1
United need an injection of confidence
If Ruud van Nistelrooy was supposed to remove nostalgia from Manchester United's system, then perhaps that was achieved, although perhaps not as expected. If Rúben Amorim was distracted from preparing Sporting for Manchester City on Tuesday, he will be more aware of a United team lacking confidence. joined first 60 minutes against Chelsea I saw them pathetically searching for creativity. Not even the presence of one of the club's great forwards has improved the final quality in a group with few goals. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford lacked tact and instinct; The signing of substitute Joshua Zirkzee remains a mystery. There was something of Van Nistelrooy in Rasmus Højlund winning Bruno Fernandes' penalty, and the goalscorer's knee sliding into the Stretford End tunnel. But there was not going to be an ecstatic ending like that of the Ferguson era. This United doesn't do them. Van Nistelrooy has two games left until United seek the progressive future postponed by mistakenly retaining Erik ten Hag. John Brewin
2
Caicedo and Lavia boost Chelsea
At Old Trafford, Moisés Caicedo's victory stood out in a performance where Chelsea They allowed victory to slip through their fingers. Amid the desperately dull slumber of the first half, with Caicedo and Roméo Lavia in midfield, Chelsea were in control but Cole Palmer disappointed, against the club his family supports, as did Enzo Maresca's other attackers. It was Caicedo's turn to move through the center of the field with the style that has become common lately. The combined transfer values of £220m dictate that his partnership with Enzo Fernandez must work out, but it hasn't yet. The Argentine failed to impose himself even in United's midfield after replacing Lavia. With Lavia it was Chelsea's blow. Maresca has not been afraid to marginalize players that ownership wants to advance. For example, he has handled the Mykhailo Mudryk situation carefully. Lavia, if he can stay injury-free, fits Chelsea's midfield much better by allowing Caicedo to be the player they paid a lot of money for. J.B.
3
Gordon turns back the years
It was the kind of cross that precedes an unstoppable header that Nolberto Solano used to aim at Alan Shearer during Sir Bobby Robson's tenure at Newcastle. Anthony Gordon prefers to play on the left so he can cut inside and shoot from his naturally stronger right side, but there is plenty to offer for right-footed wingers and Gordon excelled in that role as Arsenal's title hopes were dented. His assist on Alexander Isak's winning goal also renewed Newcastle's hopeful relationship at the end of a week, when they reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and claimed their first first division victory in six attempts. On a day when Gordon, Isak, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Hall were the strong men of the game, the only thing Eddie Howe lacked was a specialist centre-forward to replace Isak. Significantly, the Newcastle manager has sent the Swede's substitute, Callum Wilson, to the pioneering Doha hospital where Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are undergoing physical repairs. If Wilson's back heals, European qualification could come. Louise Taylor
4
Solanke makes the difference
Dominic Solanke's value for Tottenham Hotspur It will be measured by more than just goals. The forward can mix with the defenders, link the play and lead his team's pressure. But for a team with a habit of wasting points in winnable positions, having a ruthless striker is nothing to sneeze at. Spurs, who could once count on Harry Kane to settle close games, will have a better chance of finishing in the top four if Solanke scores. He made the difference during the 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, scoring his team's second and third goals, and could take satisfaction in beating his England team-mate Ollie Watkins, who wasted an obvious opportunity in the first half. “Goals are fantastic and as a striker I'm sure he loves the fact that he has a couple, but I can't say enough about him and what he brings to this team,” said Ange Postecoglou. Jacob Steinberg
5
Every title contender needs a Gómez
Arne Slot attributed Liverpool's transformation into a team worthy of leading the Premier League to a change in attitude against Brighton, rather than their own tactical changes, and it was Joe Gomez who embodied the fight, quality and character that was so lacking. in his first game. -half screen. The defender came into play at half-time after Ibrahima Konaté suffered an arm injury when Virgil van Dijk fell on him and was a major factor in extinguishing Brighton's threat. For a player who was left out of Slot's Premier League first team at Ipswich, and whose Liverpool His future was in serious doubt during the summer, Gómez's attitude and professionalism is exemplary. He is what a title contender needs. “I know it's coming off an interesting summer,” Van Dijk said. “But the way he has been on and off the field is remarkable. He is highly respected within the club and the team. He is a fantastic player and he showed it again. “It was exceptional.” andy hunter
