Premier League LIVE: Liverpool vs Chelsea build-up, Kyle Walker injured, Wolves without No.1 goalkeeper for Man City test, Declan Rice slams ‘silly mistakes’ as 10-man Arsenal beaten
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Premier League LIVE: Gvardiol wondergoal rescues Man City after early Wolves shock, Liverpool vs Chelsea build-up, Declan Rice slams ‘silly mistakes’ as 10-man Arsenal beaten
Updated: 14:48, 20 Oct 2024The Premier League has returned and talkSPORT is here to keep you updated with all the latest action.
Liverpool and Manchester City have the opportunity to take advantage of Arsenal dropping points with victories today.
In Saturday’s late kick-off, Arsenal were beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth after William Saliba was red-carded for a professional foul during the first half.
Champions Man City can briefly go top of the table when they face Wolves, before attention turns to Liverpool vs Chelsea at Anfield.
Elsewhere, Erik ten Hag saw the pressure on his job at Old Trafford eased after Manchester United’s comeback win against Brentford.
BETTING OFFER: Sign up to talkSPORT BET and get free bets on the Premier LeaguePremier League gameweek eight fixtures
Saturday, October 19
Tottenham 4-1 West Ham, 12:30Fulham 1-3 Aston Villa, 15:00Ipswich 0-2 EvertonManchester United 2-1 BrentfordNewcastle 0-1 BrightonSouthampton 2-3 LeicesterBournemouth 2-0 ArsenalSunday, October 20
Wolves vs Manchester City, 14:00Liverpool vs Chelsea, 16:30Monday, October 21
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace, 20:00 – live on talkSPORTWolves 1-1 Man City HALF-TIMEIt’s not often Man City score and a Norwegian is also on the scoresheet but it’s not Erling Haaland.
But Pep Guardiola’s side are indebted to a brilliant long-range strike from Josko Gvardiol to cancel out an opener from Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Savinho came close to putting City in front just before the break but Jose Sa, deputising for the injured Sam Johnstone, got down low to turn it behind.
Wolves have also had their chances to score a second, with Nelson Semedo squandering a one-on-one before Gvardiol had equalised.
GOAL!! Wolves 1-1 Man City Josko GvardiolWHAT A WONDER STRIKE TO LEVEL PROCEEDINGS!
It’s the seventh goal Man City have scored from the outside-the-box this season but this one is the pick of the bunch.
It was looking like it would need something special to break down a stubborn Wolves backline and so it proved.
Gvardiol is given the space to get his shot away and his right-footed effort sails into the far top corner despite Jose Sa getting a slight hand to it.
Gvardiol has now scored six goals in the Premier League in 2024, the most of any defender.
Six of the last seven Premier League matches between Wolves and Manchester City at Molineux have seen both sides score.
Wolves 1-0 Man CityRico Lewis is just the second Manchester City teenager to start 25 Premier League games, along with Micah Richards (64).
But he’s not done it at a younger age than the man who burst onto the scene.
Lewis, who turns 20 next month, is still adrift of fellow Man City academy graduate Richards who was 18-years-old when he played in a goalless draw with Newcastle in 2006.
Wolves 1-0 Man CitySEMEDO WITH A HUGE CHANCE TO MAKE IT TWO!
He set up the first and now he almost scores the second!
Man City uncharacteristically look so suspect at the back and get caught in possession inside the Wolves half.
Several quick intricate passes sets up a dangerous counter and Matheus Cunha spots the run through the middle of Semedo.
The Brazilian’s through ball releases the latter through on goal.
However, Semedo struggles to get it out of his feet and his prodded effort is well blocked by Ederson under pressure from Josko Gvardiol.
To add insult to injury he’s then shown a yellow card from the restart for tugging back Savinho.
Wolves 1-0 Man CityThe champions have responded well to falling behind, but the home side have more pressing concerns.
Strand Larsen is briefly down for a moment and has to go off for some treatment – he does come back on, but he’ll be one to watch.
Toti Gomes then picks up the game’s first yellow card after scything down Savinho on the edge of the box.
