Week 3 Update: Tottenham 3 Manchester United 0
Yes–you read that correctly. Manchester United is shut out at home and loses back to back games and two of their first three games for the first time in….well, it has been a very long time. The club with the most Premier League titles ever and the most famous club in soccer is in a funk. They actually played really well in the first half and had a few massive opportunities. It could easily have been 1-0 or 2-0 at the half. The second half was dominated by Tottenham Hotspur….I just love that name. Three goals. Manchester had a few defensive collapses and Tottenham pounced. With the win, Tottenham joins Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford with three wins in three and 9 points to start the Premier League race. Manchester United now sit in 13th. I know it is early, only 3 games our of 38….but an early season wobble from Many U. Fans are anxious, players are not happy, the so-called experts are predicting Mourinjo will not be coaching in January. The atmosphere is not good. They need a win desperately to calm the waters. Their next two games will be a big challenge. No shock if they lost both given their current form. Hang on….it might get a bit rocky for United fans.
Highlights from the game.
So, are you a Manchester City fan….if so….you are probably a bit disappointed with the weekend. Last year was magical. A record number of points in a season. Winning the Premier League going away and in style…never challenged…massive gap between first and second. Significant winning streaks. Best coach, best players, best team. Easy peasy right…well….maybe not. Week 3 of the Premier League and Manchester City is playing newly promoted Wolverhampton. The best team in the league against a newly promoted team from Championship Division, one level down. A mismatch on paper. An easy win for Manchester city…but this is the Premier League. Toughest League in soccer.
How do you compete against Manchester City. Well, hope they get a little too comfortable. Hope they relax and just play their okay game…not their best game. Hope for a little luck, well, change that, hope for a bunch of luck! Then and maybe you still get smacked, but at least maybe then you have a chance. Wolverhampton got that and more. Highlights below, but lets recap. A goal on a hand ball, and likely offside as well. No call on either, GOAL stands. Off the woodwork three times for Manchester City. A pretty clear penalty in the box not called. Add it all up and you have a 1-1 tie and Manchester City drops points this year in Week 3, and shows just the slightest wobble from last year. The other big clubs were smiling a little on Saturday night. Maybe there is a chance for the rest of the league.
Match Week 3 Recap
-Liverpool make it three straight wins to start the season with a solid 1-0 win over Brighton.
-Watford continues their hot start with a win over Crystal Palace and also win their first 3 games.
-Arsenal secure their first win of the season under their new coach with a 3-1 win over West Ham.
-Chelsea overcome Newcastle United with a late goal for a 2-1 win.
-Other winners include Leicester City and Fulham with their first win of the year.
-One game to play tomorrow with Manchester United taking on Tottenham. Big game for Manchester United. After losing in Week 2 and now playing a top 4 side. Another loss would put them at 3 points after three matches and in a bit of a mini-crisis. A solid win puts them right back on track. Will they rebound? Will they go deeper into Funk city? Will Mourinjo spontaneously combust if they lose two in a row? Must see TV next weekend!
Race for the Champions League Top 4
There are 3 teams all tied at the top of the table with 9 points. Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford. Tottenham with a chance to join them if they can take down Manchester United on Monday. Bournemouth and Manchester City just behind with 7 points.
Relegation Zone
West Ham has not earned a point after Week 3 and is on the bottom of the table. Huddersfield Township, Burnley, Southampton and Newcastle United with 1 point each in places 16-19.
Match Week 4 Preview
Game of the Week.
Watford vs. Tottenham. Is Watford the real deal. This is their first test against a Top 4 side from last year. We will find out if they are contenders or pretenders!