5 Things We Learned: Premier League Matchday 3

Story posted September 30, 2020 in CommRadio, Sports by Cole Koffler

Upsets, controversy, and big results littered matchday 3 of the Premier League.

1. Make or break season for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City?

After a shocking 5-2 loss to Leicester City, Manchester City may need to do some soul searching to make a title run or go deep in Europe.

This is Pep Guardiola’s first full season with all players he has brought in, so we may see what Guardiola’s true colors are, especially after last week. This is the first time ever that a side managed by Guardiola has let in five goals.

If Manchester City do not win the Premier League or Champions League, Guardiola may be on his way out of Manchester.

2. More worry for Chelsea as Chelsea struggle versus relegation favorites West Brom.

Chelsea’s struggles are still showing as they drew 3-3 to relegation favorites West Brom.

Chelsea went down 3-0 and had to complete the comeback in the ninety-third minute on a penalty kick.

A major alarm is showing for Frank Lampard’s side. Creative sparks Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech are still out from injury and it remains to be seen when both players will be back.

After spending $250 million and nearly losing to relegation favorites, Chelsea still needs to hit the ground running.

3. Did Manchester United deserve a win versus Brighton?

An own goal and a one hundredth minute penalty kick is what it took for Manchester United to take down Brighton on the south coast.

After being beaten by Crystal Palace, this was another game that United were expected to win. The statistics say that this game was back and forth, but the statistics also favored Brighton.

Brighton tied the game in the ninety-fourth minute and defended the last minute until the final whistle blew. The game was over until the referee decided to take a look at VAR for a possible handball. The referee concluded that there was a handball before the final whistle blew and United was awarded a penalty.

Did Manchester United deserve that win? Also, is the referee allowed to give a penalty after the final whistle was blown? Either way, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still in the hot seat.

4. Another dominant performance by Liverpool

After an Andy Robertson mistake, the red half of Merseyside capitalised to win 3-1. 
Goals from Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson, and Diogo Jota kept Liverpool’s perfect start to the season intact.

Mane nearly got sent off in the first five minutes of the game, and Robetson’s costly mistake for the first goal put Liverpool in a hole. But Liverpool dominated every statistic versus Arsenal and confidence of the squad is continuing to grow week by week.

5. Leicester City is European contenders.

After dominating Manchester City, Leicester City look like men on a mission.

After nearly missing out on Champions League football last year, Leicester looks to challenge the top six again. Jamie Vardy is still a consistent goal scorer.

The big question is if this team can finish the job. This team got so close last year, but tripped over the last hurdle.

If Leicester can clear the final hurdle they could be playing Champions League football next year.

Cole Koffler is a freshman majoring in communications. To contact him, email colekoff13@gmail.com.