We’re going quick mode today due to work, illness, and childcare reasons. The normal Monday digest will return as soon as we are humanly able.

17 shots to 10 for Liverpool, but part of that is the result of Arsenal’s early goal and a focus on defending. Liverpool were always a threat here, but those threats were small ones, and despite the 17 shots overall, Arsenal limited them to 0.89 xG and walked out of Anfield winners for the first time in the Premier League since 2012.

I don’t think either coach will be frustrated with this one minus the result. Liverpool played fairly well against one of the best teams in the league, and Arsenal did what they usually do and got the very rare three points at that stadium.

Michael Cox came out guns blazing after this match, calling Lisandro Martinez the worst player in the Premier League this season and saying it looks like he has given up. Strong words, but given he has been responsible for United dropping points in at least three matches this season, it makes sense.

United were probably the slightly better team up through Chelsea’s first goal, but the defending for Rogers’ goal was embarrassing and obviously United’s game plan died a sad death the moment Martinez received his second yellow card. After this, we still don’t much more about whether Chelsea are getting better or whether United should keep Carrick around.

I really enjoyed the goal in this game, not because of any technical glory, but because of the relative simplicity. Brighton hit a wide low cross early across the goal, it came to De Cuyper on the far side of the goal and he so gently cushions it for his teammate to strike at an open goal in space in the center of the pitch. That’s how beautiful attacking football is supposed to work, and it is really hard for defenses to cover well, especially when they are basically 1v1 at even numbers in the box against the attacking team.

The goal was in the 11th minute, which means then expected goals here have Game State written all over them. City had 21 shots in the end for 1.76 xG, but couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed to equalise. And once again, City’s defense gave up over 1xG at home, so the defense remains a problem, and in my opinion, one that likely dooms their asterisk-riddled title chances.

Spurs and Villa started the season rooted to the bottom of the table. Spurs have now won three in a row and are 8th in the league, while Palace is 9th. This is what makes early season Premier League so fun.

Are Palace terrible? Yes. Does it make them more terrible to get an 11th minute red card on their striker? Also yes. I’m going to need to manually downgrade every team that has played Palace so far in the gambling model because Spurs racked up 34 shots to 2 in this one, which is not indicative of past or future performances.

Catch the highlights, if only for the extremely rare headed goal while lying on the ground for Spurs second by Van Hecke.

Speaking of teams that have won three in a row, the Cherries have revved up the results, this time against a very stingy Leeds squad.

The visitors actually looked to have the lead, but it was disallowed on VAR review because the ball went into the goal off Calvert-Lewin’s arm, which was a correct and useful instance of VAR.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Evanilson scored a goal for Bournemouth, straight from a high press on a goal kick that Leeds chose to play through. Every time season I start to think teams have mostly figured out how to play against the press out of basic things like goal kicks, they prove me wrong.

The second goal in this match came in the 90+4th minute, with Junior Kroupi finding Amine Adli on a gorgeous vertical ball around the box.

Bournemouth appear to be both good and legit this season. As long as they can stay healthy, I expect them in the European spots and maybe even at the edge of the Champions League race.

Brentford 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa 1-1 Brighton
Coventry 3-1 Sunderland
Hull 2-2 Ipswich

—TK

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