The Premier League in tweets and players rated

Posted by

It was a good day for Leicester and Bournemouth in today’s 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League.

Crystal Palace 2 Aston Villa 1

TWEET OF THE MATCH

“Get in! Just what we deserved today! First home win of the season” – Connor Wickham celebrates Palace getting off the mark at home.

PLAYER RATINGS

Crystal Palace

Alex McCarthy: 6 (out of 10)

Joel Ward: 5

Scott Dann: 7

Damien Delaney: 6

Pape Souare: 5

James McArthur: 6

Yohan Cabaye: 6

Bakary Sako: 7

Jason Puncheon: 6

Wilfried Zaha: 5

Glenn Murray: 5

Subs

Dwight Gayle: 7

Jordon Mutch: 7

Mile Jedinak: 6

Aston Villa

Brad Guzan: 6

Leandro Bacuna: 6

Micah Richards: 6

Ciaran Clark: 5

Jordan Amavi: 5

Idrissa Gueye: 6

Ashley Westwood: 6

Carlos Sanchez: 6

Gabby Agbonlahor: 6

Rudy Gestede: 6

Jack Grealish: 7

Subs

Adama Traore: 7

STAR PLAYER

Jack Grealish: Villa will become increasingly reliant on the playmaker, who is tipped for England honours. But the 19-year-old needs support if Villa are to harness his vision, which he showed in flashes at Selhurst Park.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Bacary Sako: Won the game for Palace to prove his worth after his summer move from Wolves.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Alan Pardew’s frustration with Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha, who were substituted at half-time, was nothing compared to his discontent with the offside which saw Dwight Gayle’s goal ruled out. Tim Sherwood sent on former Barcelona youngster Adama Traore and he had the desired impact, but the Villa boss will want more from his side.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Another offside decision will be the debate. It seems few know the rule now. The Premier League felt compelled to comment after Christian Benteke’s goal for Liverpool against Bournemouth, which should not have stood. And now Palace feel wronged following an old-fashioned call of whether a player was level or not.

WHO’S UP NEXT

Crystal Palace v Shrewsbury (Capital One Cup, Tuesday, August 25)

Aston Villa v Notts County (Capital One Cup, Tuesday, August 25)

***

Leicester 1 Tottenham 1

TWEET OF THE MATCH

”The photo you’ve all been waiting for: £LCFC midfielder Danny Drinkwater drinking water…..” – Drinks breaks were the order of the day.

PLAYER RATINGS

Leicester

Kasper Schmeichel: 6 (Out of 10)

Ritchie De Laet: 6

Wes Morgan: 6

Robert Huth: 6

Jeff Schlupp: 6

Riyad Mahrez: 8

Andy King: 6

Danny Drinkwater: 7

Marc Albrighton: 7

Jamie Vardy: 7

Shinji Okazaki: 7

Subs

Ngolo Kante 5

Gokhan Inler 5

Leonardo Ulloa 3

Tottenham

Hugo Lloris 6

Kyle Walker 7

Toby Alderweireld 6

Jan Vertonghen 6

Ben Davies 6

Ryan Mason 6

Erik Lamela 5

Eric Dier 6

Mousa Dembele 7

Nacer Chadli 6

Harry Kane 5

Subs

Dele Alli 7

Tom Carroll 5

Nabil Bentaleb 3

STAR PLAYER

Riyad Mahrez: The Leicester winger has arguably been the stand out player in the Premier League so far this season and he scored his fourth goal of the campaign to rescue a point for his side. The Algerian always looked a threat and most of the good things the Foxes did went through him.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Dele Alli: What a moment for the teenager, his first Premier League goal. The £5million signing from MK Dons scored 16 times last season in League One and he has made a good start to making the step up to the top flight. Shame for him that it was not the winning goal.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Both Ranieri and Pochettino spent much of the game in their respective technical areas, where they shared an embrace and a joke prior to kick-off. Ranieri was suited and booted, and despite the heat did not remove his jacket. Pochettino’s attire was much more suited to the weather, with the Argentine sporting a Spurs polo t-shirt with the collar turned up Cantona-style.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

The first 81 minutes were pretty dull. A shame really, and a surprise, considering the attacking talent on show on both sides and the blistering start to the season made by Leicester

WHO’S UP NEXT

Leicester v Bury (a) Capital One Cup, Tuesday 25 August

Tottenham v Everton (h) Premier League, Saturday 29 August

***

Norwich 1 Stoke 1

TWEET OF THE MATCH

“Brilliant 2nd half performance and only an inspired goalkeeping performance stood in the way of 3pts” – Norwich’s Elliott Bennett

PLAYER RATINGS

Norwich

John Ruddy: 6 (out of 10)

Steven Whittaker: 6

Russell Martin: 6

Sebastien Bassong: 6

Robbie Brady: 6

Alex Tettey: 5

Graham Dorrans: 7

Jonny Howson: 6

Wes Hoolahan: 5

Nathan Redmond: 7

Cameron Jerome: 5

Subs

Bradley Johnson: 5

Gary O’Neil: 5

Stoke

Jack Butland: 9 (out of 10)

