Gameweek 4 saw four sides going into their fourth league matches of the season having yet to drop any points. However at least one would be forced to surrender their perfect start as Watford hosted Spurs at Vicarage Road on Sunday. Liverpool, another of these sides, travelled to Leicester in the opening match of the weekend. West Ham were looking to pickup their first points of the season as they hosted newly-promoted Wolves at the London Stadium. Cardiff City were looking to score their first goal of the season as they faced Arsenal in Wales.
Anyway, here’s the FPL Updates Gameweek 4 Review…
Goalkeeper
Joe Hart – It’s been a tough few years for England’s Joe Hart. The former Three Lions’ number one was shipped out of City following the arrival of Pep Guardiola, enjoying loan spells at Torino and West Ham United over the past two campaigns. However, following an injury crisis the stopper made the permanent switch to Sean Dyche’s Burnley. He turned in a superb display on Sunday afternoon as his side went down 2-0 to the Red Devils. At 2-0, Hart made a good save to deny Paul Pogba from the spot. Fans across the league will be glad to see a former favourite of England fans doing so well.
Defenders
Cedric – Southampton travelled to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday in a game that both sides realistically felt they needed to win. The Saints will have fancied their chances when they found out that Wilfried Zaha would not feature for the South Londoners, and they were right to think so. They opened the scoring when Danny Ings got on the end of Cedric’s ball over the top to slide home. Charlie Austin spurned a chance to seal the win from the spot. However, Pierre Hojbjerg would do so deep into injury time.
Craig Cathcart & Jose Holebas – Watford went into their match with Spurs on Sunday having secured nine points from nine so far. They made sure they would retain their perfect start, forcing Spurs to surrender theirs as they ran out 2-1 winners. Spurs took the lead when Abdoulaye Doucoure put through his own net. However, two goals in seven second half minutes would turn the game on his head, as the Hornets equalised through Troy Deeney, before Craig Cathcart headed home the winner with fifteen minutes remaining.
Kyle Walker – Much has been made of Manchester City’s failure to record a win over newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. Pep Guardiola’s side would be looking to get back to winning ways in a week where they found out their Champions’ League group stage opponents. Hoffenheim, Lyon and Shakhtar Donetsk lay in wait for last seasons Premier League Champions. However, their attentions would have been on the current task at hand, as they faced Newcastle United at the Etihad on Saturday evening.
Midfielders
Eden Hazard – Another of the sides yet to drop any points this season was Mauricio Sarri’s Chelsea. They faced a clash with AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and took a while to get going. Both sides created chances and Bournemouth may have gone in front but for a lung-busting sprint and block by N’Golo Kante. However, the Blues would net twice late, first through Pedro. Then, fellow substitute Olivier Giroud would exchange passes with Eden Hazard with Belgian drilling home to seal the three points.
Sadio Mané – Liverpool continued their fine start to the season and find themselves top of the table as they beat Leicester City on Saturday. After Mo Salah had missed a glaring chance, Andy Robertson set up Sadio Mané to stab home the opener. They doubled their lead on half time as Roberto Firmino powered home a header from a James Milner corner. However, Leicester had arguably been the better side, and after Alisson got the ball stuck under his feet he was robbed by Kelechi Iheanacho, who squared for Ghezzal to pass home. The Reds clung on, but they will know they pushed their luck at the King Power.
Raheem Sterling – Manchester City opened the scoring early on against Newcastle, as Raheem Sterling cut inside before bending a lovely effort into the corner of the net. This came after Riyad Mahrez missed a great early chance. Then, the Magpies stunned the champions as a brilliant cross from Kenedy found DeAndre Yedlin to power home his first Premier League goal. Despite holding firm for a long time, Rafa Benitez’s side would give in as Kyle Walker decided to try his luck from range, only to smash the ball into the bottom corner from 25 yards. The England international’s goal would turn out to be the winner.
Forwards
Glenn Murray – Brighton and Hove Albion hosted Fulham keen to build on their last home win over Manchester United. They started well and were awarded a penalty when Glenn Murray was clipped by Luciano Vietto. Pascal Gross stepped up and missed, only for goals by Andre Schurrle and Aleksander Mitrovic to make the miss seem costly. However, step forward Glenn Murray, first to slot home under the keeper before punishing a Mitrovic handball by levelling from the spot. The Seagulls will take confidence from the comeback while Fulham ponder what might have been.
Alexandre Lacazette – Arsenal faced Cardiff City in Wales looking to secure a second consecutive league win. They opened the scoring as Shkodran Mustafi powered home a header from Granit Xhaka’s cross. However, on half time Xhaka would give the ball away and the Bluebirds equalised through Victor Camarasa. After Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang restored the advantage the Gunners looked set to stroll to three points, however Danny Ward brilliantly headed home with twenty remaining. But late on a moment of quality from Alexandre Lacazette would decide the match as he drilled high into the roof of the net to the delight of Unai Emery and the Gunners faithful.
Romelu Lukaku – José Mourinho will be delighted as his Manchester United side bounced back from defeat by Spurs to run out 2-0 winners at Turf Moor against Burnley. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring when he headed in from Alexis Sanchez’s cross. He doubled his and his side’s tally when he pounced on a loose ball to slot home. After Paul Pogba’s penalty miss, Lukaku might have had a hat-trick when he rounded Joe Hart, only for Ben Mee to recover brilliantly. The performance may have been slightly marred as Marcus Rashford was sent off after an altercation with Phil Bardsley.
Written by Ryan Nevin (@RNevin7)
