- Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth featured a Premier League record 14 yellow cards
- Liverpool suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, ending their unbeaten run
- Bournemouth had 19 shots and hit the woodwork twice but couldn’t find a way past Chelsea
The Premier League never fails to deliver drama, excitement, and the unexpected, and Matchweek 4 was no different.
From commanding victories and last-minute winners to shocking upsets and record-breaking moments, this weekend's action gave fans everything they could ask for.
Manchester United found their stride once again and hopefully, they get used to being consistent, while Chelsea relied on late heroics to grind out a win. Arsenal displayed defensive mastery in the North London derby, and Liverpool suffered a rare defeat in front of their home fans.
Meanwhile, Manchester City continued their relentless charge at the top of the table, surviving an early scare to maintain their perfect win record. With yellow cards flying, goals hitting the woodwork, and penalties missed, Matchweek 4 was as interesting and unpredictable as ever.
Now, let's take a closer look at how the top six teams saw through this thrilling round of fixtures.
How the top 6 EPL clubs performed
Here's a summary of how the top 6 teams performed:
1. Southampton 0-3 Man United
Manchester United returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Southampton. Marcus Rashford finally ended his goal drought, scoring his first goal since March after being teed up by Amad Diallo.
The match’s turning point came early on when Andre Onana denied Cameron Archer from the penalty spot. Minutes later, Matthijs de Ligt widened the score line through a header. A second-half red card for Southampton's Jack Stephens gave United the upper hand, and Alejandro Garnacho capitalised on the man-down advantage, tapping home Diogo Dalot’s cross to seal the win.
2. Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea saw out a 1-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, with Christopher Nkunku providing the needed breakthrough after coming off the bench. Referee Anthony Taylor handed out a record-breaking 14 yellow cards.
Despite Bournemouth’s dominance and agility on the ball, which saw them place 19 shots and two strikes against the woodwork, they failed to break through, with Robert Sanchez saving a crucial penalty. The win pushed Chelsea to seventh place, while Bournemouth sits in 11th position.
3. Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Arsenal
In North London, Arsenal edged out Tottenham 1-0 in a fiercely contested derby. Gabriel’s towering header from a Bukayo Saka corner proved the difference, as Arsenal’s defence held firm throughout the match.
Despite a Premier League record-equalling seven first-half yellow cards, the Gunners maintained their composure.
“The people that we have are harder, they have thick skin, they love the game and they love winning,” said Arteta as he praised his team’s physicality.
4. Liverpool 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Liverpool faced a shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at Anfield, their first home defeat to Forest in 65 years.
Although they dominated possession and created chances, Salah’s Liverpool couldn’t break through, with Luis Díaz’s effort striking the post.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late goal for Forest sealed the match after 90 minutes, leaving Liverpool searching for answers.
5. Man City 2-1 Brentford
Manchester City continued their unbeaten run with a 2-1 comeback victory over Brentford. Yoane Wissa stunned City with a goal just 22 seconds into the match, but Erling Haaland restored parity in the 19th minute before adding a second goal just before halftime.
Despite a nervy finish, City held on to preserve their perfect record at the top of the table.
English Premier League Matchweek 3 Roundup: How the top 6 teams performed
Previously, TheRadar reported that the Premier League's third match week of the 2024-25 season has already separated the contenders from the pretenders.
As we head into the international break, only two teams boast perfect records, while the others as usual grapple with early-season setbacks. The stakes are already high, and in a league as competitive as the Premier League, even the smallest missteps can have lasting consequences.
