Newcastle United is frustrated by an outstanding Verbruggen

With Brighton’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, the team headed into the international break full of confidence.

The win allowed them to maintain momentum in the highly competitive Premier League, although it wasn’t a similarly uplifting period for Dutch players representing their country. The Netherlands national team struggled during the break, drawing against Hungary and suffering a defeat to Germany, leaving them searching for form.

Back in the Premier League, at St. James' Park, Dutchmen Bart Verbruggen and Joël Veltman were pivotal for Brighton in their clash against Newcastle United. Verbruggen, in particular, delivered an exceptional performance in goal, proving to be an impenetrable barrier for Newcastle’s attack. The 22-year-old goalkeeper made crucial saves throughout the match, frustrating Newcastle’s efforts to score. Despite their best attempts, the hosts couldn't find a way past Verbruggen, who ended the game with a clean sheet.

On the offensive side, Danny Welbeck capitalized on Brighton’s chances, delivering the decisive blow ten minutes before halftime. Welbeck’s clinical strike, assisted by a well-timed pass from Georginio Rutter, gave Brighton a lead they would not relinquish. Even after the break, Newcastle continued to press forward but remained unable to break through Verbruggen’s excellent goalkeeping.

The win allowed Brighton to climb to fifth place in the Premier League standings, continuing their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s struggles persisted, as they remained in eighth place, unable to find the consistency needed to break into the top tier of the league.

Fulham 1 - 3 Aston Villa

At Craven Cottage, Fulham started brightly against Aston Villa, with Raúl Jiménez opening the scoring just five minutes into the match. However, Fulham’s joy was short-lived, as Morgan Rogers quickly equalized for Aston Villa. Fulham had a golden opportunity to regain the lead when Andres Pereira stepped up to take a penalty, but the Brazilian failed to convert from the spot, missing a crucial chance.

Aston Villa took advantage of Fulham’s missed opportunity. Just before the hour mark, Ollie Watkins put Villa ahead, making it 1-2. To make matters worse for Fulham, defender Joachim Andersen, formerly of FC Twente, received a red card, leaving the home side with ten men. Fulham’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when Issa Diop scored an own goal, sealing the 1-3 victory for Villa. Despite Villa’s commanding win, they also faced a setback when Jaden Philogene was sent off in stoppage time. Ian Maatsen, a player to watch, didn’t get any playing time for Fulham during the match.

Southampton 2 - 3 Leicester City

Southampton seemed on track to secure their first win of the season when they took a comfortable lead against Leicester City. Goals from Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo put The Saints in control, but Leicester showed remarkable resilience. Facundo Buonanotte, a highly sought-after player last summer, and veteran Jamie Vardy scored to bring Leicester level, despite Southampton being reduced to ten men following Ryan Fraser’s red card.

With the match appearing to end in a draw, the drama extended deep into stoppage time. In the eighth minute of added time, Jordan Ayew became the hero for Leicester. Assisted by Harry Winks, Ayew scored the winning goal, completing the comeback and giving Leicester a vital victory in their push up the table.

Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Everton

Everton continued their fight for Premier League survival with a crucial victory at Portman Road. Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane both scored in the first half, ensuring Everton’s dominance over Ipswich Town. The win extended Everton’s unbeaten run to four matches, a positive sign for a team looking to stabilize their season. On the other hand, Ipswich Town is still searching for their first victory since their return to the Premier League, leaving them in a precarious position as they struggle to adapt to the top flight.

Manchester United 2 - 1 Brentford

At Old Trafford, Manchester United secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford. Although the match was tightly contested, United managed to overcome their opponents, showcasing the resilience that manager Erik ten Hag has been emphasizing in recent weeks.