Glen Johnson: 6

Geoff Cameron: 6

Marc Muniesa: 6

Erik Pieters: 6

Marco van Ginkel: 6

Glenn Whelan: 6

Marko Arnautovic: 6

Xherdan Shaqiri: 7

Ibrahim Afellay: 6

Mame Diouf: 7

Subs

Stephen Ireland: 6

Joselu: 6

Charlie Adam: 6

STAR PLAYER

Jack Butland. England goalkeeper underlined his qualities with a string of fine saves as Norwich pressed in the second half. Could have done with more protection, but remained composed and showed good delivery to help slow things down.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Xherdan Shaqiri. The £12million Swiss international did not take long to showcase his talents, whipping in a superb free-kick for Stoke’s opening goal. Although he tired as the match went on, there is no doubt the former Inter Milan player will prove a fine addition to the Premier League.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Stoke boss Mark Hughes opted to start with Shaqiri, which proved a sound call as the Swiss midfielder set up the opener. The visitors, though, were forced to defend deep for large parts of the second half, and rely on the counter-attack. Canaries manager Alex Neil had kept faith with the XI which won at Sunderland, but would not have been impressed with poor marking for the Stoke goal or the chances wasted. The Scot later failed to make any telling substitutions and needs some attacking reinforcements.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Cameron Jerome. The one-time Stoke striker had a great chance to put Norwich ahead at the start of the second half, but could only stab the ball wide with only the keeper to beat. So influential in helping the Canaries win promotion, but the jury remains out on his Premier League credentials.

WHO’S UP NEXT?

Rotherham v Norwich (Capital One Cup, Tuesday August 25)

Luton v Stoke (Capital One Cup, Tuesday August 25)

***

Sunderland 1 Swansea 1

TWEET OF THE MATCH

“Swans win all home games, draw all away games, Bafe scores in all games… That’s title pace! :P” – Swansea fan Chris Ormie gets excited.

PLAYER RATINGS

Sunderland

Costel Pantilimon: 8 (Out of 10)

Billy Jones: 6

Patrick van Aanholt: 6

John O’Shea (Capt): 6

Sebastian Coates: 6

Lee Cattermole: 6

Jack Rodwell: 6

Yann M’Vila: 7

Jeremain Lens: 6

Jermain Defoe: 7

Danny Graham: 6

Subs

Steven Fletcher: 6

Duncan Watmore: 6

Swansea

Lukasz Fabianski: 6

Kyle Naughton: 7

Neil Taylor: 6

Ashley Williams (Capt): 6

Federico Fernandez: 6

Jack Cork: 6

Jonjo Shelvey: 8

Jefferson Montero: 6

Gylfi Sigurdsson: 6

Andre Ayew: 7

Bafetimbi Gomis: 7

Subs

Eder: 6

STAR PLAYER

Jonjo Shelvey: The pick of the bunch as he drove Swansea forward from central midfield and better finishing from the service he provided might have seen his side take the three points.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Costel Pantilimon: His stunning save to keep out Bafetimbi Gomis’ late close-range header secured his side’s first point of the season.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat will have been delighted with his side’s resilience as they responded in positive style to going behind and finished the game going for the win.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Sunderland fans appealing for a first-half penalty for Federico Fernandez’s superbly-timed sliding challenge on Danny Graham. Referee Neil Swarbrick was suitably unimpressed.

WHO’S UP NEXT

Sunderland v Exeter (Capital One Cup, Tuesday August 25)

Swansea v York (Capital One Cup, Tuesday August 25)

***

West Ham 3 Bournemouth 4

TWEET OF THE MATCH

“BREAKING: West Ham in talks to sell Olympic stadium to Leyton Orient!” – Craig Burley makes light of West Ham’s struggle.

PLAYER RATINGS

West Ham –

Darren Randolph: 7 (Out of 10)

Carl Jenkinson: 3

Angelo Ogbonna: 5

Winston Reid: 5

Aaron Cresswell: 3

Pedro Obiang: 5

Mark Noble: 6

Cheikhou Kouyate: 5

Dimitri Payet: 5

Kevin Nolan: 5

Diafra Sakho: 6

Subs –

James Tomkins: 5

Matt Jarvis: 5

Modibo Maiga: 7

Bournemouth –

Artur Boruc: 6

Simon Francis: 8

Steve Cook: 7

Tommy Elphick: 7

Charlie Daniels: 7

Matt Ritchie: 6

Eunan O’Kane: 6

Andrew Surman: 6

Max Gradel: 8

Joshua King: 6

Callum Wilson: 9

Subs –

Marc Pugh: 7

Dan Gosling: 6

Adam Smith: 5

STAR PLAYER

Callum Wilson: Easy to pick the hat-trick hero as Bournemouth’s best player but he was run close. Gradel was also superb down the left for the visitors but, if they are to stay up, it will be the goals of Wilson that likely make the difference. Took his first two with aplomb and had the confidence to step up for what proved to be the match-winning penalty.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Callum Wilson: The Cherries’ top goalscorer from their promotion season showed he can cut the mustard in the Premier League as he thrashed home the game’s opening goal. Francis cut it back and the 23-year-old was on hand to score Bournemouth’s first-ever Premier League goal.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Two home matches and two home defeats for Bilic, the opening weekend victory over Arsenal must seem a long time ago. He also upset the fans by hauling off Angelo Ogbonna and Diafra Sakho as he looked to alter things. Howe sees his side pick up their first points having impressed in their first two games.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

In amongst seven goals, comical defending and entertaining football, West Ham picked up their fifth red card of the campaign as Jenkinson was given his marching orders for pulling back Gradel. Having been well-behaved enough to get into the Europa League, they have no chance of doing that this time – small solace for Bilic at least.

WHO’S UP NEXT

Liverpool v West Ham (Premier League, Saturday August 29)

Hartlepool v Bournemouth (Capital One Cup, Tuesday August 25)

More Stories Soccer Sport