Analysis
Lisandro Martinez red card sums up dysfunction at Man Utd as Brighton post statement win to spark title talk - Premier League hits and misses
Sky Sports' football writers analyse the Premier League action as Man Utd capitulate at Chelsea, with Estevao a particular highlight for the Blues, while Brighton's rise sparks title talk after they beat Manchester City, Oliver Glasner fumed after Nottingham Forest's latest loss
Saturday 31 October 2026 22:17, UK
Martinez sums up Man Utd dysfunction
Lisandro Martinez pointed the finger at technical director Jason Wilcox and the club's hierarchy in his outspoken interview after the Atletico Madrid game. But he only had himself to blame for the events leading to his red card and Chelsea's penalty on Sunday.
There were barely three minutes between the foul on Morgan Rogers that earned him his first yellow card of the afternoon in Manchester United's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge and the confirmation, from referee Peter Bankes, that he would be receiving a second for needlessly raising an arm to the face of Wesley Fofana in the box.
The defender, starting for the first time since the 1-1 draw against Leeds, was also one of the players at fault for Chelsea's opener, when Rogers glided through United's defence with bewildering ease to set the wheels in motion for United's defeat.
Martinez was not acknowledged by Michael Carrick as he trudged down the tunnel. But the United head coach did not criticise him after the game, albeit while acknowledging the double whammy of having him sent off, and conceding a penalty, was a "big moment" in the game.
It was also a moment to sum up the dysfunction at the club.
Nick Wright
Estevao seizes his Chelsea chance
Xabi Alonso needed to beat Manchester United to put a stop to the grumblings around the Chelsea fan base. It had been a difficult week and questions were beginning to be asked: and none more so than those about Estevao's limited role in the team.
The Brazilian was handed his first Premier League start of the season at Stamford Bridge and seized his opportunity, leaving the pitch in second-half stoppage-time with the most shots (6), chances created (3) and touches in the opposition box (12).
Still only 19, Alonso is right to be careful with the teenager, but performances like that are only making it harder to keep Estevao out of the Chelsea line-up. Morgan Rogers, who scored a fabulous goal, took most of the plaudits but Estevao was the bigger threat.
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His performance deserved a goal and very nearly got one in the second half when he smashed the ball into the roof of the net only for it to be disallowed for offisde by VAR. If he keeps playing like that, sooner or later the youngster will find the back of the net.
Reports had emerged suggesting top clubs in Europe were watching Estevao's situation at Chelsea with increasing interest. Chelsea fans can be reassured by Alonso's explanation about his plan for the teenager. It would be a disaster if the club were to lose him.
Estevao should be considered among Chelsea's untouchables. There has been no better signing of a young talent by the current ownership bar Cole Palmer. That is reflected in Estevao's standing among the Chelsea fans, who refer to him as Steve-O.
This is a player that has the ability to be viewed in the same light as an Eden Hazard or Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge. He is special.
Zinny Boswell
Trafford's moment of madness costs Leeds dearly
Football can be a cruel game, especially for goalkeepers.
Leeds were the better side against Bournemouth in the opening stages. They had started brightly, looked comfortable and were asking questions of the Cherries. Then came the moment that changed everything.
James Trafford's headloss in possession, gifting the ball straight to Justin Kluivert, was an invitation Bournemouth simply could not refuse. Leeds were then chasing a game they had been controlling.
The psychological damage was just as significant as the scoreboard. Leeds never really recovered, their confidence drained by a moment of self-inflicted punishment. Bournemouth had been handed the perfect platform and made sure they took full advantage, winning for the sixth time in a row in all competitions.
Trafford has earned rave reviews since joining Leeds and there is plenty to admire about his potential. But this was a timely reminder that the England international is far from the finished article.
Lewis Jones
Are buoyant Brighton in title race?
Brighton's players milked their celebrations with the away end at the Etihad, the first time their supporters had got to indulge in victory at Manchester City. The manner of their recent rise warrants applause - and attention.
Does their latest scalp mean they are in the title race? They are certainly in the conversation. Fabian Hurzeler has built a team who play with complete tactical clarity and has forged a culture everyone seems to buy into. That greatly enhances their chances of doing something special this season, with two statement wins over City and Arsenal as proof things are working.
Enzo Maresca professed to know exactly what Brighton were going to offer up, having hosted them in the Carabao Cup just four days ago, but he could not devise a plan to dent their momentum. City were outbattled in midfield and outrun overall. Brighton deserved their slice of luck to keep a clean sheet.
Hurzeler played down any title talk post-match by emphasising the club's 'game by game' mentality, but if this was a tangible test of Brighton's stomach for the race, they passed with flying colours.
Laura Hunter
Forest cannot hit a barn door - but that's not all that's costing Glasner
Nothing changes at Nottingham Forest. Another year of relegation worries, another defeat on Halloween - that's six now straight defeats now on October 31 - and another day when Forest just cannot seem to score.
