Coventry are both pointless after three games, while Aston Villa and Tottenham are looking at one point apiece and wondering what’s gone wrong. 

Here’s a breakdown of all the Premier League news you may have missed. If you follow football betting tips, I’d say the title picture is already taking shape at the top.

Manchester City matched Arsenal’s nine points by grinding out a 1-0 win over Coventry at the Etihad. Erling Haaland headed home Antoine Semenyo’s cross in the 26th minute for his 300th career club goal. But it was far from convincing. Gianluigi Donnarumma needed two late saves to stop Coventry from snatching a point, and Lampard’s promoted side will feel they deserved more.

Enzo Fernandez was thrown straight into the starting eleven after completing his deadline-day move from Chelsea for a reported £125m. He was impressive on debut and involved in the goal, releasing Semenyo down the right before the cross found Haaland. I’m curious to see what he does to City’s midfield balance over the next few weeks.

Liverpool got their first win under Andoni Iraola at Ipswich, with Alexander Isak scoring twice in the opening nine minutes. Cody Gakpo assisted both. Iraola also gave Bradley Barcola his debut off the bench in the second half. It’s early days, but Liverpool needed that after two opening-round stalemates.

I’m giving the moment of gameweek three to Ainsley Maitland-Niles. 

Manchester United led twice at Hill Dickinson Stadium through Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, the latter heading home what looked to be an 88th-minute winner. Then Maitland-Niles, on as a substitute for his Everton debut, curled a brilliant long-range effort into the top corner in the 96th minute to rescue a point.

That was his first Premier League goal in eight years, apparently. United will be furious. They put five past Ipswich last week and looked to have turned a corner after losing to Hull on the opening day. Dropping two points from here stings. Sesko’s goal was well-worked, with Luke Shaw overlapping and Bruno Fernandes threading the pass, but I’d be worried about the mentality if I were Carrick. You can’t give away leads like that and expect to challenge for the top four.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace produced a terrific comeback at Craven Cottage. 

Tyrick Mitchell scored twice to drag them level after Josh King and Cesar Palacios had put Fulham ahead, and Ben Chilwell then won it in the 76th minute with virtually his first touch off the bench. Chilwell re-signed from Strasbourg on deadline day. Pierre Sage’s first league win as Palace boss was certainly dramatic.

Then there’s Leeds, who are unbeaten through three games after drawing 1-1 at Brighton. Jayden Bogle put them ahead early, and Luka Vuskovic’s second-half header levelled it. Daniel Farke will be frustrated because his side dominated and could have been three up before the break. Dominic Calvert-Lewin rounded the keeper only for Lewis Dunk to clear off the line. For a promoted team, five points from a tough opening is solid.

Fulham are bottom of the table with zero points from three games under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Coventry are in the same position, still without a Premier League goal since returning to the top flight. I’m not going to panic about either just yet though. But Fulham have conceded eight goals already, and Arbeloa needs to sort that defence out fast.

More surprising is what’s happening at Aston Villa and Tottenham. 

Both have one point from three matches. Villa drew 0-0 at Hull on Sunday morning NZT, which sounds acceptable until you consider they’ve scored just once all season. Tottenham picked up their first point with a goalless result at Nottingham Forest but have not scored in 270 minutes of league football. Roberto De Zerbi’s side created 1.57 xG at the City Ground and still couldn’t convert. Neco Williams had a goal chalked off for handball, which about sums it up.

At the other end, Hull deserve a mention. Seven points from their first three games back in the top division has them third in the table. Bournemouth have the opposite problem. They’ve scored the opening goal in all three fixtures and still don’t have a win. Newcastle came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at St James’ Park on Saturday night NZT, with Jacob Ramsey equalising in the 88th minute. Seven points thrown away from winning positions for Marco Rose’s side already.

For NZ viewers checking new betting sites ahead of Gameweek 4, the standout fixture is the Manchester derby on Monday at 3:30am NZT. Sunderland host Arsenal at 7am NZT on Sunday, while anyone browsing legal betting sites for early value should note that Tottenham face Everton at 4:30am.