One hattrick Saturday in the English Premier League

Premier League weekend roundup: Everton's struggle, Man City's dominance, Chelsea's upset, and Sunday's expectations.

Erling Haaland hit another hattrick to help Manchester City past Fulham on Saturday at the Etihad. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Saturday served us premium ecstasy once again in the Premier League, and you wonder how hard it must be for us to watch the season take a pause for the first international break of the 2023–2024 season.

Everton’s struggles continue to scare the Goodison Park faithful, but they can take solace in Arnaut Danjuma’s late goal that earned them a point at Bramall Lane. It was a game of two sides on the chopping list, and in the end, they both earned their first point of the season.

The game showed exactly why both sides are at the top of bookmakers’ relegation picks. It was end-to-end for most of the game, but there were lots of missed chances and schoolboy errors, an own goal from Jordan Pickford, and some sensational saves from England number one. It ended 2-2.

Manchester City started slowly at home against Fulham, but as soon as they activated their superstar up front, it was done and dusted. Erling Haaland scored a hattrick, but that doesn’t in any way tell the entire story.

Fulham leveled after Julian Alvarez had fired the champions in front, but the Lilywhites would feel hard done by City’s second goal. Phil Foden’s corner kick met the head of Nathan Ake, and the Dutch defender directed his effort goalwards only to pass through Manuel Akanji, who was offside.

Marco Silva was foaming and fuming on the sidelines, and that energy earned him a yellow, but Michael Oliver awarded the goal after a VAR review. Haaland took laws into his own hands in the second half with three different kinds of goals. Is there any way to stop this bot?

Chelsea proved yet again that money isn't everything. How can you explain Nottingham Forest winning at Stamford Bridge? Anthony Elanga connected to a fine Taiwo Awoniyi pass to slide past Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal and the Blues never recovered. Where does Mauricio Pochettino go from here?

Newcastle learned their fate in the Champions League, and it wasn’t pretty, but they can’t blame their poor performance against Brighton on the UCL draws. The Seagulls heaped three Evan Ferguson goals on the Geordies, and you wonder if they’re indeed ready for the Champions League.

Spare a thought for Tottenham; they’re on top form, and is Heung Min Son back? The Korean scored a hat-trick at Burnley in Spurs 5-2 win over the Clarets. You can score first and still lose heavily; this is why it’s called the Premier League.

City remains the team to beat; four wins in four, and the chasing pack must be worried. Bryan Mbeumo scored again in Brentford’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. What do the Sunday games plan for us? Either way, we’re excited.