Raheem Sterling took Gareth Southgate’s SNUB personally, Liverpool are still too naive to challenge for the title and Man United proved they still have fight – 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from the Premier League weekend
- Matchday eight served up another enthralling weekend in the Premier League
- Arsenal beat Man City in the big clash while Tottenham edged Luton to go top
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Before the Premier League paused for the latest international break fans got to soak up one more week of enthralling action.
Everton and Chelsea each enjoyed much-needed big wins, while Fulham piled the pressure on Paul Heckingbottom on a day when insult was added to injury.
Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire got a rare moment of joy at club level after Manchester United completed a late comeback against Brentford. And there were entertaining stalemates between Liverpool and Brighton, Newcastle and West Ham and Wolves and Aston Villa.
The weekend began with Ange Postecogolou’s Tottenham ascending to the league summit and ended with the north Londoners still top thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner for Arsenal against Man City.
Mail Sport takes a look at 10 things we learned from the weekend’s Premier League action.
Gabriel Martinelli’s late goal gave Arsenal their first win over Manchester City since 2015
Sterling took his England omission personally
Raheem Sterling sent a timely message to Gareth Southgate after being left out of England’s latest squad as he starred in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Burnley.
On Saturday at Turf Moor there was no one more influential, no one more entertaining and no one seemed more determined to prove a point.
The 28-year-old seemed well aware of the risk of missing next summer’s European Championships having failed to make the England boss’s last three squads.
Sterling dominated the game against the newly-promoted side and was involved in each of Chelsea’s goals. Without his influence Burnley may have been able to capitalise on their fast start.
Raheem Sterling was involved in all four of Chelsea’s goals as they beat Burnley by 4-1
Sterling was a constant threat and showed Gareth Southgate what he might be missing
Chelsea have turned a corner
The Blues have enjoyed their last two league visits to Burnley. Saturday’s 4-1 win was the first time Chelsea had scored four goals in a Premier League game since March 2022 against the Clarets.
The weekend victory also saw Mauricio Pochettino’s side win consecutive league games for the first time since March this year.
The Premier League table still doesn’t make for good reading, owing to their fairly miserable start, but Chelsea look like a team that are starting to find themselves. It’s little wonder considering the age of the squad, the amount and turnover and number of injuries.
The only downside for Pochettino is the gauntlet they’re about to run. The Blues face Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City, Newcastle, Brighton and Man United before early December. That’ll be the real test for this new look Chelsea.
Pochettino’s side have won consecutive league games for the first time since March this year
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Iraola faces an anxious international break
Andoni Iraola was fancied by many observers when he replaced Gary O’Neil at Bournemouth. Still only eight games into the season the Spaniard might come good but what is clear is that he’s running out of time.
The Cherries’ difficult start to the campaign was mitigation for their lowly points tally before visiting Goodison Park. But the manner and size of defeat to Everton could set alarm bells ringing.
Bournemouth face Wolves and Burnley in their two games after the international break knowing that failure to secure their first win of the season could result in a change of management.
Bournemouth are one of only two teams yet to taste victory in the Premier League this season
Everton are better than at least three other teams
Sean Dyche and Everton have had a hard time of it of late. Nothing seemed to be going to plan. Results, finances, injuries have all stacked up against the Toffees, whose early-season form suggested they might finally fall through the Premier League trap door.
The campaign is long and there will be many twists and turns but after eight games it is clear that the Goodison Park outfit are superior to at least three teams if their best performers are fit.
It’s little coincidence the club’s uptick in form has coincided with the return of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Remarkably Everton have created more xG this season than Man City, they just need someone to take the chances they’re creating.
Dyche has a squad more than capable of extending Everton’s top-flight stay; they just need to stay available.
Everton were able to give summer signing Jack Harrison (middle) his first start at the weekend
Is Saliba already the league’s best defender?
William Saliba won 100 percent of his duels and registered a 97 percent passing accuracy against Man City. The 22-year-old did not commit a foul or get dribbled past.
The Frenchman anchors the joint meanest defence in the league that is yet to concede away from home.
