4 thoughts from Saturday's Premier League action

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from Saturday’s slate of action in England’s top flight.

Summerville plays hero for Leeds again

Leeds United certainly don’t make it easy for themselves. But, fortunately for them, they’ve got rising star Crysencio Summerville to save the day.

A week after snatching three points with a goal at the death against Liverpool, Leeds United brought the dramatics home with them for Saturday’s seven-goal thriller against Bournemouth in a match that had as many fireworks on the pitch as there were off.

And, once again, it was Summerville who stepped up with a heroic performance, scoring late for a second successive week to lift Leeds to an unlikely victory and help reinforce manager Jesse Marsch’s job security. Because at halftime of Saturday’s contest, uncertainty over his future as Leeds’ boss had surely crept back into Marsch’s mind after the team’s first-half collapse.

It wasn’t until Bournemouth increased the lead to 3-1 shortly after the break that Leeds United finally decided to wake up. The hosts were dominant afterward, as Sam Greenwood and Liam Cooper scored to bring Leeds level before Summerville capped off the wild comeback with a goal in the 84th minute, sending supporters into a frenzy as fireworks exploded outside Elland Road.

In helping ease the pressure on Marsch and giving Leeds a three-point cushion above relegation, the 21-year-old has undoubtedly solidified his case to be a regular fixture on the left wing moving forward after scoring in his third successive match.

Manchester City survive test of character

With 25 minutes in the books, it was shaping up to be a routine day at the office for Manchester City after taking an early lead against Fulham. Seeing as Pep Guardiola’s side was beating the newly promoted Cottagers – at home, no less – victory was largely considered an inevitability.

The sense of impending celebrations was quickly wiped out at the Etihad Stadium when disaster struck before the half-hour mark. City’s hopes of sealing three points and climbing up to first place suffered a devastating blow after Joao Cancelo’s daft tackle on Harry Wilson in the City box led to a straight red card and a successful penalty taken by former Manchester United product Andreas Pereira.

But the reigning Premier League champs’ resiliency was on full display as they performed superbly in the 60 minutes after they were reduced to 10 men.

Kevin De Bruyne especially stood out, as the Belgian midfielder was fearless in doing the dirty work in addition to his tremendous presence in City’s surges into the opponent’s end. Bernardo Silva and Rodri were also instrumental in keeping City competitive, while John Stones and Nathan Ake were great at the back in snuffing out Fulham’s attempts to take the lead.

Then, of course, Erling Haaland stepped up to score the winning penalty deep into stoppage time during what he said was “one of the most nervous moments” of his life. He now has an incredible 18 goals after 12 games, while City are back atop the table before previous Premier League leader Arsenal’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

Wild drama to open the weekend

There was no shortage of excitement in the Premier League’s early slate of matches Saturday. All four games went down to the wire, with each match producing a winning or equalizing goal in the last 10 minutes.

Haaland may have scored the latest Premier League winner in almost five years, but Summerville’s goal for Leeds will go down as the most dramatic of the lot Saturday.

Haaland’s penalty – one of five spot kicks in the early games – and Summerville’s strike accounted for two of the three winning goals scored in the final 10 minutes. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, joined the late-scoring party by securing a draw off an own goal in the 96th minute of their clash with Brentford.

In total, there were an incredible 18 unique goalscorers from the 19 goals in Saturday’s wild opening round of fixtures.

Faes driving Leicester’s renaissance

And just like that, Leicester City are out of the relegation zone.

They got out of trouble almost as quickly as they fell into it. In their first seven matches of the Premier League season, the Foxes couldn’t keep the ball out of their net. They conceded a scarcely believable 22 goals in that span – more than any side in the last 57 years of the English top flight – and fell to the bottom of the table.

Fans called for the board to take action. Brendan Rodgers criticized the club’s transfer dealings. It seemed like the beginning of the end.

But in the seven matches since, Leicester have turned the worst defense in the league into one of the best. They’ve even managed to keep five clean sheets – and hold Manchester City to a single goal – without injured captain and defensive stalwart Jonny Evans.

Clubs with fewest goals allowed since Oct. 3

That’s thanks in part to Wout Faes, the £15-million deadline-day signing tasked with replacing Wesley Fofana. Arriving as the only outfield player cash-strapped Leicester could sign in the summer transfer window, the 24-year-old somehow survived his debut – a humbling 6-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur – to become one of the Premier League’s most valuable players.

As a ball-playing center-back, Faes gave his team the option of playing more possession-based football, which Rodgers has always sought to impose. And during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Everton, the Belgian international showed many of the traits that inspired Leicester’s midseason renaissance, winning possession in key areas while playing numerous passes into the final third.

Alongside Daniel Amartey, Faes has stabilized Rodgers’ previously rickety back four and laid a foundation for Leicester to attack teams without reckless abandon.

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