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LOCAL AND NATIONAL COVERAGE... THE ENTIRE PICTURE
BY DAVID SAFFER West Ham United head the Premier League after the opening two rounds of fixtures.
Michail Antonio struck twice for the Hammers in an impressive 4-1 against 10-man Leicester City at London Stadium on Monday night. David Moyes’ side head Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton on goals scored following successive victories.
Manchester United, Everton and Brentford are unbeaten after two games.
Antonio’s late brace was the story of the weekend in a wonderful West Ham display.
Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma hit Hammers opening goals before Ayoze Perez saw red for a stamp on Fornals. Youri Tielemans cut the deficit prior to Antonio sealing the win.
Moyes told Sky Sports, “It’s a super night for us. The team played really well. The sending-off changes the game a little bit we did a lot of good things.”
European champions Chelsea dismantled Arsenal and should have won more convincingly than 2-0 at Emirates Stadium.
Romelu Lukaku scored his first goal for the Blues following a £97.5m signing from Inter Milan and led the line superbly. Reece James thumped home Chelsea’s second from a Mason Mount pass.
Arsenal had never lost their opening two games without scoring and are one of five teams yet to register a point.
Rumours are growing that Gunners manager Mikel Arteta will be the first managerial casualty of the season. His team face a daunting task at champions Manchester City this weekend.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel told Sky Sports, “It is a perfect start, two victories without conceding and a London derby.” He added, “We deserved to win but still room to improve.”
Arteta told Sky Sports, “The circumstances are difficult and unprecedented. Feeling sorry for yourself doesn’t help. You have to win football matches, keep it together and show spirit.”
Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win against Burnley with goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane at Anfield.
Jordan Henderson returned as skipper as Jota nodded home early on to settle nerves before Mane fired home a terrific second-half strike.
A packed crowd paid respect to Andrew Devine, the 97th victim of the Hillsborough tragedy with a minute’s applause before kick off after Henderson laid a wreath in front of the Kop.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport, “In a lot of moments, we played a brilliant game without scoring. In all the other moments we had to fight incredibly hard. We won it and nobody got injured.”
Burnley manager Sean Dyche told BBC MOTD, “We just got picked off a couple of times by a top side.”
Liverpool host Chelsea in the Premier League’s match of the day on Saturday.
Tottenham made it two wins with a hardfought victory against Wolves at Molineux.
Dele Alli scored a ninth-minute penalty. Adama Traore went close to an equaliser though Harry Kane almost made a scoring return. His potential move to Manchester City is finally off.
Former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has made the perfect start for his new club. He told BBC Sport, “It was a very demanding game, we were compact and defended well.”
Wolves boss Bruno Lage told BBC MOTD, “The way we defend, press high, managed the ball side to side, the chances we create, it’s just about scoring goals.”
Brighton defeated Watford 2-0 and created a slice of top-flight history as they completed two opening league triumphs for the first time.
Shane Duffy nodded home Pascal Gross’ corner on 10 minutes prior to Neal Maupay doubling the lead before half time that proved pivotal in the win.
Seagulls boss Graham Potter told BBC MOTD, “Back to back wins at any stage are hard to achieve. We are in a good place, but it is just a start.”
Manchester United were disappointing in a 1-1 draw at Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
Saints took the lead when Che Adams’ shot deflected off Fred beyond David de Gea. Mason Greenwood equalised after half time but the Reds were indebted to De Gea for a late save.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told BBC MOTD, “We lost our way in the last 20 minutes.”
Everton and Leeds shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side dominated possession but the visitors opened the scoring in the first half when Dominic Calvert-Lewin slotted in a VAR awarded penalty. Mateusz Klich levelled with a neat finish only for Demarai Gray to edge the Toffees ahead just after half time. And Rafael Benitez’s side would have gone 3-1 ahead but for a great save from Illan Meslier to deny Calvert-Lewin from close range. Leeds equalised again when Raphinha fired home a sensational strike on 72 minutes in front of the club’s first home capacity Premier League in 17 years.
Benitez told BBC Match of the Day, “We fought for every ball and little-by-little we had more chances and more control in the game. But, we were also under pressure against a really good team.”
Bielsa told BBC MOTD, “We should have created more chances at goal and suffered less chances at our goal. Our goalkeeper made two interventions that we valued as a goal in our favour.”