It is the Brazilian who takes but his effort is a poor one – a low effort around the wall that is cleared easily.
Meanwhile, Semedo has now provided two assists in the Premier League this season.
That is the first time he’s provided multiple assists in a Premier League season and for the first time in any league season since 2019/20 in La Liga with FC Barcelona (2).
GOAL!! Wolves 1-0 Man City Jørgen Strand LarsenYOU CAN SEE WHY HE WANTED TO GET THINGS STARTED QUICKLY!
Strand Larsen was itching to get the match underway and no wonder why as he slams home from close range to give Wolves the lead!
It’s a sensational cross from Nelson Semedo who floats a low-driven ball across the box which is begging to be attacked.
The delivery evades every City defender and Strand Larsen is gleefully alert to slot past Ederson at the back post.
His goal might not fill Gary O’Neil with too much joy, however.
The strike was the Norwegian’s fourth Premier League involvement (3 goals, 1 assist) in eight matches in the competition, but he has lost every previous match he’s provided a goal involvement in.
Wolves 0-0 Man CityA noisy rendition of ‘Hi, Ho Wolverhampton’ precedes the knee to show unity against racial discrimination.
Jørgen Strand Larsen, in his anxiousness to get Wolves off to a fast start, rushes into the Man City half before he notices the rest of the players drop down on one leg.
He then awkwardly settles himself down on his knee while still in City’s half next to his rival players before the game kicks off.
Strand Larsen does get a smile out of teammate Matheus Cunha as well as Norwegian countryman and Man City star Erling Haaland.
United we standFormer Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea sent a message to Alejandro Garnacho following the Argentine’s goal on Saturday.
Garnacho scored the Red Devils’ equaliser in their 3-1 win over Brentford, with Bees behind at half-time.
The 20-year-old celebrated the victory on social media after the match. “ONE MORE,” he said on Instagram.
His former teammate De Gea, now of Fiorentina, replied in the comments section with a superhero emoji.
Got his Guard upPep Guardiola has explained the absence of Man City captain Kyle Walker, with Rico Lewis again starting at right-back.
“He does not feel good after playing with the national team so he could not travel,” the City boss told Sky Sports.
On the impact of Savinho, Guardiola added: “Really good. From day one, he has understood everything.
“He can play both sides and we have been very pleased.”
Credit: GettyGloves are offJose Sa has returned to the Wolves starting line-up, with summer signing Sam Johnstone not in the squad.
Manager Gary O’Neil has now explained his goalkeeper switch as his side seeks their first Premier League win of the season.
He told Sky Sports: “Sam Johnstone picked up a little injury in training during the international break.
“Jose Sa has been pushing for a start since Sam joined in the summer and he is ready.”
On what it will take to repeat their Manchester City upset from last campaign, O’Neil added: “Today is a big test, but the boys’ morale is fine.
“They all have faith that we are going to turn the situation around.
“It took real discipline and togetherness to beat City last season. And then some courage and bravery when you get the ball back.”
Credit: GettyWolves vs Man City: Team newsWolves XI: Sa; Semedo, Bueno, Dawson, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Andre, Lemina, J Gomes, Cunha, Larsen.
Subs: Bentley, Doherty, R Gomes, Doyle, Sarabia, Forbs, Bellegarde, Guedes, Lima.
Man City Xi: Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Ake, Grealish, Akanji, Nunes, Foden, O’Reilly, McAtee.
All hands on DecDeclan Rice was heard telling referee Robert Jones ‘Every week it’s the same’ following Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
The England midfielder originally led the Gunners’ protests with the officials after William Saliba was sent off for the visitors.
However, his efforts proved in vain and the Frenchman was given his marching orders – the club’s red card of the Premier League this season.
Having then seen Arsenal concede two goals en route to defeat with ten men, Rice then approached referee Jones after the full-time whistle.
Credit: GettyTAA, very much!Liverpool manager Arne Slot has taken a break from discussing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation to praise his defending.
Alexander-Arnold has evolved from a right-back into a quasi-midfielder, such is his all-encompassing role on the pitch.
