Man City remain without Rodri, with Palmer’s four goals ahead of Chelsea
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Man City remain without Rodri, with Palmer’s four goals ahead of Chelsea

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Cole Palmer © Gallo Images

Manchester City felt the absence of star midfielder Rodri as the Premier League champions drew 1-1 with Newcastle, while Cole Palmer scored four goals in Chelsea’s 4-2 victory over Brighton on Saturday.

Man City remain without Rodri, with Palmer’s four goals ahead of Chelsea

City’s second draw in the league was particularly frustrating as Arsenal moved level on points with them following a 4-2 win over Leicester a few hours later.

Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a knee injury he suffered during last weekend’s 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal.

Josko Gvardiol put City ahead at St James’ Park, but Newcastle fully deserved the point awarded to them after Anthony Gordon’s second-half penalty.

Guardiola described Rodri, who is unbeaten in his last 52 Premier League appearances dating back to February 2023, as “irreplaceable”.

To fill the void left by the Spaniard, Rico Lewis was moved into the central midfield position alongside Mateo Kovacic.

City, however, lacked the control and composure that Rodri so often provided, both on and off the ball.

“It’s always difficult here because of their physicality and they defend so deep. We had chances but (Nick) Pope (the goalkeeper) was brilliant so we take the point,” Guardiola said.

“We made bad decisions (considering the odds) to go up 2-0.”

At the Emirates Stadium, Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead in the 20th minute with his first goal of the season, with the Brazilian winger firing a low shot at the far post after Jurrien Timber’s cross.

Martinelli changed supplier after the first half, thanks to which Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal’s second goal.

James Justin reduced the deficit with a deflected shot in the 47th minute and deafened the Emirates Stadium in the 63rd minute when his thunderous volley bounced off the goalposts.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men stole the points four minutes into stoppage time when Trossard’s shot deflected off Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi and scored an own goal, while Kai Havertz scored moments later to confirm victory.

PALMER INTRODUCES SHOES

Palmer became the first player in history to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match after a stunning display at Stamford Bridge.

Former Brighton duo Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez made errors when Georginio Rutter put the Seagulls ahead in the seventh minute.

Just a few moments after hitting the post and disallowing the goal, in the 21st minute Palmer had his third lucky break.

Palmer equalized with a clinical finish after Nicolas Jackson took advantage of Adam Webster’s mistake and tripped his team-mate.

When Jadon Sancho was tripped by two Brighton defenders in the penalty area, there was no doubt that penalty expert Palmer would easily concede a penalty in the 28th minute.

Palmer won the treble in nine minutes and 48 seconds in the 31st minute, slotting a superb 25-yard free-kick past Bart Verbruggen to score five goals in six league games this season.

Carlos Baleba conceded one goal in the 34th minute, but Palmer’s incredible afternoon was not over and in the 41st minute the English star converted Sancho’s pass with a decisive strike.

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek salvaged a 1-1 draw with Brentford that made Premier League history thanks to Bryan Mbeumo’s quick strike.

Underrated Hammers coach Julen Lopetegui saw his side lose the advantage after just 37 seconds when Mbeumo’s superb volley made Brentford the first Premier League side to score in the first minute in three consecutive games.

However, Soucek equalized for West Ham in the 54th minute to avoid a fourth defeat in the last five games in all competitions.

Dwight McNeil scored twice in the second half as Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1 to end a winless start to the league season, just days after Goodison Park was taken over by a group led by American billionaire Dan Friedkin.

Raul Jimenez’s 51st-minute penalty gave Fulham a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool will top the table if they beat Wolves in Saturday’s late game.

Website https://www.ce-machecoul.fr

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