Saturday football blog, including the Soccer Saturday Super 6 millionaire
The Soccer Saturday Super 6 made its first millionaire, while Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal all won for SSPB backers.
Guaranteed £1m Super 6 results
FT: Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth
FT: Brighton 3-1 West Brom
FT: Everton 0-3 Tottenham
FT: Leicester 1-2 Chelsea
FT: Southampton 0-2 Watford
FT: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United
1659: So we know the Soccer Saturday Price Boost is in. We know the Sporting Life Acca is not. And we know somebody is a million quid better off thanks to Super 6.
⏱ 1655: FT: Brighton 3-1 West Brom
Great win that for Brighton, Pascal Gross scoring twice as West Brom, usually so solid, were swept aside at the Amex.
⏱ 1655: FT: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United
Confirmation that Rodwell's goal doesn't affect the result at the Stadium of Light, but could still affect something else...
1654: Imagine losing a million quid because Jack Rodwell scored a meaningless 94th-minute consolation.
⏱ 1653: FT: Everton 0-3 Tottenham
August ends, Harry Kane comes to life. Tottenham going to get 57 away points this season and about 12 at Wembley.
⚽️ 1652: GOAL! SUNDERLAND 1-2 Sheffield United
Meaningless consolation for Sunderland, but could it make a difference to the direction Jeff's briefcase is heading? Jack Rodwell the hero/villain.
⏱ 1651: FT: Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth, FT: Southampton 0-2 Watford
Three and easy for the Gunners, worrying times for Southampton.
⏱ 1650: FT: Leicester 1-2 Chelsea
Four away wins in a row for Chelsea, as N'Golo Kante scores against the club for whom he scored only once.
1648: Super 6: We've got four players currently tied on 24 points. Danny Welbeck's sixth-minute Golden Goal looks like being the key here.
1647: How many more tonight? Teams are in for Stoke v Manchester United.
1646: Twenty Premier League goals so far today. Best league in the world.
1642: Meanwhile, over in Super 6, it now looks very unlikely that the millionaire will need a full 30 points.
1641: Bristol City have scored at Reading. I'm so, so sorry.
1638: Southend pull one back at Charlton. This is why we can't have nice things. Still waiting on Reading (13 shots) and Scunthorpe (12 shots).
⚽️ 1635: GOAL! Sunderland 0-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED!
Donaldson again to double the Blades' lead at what is now a fast-emptying Stadium of Light. Could be a very important goal in the life of one person (well, two. Quite important for Clayton Donaldson as well to be fair).
⚽️ 1634: GOAL! Brighton 3-1 WEST BROM!
Surely just a consolation for the Baggies as James Morrison's shot beats a defender on the line and reduces the arrears to 3-1.
1633: Come on, Reading. Come on, Scunthorpe. You can be part of history here.
1628: Charlton 2-0 up!!! It's coming in, it's coming in, it's coming, The Acca's coming in. Meanwhile, the current Super 6 leader has just 24 points. Bizarre that not many people seem to have had Brighton scoring three today.
1625: Charlton lead! Come on, The Acca. We're just waiting on Reading and Scunthorpe. Both still goalless. Please, please, please.
1622: Leeds now 5-0 up, Lasogga with two on debut. That's one quarter of the Sporting Life Acca well and truly in. The rest? All still goalless. Come on, lads. Come on.
⚽️ 1621: GOAL! Southampton 0-2 WATFORD!
Scenes. Two shots, two goals for Watford. Another long-range strike, Daryl Janmaat catching one sweet and nestling it in the bottom corner. Southampton had been pushing for an equaliser, but have an awful lot to do now.
⚽️ 1619: GOAL! BRIGHTON 3-0 West Brom
Game over at the Amex, and a nerve-settling three points to go with their first three Premier League goals as Tomer Hemed heads home. Chastening day for West Brom, who had started the season so well.
⚽️ 1617: GOAL! LEICESTER 1-2 Chelsea!
Jamie Vardy from the penalty spot brings Leicester back into the game and just puts that Soccer Saturday Price Boost in doubt. Leicester always score at home, of course.