The 25-year-old has racked up over 100 goal involvements for his boyhood Reds and scored on international duty with England.
Despite his playmaking proficiencies, Alexander-Arnold has come in for criticism over the years regarding his defensive shortcomings.
That reared its head again during the break as Roy Keane slammed him following the Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Greece.
However, Liverpool boss Slot insisted Alexander-Arnold has stepped up in that regard this season – with the player revealing last month he has been enjoying the Dutchman’s strict critique of both sides of his game.
He told Sky Sports: “He’s one of the players that can make his decisions sometimes better but to have a right back that is so special with the ball is.. extra quality… and I’m lucky enough to have that still because how many fullbacks can create so many chances for their team.
“I have to address how well he’s defending at Liverpool in the last few games we’ve played so I see a player that is bringing his game further up… which was hardly possible because he was already that good.”
Credit: GettyBlockbuster SundayChelsea travel to Liverpool on Sunday in what many consider to be Arne Slot’s first real test as Reds manager.
Liverpool return from the October international break as Premier League leaders thanks to six wins from their first seven matches – and Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.
However, statistics show that their opening run of games has been favourable and the forthcoming schedule will be a huge challenge.
Their average opponent rating so far sits at around 84.5 on Opta, the lowest out of all 20 sides in the Premier League.
But their upcoming ten-game run has been statistically rated as the toughest in the in the Premier League with an average opponent rating of 89.8.
After welcoming fourth-place Chelsea, a tough trip to title hopefuls Arsenal follows before they host European qualification challengers Brighton and Villa.
There may be a period of respite when they visit the struggling Southampton, but this will be brief as their next game comes against title rivals Manchester City.
Newcastle precede the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park, ahead of meetings with Fulham and Tottenham.
Danny Welbeck updateBrighton have issued a positive update on Danny Welbeck’s injury after he was stretchered off at St James’ Park.
The striker went to hospital during the 1-0 win over Newcastle, but the Premier League club have confirmed that he’s now out and flying back to the south coast with the team.
They wrote on X: “Dat guy’s a bit bruised and battered, but the good news is our match winner at St James’ Park, Danny Welbeck, is on our British Airways flight home.”
Welbeck scored the only goal of the game in a big win for the Seagulls.
Brighton have confirmed that Welbeck is out of hospitalCredit: X: OfficialBHAFCDeclan Rice calls out ‘silly mistakes’Declan Rice called on his Arsenal teammates to cut out ‘silly mistakes’ if they’re going to challenge for the Premier League title this term.
It comes after William Saliba was red-carded during their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Rice said: “The fact of the matter is that we’ve shot ourselves in the foot three times this season in eight games and got away with it twice.
“Luck can’t go your way all the time and tonight Bournemouth kept probing and they ended up winning 2-0.
“I’m proud of us as a group of players to keep fighting and believing as we do but the naivety of it is that we need to stop making mistakes because we want 11 players for 90 minutes because that’s how we’ll win football matches.
“That’s how I’m seeing it today.”
Rice added: “With 10 men we showed a lot of character and personality to stay in the game but the big chance was Martinelli’s chance where the goalkeeper made a great save.
“They then got a corner a minute later and done us.
“There’s no regrets tonight other than the fact that we can’t keep making silly mistakes – especially if we want to compete and be at the top at the end of the season.
“You need your best players on the pitch and it gives the other players a mountain to climb when you’re down to 10 men, but the belief in this group is still so, so high.
“We just spoke in there and we have such a big month coming up and so we’ll stick together.
“This is football, it’s a rollercoaster and it’s what happens but what’s most important is that we stick together.”
Rice gave a frank interview after Arsenal’s defeatCredit: GettyDefeat for ArsenalArsenal succumbed to a shock 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth that saw William Saliba sent off.
The Gunners travelled to the south coast having gone unbeaten in all of their opening seven games but fell short on Saturday.
With around 30 minutes played, Saliba fouled Bournemouth striker Evanilson whilst he was running into the Arsenal half.
