1
De Zerbi shows belief in new boys
That Brighton’s recruitment is remarkable is no secret, but what is really extraordinary is the faith Roberto De Zerbi has in those who have been signed. Simon Adingra was making just his third league start for the club but excelled on the right, not only scoring the opener with a clever and composed finish but very nearly getting a second after skinning Andy Robertson. Two players also made their league debuts on Sunday: Igor Julio, a 25-year-old Brazilian centre-back signed from Fiorentina, and Carlos Baleba, a 19-year-old Cameroonian signed from Lille. They looked assured, testament both to the tactical structure and understanding De Zerbi has instilled, but also the confidence he gives players. Often the temptation is almost to smuggle young players into the starting lineup in lower-profile games: this was Liverpool. Everything De Zerbi does is bold and counterintuitive. Jonathan Wilson
- Match report: Brighton 2-2 Liverpool
2
Arsenal finally end City doom spiral
When Arsenal last beat Manchester City in the league, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Yaya Touré were the goalscorers, Arsène Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini were in the dugouts and the country was only one Tory prime minister into a nightmare run of five on the bounce. After that 2-1 victory in December 2015, with Arsenal on course for the title – Leicester were never going to win it, obviously – few at the Emirates Stadium would have predicted it would take another eight years to repeat the result. With two emphatic defeats to City helping to turn the tide in their rivals’ favour last term, this win could be a psychological turning point for Mikel Arteta’s side as they chase the title once more. Then again, the bigger picture is that this season may not be another straight fight between Arsenal and City. At this stage last term, there were seven points between first and fourth: now, there are only three. Will Magee
- Match report: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City
3
Change works a charm for Ten Hag
The manner of this deep-in-added-time comeback win offers a way for Erik ten Hag to jumpstart Manchester United’s season: look to freshen the XI with players desperate to force a way into the starting lineup, who will give those dropped for them the precise same motivation. The manager, hobbled by a long roll call of injuries, was forced to choose Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in defence and then, as this game slipped away at 1-0 to Brentford, threw on Alejandro Garnacho and, in the 88th minute, Scott McTominay. Evans was composed while Garnacho created United’s equaliser and Maguire their winner, both scored by McTominay. This is not a case for the 35-year-old Evans or the ponderous Maguire to be named on every team sheet but the impact of the pair, plus Garnacho and McTominay, should remind Ten Hag of how new blood can invigorate a team that has been otherwise listless. Jamie Jackson
- Match report: Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
4
Competition for places buoys Blues
Mykhailo Mudryk just cannot catch a break. After finally breaking his Chelsea scoring duck at the 25th attempt last Monday against Fulham, he picked up an untimely knock and then watched as his replacement on the left wing, Raheem Sterling, produced a talismanic display to down Burnley on Saturday with two assists and a goal. It was unfortunate for the Ukrainian – who was brought on after 83 minutes at Turf Moor – but speaks to a wider issue that is central to the marked improvement of Mauricio Pochettino’s side: competition for places. It’s too early to say that Chelsea have turned a corner given their wins at Fulham and Burnley were against two of the league’s more malleable defences. But their expensively assembled collection of players is beginning to resemble a cohesive squad, with the manager confident increased depth will drive further improvement. “With time, with all the players fit, there’s going to be massive competition and that is good for the team,” said a buoyant Pochettino. Dominic Booth
- Match report: Burnley 1-4 Chelsea
Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring against Burnley. Photograph: MI News/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
5
Wolves have golden goose in Neto
Few players have enjoyed as good a start to the season as Pedro Neto and it is easy to imagine rivals jotting his name down, if they had not already. The 23-year-old winger, previously on the radar of Arsenal, was electric against Aston Villa and the catalyst for another Wolves goal. No Premier League player has registered more assists than Neto this season – he and James Maddison are tied on five – but the Portuguese was also the architect behind Rúben Dias putting the ball into his own net nine days ago. Against Manchester City it was Nathan Aké who could not cope with Neto’s pace and running power before Dias diverted the ball in, and on Sunday it was Pau Torres who was overwhelmed in the move that led to Hwang Hee-chan opening the scoring. Neto missed a wonderful chance to help Wolves regain the lead against Villa after Torres levelled, but otherwise enjoyed another sparkling display in old gold. Ben Fisher
- Match report: Wolves 1-1 Aston Villa
6