Brentford and Crystal Palace also drew in a
Hammers top as Lukaku stars for Blues!
goalless encounter at Selhurst Park. Conor Gallagher hit the inside of a post whilst James McArthur also went close for the hosts. But the Bees, who enjoyed a hisBY DAVID SAFFER toric 2-0 win against Arsenal in their opening Premier clash, could have taken the points Reiss Mogilner scored six goals as Maccabi from a Bryan Mbeumo free-kick that clipped London Lions thumped Scrabble A in the the crossbar. second round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup. Brentford boss Thomas Frank told BBC
Th e Premier League side racked up a 16-0 MOTD, “It was an intense atmosphere. We win with Daniel Green and Michael Kenley need a little bit more confidence and comboth bagging a hat-trick. Ed Brafman, Da- posure. I think the win was there to take. But vid Dinkin, and Adam Hassanali complet- it’s a fine point.” ed the rout in a mismatch of a tie. Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira told BBC
Lions could have scored in the opening MOTD, “This was a positive performance and minute of the clash but soon opened the it is important to build up from it.” scoring and led 9-0 by half time. Manchester City thumped Norwich City 5-0
Th e Division One team, though out- at Etihad Stadium. classed, battled away to the end. Luck was on the Blues side when Grant
Lions boss was lost for words at full time Hanley’s clearance cannoned off keeper Tim such was the display from his team who Krul for the opening goal before £100m regave every respect to the opposition. cord signing Jack Grealish fortuitously made
“I’m not really sure there’s anything to it 2-0. Aymeric Laporte scored from a corner, say, we are happy to make it through to the Raheem Sterling finished off a slick move next round of the cup,” he commented. and Riyad Mahrez clinically completed the
Hendon United Sports ran out 3-1 victors scoring. Gabriel Jesus set up three City’s against League One outfi t North London Michail Antonio is West Ham’s PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK goals. Raiders. record Premier League scorer Pep Guardiola told BBC MOTD, “One week
Th e Premier side led early in the second ago, we are not contenders to win the Premier half only for Raiders to equalise but struck League. Now we are scary!” He added, “Everytwo late goals to book a place in round one runs, they know the tough competition three of the competition. there is on the bench so everyone has to be
Hendon now turn their attentions to the ready.” league as they travel to Oakwood A for a Norwich boss Daniel Farke was philosophcrucial top of the table clash on Sunday ical after facing Liverpool and City to date. (10am). Farke told BBC MOTD, “I am disappointed
Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league with the way we conceded the goals because leaders last month when they won 2-0, a four times we conceded more or less the same victory would move them to within a point goal.” of Hendon with a match in hand. Aston Villa defeated Newcastle United 2-0.
Elsewhere in the latest round of fi xtures, Danny Ings scored a stunning bicycle kick 10-man North London Galaxy made it a and Anwar El Ghazi slotted in a controversial three-way title race in the only Division One VAR-awarded penalty at Villa Park. clash of the day after defeating Oakwood B. Newcastle were left to rue a penalty chalked
Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy off by VAR as Callum Wilson, who missed rallied with goals from Josh Cohen and Ja- an early opening, was ruled offside in the cob Leigh to record an important 2-1 away build-up. win. Aston Villa boss Dean Smith told BBC
Galaxy head Redbridge Jewish Care A in MOTD, “You have to battle for the first win the table by just one point after 10 matches, and we did that today.” third place Fairlop FC are fi ve points be- Newcastle’s Steve Bruce told BBC MOTD: hind with two games in hand. “Not going for us is it? We lost a game last
Rafi Bloom scored for Oakwood. week (against West Ham) with a big talking
“It was a fantastic performance in a point and today we feel aggrieved too.”
must-win game,” commented Galaxy player-manager Luke Lewis.
“We sat back and allowed Oakwood the ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace.
“Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the fi rst one into Cohen to fi nish, before slotting home himself. Up to fi rst we go.”
Th e Division Two title race also took a twist with league leaders Herstwood Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple Fortune.
Faithfold B have played a game more than Vale but moved level with a 5-3 win at North London Raiders Masters.
Jacob Kalms struck twice for Fortune who scored through leading scorer James Milletwith his 17th goal of the season.
Th e result was all the more remarkable as Temple were down to 11 players with ‘keeper Ben Rebuck dislocating a shoulder in the warm up.
“Th is was a fantastic win given the circumstances,” said delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden.
“We had a number of players out, Rebuck got injured, so I couldn’t have asked any more from the players. We wish Ben a speedy recovery.
“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner. It’s a big win, one we will enjoy and we hope to build on it in 2019.”
He added, “Th is win marks 50 years as a football club and will be one Nigel Kyte and everyone associated with the club from day
Sixteen-goal Lions rout Scrabble in Cup “It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.”
one will enjoy.” Vale boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to wish Rebuck well following his injury. “First and most importantly, everyone at Vale would like to wish the Fortune ‘keeper a quick recovery, we hope to see him back on the football pitch as soon as possible,” he said. As for the defeat, Emanuel commented, “It doesn’t matter how big a squad you have, you can never account for unavailability or injury. Only fi ve of today’s team played in our recent win over FC Team, a lack of togetherness and poor individual
16-goal Maccabi London Lions PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER