Wolves 1-2 Liverpool. Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty sealed a 2-1 victory for Liverpool over winless Wolves, taking the Reds back to the top of the Premier League. Salah’s spot-kick restored Liverpool’s lead after Rayan Ait-Nouri had briefly equalized, canceling out Ibrahima Konaté’s first Premier League goal, which had given the visitors the advantage at Molineux.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool capitalized on Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle, reclaiming top spot from Arsenal with a hard-fought win. Wolves, however, remain at the foot of the table, still in search of their first win of the season.

Wolves Start Strong, but Liverpool Take Control
Wolves began with energy, showing early promise as Matheus Cunha tested Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Despite some nervy moments in defense, the hosts opened brightly, but their season-long issue of failing to convert positive performances into results persisted.

As the first half progressed, Liverpool slowly took control. They nearly took the lead five minutes before the break when Virgil van Dijk threaded a pass to Diogo Jota, whose low cross found Dominik Szoboszlai. However, Sam Johnstone’s reflex save kept the game level.

Liverpool did finally break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Jota surged past Jorgen Strand Larsen, delivering a cross that found Konaté, who powered a header past Johnstone to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Salah’s Penalty Secures the Win
Liverpool could have doubled their lead early in the second half when Salah intercepted a wayward pass from Mario Lemina, but his shot flew wide of an open goal. Wolves took advantage of that missed opportunity, equalizing in the 56th minute. A mis-hit shot from Carlos Forbs fell to Ait-Nouri, who slotted in from close range after Larsen had caught Konaté off guard.

However, Wolves’ joy was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Nelson Semedo’s foul on Jota in the box handed Salah the chance to restore Liverpool’s lead, which he did with a calm penalty conversion.

Wolves Struggle to Convert Performances into Results
For Wolves, it was another frustrating afternoon, much like their recent defeats to Newcastle, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. Despite showing flashes of promise, Gary O’Neil’s side once again failed to turn a positive start into points. Ait-Nouri’s equalizer offered hope, but Semedo’s costly foul quickly undid their hard work.

With Brentford and Manchester City coming up, Wolves face a tough road ahead. If they can’t secure a win against Brighton by the end of October, they could head into November still searching for their first victory of the season. O’Neil had emphasized the need to convert positive moments into results, but Wolves’ failure to do so leaves their future looking bleak.

Liverpool’s Resilience Under Slot
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s victory marked their fifth win from six games, with only a surprise 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest marring their near-perfect start under new manager Arne Slot. Despite riding out an early storm from Wolves, Liverpool gradually took control and showed their resilience.

Slot’s Liverpool may not play with the “heavy metal football” of Jurgen Klopp’s era, but they are finding their rhythm. Salah’s penalty might have been a gift, but it returned Liverpool to the top of the league and showed their ability to bounce back quickly after conceding.

There were moments of concern, such as Konaté’s error that led to Wolves’ equalizer, but overall, Liverpool are developing a winning habit. They have shown they can overcome setbacks both during games and following defeats, and their upcoming clash with Arsenal at the Emirates next month already looms large as a key fixture in the title race.

source – BBC

Brentford 1-1 West Ham United. West Ham United secured a 1-1 draw at Brentford, thanks to Tomas Soucek’s second-half goal, after Bryan Mbeumo had given the hosts a lightning-fast lead within the first minute.

For the third consecutive Premier League match, Brentford struck inside the opening 60 seconds, with Mbeumo curling a volley past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola after just 37 seconds.

Despite the early setback, West Ham remained composed and created several opportunities throughout the first half. Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, and Mohammed Kudus all had chances, though only Kudus managed to test Brentford keeper Dean Henderson.

Brentford, after their quick start, seemed content to absorb West Ham’s pressure, offering little in attack for much of the half. Their next chance didn’t come until the 34th minute when Mbeumo headed over the bar.

Soucek’s Equalizer and West Ham’s Response

West Ham’s persistence paid off shortly after the break. Soucek, stepping into the starting lineup in place of the suspended Edson Alvarez, reacted quickly to a loose ball in the box and slotted it home from close range to level the match.

With the game finely balanced, Brentford began to dominate possession and created several promising moments. Yehor Yarmoliuk came closest to regaining the lead for the Bees, but his shot was saved by Areola.

As the match drew to a close, West Ham applied pressure, forcing Brentford to defend deep. Substitute Crysencio Summerville almost clinched a winner for the visitors in the final moments, but his tight-angled shot was deflected onto the roof of the net.

Brentford’s Early Scoring Streak Continues

Brentford has made a habit of fast starts, becoming the first team in Premier League history to score in the opening minute in three consecutive matches. Mbeumo’s opener followed similar strikes in recent losses to Tottenham and Manchester City.

Despite their early success, Brentford has struggled to build on those moments. Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa have been the club’s only Premier League scorers this season, and with Wissa sidelined for two months due to an ankle injury, the Bees face attacking challenges.

Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium has been a fortress early in the season, with two home wins, but their away form has been poor, with no points collected from tough trips to Liverpool, Spurs, and Manchester City.

Concerns Grow for Brentford

While it’s too early to sound alarm bells for manager Thomas Frank, Brentford’s failure to convert leads into wins is a concern. The Bees have now dropped 38 points from winning positions since the start of last season, the most of any team in the division. Their defense remains a worry, as they have yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

The loss of key players like Ivan Toney, the club’s top scorer for three of the past four seasons, and Wissa’s injury have left Brentford looking vulnerable up front.

West Ham Show Resilience Under Lopetegui

On the other hand, West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui, who took over the club in the summer, has yet to earn the same goodwill as Frank. Despite spending over £150 million in the transfer window, the Hammers have only managed one league victory so far.

After a sluggish start, West Ham found their rhythm and dominated possession for long stretches. Lopetegui made two bold halftime substitutions, bringing on Paris Saint-Germain loanee Carlos Soler and defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. The changes brought balance to the team, and they quickly found the equalizer through Soucek.

Though West Ham hasn’t won a league match since August 24, they came close to stealing all three points at the death, with Soler forcing Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken into a full-stretch save in the final moments.

Referee Simon Hooper’s decision to blow the whistle before West Ham could take a last-minute corner drew protests from the Hammers’ players and manager Lopetegui.

Looking Ahead

Brentford remains 12th in the Premier League, while West Ham sits in 14th. The Hammers will return to the London Stadium to face newly promoted Ipswich on Saturday, October 5th.

source – BBC

Arsenal pulled off a thrilling 4-2 victory over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium, scoring twice in stoppage time to deny the Foxes a hard-fought point. A 94th-minute own goal from Wilfred Ndidi and a close-range strike from Kai Havertz in the ninth minute of added time completed a dramatic turnaround, keeping Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

First-Half Dominance for Arsenal

The Gunners took control of the game early on, with Gabriel Martinelli steering home Jurrien Timber’s cross to give Arsenal a deserved lead in the 20th minute. Martinelli continued to torment Leicester’s defense, setting up Leandro Trossard for the second goal just before half-time, giving Arsenal a comfortable 2-0 advantage.

Leicester offered little threat in the first half, registering only one touch inside the Arsenal penalty area. However, their second-half response showed grit and determination.

Leicester’s Spirited Second-Half Comeback

Just over a minute into the second half, Leicester halved the deficit when James Justin’s header deflected off Havertz and into the net following a Facundo Buonanotte free-kick. The Foxes, reinvigorated by the goal, pressed forward, and Justin struck again with a stunning swerving volley from a Wilfred Ndidi cross, leveling the score at 2-2.

Arsenal, briefly rattled by Leicester’s resurgence, regained their composure and resumed their relentless attack. Leicester’s goalkeeper Mads Hermansen made several incredible saves to deny Havertz and Trossard, keeping the Foxes in contention.

Arsenal’s Stoppage-Time Heroics

Despite Hermansen’s heroic performance, Arsenal’s pressure finally paid off in stoppage time. Trossard’s late effort was deflected into the net by Ndidi for an own goal, restoring Arsenal’s lead. Just minutes later, Havertz pounced on a loose ball in the box to seal the victory, sending the Emirates crowd into raptures.

The win lifts Arsenal level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with Liverpool poised to leapfrog them if they win their match against Wolves later in the day.

Gunners’ Relentless Pressure

Arsenal dominated the game with over 30 shots, 14 of which were on target, and they racked up 14 corners as they pushed for a winner. Bukayo Saka and Martinelli were constant threats, and despite Leicester’s second-half resurgence, Arsenal’s persistence eventually paid off.

The victory will serve as a significant morale boost for Mikel Arteta’s side, as they showed resilience and determination to secure all three points when the game seemed to be slipping away.

Painful Defeat but Positives for Leicester

Leicester manager Steve Cooper can take heart from his team’s spirited second-half comeback. James Justin’s two goals, including a spectacular volley, showcased Leicester’s ability to fight back against one of the league’s top teams. Mads Hermansen’s outstanding goalkeeping display was another bright spot, keeping Arsenal at bay until the final moments.

Despite the defeat, Leicester’s performance after the break will give their fans hope for the season ahead. Cooper, though frustrated with some of the refereeing decisions, will look to build on the positives from this match.

source – BBC