Micky van de Ven was an unheralded summer signing for Tottenham, arriving while attention was drawn to the Harry Kane saga. Not yet capped for the Netherlands, he began his career at Volendam rather than his country’s more elite talent factories. He has been an instant hit for Spurs, right from making his debut at Brentford the same week he signed from Wolfsburg. At Luton, Ange Postecoglou was dismissive of the difficulty of Van de Ven’s first Spurs goal, only the second of his career – “I thought he just toe-poked it” – but praised the 22-year-old for his “outstanding physical qualities”. The Luton striker Carlton Morris is a handful for anyone but, with Spurs down to 10 men after Yves Bissouma’s two yellow cards, it was Van de Ven and Cristian Romero who led the rearguard effort. Behind them, Guglielmo Vicario has made a similarly solid start. John Brewin
- Match report: Luton 0-1 Tottenham
7
Kudus knocking on Moyes’s door
David Moyes has been slow to give opportunities to Mohammed Kudus. The forward is yet to start in the league since joining West Ham from Ajax, even though he has impressed during his outings in the Europa League. He scored twice against TSC Backa Topola last month and hoped to keep his place in the starting lineup after doing well against Freiburg on Thursday. However Moyes tends to be patient with new signings, particularly in attack, and Kudus saw his place taken by Michail Antonio when West Ham welcomed Newcastle to the London Stadium. It seemed the right ploy. West Ham led early through Tomas Soucek. But Newcastle fought back, taking the lead, and Moyes had to turn to Kudus. “I’m really pleased for Mo,” Moyes said afterwards. “He gives us more composure. Newcastle had sunk back a little bit.” Space emerged. With a minute left Vladimir Coufal found Kudus, who lashed home from 20 yards. He will hope he has done enough to force his way in after the international break. Jacob Steinberg
- Match report: West Ham 2-2 Newcastle
8
Silva lining after ‘toughest’ summer
So far this Premier League season, Fulham have beaten Everton, Luton and Sheffield United. There was little on show at Craven Cottage to suggest Marco Silva’s side will be slaying many giants, but by squeaking past the division’s weakest sides they should at least stay up. After some fortune in their latest win – in which his side wasted countless chances – Silva described the summer as “one of the toughest pre-seasons for this football club and my career”, with Fulham losing Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi Arabia’s riches. His absence remains stark and the lack of an adequate replacement is worrying. Thankfully for Silva, there are worse teams knocking about. Ben Bloom
- Match report: Fulham 3-1 Sheffield United
Marco Silva (left) and Paul Heckingbottom (right) marshal their teams from the sidelines. Photograph: George Beck/PPAUK/Shutterstock
9
Iraola can ill-afford more slip-ups
Next up for Bournemouth is the visit of Wolves and Gary O’Neil, the manager their owners harshly sacked in June to implement a new style of play under Andoni Iraola. Eight winless Premier League matches later and the merits of that brutal switch are in question, with Iraola admitting he is worried about the team’s place in the relegation zone after defeat at Everton. That’s understandable, for this was their most worrying loss so far. Being beaten by Liverpool, Tottenham, Brighton and Arsenal while trying to change styles early in the season was to be expected. But to be repeatedly carved open by a fragile Everton team – without a league win and with one goal at home before Saturday – ruined any talk of progress at Bournemouth. The former Rayo Vallecano coach took full responsibility at Goodison Park but can ill-afford a repeat after the international break against the man he replaced. Andy Hunter
- Match report: Everton 3-0 Bournemouth
10
Murillo magic can light up Forest
Steve Cooper’s decision to throw Murillo in at the deep end by handing the Brazilian defender his full Premier League debut against Crystal Palace paid off in style as the 21-year-old impressed in the stalemate at Selhurst Park. It wasn’t just the laser-guided pass to set up Morgan Gibbs-White or his samba-style dribble that almost ended in a brilliant goal: the player, who made only 13 first team appearances for Corinthians in his homeland before moving to Nottingham Forest at the end of August, also formed a solid partnership in central defence alongside Willy Boly that bodes well for the rest of the season. “He is an incredible player,” said Gibbs-White. “He made a tackle against me on his first day in training and I felt his power so I didn’t want to go near him again. When he made that mazy run, I was screaming at him to pass. Every time I said pass, he did another player. It’s an unbelievable run and unlucky that he didn’t get the goal in the end.” Ed Aarons
- Match report: Crystal Palace 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts
—|—|—|—|—
1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 | 10 | 20
2 | Arsenal | 8 | 10 | 20
3 | Man City | 8 | 11 | 18
4 | Liverpool | 8 | 9 | 17
5 | Aston Villa | 8 | 7 | 16
6 | Brighton | 8 | 5 | 16
7 | West Ham | 8 | 3 | 14
8 | Newcastle | 8 | 11 | 13
9 | Crystal Palace | 8 | 0 | 12
10 | Man Utd | 8 | -3 | 12
11 | Chelsea | 8 | 4 | 11
12 | Fulham | 8 | -5 | 11
13 | Nottm Forest | 8 | -2 | 9
14 | Wolverhampton | 8 | -5 | 8
15 | Brentford | 8 | -1 | 7
16 | Everton | 8 | -3 | 7
17 | Luton | 8 | -9 | 4
18 | Burnley | 8 | -13 | 4
19 | AFC Bournemouth | 8 | -13 | 3
20 | Sheff Utd | 8 | -16 | 1
*[Pos]: Position
*[P]: Played
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
