So what if many traditional powers were set for high-profile matches on Sunday? The Premier League didn’t need them to provide high drama.
[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]
That isn’t to say Chelsea and Manchester City didn’t dominate the day’s headlines for different reasons, but Saturday morning Stateside did not disappoint viewers on the NBC family of network.
[ MORE: Standings | schedule | stats ]
Sure, it may’ve started with a relative dud at Selhurst Park -- Thanks Tony -- but it shaped up quickly.
Manchester City 6-1 Newcastle United -- RECAP
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren trotted out an ambitious 4-4-2 formation that paid dividends for a while. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored early and could easily had a hat trick if not for Joe Hart and a questionable offside call. But Sergio Aguero netted before half time, and five times in 20 minutes of play. Kevin De Bruyne also scored, and he was a key playmaker for City in the blowout. That five times ties a Premier League record, one a mildly-injured Aguero didn’t get to break.
- McClaren deems blown-out Magpies “unlucky”
- Pellegrini raves about Aguero’s five goals while injured
- WATCH: Aguero scores five
Chelsea 1-3 Southampton -- RECAP
The Blues look relatively-wretched, and sit in 16th place after sacrificing a 1-0 lead which came courtesy of another golden Willian free kick. Saints looked more like their 2014-15 standard, with Sadio Mane probably the best player on a Saturday pitch not named Aguero.
- Mourinho: “If they sack me, they sack the best”
- JPW at the Bridge: Three things we learned
- What next for Mourinho, Chelsea?
- But... WATCH: Willian’s gorgeous free kick
Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United -- RECAP
Dick Advocaat may be done at the Stadium of Light, and it’s difficult to imagine a more Sunderlandy-way for him to go out. The Black Cats looked resurgent, with goals from Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens putting the stadium into throes of ecstasy. Many of those fans left before it was over, as Carl Jenkinson and Dimitri Payet found the goals needed to snare a point.
Norwich City 1-2 Leicester City -- RECAP
Oh, those Foxes! Leicester is a Top Four team for the time being after running Norwich ragged in building a two-goal lead via a Jamie Vardy PK and a Jeffrey Schlupp finish. The Canaries pulled one back, but couldn’t do what it takes to find a point.
Aston Villa 0-1 Stoke City -- RECAP
Tim Sherwood’s side is lacking just about everything, and Villa is again flirting with relegation early in a season. Meanwhile, Stoke is coming around after a very difficult stretch of matches to start the season. Mark Hughes’ Potters got a goal from Marko Arnautovic, and it should’ve been two if not for an offside call.
Bournemouth 1-1 Watford -- RECAP
Heurelho Gomes had an up-and-down time during his time with Tottenham Hotspur, but he’s been mostly up for the Hornets. The Watford keeper was beaten by Glenn Murray once, but he stopped the Bournemouth striker on a PK attempt. As for Watford, you know who scored (Odion Ighalo).
Crystal Palace 2-0 West Bromwich Albion -- RECAP
There is little appealing about the way Tony Pulis sets up his side, and Alan Pardew’s boys rightfully broke them down twice. Yohan Cabaye is a wizard in the Premier League, and Palace is third in the Premier League. West Brom has 8 points, three which came when they barely inched by a 9-man Stoke City side. Bad things, man.
Sunday
Everton vs. Liverpool -- 8:30 a.m. ET
Arsenal vs. Manchester United -- 11 a.m. ET
Swansea City vs. Tottenham Hotspur -- 11 a.m. ET