Tottenham Hotspur went top of the Premier League table on Saturday thanks to a 2-0 victory away to Bournemouth, to continue their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 campaign.
The Premier League 2023 results later in the weekend might result in Spurs slipping off the summit, but there’s a good feeling on the White side of North London right now. Ange Postecoglou has already won plenty of friends at Tottenham and his attacking style of play is paying dividends on the pitch as his team made it two wins and a draw from their first three games.
It seems like the sale of Harry Kane to FC Bayern has balanced the team somehow.
Summer recruit James Maddison was a doubt before the match at the Vitality Stadium, having suffered an ankle injury during Spurs’ win over Manchester United last week, but the attacking midfielder was announced fit and he finished off a sweeping move to put Spurs ahead in the first half. The visitors were in control throughout and they doubled their lead, early in the second half, when Destiny Udogie played a one-two with Heung-Min Son before finding Dejan Kulusevski who slotted home from close range.
With 57 per cent possession, 17 shots to 11 and six the three on target, Spurs were well worth this win and they are starting to look like a team with a real identity once again.
Chelsea end their home hoodoo
Elsewhere in the capital city Chelsea picked up a first win under Mauricio Pochettino with a 3-0 victory over Luton Town on Friday night. It was the Blues’ first league win at Stamford Bridge in nine attempts, having drawn five and lost three of their last eight on home soil. And it was a convincing victory thanks to a brilliant display from Raheem Sterling who scored a brace and made an assist to see off the Hatters.
The Blues started brightly and were ahead on 17 minutes when Sterling picked up the ball on the right, and the Luton defence stood aside for him as he drove towards the goals and fired home. His second came after the hour when he converted a superb cross from Malo Gusto and then Sterling turned provider to gift Nicolas Jackson his first goal as a Chelsea striker.
When you look at the money each team have spent on their starting 11, Chelsea have splashed £441m compared to Luton Town’s £15m, there is no way the Blues could have been excused anything other than a win at SBOTOP odds of 1.21 and, thankfully for the Chelsea faithful, they delivered.
Elsewhere, title hopefuls and Tottenham’s main rivals, Arsenal were frustrated in a 2-2 draw at home to Marco Silva’s Fulham. The Cottagers took a first minute lead when Andreas Pereira took advantage of an error from Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal man made amends when he fired home a second half penalty and then Eddie Nketiah put the Gunners in front. The game looked up for Fulham when Calvin Bassey was sent off but Joao Palhinha had all the space he needed to grab a late equaliser.
The Premier League 2023 betting odds have taken another shift further North, where hot favourites Manchester City play Sheffield United on Sunday.
Lucky Red Devils edge out Forest
Two weeks after Manchester United got away with a huge VAR blunder to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers they were on the right side of the officials’ decisions again to win a five goal thriller against Nottingham Forest. The Red Devils beat Wolves 1-0 but how keeper Andre Onana got away with wiping out Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic in the penalty area was a complete mystery.
And after losing to Spurs last week United were in all sorts of trouble at home to Nottingham Forest, 2-0 down to early goals from Taiwo Awoniyi and Willy Boly; but Christian Eriksen halved he deficit midway through the first half. Manchester United’s midfield ace Casemiro levelled early in the second period and the pendulum swung firmly in the hosts’ direction when Forest centre back Joe Worral was red carded. Forest continued to attack, searching for a winner, but they came unstuck when Danilo tripped Marcus Rashford on the corner of the penalty area; it looked like the England striker made a lot of the challenge but the referee hurriedly pointed to the spot.
Bruno Fernades smashed home the spot kick to give United all three points and Erik Ten Hag’s team can think themselves a little lucky.
Along the East Lancs Road from Old Trafford there are more worries mounting at Everton after the Toffees were beaten at home to a late Wolves goal and find themselves bottom of the league.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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