Saliba was initially shown a yellow card by referee Robert Jones but after a VAR check, the centre-back was sent walking.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta opted to make a change amid their new one-man disadvantage but it failed to make a positive impact.
Bournemouth scored the opener in the 70th minute when Ryan Christie fired in following a smart corner routine.
The Cherries were the in dreamland soon after as David Raya fouled Evanilson in the area and Jones pointed to the spot.
Justin Kluivert was the man to step up from 12 yards and he did so with ease to net his side’s second and seal all three points.
Arsenal missed out on the chance to go top of the Premier League and could end the weekend in fourth if Chelsea beat Liverpool.
Bournemouth earned a deserved victoryCredit: GettyFrom bad to worse!What a night for Bournemouth!
The Cherries are now 2-0 up against Arsenal thanks to a Justin Kluivert penalty!
Fresh from going a goal down, Bournemouth went on the attack again with David Raya bringing down Evanilson in the penalty area.
While Raya avoided punishment, Kluivert stepped up to all-but wrap up what will be a crucial win for the Cherries.
For Arsenal, it’s not the return from the international break that Mikel Arteta will have hoped for…
Bournemouth lead!Arsenal’s evening is going from bad to worse with Bournemouth now leading 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
The 10-man Gunners had been struggling since losing William Saliba to a red card and as a result, they’ve been punished.
Ryan Christie is the man to give Bournemouth the lead and with just 20 minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta’s side will be desperate to try and salvage something from this match.
But with one man less than the Cherries – will they be able to?
Christie scored his first Premier League goal in two yearsCredit: AFPSaliba red card: Fans aren’t impressed!Arsenal’s supporters aren’t impressed with William Saliba following his red card against Bournemouth.
The French defender was sent off for a professional foul on Evanilson, with fans questioning his decision to bring the forward down.
One fan wrote: “Just let him be 1:1 with keeper.”
A second supporter commented: “I’m sure I heard Ferdinand say that Ferguson told his defenders to always trust the keeper in those moments.”
A third fan wrote: “Should always take the 50/50 chance of a goal rather than 100% chance of being down to 10 men in the first half.”
Saliba’s red card has left Arsenal fans frustratedCredit: GettyWilliam Saliba is off!The evening is off to a torrid start for Arsenal with William Saliba seeing red!
The French defender was given a straight-red for a professional foul on Evanilson.
Following a consultation with VAR, the decision was made to send him off, leaving Arsenal with 10 men on the pitch.
Even worse than that is the fact that Saliba is now facing the prospect of a three-match ban.
Those matches – Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea. Brutal.
Saliba has been red-carded for a professional foulWelbeck updateBrighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has told talkSPORT Danny Welbeck is being taken for a scan on his injury.
The Seagulls’ winning goalscorer went off on a stretcher following a coming-together with Newcastle defender Fabian Schar.
Asked how Welbeck is after the game, Hurzeler replied: “I don’t know yet, we have to wait for the scans, then we can give an update.
“At the moment I can’t say anything.”
Credit: GettyComeback KingsWell, talk about never giving up!
Four of today’s wins in the Premier League have seen teams comeback from a losing position.
In fact, 21 per cent of wins in the top flight have been comebacks so far this season.
That’s the highest on record for a Premier League season, with the previous feat being 16.6 per cent in the 2023/24 campaign.
Credit: GettyJamie Vardy is STILL having a partyThe Leicester icon netted a penalty against Southampton in the Foxes’ incredible turnaround at St Mary’s.
As a result, he’s now scored 200 goals for both club and country.
That includes 192 for Leicester.
He may be 37 but he doesn’t look like slowly down anytime soon!
Credit: GettyFULL-TIME – Man United 2-1 BrentfordThe comeback is complete! That’s a much-needed win for Erik ten Hag and his side.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund cancelled out Ethan Pinnock’s opener, and the Dutch manager will surely be feeling much better after his earlier outburst.
That’s Man United’s first win since the 7-0 demolition of League One side Barnsley in the League Cup on September 17.
“They’ve been poor today Brentford, I’ll be brutally honest,” Gray said, live from Old Trafford.