Arsenal’s late season crumble last term coincided with his absence due to injury. Saliba’s impact on Mikel Arteta’s team is huge and his talent at the position may already be unsurpassed.
If he can stay fit, the Gunners have a real chance of dethroning the reigning champions.
Man City’s Rodri dependence is an issue
Man City completed an unwanted treble with defeat to Arsenal on Sunday: Three domestic defeats in a row that all came without the suspended Rodri.
The Spaniard has long been seen as one of Pep Guardiola’s most important lieutenants but has any City player ever been so irreplaceable?
Saliba won 100 percent of his duels and registered a 97 percent passing accuracy against City
Manchester City lost all three games they played without the suspended midfielder Rodri
Even without Kevin De Bruyne, Guardiola teams manage to find a way past opponents. The same goes for games without Bernardo Silva or John Stones. That’s not to say these players aren’t important but that the City boss has options to mitigate their absence.
Having lost Ilkay Gundogan and the long term injury to De Bruyne, City weren’t able to deal with losing Rodri. Guardiola clearly doesn’t trust Kalvin Phillips and that means City must hope the former Atletico midfielder stays injury and suspension free for the remainder of the season.
Erling Haaland is human
One of Erling Haaland’s very best qualities is sticking a football into the back of a net. So proficient is he at this skill that Pep Guardiola, a manager who could not be anymore system focused, compromised his approach to accommodate him.
Haaland’s failure to score in his last three games has many football fans in shock but his lack of impact when he doesn’t score causes more concern.
Haaland failed to record a shot against Arsenal for just the second time in his Premier League
Against the Gunners the forward had only 23 touches and completed just 11 passes. He lost possession eight times, lost three ariel duels and failed to register a shot for only the second time in the Premier League.
Sure, it was an off day for a lot of City players. But teams at the opposite end of the league table have know seen a template to slow him down.
Ange’s Tottenham have to be taken seriously
Tottenham are top of the Premier League. Even those defending the decision to recruit Ange Postecoglou could not have expected such a remarkable turnaround in fortunes.
Saturday’s win against Luton proved that the Spurs train was not solely powered by good vibes. Postecoglou has already instilled a belief and determination that will make them a challenge for every team in the league.
Spurs sit top having played three of the big six clubs including two currently in the top four. They’re undefeated and have a decent run of games after the international break.
Champions League qualification should be the very least Postecoglou and his players are aiming for this term.
Tottenham triumphed against Luton despite going down to ten men in the first half
Liverpool are better but not ready to challenge
Jurgen Klopp’s side are three points off Spurs in fourth after dropping points for the second week on the bounce. In fairness the fixtures – and refereeing decisions – have not been too kind.
And Liverpool have shown a level of attacking quality in stretches that is hard for any team to deal with. But despite the obvious progress made this season, Klopp’s squad is still short.
Alexis Mac Allister had another difficult afternoon as he plays in a slightly unfamiliar role just ahead of the back four. Liverpool’s defence continues to look shaky and the squad can’t help but concede the first goal these days.
It all points to a team that has made strides but it not as polished as Arsenal or Man City who will be competing for the big prize.
Klopp’s side can beat anyone on their day but can they be consistent enough to mount a title challenge?
Lewis Dunk scored from close range to rescue a point for Brighton in an entertaining 2-2 draw
Man United’s comeback proves there is still life in the team
The stakes may have been far lower, and the Red Devils’ squad far weaker, but United fans celebrated Scott McTominay’s winner with almost as much vigour as they did in Barcelona 1999.
With only minutes left in the game Man United were facing a fifth defeat in eight league games, as well as their third home defeat in a row and the prospect of wall to wall chatter about the future of Erik ten Hag and direction of the club during the international break.
The Dutchman still clearly has issues to address but with their backs to the wall his team kept pushing and got their reward. Injuries and lack of form allowed Harry Maguire to force his way back into the side and Ten Hag’s decision to send McTominay on as a substitute turned a near-certain defeat into victory.
In a lot of ways it was the perfect send off. United have plenty of ground to make up but at the very least it looks like the worst is behind them.
Scott McTominay scored a thrilling late double in added time to win the game for Man United
IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
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