No wonder Oliver Glasner wants to change things. His explosive post-match press conference effectively said: I will change how we do things and if results don't change, I will be sacked.
Their lack of goalscoring expertise this season was laid bare at Brentford. Forest had 15 shots in west London, all but one were off target. This is despite having Morgan Gibbs-White, one of the top scorers last season, in their team - having also invested in attack-minded players such as Liam Delap and Daniel Munoz over the summer.
And at the back, Forest continue making the same mistakes to concede goals. One long ball from Caoimhin Kelleher put them behind and on the back foot at Brentford - in a similar way they conceded Coventry's winner last month. More and similar mistakes cost them points at Ipswich.
Forest are in another rut and Evangelos Marinakis does not stand for them. Glasner demanded Forest change the "pattern" of the club, but he may not have the time to fully implement those changes.
Sam Blitz
Black Cats are also not purring in front of goal
It would've been in the spirit of Halloween for the Black Cats to find a way to celebrate the day with a victory. However, their finishing was more of a horror-show for Regis Le Bris to watch.
Enzo Le Fee's penalty was their first goal in the Premier League since they scored three against Manchester City on September 20. However, from open play, their struggles still persist.
They had more than double Coventry's xG this afternoon, albeit inflated from the spot-kick. But, even if they remove that from the equation, they still have slightly more than their opponents (0.80 vs 0.71).
Ultimately, they just weren't anywhere near as clinical when they got in to the areas to punish Coventry. Brian Brobbey looked like a shell of the hat-trick hero at the Etihad. Chemsdine Talbi also wasted a glorious chance.
We have seen it so often where teams qualify for Europe and then struggle the following season. That is what Le Bris is faced with, but at least it is clear where the main problem lies."
Callum Bishop
Will Palace stick or twist with Sage after Spurs loss?
The pressure is continuing to grow on Pierre Sage after the 2-0 loss at Spurs. Every defeat now pushes Steve Parish and Crystal Palace decision-makers closer to making a change.
Since the 5-0 defeat at Brighton, the powers that be have wanted to see defensive improvements in the team and results pick up. Since then they've lost twice in the Premier League, but at least with some improved performances, notably in cup competitions against Besiktas and Fulham.
Palace weren't expected to win at Spurs, especially after going down to 10 men, but they're now in the bottom three with Liverpool visiting Selhurst Park next Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
A vulnerability from set-pieces has been a theme under Sage, which again will be a worry for the hierarchy.
For the second game running, Palace's away support chanted Sage's name; there's an understanding from them he's been dealt a tough hand after losing Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz in the summer. And the players at Spurs certainly didn't show a lack of effort; in fact, it was the opposite, they put in a shift.
But this is a results business, as Sage has admitted himself, and Parish hasn't been afraid to make ruthless decisions: think back to Patrick Vieira.
It feels right that Sage should get fixtures against Coventry and Hull to prove himself, but football isn't always so kind. The performances against Fulham in the Carabao Cup and Tottenham tonight have at least shown fight and resilience.
It's going to be another interesting few days waiting to see if Parish and co stick or twist.
Chris Reidy
Hull's fighting spirit is encouraging, but Jakirovic must turn promise into wins
There was plenty to admire about Hull's second-half response, but there is a nagging feeling they are in danger of letting some of that early-season goodwill slip away.
They were a different side after the break. More aggressive, more purposeful and with far greater conviction.
Tim Iroegbunam and Oli McBurnie turned the game on its head, while the latter's work rate and influence gave the hosts something to build around.
For a spell, they looked capable of securing a result that would have meant plenty.
But the concern is becoming harder to ignore. Hull have now gone seven league games without a win after taking maximum points from their first two.
Their spirited performances and promising start have bought them patience, but that will not last forever.
They cannot keep relying on character to paper over slow starts and missed opportunities.
There are positives here, certainly, but Sergej Jakirovic needs to turn them into wins before frustration starts to take hold.
William Bitibiri
Fulham are heading in the right direction
There was something rather telling about the reaction of the Fulham players to their travelling supporters at full-time. This was not a team celebrating a point like they had got away with something. It was a team that knew they had given their fans plenty to shout about.
Fulham were excellent for large parts of their 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. They took the game to Unai Emery's side, dictated the tempo for long spells and created enough opportunities to leave Villa Park feeling they should have taken more.
The underlying numbers reinforce the eye test. Fulham generated 2.2 expected goals, the fifth-highest total recorded by any visiting team at Villa Park since the start of the 2023/24 season. They also registered 40 touches inside the Villa penalty area. That is serious territorial dominance against a side who rarely allow opponents to dictate terms on home soil.
This feels like a Fulham team beginning to find its feet. There is more purpose to their attacking play, more conviction in possession and a growing belief that they can compete with the division's better sides.
Lewis Jones
