August 9th to11th - Deja vu was the feeling on the first weekend as last season's top two carried on from where they left off in May. The season opened with Liverpool entertaining Norwich on Friday night. Jurgen Klopp's side raced into a four-nil half time lead thanks to goals from Hanley (og), Salah, Van Dijk and Origi. Norwich got their reward for a decent performance with a second half goal from Teemu Pukki. The Reds will be more concerned with a calf injury to Alisson Becker who looks like being out for about a month...

Champions Man City responded with a five-nil win at West Ham on Saturday. Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick in that one with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus also on the scoresheet. Tottenham also started with a win - they had to come from behind to beat Aston Villa three-one at White Hart Lane. Harry Kane scored twice earning four bonus points for the managers who picked him in one of the goalscorer bonus point categories.

Elsewhere this weekend, Arsenal started off with a solid one-nil win at Newcastle - Pierre Emerick Aubamayang scored the winner for Unai Emery's side. Billy Sharp scored a late equaliser as Sheffield United earned a point on their return to the top division at Bournemouth. Ashley Barnes scored twice in Burnley's three-nil win at home to Southampton. There were nil-all draws at Selhurst Park (Crystal Palace versus Everton) and at the King Power Stadium between Leicester and Wolves.

The weekend's action ended with Man United hitting Chelsea for four at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford scored twice as the Old Trafford faithful went home happy after a great opening victory. Frank Lampard's managerial bow didn't quite go as hoped for him.

The first leaderboard of the season sees Brendan Maguire lead on 60 points. There are three players just five points off the pace - Anastas Popov, Con McSweeney and Simon Scanlon. Gary Donnelly and Sean O'Mairtin share fifth place just three points further back. We're well and truly off and running....

 


The only Sterling that looks
like going up in value....



Harry Kane off the mark in August....


August 17th and 18th - Arsenal kicked off the weekend's entertainment with a two-one win at home to Burnley. Goals from the deadly duo of Lacazette and Aubameyang saw the Gunners win their opening two games of the season for the first time in ten years. They'll head to Anfield next weekend to face a Liverpool side who have also opened with two wins. Goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were enough for a nervy two-one win at Southampton. Danny Ings scored late on against his former club and could have had a second. After their midweek exploits in Istanbul, Jurgen Klopp's side will be very happy to have picked up the three points.

Teemu Pukki looks to have carried on his goalscoring exploits from the Championship last season. He scored three as Norwich picked up their first win back in the Premier League beating Newcastle at Carrow Road. Fellow promoted side Aston Villa are still looking for their first points of the season. They lost two-one at home to Bournemouth. Goals from Josh King and Harry Wilson were enough for Eddie Howe's side despite Douglas Luiz pulling on back for the hosts.

Everton won the Silva Derby at Goodison Park - Bernard's early goal saw off Watford. That's a decent opening for the Blues with four points from six and no goals conceded. Brighton and West Ham shared the points after a one-all draw at the Amex Stadium. Javier Hernandez scored for the Hammers but Leandro Trossard earned a point for Graham Potter's side.

Man City's nemesis in the form of VAR returned to the Etihad on Saturday evening. With the game poised at two-all in injury time, Gabriel Jesus powered a shot in to Tottenham's net. However, as the celebrations were underway, VAR intervened, just like the Champions League quarter final in April, and the goal was chalked off. Spurs held out for a point, despite the hosts having thirty attempts on target. City, meantime, dropped their first points since their defeat at Newcastle last season.

An entertaining game between Chelsea and Leicester on Sunday afternoon finished with the points shared. Mason Mount opened the scoring for Frank Lampard's side but Wilfred Ndidi earned a point for the Foxes after his earlier mistake. Sheffield United remain unbeaten on their return to the Premier League - John Lundstram scored the only goal at Bramall Lane as they beat Crystal Palace one-nil.

Sean O'Mairtin moves to the top of the August leaderboard after picking up 52 points since the last update. Anastas Popov remains in second place, just seven points back with last week's leader Brendan Maguire now in third place. The top five after two weekends is completed by Simon Scanlon and myself (no doubt peaking too soon with 36 rounds of games to go!!). Full details below:

 



August 23rd to 25th - The Egyptian King was running down the wing again as Liverpool made it three wins from three. Arsenal showed a bit more steel than recent visits to Anfield but once Joel Matip headed Liverpool in front just before half-time there was an inevitability about the result. Mo Salah added two more before Lucas Torreira scored a consolation for Unai Emery's side. Man City moved into second place with a three-one win at Bournemouth on Sunday. They were two-up with goals from Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling before Harry Wilson pulled one back for the hosts. Aguero's second of the game in the second half ensured Pep Guardiola's side left with the three points.

