Matchday 7 of the EPL season is in the books, and we’re here to review it, identify the big takeaways, and examine the markets.
EPL Matchday 7 Wrap
Liverpool did the job in the early kickoff to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 but it wasn’t all pretty. While dominant in the first half as Diogo Jota scored the only goal, Liverpool lost Alisson in goal and were lucky not to see Virgil van Dijk give away a penalty. Nonetheless, Arne Slot continues his hot start in charge for Liverpool to sit at the top of the Premier League ladder and on the third line of betting to stay there at $4.33.
Manchester City ($2.80) and EPL favourites Arsenal ($2.25) didn’t have it easy, either. Both required comebacks to take the points. City needed a double from Mateo Kocacic and a Jeremy Doku goal in the 82nd minute to get past Fulham, who held a 1-0 lead after 26 minutes. Meanwhile, Cameron Archer’s goal (55’) gave Southampton an unlikely lead in the second half before Kai Havertz (58’), Gabriel Martinelli (68’) and Bukayo Sake (88’) allowed Arsenal to escape embarrassment.
Bukayo Saka registered two assists for @Arsenal against Southampton, and now sits three clear at the top of the playmaking table! 👏 pic.twitter.com/fvtUlwdJzA
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 5, 2024
Brentford scored an early goal again. Late by their standards at 75 seconds, but early enough for it to be four games in a row with a goal inside two minutes. However, unlike the last three, Brentford turned the hot start into a win. Leading Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-2 at halftime, the two teams scored a goal each for a final 5-3 Brentford win.
West Ham got the monkey off their back with their first home win of the season, beating Ipswich 4-1. Meanwhile, Leicester scored their first win of the EPL season. We liked them to win or draw this week but didn’t expect Bournemouth to put only two of their 17 shots on target while playing with 55.7% possession to finish without finding the net.
Finally, Anthony Gordon missed a penalty against his former side as Everton and Newcastle played out a 0-0 draw. It’s one Everton will take to give them a run of three games without defeat.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝟎-𝟎 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞
Newcastle fail to make the most of their territorial dominance; they didn't get a single shot on target after Anthony Gordon's 35th-minute penalty was saved.
Everton get their first Premier League clean sheet of the season. pic.twitter.com/SdrAG9wExq
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 5, 2024
Sunday had it all.
Aston Villa and Manchester United first played out a 0-0 draw. While a fine result for Villa in a week dealing with European football, appearing to play for a draw hasn’t helped Erik ten Hag be more secure in his role with United. Nottingham Forest continues to be a tough beat. Chris Wood gave them an early lead before Noni Madueke equalised for Chelsea. Despite James Ward-Prowse being sent off late, Forest held on to secure the point.
In what might be the game of Matchday 7, Tottenham Hotspur gave up a 2-0 lead to Brighton & Hove Albion. Ange Postecoglou’s side controlled the first half but failed to turn up in the second as Yankubu Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck secured the comeback win.
3 Takeaways from Matchday 7
Brilliant Brentford
This is getting out of control now…
We know that Brentford rehearse their plays from a kickoff. They plan for who will play the pass, who will receive it, and where. It’s practice that keeps paying off as they made it four games in a row with a goal inside two minutes.
Brentford CANNOT keep getting away with this! 😭 ⏱ pic.twitter.com/6L6m4u46h7
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) October 5, 2024
Like Brentford manager Thomas Frank says, “It’s not a coincidence.”
They playback from the kickoff and flood forward to where they think the ball will land. They win second balls and go straight for goal. It took a little bit longer this week, but they were presented with an opportunity to cross it into the box where three Brentford players waited to capitalise.
Brentford became the first team in EPL history to score inside a minute in three consecutive games last week. They were 16 seconds short of making it four in this one. When they do score in the first minute again – and it will come – they will be the first Premier League side ever to score four times inside a minute in a single season.
Where did it go wrong for Tottenham?
Ahead 2-0 over Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur looked well on their way to another win. Following a scratchy start to the season, big wins over Brentford and Manchester United in the EPL and five wins on the bounce in all competitions had them back on track.
Then, the referee whistled for halftime…
Tottenham considered the job done at the break. They played as though the result was beyond doubt. Their style of play that puts them in a position to win is somewhat risky. Playing with such a high line can cause problems. However, it’s also what got them the lead in the first place.
Ange Postecoglou couldn’t hide his frustrations after the game:
“It’s unacceptable at the end of the day. You can understand that you’re not going to win every game. But there’s the manner you lose games. And that’s the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve lost the game in that manner. Unacceptable.“
So, despite a strong first half in which Brennan Johnson scored for his sixth-consecutive game. Despite this Tottenham team looking like one that could challenge for the Top 4 throughout the first 45 minutes. We’re back to square one and way out to $4.20 to finish in the Top 4.
Forest fighting for top half finish
Nottingham Forest currently sits 10th on the EPL ladder and presents as a value play at $5 to stay there.
They’re not a high-flying team that will blow others off the park. Their gritty and hard-working style of play up front is perfectly captured by Chris Wood, who scored again in Forest’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea. He’s one of only 10 players to have scored 10+ Premier League goals away from home since the start of last season.
Right place at the right time 👌 pic.twitter.com/G80QXFES7n
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 6, 2024
However, their defence is worth backing. Only Liverpool has conceded fewer goals than Nottingham Forest’s six this season. They played for 26 minutes a man down after James Ward-Prowse was sent for an early shower and still managed to hold on.
There is always a team that exceeds expectations and does so by being difficult to break down, successful at home and hard to beat on the road. Forest look like that team this season.
Bet Now TOP HALF FINISH - NOTTINGHAM FOREST @ $5News & Notes
– In going down to Arsenal, Southampton are without a win in their last 20 EPL games, a new club record.
– Diogo Jota celebrated his 100th Liverpool start in fitting fashion. No Liverpool striker has a better conversion rate on shots to goals than Jota since he made his debut in September 2020.
– Liverpool got the win but will be without their keeper, Alisson Becker, who went off with an injury. “It’s going to take a few weeks,” Arne Slot said.
Bukayo Saka has created 27 chances in the PL this season, at least four more than any other player.
Bukayo Saka has created 13 big chances in the PL this season, at least five more than any other player.
Bukayo Saka has provided 7 assists in the PL this season, at least three… pic.twitter.com/bnbfuEvwIQ
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 5, 2024
– Erling Haaland has scored 10, but no player has been directly involved in more goals this season than Cole Palmer (11).
– While Tottenham became the first side in EPL history to lose 10 games after leading by 2+ goals, Brighton won a game after being down 2-0 at halftime for their first time in the Premier League.
– Erik Ten Hag’s nine points after seven Premier League games last season equalled Manchester United’s worst start. He’s beaten it this year with eight.