Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick as Manchester United came from behind to beat Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford and pick up their first win of the season.
It looked like being a difficult afternoon for Michael Carrick’s team early on. Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda both forced smart stops from Senne Lammens before Abdul Fatawu skinned Luke Shaw and fed Leif Davis to side-foot the opener high into the United net.
Old Trafford was edgy at that point, with United having lost to Hull on the opening weekend. But the game turned when Marcelino Nunez slipped over. Matheus Cunha robbed the Chilean midfielder and found Fernandes, who slammed the ball home with his left foot.
Had his shot gone straight into the net then it would have been disallowed but because the attempt was diverted in by Jacob Greaves, it was allowed to stand. Moments later, United took the game away from Ipswich as Greaves’ unfortunate afternoon continued.
The defender brought down Cunha when he was through on goal, and Fernandes, who had missed twice from the spot during pre-season, converted the penalty. It was party time thereafter, with Fernandes completing his hat-trick by slotting home in the 68th minute.
The skipper was not done. A wedged pass in behind found Mbeumo, who lobbed the goalkeeper to make it five. As the rain came down, Ipswich did pull one back in stoppage time through substitute Chuba Akpom but it was far too little and far too late.
Bryan Mbeumo should have completed the turnaround early in the second half only to strike the bar from close range, but United did not have to wait long. Their second was not without controversy, however, as Harry Maguire escaped punishment for a handball.
Chelsea held off a Brighton fightback to clinch a thrilling 4-3 victory and continue their winning start under manager Xabi Alonso.
The Blues raced into a three-goal lead through Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and former Brighton forward Joao Pedro in a scintillating opening period at Stamford Bridge, but the visitors responded.
Malick Yalcouye slammed home before the break to give them hope and they reduced the deficit to one goal when a Pascal Gross shot deflected off Joao Pedro and beyond Emiliano Martinez, who was making his debut following his £7.5m arrival from Aston Villa.
Brighton had further chances, with Diego Gomez going close and Martinez making several impressive stops as the visitors limited Chelsea to only 25.6 per cent possession, the club’s lowest share on record in a Premier League game.
But Cole Palmer found the bottom corner in superb style for Chelsea’s fourth goal, meaning there was no time for Brighton to mount a comeback when Gross headed in deep in stoppage time.
