After the Premier League kicked off for Matchday 4 when Crystal Palace hosted Tottenham in a London derby, it made one believed we were in for a weekend of upsets perhaps.
When Patrick Vieira collected his first three points and Newcastle equalised at Old Trafford, it fell even more in favour of an upset weekend of English top-flight football. However, Ronaldo wasn’t having any of it on his debut and led the Red Devils to the top of the table standings with a brace.
Not letting him enjoy the celebrations too much at the Theatre of Dreams and throwing a party of his own, Romelu Lukaku enjoyed a faultless welcome back party. It was the perfect comeback to club action!
Premier League Matchday 4 stats
Number of games won – 9 Games
Number of games lost – 9 Games
Number of games drawn – 1 Game
Goals scored – 23 Goals scored
Clean sheets – 9 Clean sheets
Premier League goal of the weekend, Matchday 4: Odsonne Edouard – Crystal Palace
The goal wasn’t the best or from far out, or even easy on the eye, but singled the start of so many great possibilities for Crystal Palace and Odsonne Edouard. Also, it was the fastest goal scored by a player after being introduced to a game – not only for Matchday 4 – but also for the entire season.
Best team of Matchday 4 in the EPL: 4-3-3 Formation
Edouard Mendy,
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
The Chelsea stopper had a hand or more in helping his team keep their third clean sheet of the season – his best bit coming when denying Villa with a double save. Edouard Mendy made the second-most saves on Matchday 4 with six saves, only behind Kasper Schmeichel’s 7 saves.
The latter, unfortunately, couldn’t help his side gain a point for the least, despite displaying impenetrable form; his side conceded the only goal of the game and lost 0-1 to Manchester City.
Mendy is joined at the table by three other Premier League keepers who have kept three clean sheets, but the Senegalese stands above his peers and next to Schmeichel with both men making the most saves this season with 16 saves made.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Leeds United 0-3 Liverpool
The young Scoucer was again pulling the strings from right-back, proving his manager’s right, “why would you play the best right-back in the world, in midfield”.
But Trent excelled thanks to the help of those around him, especially Thiago and Fabinho. The Englishman assisted Salah for his goal and the first of the game and by this, equalled Gary Neville’s record of 35 assists – but in 267 fewer games.
He is in red hot form, collecting his second assist for the season and is leading the EPL in crosses completed with 41 – the closest to him is James Ward-Prowse with 31.
Defender – Joel Matip
Leeds United 0-3 Liverpool
It was a toss between him and his partner Virgil van Dijk, however, it was him who had the better numbers in their game against Leeds. In spite of there being a hostile crowd, the Reds ran the show and Matip was a huge part of this, being involved in things at the back and at the top of the pitch.
He added a key pass to his game to help the Reds score the first and for Mo Salah to get his 100th Premier League goal. He managed one completed dribble, a key pass, won two aerial duels and had a 94% successful passing accuracy.
Defender – Thiago Silva
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa
The Brazilain that is also the Blues’ general, Thiago Silva; another reason for Chelsea keeping another clean sheet. He was perfect with his defensive duties and was equally threatening in the opposition box, coming close to scoring.
His best contribution came when Villa looked the most threatening and were on goal through Ollie Watkins, who passed Mendy and just had to put it at the back of the net, but was denied by the head of Thiago.
He also kept one of the most in-form strikers since the start of the season, quiet during the time he was on the pitch. Danny Ings, as expected, came up blank against Silva and co.
Defender – Luke Shaw
Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United
Luke Shaw continues to make a claim for the best left back in the EPL. Besides the goal conceded cause of the whole team lapsing and getting caught up in the Ronaldo moment, Shaw barely put a foot wrong.
The English international registered another assist, supplying Ronaldo with his second goal of the game, helping Man United go ahead for the second time on the day. The LB made two successful tackles, one successful dribble and accumulated a 92% pass completion.
Midfielder – Paul Pogba
Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United
Can you add another two assists to Paul Pogba’s name please! Thank you! The Frenchman, who is in the final year of his contract, is really leaving all at Old Trafford with a party piece. Pogba again had a double hand in the team’s result, supplying two assists on the day.
He now leads the Premier League in assists with seven – he is four ahead of the next player – that player being Michail Antonio with three.
Midfielder – Thiago Alcântara
Leeds United 0-3 Liverpool
Thiago 1 – critics 0! That is the word after his immense showing against Leeds United, where he and his Brazilian teammate stole the show and bossed the midfield. Thiago’s efforts were repaid with an assist for Sadio Mane’s goal to take the game far out of Leeds’ reach.
Thiago broke up play in the middle of the park, effortlessly. He made four tackles, the most in the game by any player on the pitch. Every tackle made, he calmly recollected and set whoever upfront on their bike, instantly turning defence into attack.
Midfielder – Mateo Kovacic
Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City
Kovacic through ball to find Lukaku for his first goal of the game was simply world-class. The Croatian appears to be at the peak of his powers, rewarding his manager with a goal and assist, contributing to two of the three scored by Chelsea.
He was instrumental and is forcing Thomas Tuchel to keep him in his starting XI plans, despite the arrival of Saul, who let’s be honest, had a questionable start to life in England’s top-flight.
Mateo Kovacic’s goal scored displayed his sharp mind and ability to read the game, catching Mings napping on the ball. Hope he can stay injury-free and get a long run this season.
Forward – Odsonne Edouard
Crystal Palace 3-0 Tottenham
There is nobody that can deny that it is, in fact, Odsonne Edouard who had the best Premier League debut this season and on Matchday 4. The man stepped onto the pitch and the first touch of the ball turned into a goal.
It took him 28 seconds to score his first of the game and the season. He then sealed the three points for Palace after scoring a second goal – his brace scored took him only eight minutes, the quickest of the three braces scored on the day by him, Lukaku, and Ronaldo.
Forward – Romelu Lukaku
Chelsae 3-0 Aston Villa
Like Ronaldo, so did Lukaku enjoy his home fans at Stamford Bridge for the first time this season, replying to CR7’s brace with one of his own. It took the Belgian 15 minutes to get on the scoresheet for the second time this season.
His second of the game and the final for the Blues was top-draw! He actually handed César Azpilicueta an assist with a lot of work still left to do for the forward after receiving the pass. He scored from the edge of the box to take his tally to three goals in three games played.
What was amazing about the Belgian, Ronaldo took six shots to score a pair, he only took two shots – a 100% shot accuracy for Lukaku.
Forward – Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United
It is no secret why Ronaldo has made TTF’s best XI for Matchday 4. The striker scored a brace on his second full debut to take Man United straight to the top, providing enough evidence, he means business.
Yes, Ronaldo had some of the worst numbers during the game and had some of the least touches on the pitch. However, when he did get the ball at his feet, something happened almost every time. He took six shots at goal and scored from two of them.
All English Premier League
Manager of the weekend: Patrick Vieira – Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 3-0 Tottenham
The manager who stopped a London rival from a 100% record while at the same time, opened his Premier League account. Patrick Vieira currently has his Palace side doing the right things, keeping a clean sheet and scoring three to collect all the points against the club who were on a flawless run.
Vieira’s Eagles are now unbeaten in their last three games and collected five points following an opening day loss. His side sits in 11th place on the Premier League table after their win.
Honourable mentions
Wilfried Zaha – Crystal Palace
Mohammed Salisu – Southampton
Michael Keane – Everton
Andros Townsend – Everton
Mateo Kovacic – Chelsea
Fabinho – Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United