EPL Results Week 9: Premier League Scores, Top Scorers and 2014 Table Tracker
It was a mixed day for the Premier League’s top marksmen, as Saturday’s fixtures yielded plenty of talking points.
The champions endured a rough afternoon as they fell to defeat against West Ham United in the early kick-off. Manuel Pellegrini’s array of attacking talent toiled for long periods of the match against a vibrant and cohesive Hammers outfit, eventually losing 2-1 at Upton Park.
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Elsewhere, it was another fine day for Alexis Sanchez, as the Chilean continued his wonderful form. The big-money summer-signing was outstanding against a lacklustre Sunderland team at the Stadium of Light, helping himself to a goal and terrorising the Black Cats throughout.
There was much to discuss elsewhere too, and here’s a look at how Saturday’s results have effected the Premier League standings and what players made significant moves in the race to be named as the division’s most prolific goalscorer.
| 1 | Chelsea | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 22 |
| 2 | Southampton | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 19 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 17 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 16 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | Swansea City | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 14 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 14 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 13 |
| 9 | Everton | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 12 |
| 10 | Hull City | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 11 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 11 |
| 12 | Stoke City | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 11 |
| 13 | West Bromwich Albion | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 10 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 15 | -5 | 10 |
| 15 | Aston Villa | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 14 | -10 | 10 |
| 16 | Crystal Palace | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 16 | -3 | 9 |
| 17 | Leicester City | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 9 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 9 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 17 | -9 | 8 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 7 |
| 20 | Burnley | 9 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 16 | -11 | 4 |
| West Ham vs. Manchester City | 25 Oct. | 12:45 p.m. | 2-1 |
| Liverpool vs. Hull | 25 Oct. | 3 p.m. | 0-0 |
| Sunderland vs. Arsenal | 25 Oct. | 3 p.m. | 0-2 |
| Southampton vs. Stoke City | 25 Oct. | 3 p.m. | 1-0 |
| West Brom vs. Crystal Palace | 25 Oct. | 3 p.m. | 2-2 |
| Swansea City vs. Leicester City | 25 Oct. | 5:30 p.m. | 2-0 |
| Burnley vs. Everton | 26 Oct. | 1:30 p.m. | 1-3 |
| Tottenham vs. Newcastle | 26 Oct. | 1:30 p.m. | 1-2 |
| Manchester United vs. Chelsea | 26 Oct. | 4 p.m. | 1-1 |
| QPR vs. Aston Villa | 27 Oct. | 8 p.m. | 2-0 |
| =1. | Diego Costa (Chelsea) | 9 |
| =1. | Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) | 9 |
| 3. | Saido Berahino (West Brom) | 7 |
| =4. | Graziano Pelle (Southampton) | 6 |
| =4. | Diafra Sakho (West Ham) | 6 |
| =6. | Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) | 5 |
| =6. | Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester) | 5 |
Monday Recap
Charlie Austin netted a brace as Queens Park Rangers defeated Aston Villa 2-0 at Loftus Road on Monday, capturing three pivotal points as the newly promoted side attempts to avoid relegation in the 2014-5 Premier League season.
The visitors had the brightest start to the match as QPR looked sloppy in possession, but against the flow of play, Austin opened the scoring inside 20 minutes.
Bobby Zamora took a long ball on the chest and his surging teammate blasted home from just outside the box, giving Brad Guzan no chance. The Daily Telegraph's Henry Winters was impressed with the finish:
The goal shocked the Claret and Blue, who went from vibrant and attacking to slow and lacking in creativity in a span of minutes. The remainder of the first half was dominated by poor passing and little to no danger, but the home fans didn't care as both teams headed for the dressing room.
The pattern continued in the second half, although Villa tried to increase the pressure. A number of shots from distance were blocked by a sturdy QPR defence, who were aiming for the counter-attack.
Junior Hoilett came close with a curling in the 67th minute, but it was Austin again who doubled his team's advantage with a volley minutes later. Both efforts were stunning, and teammate Zamora rightly congratulated the forward after the match, via uMAXit Football:
Villa tried to push for a goal inside the final 10 minutes, and Tom Cleverley came close isolated in front of Robert Green. The experienced stopper produced a fine double save, however, preserving his clean sheet.
Bleacher Report UK's Sam Tighe noted the visitors played without believing in the comeback:
Manager Harry Redknap was very happy with his team's performance, via Tighe:
The win sees QPR move to within two points of safety, with Crystal Palace and Leicester City both currently sitting on nine points.
Things are incredibly close in the belly of the standings, the difference between QPR and 10th-place Hull being just four points, and it's far too early to make any definitive statements about which teams will drop.
QPR are among the favourites to move back down to the Championship, and Monday's win could play a major factor when it's all said and done.
Sunday Recap
With Diego Costa absent from the Chelsea line-up, Didier Drogba returned to strike against Manchester United not for the first time in his career, but a last-minute equaliser from Robin van Persie secured a 1-1 draw for the Old Trafford hosts.
