Liverpool open up a five-point lead at the top to become the new Premier League favourites; Arsenal play themselves into trouble, but Man United progress...
Monday 16 September 2019 19:52, UK
The bookmakers still have reigning champions Manchester City as the favourites to retain the title but that is a bold call given the run that Liverpool are on. After winning their final nine games of last season, the European champions have extended that sequence by a further five matches and sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Even if Manchester City put a run of their own together, it could be a while before Liverpool surrender those five points - they only gave up four at Anfield all last season and for all the talk of their defensive shakiness in recent weeks, no team has conceded fewer goals. Even after going behind against Newcastle on Saturday, there was no cause for panic.
Sadio Mane put his frustrations from Burnley behind him with two goals, Mohamed Salah found the net yet again, and Roberto Firmino gave another reminder that his selflessness is the cog that makes Jurgen Klopp's red machine the slickest around.
Liverpool might not be the favourites but who could really be surprised if they are the champions come May?
Adam Bate
It's nothing new to see Arsenal struggling with the mental side of the game but the unwelcome return of an old malaise was as frustrating as ever for Unai Emery in their draw with Watford. Throwing away a two-goal lead to the side bottom of the Premier League, new manager or not, is not the sign of a top-four team and highlighted the fragility that remains a feature of the team.
The problem predates Emery but if David Luiz was brought in to bring some experience to the backline, giving away two penalties in three games and looking lost at sea when the chips are down offers little suggestion that he has the characteristics needed for that job.
It's far from just him - why Arsenal continued to play out from goal kicks, when they had nearly been caught out in the first half, and even after one had led to a goal, was crazy. They were warned, repeatedly, before Watford halved the deficit from a mistake of Arsenal's own making. Why didn't they learn?
Experienced players like Sokratis, Granit Xhaka and even Mesut Ozil needed to show some leadership when Watford began putting on the pressure after half-time. They should have made sure the team kept their composure. But they didn't. Instead, Arsenal capitulated and Emery didn't help matters by bringing on two young players into a raucous atmosphere against a side with nothing to lose.
Ron Walker
Having been beaten by Crystal Palace in their previous game at Old Trafford, there was an air of foreboding before Manchester United's home game against a Leicester side tipped to challenge them for a top-six spot this season. Many pundits even suggested Leicester were favourites to win the match. However, it was the home side who took the three points thanks to Marcus Rashford's early penalty. This was a big win for United.
It has not been a convincing start to the campaign for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and this was only their second win in 10 Premier League games but the result puts a much more positive complexion on things nevertheless. They have now matched last season's tally of two clean sheets at home and no team has conceded fewer goals. United even sit fourth in the table.
Harry Maguire, impressive up against his old pal Jamie Vardy, is making a difference. So is Aaron Wan-Bissaka. With the third of their summer signings, Daniel James, continuing his strong start to life at Old Trafford, the overhaul has clearly improved them.
There is a long way to go but Manchester United are at least moving in the right direction.
Adam Bate
Last season, unless you were one of the big boys, you'd pretty much written off playing Manchester City ahead of kick-off. Publicly, that's what Daniel Farke said ahead of kick-off - and, with Norwich's injury problems accounting for their first-choice defence, who could blame him?
But he knew City's defence was there to be got at and that's exactly what Norwich did. They played direct but decisive football, and caused City problems. It wasn't just the beleaguered centre-backs either, Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan struggled all afternoon in midfield dealing with the movement of Emi Buendia, Todd Cantwell and Marco Stiepermann too.
Perhaps it is a freak result but Norwich had the confidence to get at Manchester City and when they did they found that they were fallible. Pep Guardiola's side struggled with Norwich's quick passing and pressing for much of the game. Perhaps the biggest problem for City is that there'll be other teams watching and thinking 'maybe we could do that too…'
Ron Walker
The form of Tammy Abraham is becoming hard to ignore. He has scored seven goals in his last three Premier League games - putting him top of the scoring charts - and he produced an impressively clinical hat-trick against Wolves that even the likes of Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero and Mohamed Salah would have been proud of.
The first was scored on a skilful turn, the second a thunderous header and the third - after some more superb play that saw him easily beat Conor Coady - was an assured and confident finish. There was an unfortunate own goal too, but even that hinted at his defensive role in this team. He made some vital clearances and even got booked for a foul.
Abraham was not included in Gareth Southgate's September squad but surely he cannot ignore a player who is likely to be in double figures for goals by the time October comes around? Kane will remain England's first-choice striker, of course, but if Abraham maintains these standards then Southgate has another potent option available to him.
Charlotte Marsh
"If we show that intensity, then we will fight for big things," said a rejuvenated Mauricio Pochettino after watching his team dismantle Crystal Palace to get their season off and running fully.
It was hard to argue.
Pochettino looked like Pochettino again in his post-match press conference and his Tottenham side looked like Tottenham again on the field.
Speculation regarding the futures of several key players was causing issues amongst the squad but now the window is closed, it seems everyone is now pulling in the right direction.
After a prickly few weeks in front of the media, the Spurs boss spoke of his delight to see his team play with "intensity and focus" again to batter Palace away in a first half of devastating and ruthless attacking play. There was even time for a cheeky story about David Beckham telling him he wanted to play for Spurs after watching on from the stands on his first visit to Tottenham's new ground.
Stylish, slick and very easy on the eye. They would be a perfect fit.
Lewis Jones
After finishing seventh last season and making a strong start in Europe, some were tipping Wolves to crack the top six this season. Instead, they are winless after five games with only Bernd Leno's stoppage-time save for Arsenal preventing Watford from leaving Nuno Espirito Santo's side bottom of the table. The 5-2 home defeat to Chelsea on Saturday was alarming.
The defensive organisation that has been a feature of Nuno's Wolves team is nowhere to be seen. Perhaps that was to be expected without the suspended Willy Boly against Chelsea but other changes have been of choice. Jesus Vallejo has been unconvincing and the decision to deploy more attacking wing-backs has left the defence looking more vulnerable.
The European commitments have surely been a factor - Joao Moutinho was rested at Everton - but that is a situation that Wolves must manage with at least six more matches to play in the Europa League. Braga are the visitors to Molineux on Thursday and another full house is expected. But it is the trip to Crystal Palace next weekend that looms large now.
Adam Bate
