David Moyes' Tactical Masterstroke: West Ham's Triumph Over Chelsea Silences the Critics
West Ham's resilient victory provides relief for under-pressure manager Moyes, while Sterling stands out among Chelsea's lackluster performance Everton's woes persist from last season, suffering a heavy defeat at Villa Park Aston Villa bounces back brilliantly, scoring four goals at home after their disappointing loss to Newcastle
Gritty derby win just the tonic for Moyes
It has been a tough start to the new campaign for West Ham manager David Moyes, despite the Scot having guided the Hammers to Europa Conference League glory back in May.
The European victory seemed to secure Moyes' position for another season at the London Stadium. However, news soon emerged about a disagreement between him and the club's new technical director, Tim Steidten. Additionally, Moyes has faced the repercussions of West Ham selling their captain and top player to Arsenal this summer. Moreover, Lucas Paqueta was on the verge of joining Premier League champions Man City until an FA and FIFA betting investigation postponed the transfer.
After failing to maintain a lead and settling for a draw against Bournemouth on the first Saturday of the season, the pressure on Moyes was mounting. However, a victory against big-spending Chelsea in a London derby provided the perfect remedy to silence any doubts about the manager. Additionally, Moyes was able to showcase the talents of James Ward-Prowse, who made an impressive debut, and Edson Alvarez, who received his first start as a substitute in the second half at the uplifting London Stadium.
Sterling on the rise
A notable victory, particularly against historical rivals Chelsea, can significantly uplift a team's morale, resulting in a bright atmosphere within the West Ham team, in stark contrast to their defeated opponents today."During the first half of Chelsea's eventual 3-1 defeat at West Ham, Jamie Carragher enthusiastically proclaimed Raheem Sterling as the best player on the pitch. And rightly so, as Sterling showcased his electrifying form, particularly with his exceptional ball control that left Emerson struggling to keep up. Even Tomas Soucek couldn't contain him, resulting in a foul just inside the box right before halftime. This means that Sterling now holds the record for the most penalties won in the Premier League with a total of 24. Regrettably for Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez's penalty save changed the momentum of the game, causing Sterling's impact to diminish after the break."
Sterling, who had the most touches in the opposition box (15) this season, could not convert his performance into a goal involvement, which was disappointing. However, this impressive display would have surely thrilled Mauricio Pochettino as it appears that the true Raheem Sterling has returned.
New season, same old Everton
Everton's Perennial Struggle: Repeating Actions and Hoping for ChangeSean Dyche's first summer in charge was expected to improve the team's defensive stability. However, this was not the case as players like Michael Keane and Ashley Young failed to perform well in Everton's worst defeat during his tenure at Villa Park.
Furthermore, their weak attack also had a detrimental impact on their performance against Fulham last weekend. This issue can be attributed to a lack of effective goal scorers, which doesn't seem likely to improve anytime soon, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin sustaining yet another injury at Villa Park.
Dyche acknowledges that the issues faced by the Toffees extend beyond just the manager. "I've learned from the past few seasons that our performance can vary greatly from week to week," he shared with We.
The challenge for Everton lies in the fact that their manager, who has a track record of transforming underdog teams into capable Premier League contenders, is now witnessing his own team sink to the bottom of the league for the first time in 13 years.
Villa deliver perfect bounce back from Newcastle defeat
Despite it being the early stages, Everton is still actively seeking new signings in the transfer market, giving hope for potential improvement. However, the current indications are worrisome, and the fact that a considerable number of Toffees supporters remained until the final whistle in the West Midlands just to express their disappointment through boos reflects their level of concern.
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Moussa Diaby (left) combined superbly with Leon Bailey
Following last weekend's thumping at Newcastle, Aston Villa needed a response - and they delivered an emphatic one against Everton.
Unai Emery's side had a commanding performance, with four different scorers finding the back of the net, 13 shots attempted, and a 60 percent possession rate. The team lived up to their pre-season expectations and showcased their dominance.
Moussa Diaby, who was acquired during the summer transfer window, once again left a strong impression. While he didn't manage to score, the forward posed a constant threat, leading both his team and Aston Villa with three shots attempted and two shots on target.
Diaby formed a strong connection with goal scorer Leon Bailey, frequently combining with him during the game. This partnership was particularly notable as Diaby linked up with Bailey eight times, surpassing any other Villa teammate. Their time together at Bayer Leverkusen seemed to have greatly influenced their on-field understanding.
However, neither Diaby nor Bailey managed to overshadow Captain John McGinn, who delivered an outstanding performance and scored the opening goal. McGinn's display truly reflected his role as captain, as he motivated and led the Villa team both in possession and without the ball. By doing so, he played a vital role in helping the team move on from their previous significant defeat last Saturday.
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John McGinn, the captain of Aston Villa, scored their first goal in the match against Everton. Under the leadership of Emery, Villa Park has transformed into a stronghold, where the team consistently bounces back from away defeats. They have achieved an impressive feat of winning eight consecutive home Premier League games, marking their longest winning streak at home in the league since February 1990. During this remarkable run, Villa has only conceded two goals, both of which were not scored from open play.
Emery is hopeful that this resounding victory over Everton will provide the much-needed boost for their season. As they prepare for their first European campaign in 13 years, starting with a Europa Conference League qualifier against Hibernian on Wednesday, Emery aims to capitalize on this momentum. Sign up for NOW and watch Premier League matches for just £26 per month for 12 months. Enjoy the flexibility to cancel anytime.
