game week 6 results

Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City

A game between two sides who have made fairly similar starts and it was a goal fest. Thats not to say that both attacks were outstanding, more than both defences were poor. Tottenham didn’t really seem to defend as a team, rather rely on individual players in individual areas and really this gave Birmingham too much time when they won the ball to counter quickly, through the middle this proved tricky, Tottenham were solid with their CBs and CMs, but on the flanks they really struggled, with Willian and Mbappe causing the home team all sorts of problems, Tottenham’s lack of pressure when they lost the ball meaning that they relied on quick transitions into a more defensive shape, but Birmingham’s wingers are way too quick. At the other end Birmingham were pretty solid on the right and Sane struggled to get into the game, but down the left Tottenham got more joy, giving Walker and Mahrez with the opportunity to double up on Alonso, was a big risk by Nadz and having Carvalho come out to try and stop this happening left gaps, James the perfect player to take advantage of this. In the end it really came down to better quality of player, which Tottenham shaded.

Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 Birmingham City
Lukaku(James) 32, James(Walker) 45+1, James(Mahrez) 73, Morata(Walker) 80; Mbappe(Brozovic) 16, Willian(FK) 51, Vardy(Keita) 84

MOTM: James Rodriguez

Everton v Arsenal

Two teams with equally poor starts to the season, setting up with very similar styles, two wide players that naturally come inside, one midfielder more attacking and 2 deeper to control the game, both with flying FBs. It made for a pretty good game all in all with chances at both ends. The midfield at times was quite congested which meant that both sides relied on their FBs for much of the width, this favoured Everton ever so slightly, with Dani Alves a key figure. Everton shaded the midfield too in terms of control, Arsenal’s youngsters defending well but not able to esablish themselves over Ivan Rakitic who was superb. Arsenal were a bigger threat on the counter though, with that extra pace of Aubameyang and Mboula causing Everton’s backline issues, Hamsik getting the better in his duel with Goretzka and feeding the forwards well. More often than once Chiellini was forced into some ‘italian’ defending to stop these counters. In the end home advantage and a stronger team gave Everton their first win of the season to take them off the bottom.

Everton 2-1 Arsenal
Lacazette(Draxler) 54, Pastore(Alves) 78; Aubameyang(Hamsik) 65

MOTM: Ivan Rakitic.

Brighton v Portsmouth

Portsmouth have started this season in much better shape than they did last time and they looked to continue it today. They set up looking to hit Brighton’s high line hard and they did that to great effect, the front four that they posses way too good for Brighton today, creating lots of 4 v 5’s, with Kondogbia being forced out to deal with lots of attacks down the flanks, something that he did as well as he could. At the other end Brighton struggled to really create much, Portsmouth were happy to cover off all the spaces and leave Kondogbia as the free man, with the frenchman never really creating anything. At times Payet was able to find pockets of space well, Rabiot never really having him totally under wraps, but the front three didn’t do enough to test the back line of Portsmouth. To add to Brighton’s misery Cech was sent off when he had to come rushing out of his box after Dembele had got in behind, he only managed to trip the winger up and Brighton had to play with 10 men for the second half. In the end it was a stroll for Portsmouth.

Brighton 1-3 Portsmouth
Payet(FK) 84; Werner(Lewandowski) 27, Lewandowski(Dembele) 58, Lewandowski(Werner) 72.

Red Card: Petr Cech 37

MOTM: Timo Wener

Stoke City v Chelsea

Chelsea have lost a bit of ground at the top today so it was important for them to try and build some momentum today before a difficult game against Liverpool in coming weeks. Stoke came out with a plan to press high up the pitch and not allow Chelsea possession, and at times it worked well, they were able to disrupt the Champions rhythm and then get at them with some serious pace. Chelsea have a strong side all over the pitch though and whilst at times the 3 man press worked on Khedira, who wasn’t always able to pass his way through, or beat them with a driving run, it never really disrupted Busquets who’s ability to switch play to the flanks or pick his passes through the press caused issues, once Chelsea had beaten the press, there was space for the attacking quartet to get into, and whilst Stoke were compact, Chelsea had players today who could break that compactness with a burst of pace or intelligent passing. Bonucci as well, at times when Chelsea’s midfield couldn’t pick a pass, he certainly could. Whilst Stoke made a real game of it, and stopped Chelsea dominating possession as they usually would, their extra quality did shine through.

Stoke City 1-2 Chelsea
Martial(Lemar) 31; Aguero(Griezmann) 18, G.Jesus(Callejon) 76

MOTM: Sergio Busquets

Newcastle v Hull City

Newcastle came into this game as solid favourites, topping the league table and looking like having the potential to build on a great 2nd place finish last year. They dominated this game with a really solid middle to the side bossing Hull’s younger model and with the pace on the wings, Hull were forced to drop deeper which gave them less of an attacking threat for large spells in the match, Ibra left a little isolated against Hummels and Godin who defended him well. Hull defended well but at times they visibly struggled to contain the Newcastle attack. However a fine goalkeeping performance, and a fair bit of luck got Hull a commendable point.

Newcastle 0-0 Hull City

MOTM: Timo Horn

Wolves v Leicester

Aston Villa v Liverpool