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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Liverpool equal 9-0 record

Nine goals in a Premier League record-equalling win for Liverpool but none for Mohamed Salah? It’s hard to fathom how the Egyptian failed to score or provide an assist in Liverpool’s 9-0 mauling of hapless Bournemouth.

Instead, the goals were shared between seven different scorers, including doubles for Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino and a Chris Mepham own goal, just five days after Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United.

Salah had his moments but was unable to add to his two Premier League goals this season.

As for newly promoted Bournemouth, you only had to glimpse the concern on manager Scott Parker’s face to know they are on fast-track back to the to the second-tier Championship.

They desperately need to improve their squad but time is running out with the transfer window due to close on Thursday.

Henderson denies Kane hat-trick

Harry Kane had to settle for a double after Dean Henderson underlined Nottingham Forest’s resilience by saving the England international’s penalty against Tottenham Hotspur.

Kane was off the mark early and headed home a second goal late in the game as Tottenham earned a 2-0 victory that confirmed their best start to a Premier League season in 12 years.

But Spurs were forced to work hard for the win against Steve Cooper’s Forest, who have been significantly strengthened since earning promotion via the play-offs last season.

Maximum impact from Saint-Maximin

Allan Saint-Maximin fired home a stunning 90th-minute volley to deny Wolverhampton Wanderers their first win of the season.

Newcastle fell behind to Ruben Neves’ brilliant drive late in the first half and Wolves looked like they would hang on for a much-needed victory.

But Saint-Maximin drilled home from the edge of the box after Hwang Hee-chan’s attempted clearance fell perfectly for the Frenchman. Newcastle remain unbeaten with three draws in four games.

Foxes fail against 10-man Blues

A worrying start to the season for Leicester City got worse on Saturday when they were beaten by 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The scales were tipped in Leicester’s favour with just 28 minutes gone when Conor Gallagher was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But rather than fire up Leicester, Gallagher’s dismissal seemed to motivate Chelsea who went ahead just two minutes into the second half through Raheem Sterling.

Having scored his first Chelsea goal since his move from Manchester City, Sterling scored his second just 16 minutes later.

Harvey Barnes’ reply was as much as Leicester could muster. Brendan Rodgers’ side have just one point from four games this season.

City bounce back – again

Erling Haaland scored his first Manchester City hat-trick as Pep Guardiola’s side produced their second stirring fightback in as many matches.

Six days after bouncing back from a 3-1 deficit to draw with Newcastle United, City trailed 2-0 to Crystal Palace before springing to life.

After Bernardo Silva had pulled back a goal early in the second half, Haaland hit top gear to take his season tally to six goals in four games.

Ange’s belated birthday present

He was 57 on Saturday but Ange Postecoglou’s party really got going a day later as Celtic turned on the style for their Aussie boss.

A 9-0 mauling of Dundee United was Celtic’s biggest Scottish Premier League away victory and was an impressive way to warm up for Saturday’s Old Firm clash against Rangers and a UEFA Champions League tie against Real Madrid the following Tuesday.

There is mid-week League Cup clash against Ross County before Rangers, but with all due respect…

A first-half hat-trick from Kyogo Furuhashi helped Celtic ease to a 4-0 half-time lead and it got more painful for the hosts after the break. Liel Abada scored a hat-trick, while Jota, Josip Juranovic and Carl Starfelt were also on target in the rout.

Having won all five Scottish Premier League games so far, Ange and Celtic are aiming for much bigger scalps in the week ahead.

Gross key to Brighton record

Brighton have achieved a club record nine-match unbeaten run thanks in no small part to the contribution of Pascal Gross.

The German midfielder, whose two goals sunk Manchester United in their opening game of the season, was on target again as Leeds United’s unbeaten start was halted.

Gross scored only twice last season, both goals coming late in the campaign as Brighton’s record run was gathering steam. Graham Potter’s side have not lost since defeat to Manchester City in April.

Mourinho ashamed of Roma

He isn’t known for mincing his words, so it probably shouldn’t have been a big surprise to Roma players that manager Jose Mourinho was “ashamed” of their first-half performance against Juventus.

Dusan Vlahovic had opened the scoring for Juventus just two minutes into the match and it took a half-time roasting from Mourinho to breathe life into the visitors.

Tammy Abraham’s header salvaged a point for Roma, who are unbeaten in three games.

Sommer super stopper

Sadio Mane had two goals ruled out for offside as Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer pulled off a record 19 saves in a 1-1 draw with German champions Bayern Munich.

Marcus Thuram put Monchengladbach in front just before half time with his side’s only shot of the first half as Sommer put on a masterclass at the other end.

The Swiss international was finally beaten by Leroy Sane late in the game before denying Benjamin Pavard what would have been a winner for Bayern in stoppage time.

Goals flow for Lewandowski

It didn’t take long for Robert Lewandowski to get into his goalscoring groove at Barcelona.

The Polish international, who scored 344 goals in 375 appearances for Bayern Munich before joining Barcelona, drew a blank on his debut in the season opener against Rayo Vallecano. But he’s been on fire since.

After scoring twice against Real Sociedad last week, the 34-year-old was at it again with a double in Barca’s 4-0 win over Real Valladolid yesterday.

Real Madrid survived a scare to extend their winning start to the season to three matches with a 3-1 victory over Espanyol. Karim Benzema scored two late goals to snatch victory for Real.




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