Chelsea picked up their first win of the season coming out the right side of a three-two scoreline at Norwich. Tammy Abraham scored twice with Mason Mount firing in the winner late on. Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki (his fifth of the season already) twice had the hosts on level terms but Frank Lampard's side did enough to earn the three points eventually. Aston Villa also picked up their first win of the season on Friday night. Goals from Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi saw off the challenge of a disappointing Everton side.

Crystal Palace created a little bit of history with their first ever Premier League win over Man United at Old Trafford. After the controversy over the penalty taking at Wolves there was giggling in the back row as Marcus Rashford missed a penalty in the second half. Daniel James eventually equalised Jordan Ayew's opener but an injury time winner from Patrick Van Annholt left the home fans fewmin....

Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes scored for Leicester in their two-one win at Sheffield United. They're still unbeaten after three games and looking like top six challengers this season. Southampton beat Brighton two-nil in the South Coast Derby. Florin Andone was sent off before second half goals from Moussa Djenepo and Nathan Redmond made the short journey home a happy one for the Saints.

West Ham picked up their first win of the season too. An early Mark Noble penalty set them on their way to a three-one win at Watford. The chances of Javi Gracia earning three of you fifteen bonus points increase by the week.... Tottenham were shocked by Newcastle on Sunday - Joelinton, their record signing, scored the only goal of the game at White Hart Lane. The points were shared at Moulineux where Raul Jimenez scored a penalty five minutes into injury time to cancel out Ashley Barnes opener for Burnley.

A score of 41 points from the week's games was enough for Anastas Popov to open up a twelve point lead in the monthly competition. Sean O'Mairtin is in second place ahead of Wayne Donovan. Chris Keohan picked up 56 points (including 4 ten-pointers) since the last update to move into fourth place. Full details below:

 



August 31st - Liverpool's perfect start to the season continued at Turf Moor. A three-nil victory ensured the Reds are the only club to make it four wins from four in August. Two quick fire goals late in the first half from Wood (own goal from Alexander Arnold's cross) and Mane ensured the contest was pretty much over. Firmino added a third late on to complete the gloss on another great performance with the added bonus of a first clean sheet of the season.

Man City remain two points behind as they scored their customary four goals against Brighton - De Bruyne, Aguero (2) and Bernardo saw Pep Guardiola's side remain two points behind the leaders. Chelsea's faltering start to the season continued. Sheffield United came from two down at Stamford Bridge to earn a point. Frank Lampard's side were two up with a brace from Tammy Abraham. Callum Robinson pulled one back, the first Irish goal scorer in the Premier League this season, with Kurt Zouma scoring an unfortunate own goal then late on the see the spoils shared.

Leicester were tipped by many as potential top four challengers before the season started. They moved into third place as Jamie Vardy scored twice in a three-one win at home to Bournemouth. Crystal Palace are fourth - they beat Aston Villa one-nil at Selhurst Park. Jordan Ayew scored the only goal as Roy Hodgson's side entered nose bleed territory.

Watford picked up their first point of the season with a one-all draw at Newcastle. Will Hughes opened the scoring for the Hornets but Fabian Schar equalised to earn a point for Steve Bruce's side. Man United's faltering start to the season continued when they dropped points at Southampton. Daniel James fired United into the lead but the Saints equalised through Jannik Vestergaard. United couldn't find a winner despite the hosts being reduced to ten men late on.

A 35 point haul was enough to see Anastas Popov over the line in the first monthly competition of the season. A late surge by Ralph Goodwin saw him claim second place ahead of Sean O'Mairtin. Last year's winner, Eamon Fox, looks to be back in his groove, climbing eighteen places to finish fourth for August. Wayne Donovan completes the top five for August - full details below:

 

Premier League 2019-2020 - August Leaderboard
No.
 Lst Chg
Name
Team Name
Pts
Lst
Chg
Support the Site:
1
1
0
Anastas Popov
Super Saints
173
138
35





