Premier League takeaways: Rashford at the double, perfect Pickford, ticket for Toney

The big talking points from the English top-flight's weekend games

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEKEND RESULTS: Saturday, September 4 - Everton 0 Liverpool 0: The spoils were shared in a riveting goalless draw at Goodison Park that saw multiple shots hit the woodwork, goals disallowed by VAR and a man-of-the-match performance from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. "Rule number one: if you cannot win the derby, you don't lose it," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. "We could've won it today but we could've lost it in a few moments as well." AFP

Brentford 5 (Toney pen 30', 43', 58', Mbeumo 80', Wissa 90'+1' Leeds 2 (Sinisterra 45'+1, Roca 79'): Ivan Toney bagged a hat-trick as the Bees' striker passed the 50-goal mark for Brentford, while Leeds manager Jesse Marsch was shown a red for urging the referee to check an incident on VAR. "I was speaking with the fourth official, trying to be as respectful as I possibly could, even when a penalty was given that I probably didn't think was a penalty," said Marsch. "That lack of VAR visit ... is a lack of respect." Reuters

Chelsea 2 (Chilwell 76', Havertz 88') West Ham 1 (Antonio 62'): Chelsea fought back from a goal down to win the London derby, although the Hammers were left fuming after a last-gasp leveller by Maxwel Cornet was disallowed following a VAR call. "The goalkeeper comes to take it and fumbles it out of his hands," said West Ham manager David Moyes. "Then he acted as if it was a shoulder injury. I'm amazed that VAR sent the referee to the screen." Reuters

Newcastle 0 Crystal Palace 0: Newcastle were held to a fourth draw in six games, although it took several good stops from Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita and a goal controversially disallowed after a VAR referral to deny Eddie Howe's side their first three points since the opening weekend of the season. "It was a push on Joe Willock in the build-up to the ball coming in," said Howe of the decision. "So for me, it's not a foul, if anything, it's a penalty if it's not a goal." Getty

Nottingham Forest 2 (Kouyate 33', Johnson (pen 45'+2) Bournemouth 3 (Billing 51', Solanke 63', Anthony 87'): Managerless Bournemouth fought back from two goals down to claim an unlikely win at fellow newly promoted club Forest, thanks to a late Jaidon Anthony goal. "I honestly haven't considered whether I want it permanently," said caretaker manager Gary O'Neil. "I feel like my job at the minute is to get Bournemouth as many points as I can in this period that I am here." Getty

Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Hojbjerg 40', Kane 75') Fulham 1 (Mitrovic 83'): Spurs continued their unbeaten start to the season, after Harry Kane's fifth goal of the campaign, although it should have been a more comfortable day at the office. Antonio Conte's side had 23 shots on goal, 10 of which were on target. "If I have to find a situation that we need to improve, it is to be clinical because when you create so many chances, you have to score," said Conte. AP

Wolves 1 (Podence 45'+1) Southampton 0: Wolves secured their first win of the season thanks to Daniel Podence's unorthodox finish earning his team all three points, lifting them out of the bottom three. "We’re very happy," said Wolves manager Bruno Lage. "I told the players it’s one win, we have to build on it. We need to practise. The team that finished pre-season and the team we have now are so different." AP

Aston Villa 1 (Bailey 74') Manchester City 1 (Haaland 50'): City were denied the chance to take over top spot in the table after Leon Bailey's finish cancelled out Erling Haaland's 10th goal in six games. "No-one gave us any hope or any chance before a ball was kicked," said Villa manager Steven Gerrard. "I'm really pleased and proud of what the players gave us and no-one can begrudge us a point, and it's a big point." Getty

Sunday, September 5 - Brighton 5 (Thomas og 10', Caicedo 15', Trossard 64, Mac Allister pen 71', 90'+7) Leicester 2 (Iheanacho 1', Daka 33'): A scoreline that flattered bottom club Leicester, who have one point from six games. Alexis Mac Allister's stunning late free-kick made up for his wonder goal that was controversially ruled out by VAR. "It is a bit annoying," Mac Allister said of the VAR call. "I don't know if I will score a similar goal again in my life. But it is part of football." AFP

Manchester United 3 (Antony 35', Rashford 66', 75') Arsenal 1 (Saka 60'): Arsenal's flying start to the season crashing to an halt at Old Trafford after a debut goal for Antony and a Marcus Rashford double secured the points for Erik ten Hag's men, who made it four wins in a row. "They both played great, a continual threat. I know our offensive is really strong, they are creative and have speed," Ten Hag said of his two goalscorers. AP

Pickford proves he's England No 1

There might have been no goals in Saturday's Merseyside derby, but there was certainly no shortage of action at Goodison Park. And in the thick of that was Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Liverpool substitute Roberto Firmino will be wondering how he didn't find the net after Pickford denied him on three occasions, while summer signing Darwin Nunez saw one of his efforts brilliantly turned on to the bar by the England stopper.

