Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend's action | Premier League

Perhaps the comparison is not entirely fair. Fabian Hürzeler is 31 years old, new and fresh and clearly excited by the process of climbing the mountain. Erik ten Hag is 54 years old and is in his third season as a Manchester United The manager, who is enough to tire anyone out, is not helped by the sockless Ten Hag looking like he is always on the verge of kicking off his boots, gorging himself on Toblerone and driving barefoot to Dundee. But while Hürzeler talks impressively about the processes and dangers of euphoria, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, Ten Hag seems (understandably) to despair of a team who, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, can let Simon Adingra bring his right foot down harder to cross in João Pedro’s winner. “We need to be more clinical in both areas,” may be true, but why aren’t they already? How do you fix that if the players aren’t doing the basics? Jonathan Wilson

Match Report: Brighton 2-1 Manchester United

Seven hat-tricks in 68 Premier League games, as many as Wayne Rooney scored in 491 league games for Manchester United. Ten hat-tricks for Manchester City94 goals in 101 games for Pep Guardiola's side in total and the promise of much more to come. Erling Haaland's “ridiculous” numbers are an ominous early-season sign for City's title rivals. Ipswich were devastated by the striker's power and penetration, who again showed the benefits of an extended summer break. Norway's absence from Euro 2024 has already had a positive impact on City's quest for a record fifth consecutive Premier League title. “I have the feeling he is sharper,” Guardiola said. “Last season he had problems with his ankle and knee. This season he has looked after himself very well and he feels good. He stays longer after training sessions to practise crossing. Last season that was not possible. He is irreplaceable in many ways but we will find a way when he is rested.” Andy hunter

Match Report: Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich

Chelsea fans had a field day in the second-half thrashing of Wolves. Cole Palmer returned and looked swashbuckling, Nicolas Jackson showed some modern centre-forward play and Noni Madueke looked classy under pressure with a hat-trick, although that pressure was self-inflicted on them on social media after Chelsea shook off the pressure. his unfortunate post about Wolverhampton. Earlier in the summer, Madueke was one of a number of young Chelsea players rumoured to be on the way out before the club had seen the best of him, with Newcastle one of the clubs reportedly interested. Instead, Enzo Maresca, although less than complimentary of Madueke afterwards, now knows he has an explosive winger at his disposal and, with Pedro Neto also in tow, perhaps The wisdom of bombing Raheem Sterling The difficulty, of course, is finding a club that will pay Sterling's wages. For aspiring players like Madueke (of whom there are several at Chelsea), the question is finding enough playing time to impress the manager. Juan Brewin

Match Report: Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

Arsenal’s bid to become the first team in history to improve their Premier League points tally for five consecutive seasons will surely hinge on Mikel Arteta’s ability to rotate his squad better this season. Last season, seven players played at least 30 league games and Arsenal racked up 89 points to finish behind Manchester City. Everyone knew Arteta’s best starting XI and that created two further problems – the central players had to stay fresh and the back-up players needed to maintain their confidence. This summer, academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe left for Fulham and Eddie Nketiah is likely to leave too. At City, Pep Guardiola seems to rotate second-string players without the team’s performance dipping and Arteta must now learn from his former mentor. Can Leandro Trossard, for example, Did he play as well from the start as he did as an impact player at Villa Park? City and Aston Villa both had five players start more than 30 league games last season, Liverpool just three. Peter Lansley

Match Report: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen secured Julen Lopetegui’s first win as West Ham manager, and it was the pair’s quick reaction at Selhurst Park that prevented a potential catastrophe. The two players spotted a ball boy in danger of being trapped beneath a falling LED advertising hoarding after Soucek’s opener. “I immediately forgot about the goal and tried to save the lad,” the Czech midfielder reflected on his heroic actions. “There were a lot of bodies in the wall but I was able to lift it so he could escape. It’s probably a better feeling than scoring the goal, the fact that I was able to help him. He’s a Crystal Palace fan and he thanked me for being there to help him. Jarrod also spoke to him. He said he has a game tomorrow and he’s happy to be fit to play.” Ed Aarons

Match Report: Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham

Yves Bissouma was on the naughty path of Ange Postecoglou after the images on social media The midfielder looked like he was inhaling nitrous oxide. He did not play in Tottenham's draw with Leicester, and the question was how Bissouma would respond. The answer was that he was on his best behaviour before facing Everton, which was enough to earn him a call-up, and it was not long before Bissouma made his mark on the pitch. Playing in defensive midfield but given the freedom to support the attack, the Mali international soon scored his first goal for Spurs since joining from Brighton two years ago. Now, though, he has to move on. Bissouma has talent but has been inconsistent in north London and his place in Postecoglou's starting XI is under threat following the arrival of Archie Gray. This was merely a first step; Everton played poorly and other teams do not allow Bissouma as much time on the ball. Jacob Steinberg

Match Report: Tottenham 4-0 Everton

Emile Smith Rowe, one of Fulham's star signings this summer, hasn't taken long to make his mark. The 24-year-old scored on his home debut in Fulham beat Leicester City 2-1It was Smith Rowe’s first Premier League goal in 857 days after a poor end to the season at Arsenal. The English playmaker had already scored twice for Fulham in pre-season, and Marco Silva is pleased with his adaptation. “He adapted in pre-season,” said the Fulham manager. “It was important to gain a bit more confidence and he scored a good goal. He is far from his best from a physical point of view, he will improve, he will adapt more, it was nice to see him be decisive.” Sarah Rendell

Match Report: Fulham 2-1 Leicester

Despite the controversy over Dango Ouattara's disallowed winner, Newcastle's draw with Bournemouth hinged on the introduction of Harvey Barnes. The visitors' attack had stagnated before Eddie Howe returned to the bench, and Andoni Iraola's frenetic pressing worked to perfection, but Barnes gave the visitors another attacking advantage. Having created a wealth of chances, he set up Joelinton for a header that was only saved by a superb Neto save, and Barnes crossed for Anthony Gordon to score the equaliser. After a first season at Newcastle disrupted by injuries, Barnes will now hope to make it impossible for Howe to overlook him for a starting place. “Everyone has something to prove at all times, Harvey will be no different,” said Howe. “He's a quality player, there's no denying that.” It will be Magee

Match Report: Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle

Russell Martin is intent on bolstering Southampton's attack before the transfer window closes on Friday night, and this defeat at St Mary's highlighted their limitations in the final third. Saints, as they did at Newcastle in their opening game, dominated the ball but did little with it and Nottingham Forest were largely untroubled. The promoted club's lack of precision must be a concern even at this early stage, with no goals (and no points) in their first two games. Martin attributed his side's sluggishness to tension and an over-eagerness to impress in their first home game back in the top flight. There was an absence of pace and creativity in the Forest game and Saints will need to become more unpredictable to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. While Forest threatened with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga peppering the hosts' goal before Morgan Gibbs-White's winner, the transfer market will be key if Southampton They must become more powerful in attack. Simon's Mail

Match Report: Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest

Liverpool striker Luis Diaz celebrated his 100th appearance for the club in style by scoring a goal and providing an assist in the 2-0 win over Brentford. The Colombian international's goal was his first of the season. Premier League season at Anfield and it is the third consecutive campaign in which Diaz, who joined the Reds in 2022, has scored Liverpool’s first league goal at home. Diaz was deservedly named man of the match and completed his century of appearances with a superb assist for Mohamed Salah’s goal, making it two wins from two games and a winning start to the league at Anfield for new manager Arne Slot. MR

Match Report: Liverpool 2-0 Brentford