2
11
9
Ralph Goodwin
Gorey Celtic Stars
164
110
54
3
2
-1
Sean O'Mairtin
Creweless
161
126
35
4
22
18
Eamon Fox
It's Never Over, Never Really Over
157
103
54
5
3
-2
Wayne Donovan
Deprive The Five
154
120
34
6
4
-2
Chris Keohan
Moves Like Agger
148
118
30
7
6
-1
Declan O'Neill
Athletico Spurs
148
116
32
8
5
-3
Brendan Maguire
Cantthinkofone
141
116
25
9
16
7
Gary McGurk
Origi In Madrid
141
106
35
10
8
-2
Bobby Hynes
Born To Run
140
115
25
11
19
8
Craig Calvert
United Manchester FC
140
105
35
12
12
0
Caroline Carroll
Mane 10
138
108
30
13
10
-3
Con McSweeney
Dowtcha Boys
138
111
27
14
23
9
Joe Turner
The Joy of Six
138
103
35
15
14
-1
Jonathan Fox
Klopp Of The League
138
108
30
16
17
1
Matthew Lynch
The Village Idiots
136
106
30
17
15
-2
Philip Jordan
Frankie's Army
136
107
29
18
7
-11
Simon Scanlon
Taking It Serious This Year
136
116
20
19
25
6
Phil Doyle
FC Muertos Errantes
135
98
37
20
30
10
Paul Moore
TAA LAA
134
95
39
21
47
26
Damien Martin
Rath Rovers
131
86
45
22
28
6
Gary Donnelly
Storm A Brewstering….
131
96
35
23
29
6
John Brophy
Carrig Combo
131
95
36
24
20
-4
Brian Prendergast
Magical Mustafi
130
103
27
25
54
29
Ciaran O'Hart
Riverchapel Plate
129
80
49
26
21
-5
Callum Dunne
Seattle Sound Lads
128
103
25
27
9
-18
Frank McSweeney
Poolabu
128
113
15
28
18
-10
Paul Prendergast
The Untouchables
126
106
20
29
40
11
Javier Suarez
Tika Taka
125
90
35
30
34
4
Anthony Michaels
Offside Ref
123
93
30
31
26
-5
Brian Mullen
Where's Tony Galvin Now?
123
96
27
32
13
-19
Gavin Morgan
Aimless Wanderers
123
108
15
33
24
-9
Mai-Ly Turner
Mo The Magnificent
123
103
20
34
46
12
Gerry Moore
Unai Has The Pepe In His Step
121
87
34
35
51
16
Karl Boland
Boaty McBoatface FC
121
85
36
36
42
6
Micheal Joyce
At Last 2019
121
90
31
37
43
6
Richard Johnston
Ba Mhaith Liom Cupan Tae
121
89
32
38
32
-6
Roisin Joyce
LCR FC
121
94
27
39
31
-8
Aiden Desch
NumNuts
119
94
25
40
41
1
Joe Behan
Melchester Rovers
119
90
29
41
44
3
Brian Haughton
The Wexicans
118
88
30
42
27
-15
Darragh Kenny
Luca Connell CSC
118
96
22
43
35
-8
Gerry Draper
Everton10
118
93
25
44
36
-8
Liam Geraghty
What Shade of Blue?
118
93
25
45
37
-8
Kris Stainton
Ole's Revolutionaries
116
91
25
46
38
-8
Niall Carroll
Dejan 6
116
91
25
47
45
-2
Dave McGinley
Reservoir Dubs
115
88
27
48
48
0
Gary Fitzpatrick
Sun's Out Gunn's Out
113
86
27
49
49
0
Gerard McCluskey
Breffni Blues 2019
113
86
27
50
52
2
Eoghan Farrelly
Last Chance Saloon
112
82
30
51
57
6
David Cooney
Lifeafterhazard
111
76
35
52
53
1
Kevin Philpott
Kevlaar
111
81
30
53
33
-20
Victoria Reid
Tristan's Titans
109
94
15
54
56
2
Liam Keohan
Irish Gunner
105
78
27
55
39
-16
Aidan White
Return of the Villans
104
90
14
56
50
-6
Trevor Byrne
Noddys 11
103
86
17
57
55
-2
Barry McGoldrick
The Blarney Pilgrims
98
78
20
58
60
2
Aidan Scanlon
Kilflynn Santos
90
66
24
59
59
0
Andy Dunne
Matipswich Town
90
70
20
60
58
-2
Graham Goodwin
Pochettino's Parrot
88
73
15