Pickford finished with an immaculate save ratio of eight out of eight, including the slightest of touches to turn Mohamed Salah's shot on to the woodwork in the dying seconds.

The form of Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal and Newcastle United's Nick Pope have caused some to question whether Pickford should be England's keeper at the Qatar World Cup, but this sort of performance shows there is no doubt who is the Three Lions' No 1.

Everton's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford makes another save during his man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool. AP

Toney stakes claim for ticket to Qatar

Talking of England's World Cup squad, Brentford striker Ivan Toney staked his claim for a ticket on the plane to the Middle East alongside Pickford.

Toney bagged a hat-trick in Brentford's 5-2 win over Leeds United, taking his tally for the season to five, coming on the back of his 12 top-flight goals last season.

The form of Harry Kane, who also has five goals after his winner for Spurs against Fulham, will be reassuring to Gareth Southgate – but Toney's goals will surely be making the England manager sit up and take notice ahead of this month's Nations League fixtures.

“Off the top of my head, looking at strikers on form, Harry Kane is No 1 but there is not a better striker after Kane on form,” Brentford manager Thomas Frank said of Toney.

Ivan Toney scores from the spot for Brentford against Leeds United. Getty

Bad day at office for VAR …

There was a huge amount of frustration and bewilderment among players, managers and fans alike on Saturday due to two goals that were disallowed after referees were asked to look at incidents on pitchside monitors by VAR.

At Stamford Bridge, West Ham were denied a late equaliser when Maxwel Cornet's goal was disallowed by referee Andrew Madley, after Jarrod Bowen was judged to have fouled Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the build-up.

“It was a ridiculously bad decision,” said Hammers manager David Moyes, whose team lost 2-1. “I'd question VAR as much as the referee, but the referee should have stuck to his own guns.”

Another dubious call was made during Newcastle's goalless draw with Crystal Palace, when Eagles defender Tyrick Mitchell's own goal was disallowed after referee Michael Salisbury decided Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita had been fouled by Joe Willock.

Replays clearly showed Mitchell shoving Willock in the back, leading to the Newcastle midfielder colliding into Guaita, although the best view was not shown to Salisbury on the VAR monitor.

“VAR is not the problem, it is the people who are running it,” said former England and Newcastle captain Alan Shearer on BBC's Match of the Day.

It is no surprise that the Premier League is to review both decisions with referees' body PGMOL.

West Ham's Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen argue with referee Andrew Madley after he disallowed Maxwel Cornet's goal. AFP

… make that two bad days

Just 24 hours later, and VAR was at it again. Early in the second half of Brighton's match against Leicester, and with the game perfectly poised at 2-2, the ball fell to Alexis Mac Allister on the edge of the Foxes' area and the Seagulls' player arrowed a sensational strike into the top corner.

But the fun police's determination to suck the joy out of football has been particularly enthusiastic this weekend. After another VAR intervention and a lengthy look at the pitchside monitor, another goal was chalked off after referee Tony Harrington judged Enock Mwepu, who swung and missed the ball ahead of the wonder strike, was in an offside position.

As it happened, it proved only a temporary reprieve for beleaguered Leicester who capitulated to a shambolic 5-2 defeat, piling the pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers.

Referee Tony Harrington looks at the pitchside monitor before disallowing Alexis Mac Allister's wonder goal for Brighton. AFP

Rashford at double as Arteta gamble fails

For 65 minutes, Arsenal looked every inch the league leaders after drawing level at Manchester United and looked set to kick on and win the game.

Then a cool Marcus Rashford finish put United back in front in the 66th minute. Soon after, manager Mikel Arteta decided to make a risky triple attacking subsitution, bringing on Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah. It was a gamble that failed.

Within a minute, Rashford made it three and Arsenal's hopes of starting the season with six wins in a row for the first time since 1947 were over.

"The game was there for the taking," insisted Arteta. "We haven't won it because we lacked some discipline in some moments and we weren't ruthless enough in front of goal."

Marcus Rashford scores Manchester United's second goal against Arsenal. AFP