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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Haaland and Foden hit hat-tricks

Manchester City had waited more than 50 years for a hat-trick in a derby match against Manchester United before two came at once in a 6-3 crushing at the Etihad Stadium.

Erling Haaland scored a third successive hat-trick at home – a Premier League record – and Phil Foden also bagged three goals as City made a mockery of United’s recent improvement.

Until yesterday, no City player had scored a derby hat-trick since Francis Lee achieved the feat in a 4-1 win in December 1970.

Given his prolific start to the season, it was hardly a surprise that Haaland ended the drought with his third home ground hat-trick in a row. He also provided the final pass for two of Foden’s goals.

United had gone into the match on the back of a four-game winning streak but were no match for ruthless City, who are second on the Premier League table, one point behind Arsenal.

Haaland has now scored 14 goals in eight Premier League appearances.

Wolves hunt new manager

Bruno Lage became the latest Premier League manager to get the chop after he was given his marching orders following a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Lage, who joined Wolverhampton Wanderers 16 months ago and steered them to a 10th-place finish last season, has overseen just one victory in the past 15 matches.

This season, Wolves have scored only three goals and picked up six points in eight matches.

Goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Jarrod Bowen earned West Ham just a second win of the season and sealed Lage’s fate.

Wolves’ next match is away to Chelsea on Saturday.

Solid Granit a leading Gunner

Nothing better sums up Arsenal’s improvement under Mikel Arteta than the praise for Granit Xhaka.

Three years ago, he was stripped of the captaincy after swearing at Gunners fans. On Saturday he was being showered in love after lashing home the third goal in a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Swiss international is clearly enjoying life under Arteta, who has engineered Arsenal’s charge to the top of the table.

The latest Gunners’ victory was helped by the second-half dismissal of Emerson, although they were already looking good with goals from Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus.

Harry Kane had briefly threatened a Spurs fightback with a goal from the penalty spot but Xhaka highlighted a solid performance with his second goal of the season.

Trossard hat-trick stuns Reds

Roberto De Zerbi must’ve been pinching himself. Just 17 minutes into his debut as a Premier League manager, away to Liverpool, Brighton were two goals up and threatening more.

It might’ve felt too good to be true – and turned out to be that way – as Liverpool went 3-2 up through a Roberto Firmino double and Adam Webster’s own goal before Leandro Trossard completed his hat-trick to earn a 3-3 draw.

De Zerbi was understandably pleased with the result and was quick to praise former manager Graham Potter, who took over at Chelsea recently.

“I tried not to damage it,” he said of the work Potter had done at Brighton.

What De Zerbi has damaged is Liverpool’s title hopes with Jurgen Klopp’s side now 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Smiling assassin’s reasons to grin

Miguel Almiron scored a goal-of-the-season contender with a stunning volley in Newcastle United’s 4-1 win over Fulham.

The Paraguayan, who has an almost permanent grin, deserved to be smiling after smashing home Newcastle’s second goal from a difficult angle.

He also tapped in Newcastle’s fourth before having his hat-trick celebrations cut short by an offside flag.

Despite promising signs under Eddie Howe, Newcastle needed this victory, which was their first since beating Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season.

Chelsea snatch late win

Conor Gallagher’s first goal for Chelsea came against the club he served on loan last season as he hit a late winner in a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also scored his first Chelsea goal with a neat finish to cancel out Odsonne Edouard’s early opener.

Thiago Silva, who had provided the assist for Aubameyang, was lucky to be on the pitch after the referee decided his deliberate handball had not denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Gallagher’s goal also earned manager Graham Potter a victory in his first Premier League game in charge of Chelsea.

Everton extend unbeaten streak

The first two games of the Premier League season must seem like a distant memory to Frank Lampard.

After defeats to Chelsea and Aston Villa, Everton are now unbeaten in six games, including victories in their past two.

Their latest win, 2-1 against Southampton, was all the more impressive after they responded swiftly to Joe Aribo’s goal early in the second half.

Within five minutes of going behind Everton were in front thanks to first goals in Everton blue for both Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil.

Real roll ended

Karim Benzema missed a penalty as Osasuna ended Real Madrid’s winning start to La Liga.

The Spanish champions had won their previous six matches and went in front through Vinicius Junior before Kike Garcia equalised for the visitors.

It didn’t look good for Osasuna when David Garcia conceded a penalty and was sent off but Benzema smashed his spot kick against the bar.

Barcelona are top of the table on goal difference after Robert Lewandowski’s goal earned them a 1-0 win at
Mallorca.

Rare Roma win over Inter

Chris Smalling’s header earned Roma a first victory over Inter Milan in more than five years, lifting Jose Mourinho’s side to fifth in Serie A.

Milan had taken the lead through Federico Dimarco but Paulo Dybala drew Roma level before half-time.

Former Manchester United defender Smalling headed home the winner to give Roma victory over Inter for the first time since February 2017.

Napoli stayed top of the table with a 3-1 win over Torino, while Atalanta, who beat Fiorentina 1-0, are second on goal difference.

Bayern restore order

Order has been restored in Germany’s Bundesliga with Bayern Munich winning for the first time in five matches.

After a string of three draws then a defeat to Augsburg, Bayern hit four past Bayer Leverkusen to move within two points of leaders Union Berlin and Freiburg.

Goals from Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Sadio Mane and Thomas Muller helped Bayern cruise to victory and climb to third on the table.

Union Berlin stayed on top of the table despite a 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.




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