1616: "It should be 4-0, but it's not because the chance falls to Sissoko." Sensational stuff from Le Tissier.
1614: If this were a normal Super 6 round, only 0.3% of players would remain. This is not a normal Super 6 round. All still to play for. Unless you've predicted Leicester, Bournemouth and Everton victories. The current leader has 25pts and is winning via the Golden Goal. Stressful.
1611: Jordan Pickford single-handedly keeping this vaguely respectable for Everton now. Two saves in quick succession to deny Kane a hat-trick.
⚽️ 1608: GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 Bournemouth!
Two for Welbeck, three for Arsenal, and another lock put on the Soccer Saturday Price Boost, which has very much behaved like you wish all 6/1 shots would.
⚽️ 1607: GOAL! Leicester 0-2 CHELSEA!
Only one of you can win the million, but it looks like a nice pay day for all the Soccer Saturday Price Boost backers as Chelsea double their lead. N'Golo Kante against his former club.
⚽️ 1605: GOAL! BRIGHTON 2-0 West Brom!
London bus antics for Brighton. Gross again!
⚽️ 1603: GOAL! Everton 0-3 TOTTENHAM!
This August thing is ridiculous. Harry Kane has his second of the afternoon, and is now one away from a third hat-trick in his last four Premier League away games. You'd also have to think that three Tottenham goals won't be the most popular Super 6 selection in that one, although anyone predicting a Spurs win very much still in the £1m hunt if they're anywhere close to 6th minute for the Golden Goal.
1553: Matt Le Tissier has changed his mind about Kane's goal. Perhaps making the mistake of projecting his own genius onto a mere, if talented, mortal like Harry.
1548: Half-time everywhere. What a first 45. Kane has scored, Brighton have scored, The Soccer Saturday Price Boost looks like it's coming in, the current scorelines aren't going to be knocking out too many Super 6 players - remember, you might not need all six correct scores today - and could today even be the day for the Sporting Life Acca? Leeds are 3-0 up and cruising, while the other three are all goalless. If you will it, it is no dream.
1547: Spurs should be out of sight at Goodison. Air-kick from Dele Alli with the goal at his mercy before Harry Kane drags a left-foot shot wide when he looked nailed on to score.
⚽️ 1545: GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-0 West Brom!
Brighton have done a Premier League goal! What a time to be alive! Pascal Gross the history-maker.
1545: And, just like that, the Soccer Saturday Price Boost is now 4/9.
⚽️ 1542: GOAL! Everton 0-2 TOTTENHAM!
Winner for David John! Christian Eriksen does the business as the Dane fires home after a Ben Davies shot is blocked and falls kindly. The scoreline reflects Spurs' dominance. They would genuinely play 38 away games this season if the Premier League would let them.
⚽️ 1540: GOAL! Leicester 0-1 CHELSEA!
Huge couple of minutes at the King Power. Leicester miss a chance at one end, Alvaro Morata does not at the other. He heads Chelsea into a deserved lead.
1539: Been all Chelsea at the King Power, but Leicester almost land the classic counter-attack sucker-punch after N'Golo Kante of all people gives the ball away.
⚽️ 1538: GOAL! Southampton 0-1 WATFORD!
First shot of the game at St Mary's, first goal. Abdoulaye Doucoure swinging his right foot through the ball from distance and getting his reward.
1532: Looking very good for anyone on the Soccer Saturday Price Boost at 6/1. Arsenal surely home and hosed against Bournemouth, Spurs leading at Goodison and Chelsea dominating the game at the King Power but still looking for the opening goal. It's now 13/8.
1531: Spurs were well on top at the time of that goal, but Everton have been stung into action and have had a better spell since falling behind. The Soccer Saturday lads are split on whether that was genius or fluke from Kane. I'm happy to go with Matt Le Tissier, a man who knows a thing or two about nonsense goals and reckons Kane meant it.
⚽️ 1528: GOAL! Everton 0-1 TOTTENHAM!
What a goal from Harry Kane! From way out wide on the right, the September-to-May specialist finds the back of the net. First Premier League goal of the season for the double Golden Boot winner, and his 100th for Spurs.
