Premier League weekend round up – Gameweek 6

Another crushing victory and possible defining moment came when the Baggies won their first game since 1978 at Old Trafford amidst boos and some empty seats as Manchester United recorded their worst ever Premier League start in forever. Compared to the ten goal thriller at the Hawthorns that was a fitting swansong for Sir Alex Ferguson, this match was something that David Moyes would rather forget. The first half saw possession being held by United and West Brom continuously threatening with good tackles.

The second half saw the United defence fall apart as Morgan Amalfitano run unchallenged to bring David De Gea to his knees thus allowing the ball to go over his head and hit the net. Moyes responded with Robin van Persie’s introduction but not before Wayne Rooney’s third free kick of the season finding the net. With Adnan Januzaj and the other United Belgian, Marouane Fellaini also being introduced, the Red Devils looked to shrug off the first goal as expected. Nani brilliantly slotted in a low cross which Fellaini tapped in for what seemed to be his first club goal but was denied offside.

United soon looked like they wouldn’t be able to pull off one of their famous comebacks as Amalfitano assisted for the second goal as the ball allowed the early substitute for Scott Sinclair, Saido Berahino to slot it in past De Gea. Rooney’s free kick shot wide and a couple of Januzaj shots on target were desperate last minute attempts and United slumped to their third league defeat.

The last game on Saturday saw the Gunners notch up an impressive tenth straight away win that began at the Allianz Arena and their ninth straight win of the 2013-14 season in all competitions on Arsene Wenger’s 17th anniversary of being in charge of the club. With similar attacking styles, both teams had almost equal possession and hardly any shots on target in the first half.

Come the second half and Serge Gnabry, the young German, initiated the goal spree as he received a beautiful pass from in form Welshman Aaron Ramsey, who was subject to boos from the Welsh crowd being a former Cardiff City man himself. They would have been 2-0 up with Ramsey finding an unmarked Mesut Ozil but Michel Vorm denied the German international his first club goal.

The scoreline changed to 2-0 when Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere created a good round of passing and trickery to give Ramsey another chance at goal and he succeeded, notching his eighth of the season. The Swans did pull back one when Wilfried Bony and Ben Davies confused a relatively strong Arsenal defence to allow the left back to slot past a rattled Wojciech Szczesny but in the end Arsenal were granted three points.

Super Sunday saw two fixtures, the first being Stoke City versus Norwich City where the Canaries were awarded three points as Jonny Howson took advantage of some sloppy Stoke defense and slot the ball home past the Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, Anthony Pilkington stealing the ball away. Stoke dropped down to 15th having seven points from six games, with Mark Hughes’ men having no one but themselves to blame as the game was riddled with sloppy defense and inability to get their shots on target despite having more possession.

Luis Suarez marked his Premier League return in style as he teamed up with an inform Daniel Sturridge to secure all three points for the Reds at the Stadium of Light. A Steven Gerrard corner and an alleged handball that referee Howard Webb failed to miss allowed Sturridge to put Liverpool forward. Whatever the drama of the first goal, the play of the second goal was a message to all who doubted the Uruguayan’s talent. Gerrard picked out Sturridge with a long range pass who watched the striker run past Carlos Cuellar before slotting it in past Kieren Westwood.

The hosts, who were without a manager, found some relief as Emanuele Giaccherini finding Ki Sung-Yueng’s long range pass and beating the former Black Cats goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet. But Suarez, having being denied a second with Cuellar preventing Jose Enrique’s cross, caught Sturridge’s 89th minute pass to seal the victory for the Merseysiders.

Monday Night Football saw the other Merseyside club roar to victory as their on loan signing from Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku fired them to victory with a brace as Everton conceded their 1st clean sheet of the season while remaining the only team unbeaten this season. The Belgian’s growing partnership with Ross Barkley at the back proved fruitful as both were goal scorers for the night.

The Toons were forewarned about Lukaku’s influence and were witness to a late dramatic winner against the Hammers as Lukaku proved to be a game changer again. It didn’t matter that they had conceded their first goal in nearly 12 hours as surprise retainee Yohan Cabaye and loanee from Queens Park Rangers Loic Remy tried to salvage what will thus remain an unsuccessful fixture for the Magpies.

Two upsets and the same table leader from last weekend – has the tone for the League been set?