LONDON, Oct 31: After all those doubts about his future at Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjær achieved what Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp couldn’t do on Saturday: Win in the Premier League.
It just needed United to face a Tottenham side devoid of any attacking ingenuity that allowed Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani – with a combined age of 70 – to both score before Marcus Rashford netted.
After collecting one point from four games, the 3-0 win in north London will give Solskjær some breathing space even though United is still eight points from first place. “Of course this week has been a difficult one for the players, fans they haven’t been happy,” Solskjær said. “The experience came through.”
Particularly from the 36-year-old Ronaldo, who got on the end of a high ball from Bruno Fernandes and peeled away from defender Ben Davies before netting from a first-time volley across goal in the 39th minute. Ronaldo turned provider for Cavani, who clipped in the second in the 64th before Rashford came off the bench and produced a curling strike.
“I hope this time we have changed the page,” Ronaldo said. “Everyone knows his role in the team, it’s not only the coach that many point out (for criticism), it’s the players as well.”
Man City vs Crystal Palace
While Liverpool is the last unbeaten side, Guardiola’s City has another loss to add to the opening game of the title defense against Tottenham.
Hopes of recovering from Wilfried Zaha’s sixth-minute goal were hit when City had Aymeric Laporte sent off in first-half stoppage time for bringing down Zaha when he was the last man. Gallagher added a second goal on the break in the 88th.
Liverpool vs Brighton
Mohamed Salah failed to score for the first time in 11 games for Liverpool, but Klopp’s side still looked like easing to victory when Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane scored inside the first 24 minutes.
But then Brighton came the closest of any opponent in six months to ending Liverpool’s 24-match unbeaten run.
Enock Mwepu curled in a long-range shot in the 41st and Leandro Trossard equalized in the 65th after collecting a pass from Adam Lallana before having a late goal disallowed.
Leceister vs Arsenal
Arsenal opened the league with three losses but is unbeaten in the seven games since then. The Gunners wrapped up the win at Leicester inside 18 minutes with Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe both scoring.
The clean sheet was protected by Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale making a stunning save, tipping wide Kelechi Iheanacho’s curling shot and leaping across his line to palm a free kick by James Maddison onto the crossbar.
Chelsea vs Newcastle
Chelsea was able to extend its lead at the Premier League summit to three points with a 3-0 win at Newcastle secured by two from Reece James and Jorginho’s penalty.
Burnley vs Brentford
Burnley got its first win of the league season by beating Brentford 3-1 to celebrate Sean Dyche’s ninth anniversary as manager. All the Burnley goals came in the first half at Turf Moor, with Chris Wood firing in the opener after four minutes before Matt Lowton’s header and a strike from Maxwel Cornet.
Watford vs Southampton
Che Adams clinched Southampton’s first away win in the league since last season in March, curling in a shot for a 1-0 victory at Watford. (AP)
