Premier League action continues through November’s conclusion. Bob Bradley became an American hero with Swansea, but how did the rest of the league fare?
Sunderland (LW: 18)
The Black Cats nearly broke through first with a prolonged spell in front of Liverpool’s net, but they squandered it. Eventually, the seal broke on their Tupperware, and Sunderland’s defense looked hapless on both surrendered goals.
Hull (LW: 19)
After giving up the first goal, Hull showed massive grit in pushing for one of their own, which came courtesy of a lovely Robert Snodgrass delivery. From there, the Tigers pushed to go ahead, but to no avail, wasting a golden opportunity to pick up three points at home.
Crystal Palace (LW: 16)
Palace looked certifiably out of it when Leroy Fer scored his second and undeniably victorious before Fernando Llorente scored his brace. Timely and advantageous, but not timely or advantageous enough, the Eagles cracked under pressure to what had been the league’s worst team.
Swansea (LW: 20)
To be honest, it took everything not to just forgo any semblance of order to this and slot the Swans No. 1 this week. In defeating an ice-cold Crystal Palace in one of the wildest matches of the season, if not ever, Bob Bradley became the first American manager in history to win a Premier League game. Fernando Llorente’s brace in stoppage time put the exclamation point on a truly insane sentence.
Middlesbrough (LW: 15)
Alvaro Negredo resumed his early season scorching form, putting together a dynamic brace for the Boro. His first spun maddeningly, curling just in time for the goal, and the second faded impossibly to the far post. Two allowed penalties doomed Middlesbrough, however, in an otherwise excellent show of form.
West Ham (LW: 17)
More detail will go into this week’s Roundtable, but the Hammers did their best on the road against an objectively better opponent. Dimitri Payet was marvelous, his free kick assist standing as the highlight, and West Ham held strong under pressure against a relentless attack.
Leicester (LW: 12)
Riyad Mahrez’s penalty slammed into the post before rolling in, and the Lions needed another in stoppage time to claim the draw. The Champions continue their regression to the mean, coming up stifled against teams they beat routinely a season ago.
Burnley (LW: 10)
An incredible volley from Dean Marney gave the Clarets the early lead, but two doses of tactical unawareness sunk their effort. Still, Burnley have tended to play up to their competition, which could bode for an exciting end to the calendar year.
Bournemouth (LW: 11)
A positively boneheaded mistake from Steve Cook gifted a goal to Alexis Sanchez early. Though Callum Wilson equalized on a penalty later, Adam Smith’s header over the crossbar will haunt the Cherries this week.
Stoke (LW: 12)
A wild early sequence of shots didn’t lead to anything, but eventually Charlie Adam broke through on a corner via an own goal, giving the Potters the lead they needed. Stoke did well to pick up all three points on the road against a formidable Watford side.
West Brom (LW: 10)
With a header off a cross, Gareth McAuley provided the Baggies with a halftime lead in disgustingly foggy mist. West Brom didn’t create many chances, but a draw on the road will tide them over for now.
Everton (LW: 8)
Protecting possession was a problem all day for the Toffees, but at no time was it more pressing than at the start, when a conceded ball led immediately to an opposing goal. Romelu Lukaku may have merited consideration for a penalty, but Everton’s 15 fouls and only one shot on goal position them as the inferior side.
Watford (LW: 7)
Quite frankly, the Hornets were endlessly sloppy, particularly in defense. They couldn’t get anything going offensively either though, which is problematic for a team with a negative goal differential in the top half of the table.
Southampton (LW : 9)
For the Saints, Charlie Austin’s header in the first minute could not have come any more easily. Good thing it did, too, because Southampton lost the finishing touch from that point forward, though they had several other chances in spoiling ex-manager Ronald Koeman’s return to St. Mary’s Stadium.
Manchester United (LW: 6)
Following Diafra Sakho’s opening header, United played a much more organized game, but aside from Paul Pogba’s gorgeous pitch to a streaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic, each play seemed one or two passes away from the finishing touch. Jose Mourinho continues to build popularity with officials, having now been sent off in two of the last three league matches.
Tottenham (LW: 4)
After weaving through the defense, Dele Alli passed to Christian Eriksen, who rocketed a spellbinding shot to beat Thibaut Courtois. As the day wore on, however, Spurs’ discipline wore off, capped off by a defensive breakdown that led to Chelsea’s go-ahead goal. A win against West Ham aside, Tottenham haven’t won in league play in two months, though this was only their first loss.
Arsenal (LW: 5)
Sure, Alexis was essentially handed a goal, but he still had to score it. Once he did, it looked like it would be an easy afternoon for the Gunners, who nevertheless drew out the proceedings. Sanchez knocked a beauty off the crossbar before Arsenal went back up for good on a Theo Walcott strike. Arsenal are now undefeated in the league since the opening week of the season.
Manchester City (LW: 3)
Is there anybody more emblematic of the poacher in soccer right now than Sergio Aguero? Each of his goals against Burnley were “right place at the right time” occasions, yet he has a tendency to live there rather than end up there more than most. His brace leaves him tied for the league lead, with ten.
Liverpool (LW: 2)
Early chances begat further chances, and Divock Origi’s first was a gloriously precise curl to the far post. James Milner added a penalty for the difference, but the real story lay is Philippe Coutinho’s ankle, which may have a ligament tear and could sideline the creative force indefinitely.
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Chelsea (LW: 1)
A slow start from the league leaders meant a halftime deficit to a crosstown rival. After the break, however, the Blues tightened the screws, with Pedro and Victor Moses adding tallies to the scoresheet. Eden Hazard remains indefatigable, and Chelsea remains atop the table.