⚽️ 1527: GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 Bournemouth!
Lovely finish from Alexandre Lacazette, restored to the starting line-up today and rewarding Arsene Wenger.
1524: David John was very sweet on Christian Eriksen's chances of a goal today at Goodison, and the great Dane was almost in here after a superb pass from Eric Dier. Martina does well to get back and challenge.
1522: Pierre-Michel Lasogga also produces a debut goal, putting Leeds 1-0 up at home to Burton.
⚽️ 1522: GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED!
Clayton Donaldson on debut gives Sheffield United the lead at Sunderland and produces the second Super 6 goal of the afternoon.
1521: Still just that early Arsenal goal in the Premier League 3pm kick-offs. What if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the banter curse all along?
1520: Watford looking pretty good at Southampton in the opening 20 minutes down at St Mary's.
1517: Brighton think they've seen their first Premier League goal... but there are three players offside and the goal is chalked off. Brighton the better side, though.
1516: Couple of chances for Spurs at Everton, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Kane - still without a Premier League goal this season - both go close.
1513: The Soccer Saturday Price Boost now 7/2 after that early Arsenal goal.
1511: Couple of early goals in the Sky Bet Championship, where Wolves and Norwich both lead. Get all today's live scores here.
1510: Chelsea starting to take control at the King Power, Cesc Fabregas pulling the strings for the champions.
1508: Chances at both ends at Goodison, as Sandro Ramirez pokes wide before Spurs go close on a counter-attack.
⚽️ 1506: GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 Bournemouth!
First Premier League goal, first Super 6 goal. Danny Welbeck gives Arsenal the lead, possibly off his shoulder but the Gunners don't mind. That's also, of course, the Golden Goal. Sixth minute - could be all-important in about two hours' time.
1504: Brighton, still awaiting their first Premier League goal, have made a bright start against West Brom. Have never failed to score in the first four league games of a season.
1500: We're under way all over the country!
1445: It's not just the Super 6 today; there's also the usual Soccer Saturday Price Boost available. It's big guns today, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all to win at 6/1. Spurs are away, so it's got every chance.
1430: If for some reason you still haven't got your Super 6 entry in, then we've got the thoughts of our own David John, Sky Bet's traders and the less emotional, more number-driven thinkings of the Opta Statistics. And even the thoughts of the main man himself.
1427: It's finished at the Etihad. It's, er, it's not pretty for 10-man Liverpool. They've been shellacked 5-0 by Manchester City.
1418: So the mechanics of today are pretty simple. The highest Super 6 points scorer - based on five points for a correct scoreline and two for a correct result - from today's six games gets Jeff's £1m briefcase. If there's tie, then they'll be decided by which tied player is closest to the time of the Golden Goal. If it's still level, then the earliest of the tied entries will win. The key point: one way or another, one winner of one million pounds.
1413: Team news is in for all the 3pm games - get all the details via the links above. Dele Alli makes his 100th Spurs appearance against Everton, who have Gylfi Sigurdsson lining up against his old club. Alexis Sanchez is on the bench for Arsenal against Bournemouth, as is Eden Hazard for Chelsea at Leicester.
1408: There's also a very funny lunchtime game going off at the Etihad, where Liverpool look like dropping points in the sort of game that's usually a banker for Jurgen Klopp's entertaining band of japesters. Follow the second half of that one with Matt Brocklebank here.
1400: *Dr Evil voice and finger* One million dollars. All right, pounds. But that's actually more, which is better. And that's what is GUARANTEED to be won in today's Soccer Saturday Super 6. And it's still FREE to enter. You've got an hour to get your scores in, and quite frankly I don't know what you're still doing here. Go to there now, then come back here to see how it all falls into place.
Brilliantly, this would be a cracking set of 3pm games even without all that lovely moolah getting thrown someone's way. Everton v Tottenham is a Super Sunday or at the very least a Monday Night Football, while we've got the last two champions up against each other at the King Power and Arsenal bringing their own unique brand of nonsense to the traditional kick-off time. Lovely stuff. We'll be across the whole lot of it right here, with perhaps half an eye on James Anderson's antics at Lord's.