6
Time is running fast for O'Neil
Season-spanning statistics can often seem pointless, or at least unfair, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the numbers surrounding the Wolves. Gary O'Neil's side have won one of their last 20 league games, taking eight points from a possible 60 in that period. Matheus Cunha and João Gomes displayed moments of brilliance in Saturday's draw against Crystal Palace to show that it's not all bad, but O'Neil, who signed a four-year contract extension in the summer, is running out of time to change the things. Some sectors of the fans expressed their complaints during the game and the lack of victory. Southampton Saturday will almost certainly mean the end. Either way, Wolves are in a long-term relegation fight. “We're going to have to fight all season, we're going to have to fight, that's the situation we're in,” O'Neil said. “We have accepted it in the locker room.” ben fisherman
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7
Iraola workers surprise the champions
There is no need to panic after Manchester City's first Premier League defeat of the season, although there are several concerns. If Bournemouth deserved huge credit, with Antoine Semenyo, Lewis Cook and Milos Kerkez the standout players, it was a combination of energy and desire that tore the champions apart. Too often, in the press, in duels and even in the closing stages, when City finally exerted some control, it was a Bournemouth player who got to the ball first. Few would accuse a serial champion team of lacking desire, but in the performances of Ilkay Gündogan, Mateo Kovacic and Kyle Walker, age reared its head. Andoni Iraola lined up Semenyo so that Walker was the winger's immediate opponent. The Ghanaian roasted Walker so much that Pep Guardiola had to change his captain to center back. Kevin De Bruyne on the bench had been a surprise but he did not play. J.B.
8
Fabulous Forest in the top three
Ten games in and Nottingham Forest They have only conceded seven goals in the league. It is an incredible feat for a team that survived in the Premier League on the final day of last season. The two additions that have changed the defense are Nikola Milenkovic and Àlex Moreno. Matz Sels, Ola Aina and Murillo were already impressive under Nuno Espírito Santo, but they received the perfect additions to make Forest robust and balanced at the back. It's an indication that if things aren't going well, adjusting is often better than revising and Forest has been proven right by their more sensible approach to the market rather than signing a completely new defence. West Ham had just three shots on Saturday and only one of them was on target as Forest moved into the top three. won't win
9
Southampton finally shore up defense
Aaron Ramsdale believes Southampton's performance against Everton showed their unity in achieving the long-awaited first Premier League win of the season. Ramsdale made several impressive saves before Adam Armstrong's late goal to upstage English rival Jordan Pickford at the other end, but paid tribute to the rest of his defense for their contribution to the first clean sheet of the campaign. “It was a real team effort,” Ramsdale said. “It feels great to get that off our chest, especially the first win. That was more important than keeping a clean sheet, but achieving both shows that we are really working for the team. The defenders taking on the Everton threat, which they are so good at. If they made it through, I was grateful to be there and those are the standards I hold myself by. “That was the real Aaron Ramsdale that Saints fans saw.” Ed Aaron
10
The Tractor Boys move forward but they need to win
Ipswich arrived in the brave new world of the Premier League without high expectations, so to have suggested to their fans that their team would avoid defeat in half of their first 10 games would have been an attractive prophecy. However, five draws and five defeats mean the Tractor Boys are one of two teams yet to win and are letting points slip through their fingers. “That's 10 games we haven't won, but five of which we got a result, and probably eight of which we competed in,” Kieran McKenna wisely surmised after Leicester earned a 1-1 late draw at Portman Road, at the same time time that expressed something legitimate. Complaints to the VAR and referee Tim Robinson. However, the contrast with his new Leicester teammates, who are finding ways to score important points, is stark. While Steve Cooper's team has already recovered six points after losing positions, Ipswich continues to waste them. sunday stand
