Premier League: Prolific Teemu Pukki rewards Norwich’s attacking play and four other things you missed

Norwich City, Everton, Liverpool and Bournemouth all ran out winners on a sun-glossed Saturday afternoon in the Premier League while Newcastle’s turmoil continues to deepen.

Steve Bruce’s dispirited side were thumped 3-1 after Teemu Pukki scored a hat-trick for Norwich, while Sadio Mane haunted his former side as Liverpool survived a nervy ending to defeat Southampton on the south coast.

Elsewhere, Brighton were held to a draw by West Ham despite a flourishing display from new signing Leandro Trossard while Bournemouth and Everton secured close-fought victories against Watford and a defensively hamstrung Aston Villa respectively. Here are five talking points from the 3pm fixtures:

It’s so often the case with newly promoted sides that they simply do not have the firepower to outmatch established Premier League opponents. Cardiff last season were a prime example of a side who can barricade in defence but didn’t have a genuine goalscoring threat to seize that one decisive change against the run of play.

Yet, while Daniel Farke’s Norwich side have swaggered into the top-flight with a risky and free-flowing brand of attacking football that can so often get exposed when moving up a level, in Teemu Pukki the Canaries boast a prolific striker who will reward their open style of play. After scoring 29 goals in the Championship last season, the Finnish forward immediately got off the mark in the club’s humbling 4-1 opening defeat at Anfield.

But this week, against the tamer threat of Newcastle, Norwich were as brilliant as the Magpies were poor and, after putting his side ahead with a thunderous volley in the first-half, Pukki completed his hat-trick in the second. Few of the other touted relegation candidates possess a player capable of such clinical match-winning moments that can go a long way to hauling Norwich to safety this season.

open image in gallery

Bournemouth ripped early shreds through a worryingly open Aston Villa, scoring twice in the first 12 minutes, and it was Harry Wilson who starred on his first start for the Cherries. The 20-year-old winger’s desperation to play carried him away from Anfield towards the south coast this season and he flourished in an attacking trio alongside Joshua King and Ryan Fraser, scoring his first goal for the club as his lashed 30-yard shot deflected off Tyrone Mings and wrong-footed Tom Heaton.

For Villa, though, it was the same vein of defensive frailty that had seen them unravel during the final 20 minutes against Tottenham last weekend. There was a late fightback after Douglas Luiz pulled one back and more encouraging signs from Trezeguet on the wing, but if Dean Smith can not find a way to board up his thus far error-prone defence, his side are in for a long and scrappy season.

open image in gallery

At 35 years old, there is little in the way of surprise, flair or flicks to come from Glenn Murray and yet the veteran striker remains as great a nuisance as anyone in the Premier League. A combination of old fashioned industry and poacher’s nous, his value isn’t just based on the goalscoring threat he can bring, but his ability to distract and drag defenders and create space for attackers playing off him.

Today it was Brighton’s new signing, Leandro Trossard, who took full advantage on his first start since joining from Genk. A fast and whirring presence to counter Murray, he thought he’d put Brighton ahead in the first half with a fine volley only to be subsequently ruled out by VAR. But in the second, the pair combined to haul their side back into the game, Murray stealing the ball off Issa Diop after the centre-back’s poor touch before Trossard jinked inside and fizzed a shot past Fabianski and into the far corner. They couldn’t find a winner on this occasion, but add £20m signing Neal Maupay into that mix and Graham Potter has a strikeforce that many lower-table sides will envy.

open image in gallery

Despite their wealth of exciting new signings, it was the silky and ever so diminutive Bernard who reminded Goodison Park of his presence by scoring the game’s only goal as Everton gritted out victory over Watford. Alex Iwobi was an unused substitute – with Theo Walcott instead brought on in the second half – while Moise Kean made a promising 20-minute cameo at the end of the match and was unlucky not to score. However, it was the Ukrainian, likely to drop out of the starting eleven as a consequence of one of those two new arrivals, whose shuffle inside and angled low shot ultimately decided this game.

It wasn’t a captivating performance by any means, but Marco Silva’s side have taken four points from a possible six and their best is certainly still yet to come.

open image in gallery

Despite wearied legs after their midweek Super Cup exploits, Liverpool’s run of winning form continued unabated as Sadio Mane haunted his former club. The Senegalese’s brilliant finish on the stroke of half-time changed the tide of a tired game with Firmino putting Jurgen Klopp’s side two goals clear midway through the second-half.

However, there was a sharp reality check for penalty hero Adrian who, after overcoming an ankle injury inflicted by a pitch invader in Istanbul, comically kicked the ball against the shin of Danny Ings and watched mournfully as the ball deflected into his goal. The mindless moment made way for a nervy finish for Liverpool but they ultimately held on to seal an 11th successive victory, equalling their best-ever Premier League winning run.

Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth

Brighton 1-1 West Ham

Everton 1-0 Watford

Norwich 3-1 Newcastle

Southampton 1-2 Liverpool