Drogba headed the Blues into a lead after 53 minutes, and for the majority of the game it looked as though the visitors would keep United at bay and take home the spoils.
The Mirror's Brian McNally questioned Louis van Gaal's tactical shrewdness in using Rafael as the Ivorian's marker at set pieces, hinting Jose Mourinho has risen from apprentice to master:
However, Van Gaal himself had significant attacking absences in the shapes of Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao, but Van Persie proved himself to be a capable remaining asset, converting a rebound in the 94th minute.
Chelsea were predictably difficult to contend with, but this improving United side showed their mettle, too, as the hosts enjoyed more shots on goal and a majority of the possession, per WhoScored.com.
Mourinho will assuredly put some of the blame on Branislav Ivanovic for the loss of two points. The Serbian international was hailed by The Times' Oliver Kay for his performance, but it was his needless sending off which gave United the free-kick leading up to their goal:
It was an unbeaten day for the away teams as a whole, too, with Everton and Newcastle United each managing to walk out of foreign territory with three points as their prize.
Tottenham opened the scoring at White Hart Lane through Emmanuel Adebayor, but Sammy Ameobi's introduction as a half-time super-sub changed matters in favour of the visiting Magpies.
The forward latched onto some early initiative from Jack Colback, equalising just six seconds into the second period.
Ayoze Perez contributed a header in the 58th minute to give Newcastle a lead which they would then keep hold of for the remainder of the tie.
Per Ben McAleer, Alan Pardew gave credit to the hosts for their first-half showing, but will undoubtedly be encouraged by the tenacity his side displayed in overcoming the deficit:
Everton's ex-Chelsea striker combination was in glittering form at Turf Moor, with Samuel Eto'o netting a brace to go with Romelu Lukaku's sole effort in giving Everton a 3-1 victory over Burnley.
Danny Ings did his best to pull the hosts back into the fixture with a goal on 20 minutes, but Roberto Martinez aimed all praise at Man of the Match Eto'o in his post-match comments per the Toffees' official website:
"Everyone will speak about Samuel's goals and his finishes but as a manager I was more pleased with his all-round contribution. His link-up play was exceptional and his defensive work very disciplined. For someone who is at this experienced part of his career, to play 90 minutes on Thursday and today shows how he looks after himself.
"
He is an incredible professional to have in a young group and dressing room. I was extremely proud of his performance.
The Cameroonian's free signing is showing itself to be of more and more value to the Merseysiders this season, and Everton move up five places into ninth with that win in hand.
West Ham and Diafra Sakho On Fire
There’s no sign of West Ham United’s scintillating start to season slowing down, as they dispatched of champions Manchester City 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground. And just as he’s done in every league game he’s started this season, Sakho found the back of the net, pushing him into fourth place in the race for the Golden Boot behind Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa and Saido Berahino—the latter scored one again for West Bromwich Albion.
The Senegalese striker was plying his trade in Ligue 2 for FC Metz before Sam Allardyce brought him to the capital, and you have to give credit to the Hammers boss, who looks to have found a real gem of a forward.
His aerial ability has been especially impressive—he scored yet another header against City—something noted here by WhoScored:
After his four goals against Tottenham Hotspur in Week 8, Aguero was a lot more profligate in front of goal this time out. The Argentinian was typically bright throughout the clash, but he was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal. Indeed, the man with nine goals for the campaign missed a simple chance from just six yards out, rattling a shot off the crossbar.
He can be forgiven after given his excellent early season form though, as Squawka note here:
Sakho is in red hot form, but it’d be a major surprise to see him in the mix for the Golden Boot come the end of the season. The 24-year-old has been forensically clinical in the early stages, but with West Ham unlikely to keep up this magnificent early-season form, there’s every chance the goals will begin to dry up as difficult fixtures start to come thick and fast.
Alexis Sanchez Adds To Sunderland Misery
After Arsene Wenger splurged in excess of £30 million on the Chilean, Alexis Sanchez is increasingly looking like one of the bargains of the summer following yet another outstanding display for Arsenal. Admittedly, he was gifted two goals here by an abject Sunderland back line.
The former Barcelona forward was on hand to capitalise on an error from Wes Brown, racing clear and nonchalantly dinking the ball over the onrushing Vito Mannone, before taking advantage of another mistake late on from the 'keeper himself. Sanchez has been an undeniable positive in the early stages of what has been a difficult start to the season for Arsenal, and the Gunners will be hoping to build on this win he played a critical part in.
OptaJoe afforded us an indication of just how in-form Sanchez currently is:
Although his goals were simple, the Chilean was a constant menace in this one. He terrorised the Sunderland players for the entire 90 minutes and, in truth, a pair of goals was just reward for his outstanding all-round display. Indeed, WhoScored acknowledged his efforts by naming him as their Man of the Match:
Sanchez has adapted superbly to the rigours of top flight English football, and if he continues to add a regular stream of goals—he has five for the season already—then he'll soon establish himself as one of the finest players in the division.
Given the swagger with which he's taken to life in the Premier League, opposition defences must be scared to think he's likely to get better and better.
