Manchester United shot themselves out of the crisis with a well-deserved prestige win against Liverpool and increased Jürgen Klopp’s concerns.
On Monday evening (August 22nd, 2022) Manchester won the duel between the two top clubs that got off to a bad start against Liverpool 2-1 (1-0) with goals from Jadon Sancho (16th) and Marcus Rashford (53rd).
Ronaldo only on the bench
Man United scored the first three points of the season at home in Old Trafford without football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting XI. For the still winless Klopp team from Liverpool, which slipped to 16th place, Mohamed Salah (81st) met late to catch up.
ManUnited coach Erik ten Hag also took personal risks with the line-up when he banished leading players Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw to the bench alongside Ronaldo. But it paid off, Manchester played like a substitute. Liverpool were under a lot of pressure due to the high pressure and rarely showed their dreaded switching moments without Darwin Nunez, who was suspended.
Manchester fans protest against club owners
A larger group of ManUnited fans had protested before kick-off. Their displeasure was directed again against their own club owners. A large number of police officers were deployed around the stadium. Before the duel against the Reds in May 2021, supporters broke into Old Trafford during their protest and ignited plenty of pyrotechnics. The game was the first in Premier League history to be postponed due to fan protests.
Manchester’s hopefuls, on the other hand, received great applause: Casemiro was officially introduced to the audience. The Brazilian joined from Real Madrid for €70m but was not yet eligible to play due to visa issues.
First loss of the season for Chelsea
Chelsea FC lost with coach Thomas Tuchel on the bench on Sunday (08/21/2022). LeedsUnited clear with 0:3 (0:2) and after three games with four points is only in the middle of the table. Despite his game suspension, the coach was on the bench after last weekend’s wild altercation with Tottenham coach Antonio Conte because the penalty was suspended pending a written justification from the Regulatory Commission.
Mendy with a rare mistake
Chelsea invited the hosts to take the lead from former Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch with a major goalkeeper error. After a back pass, keeper Édouard Mendy frittered away the ball to the attacking Leeds striker Brenden Aaronson, who effortlessly put the ball into the empty goal to make it 0-1 (34th minute). Before the break, Spaniard Rodrigo headed a free kick into the far corner to make it 2-0 (37′).
After the change of sides, Chelsea were mostly only dangerous with long-range shots. The defense of the hosts with national player Robin Koch had few problems with the Champions League winner of 2021. Leeds, on the other hand, was ice cold: Jack Harrison completed a counterattack to make it 0: 3 (69th). Shortly before the end there was the next setback for Tuchel. Chelsea’s new signing Kalidou Koulibaly had to leave the pitch with a yellow-red card.
Haaland initiates a comeback
Champion City meanwhile saved the draw in Newcastle after a 1: 3 deficit thanks to a double strike from Erling Haaland (60th) and Bernardo Silva (64th). National player Ilkay Gündogan (5th) initially gave City the lead with his second goal of the season before Miguel Almiron (28th), Callum Wilson (39th) and Kieran Trippier (54th) turned the game around.
Gündogan’s national team colleague Thilo Kehrer experienced a failed debut at West Ham United. The defender, who moved from Paris St. Germain to London, caused the penalty kick in the 0: 2 (0: 1) against Brighton and Hove Albion, which Alexis Mac Allister (22nd) converted to 0: 1.
Leno celebrates with Fulham
National goalkeeper Bernd Leno was able to make his debut at the Fulham FC celebrate a victory. The Londoners won against the surprise team of the Brentford FC with 3:2 (2:1). Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic (90th minute) scored the winning goal for the hosts.
Leno has been a strong backing for his London side after sitting on the bench for the first two games. At the beginning of August, the 30-year-old was from Arsenal FC in the north to the west of the British capital. The former Leverkusen and Stuttgart player was only rarely used in the past season.
Leno has high hopes of recommending himself with a good performance in the Premier League for a World Cup nomination in Qatar with national coach Hansi Flick.
Arsenal sovereign
Arsenal FC was able to at least temporarily move to the top of the table on Saturday evening with their third win in the third game of the season and nine points. The “Gunners” won at AFC Bournemouth with 3:0 (2:0). Norway’s former “child prodigy” Martin Ödegaard (5th/11th) put Arsenal on the road to victory with a double strike. William Saliba (54th) increased for the guests.
Tottenham submitted
Harry Kane had previously shot Tottenham to victory against Wolverhampton. England’s captain scored a header on Saturday (08/20/2022) to win the game 1-0 against “wolves“. Had seven points from three games Tottenham thus taken the top of the table for the time being.
The “Spurs“After a lethargic first half, they only got going after the break, after two goals from aluminum Kane the decisive goal of the game after a corner kick. It was also his 250th goal in “Spurs“-Shirt.