Exciting Chelsea becoming a must-watch
If in doubt, watch Chelsea. For the second time in six days, Mauricio Pochettino’s blend of youth and experience staged a fabulous show and scored four times against a fellow member of the old Big Six. Their 4-4 against Manchester City was not so much a soap opera, more a box-set thriller squeezed into 105 minutes. When City took the lead through the two most boring words in the football lexicon – “Haaland pen” – it wasn’t hard to see Chelsea crumbling. But then they had gone a goal down at Spurs too. They showed tremendous mettle, and soon they were 2-1 up. City regained the lead, then lost it, then grabbed it again – only for Cole Palmer to save a point and join Raheem Sterling on the scoresheet. Pep Guardiola is happy to sell players to other big clubs, and they are happy to make him pay for it. Tim de Lisle
Clear-minded Solanke sinks Magpies
Two goals on Saturday took Dominic Solanke to six for the league campaign, equalling his tally for the whole of last season. It’s perhaps been longer coming than he would have hoped after winning the Golden Ball when England won the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 but, at 26, he looks a high-class Premier League striker. “He’s doing all the good things, on the ball, off the ball,” said his manager Andoni Iraola. Solanke squandered one chance, a momentary hesitation allowing Jamaal Lascelles to recover, but then netted two classic poacher’s goals, seizing on loose balls in the box to score with a fierce shot and then a clever improvised hip-high flick with the outside of his ankle. “He has a clear mind,” said Iraola. “He missed a couple of chances in the first half and sometimes when strikers miss chances they start overthinking but he continued playing the same way. Even if he doesn’t score, he gives us a lot of things. It’s a pleasure to have him up front.” Jonathan Wilson
Academy graduates excite at Old Trafford
Manchester United’s academy coaches will have been impressed by Teden Mengi’s performance upon his return to Old Trafford with Luton. The United graduate moved to Kenilworth Road in the summer and has become a regular in defence. He made two first-team appearances for United, both in European matches, having joined the club aged seven. Mengi is a quick and robust defender, who reads danger before it happens and after only seven top-flight appearances he looks as if he is more than capable at this level. He will be hoping for more days out at Old Trafford, where he was joined by another former United youth product when Tahith Chong came off the bench for Luton. A success of an academy should not be measured by the number that progress through the ranks to their own first team but by how many careers they create in the game and Manchester United are proving one of the best in class. Will Unwin
Zinchenko adds stability and solutions
It was mildly amusing to see Oleksandr Zinchenko whipping up the crowd after winning a tackle during the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium. If there is a time for earnest gesticulating for supporters to make more noise, it is probably not when you are beating Burnley 3-1, even if Arsenal had to see the game out with 10 men after Fábio Vieira’s red card. That said, Mikel Arteta was pleased with Zinchenko, who can be exposed at left-back at times. “I really liked how defensively committed he was today,” Arteta said. Though inevitably there would be more of a focus on the Ukrainian’s work in attack, as ultimately Zinchenko’s real worth to Arsenal comes in possession. Against Burnley he provided solutions by drifting inside, playing a part in the opening goal and scoring the third with a clever looping shot. Better opponents still may view him as someone to exploit in defence. Jacob Steinberg
Fulham’s goals few and far between
Fulham may be six points above a relegation zone that features all three promoted clubs but in goal-scoring terms they are in a battle with the bottom. Only Burnley have scored fewer than Marco Silva’s side’s 10 goals, even if Raúl Jiménez’s first Premier League finish in 20 months did provide a beacon amid the gloom at Villa Park. This time last season, Aleksandar Mitrovic had scored nine times, whereas now Antonee Robinson has scored as many own goals (2) as the club’s joint top scorers, João Palhinha and Bobby DeCordova-Reid. With Rodrigo Muniz injured, perhaps Jiménez can kick on. The standard of Fulham’s play is not a concern but the diminishing confidence is. Perhaps it is good for Fulham that the bottom four look as set for a relegation battle as they do. Peter Lansley
Núñez’s ‘insane’ pressing stops Brentford’s long balls
There was more frustration for Darwin Núñez in the form of two disallowed goals against Brentford but that did not mask another highly influential display from the Liverpool centre-forward. His role in Mohamed Salah’s first goal – which set a new club record by scoring in the opening six home league games of a season – was, in the words of the opposition manager, Thomas Frank, textbook Liverpool. “We lose it, Liverpool attack, bang and goal. A signature Liverpool attack,” he said. But it was the other side to Núñez’s game that most impressed his own manager. “Our defending was very good and the standout in our defending was really Darwin,” said Jürgen Klopp. “Brentford wants to play long balls. That’s one thing, but we need to know when. And we can only influence that by one player. When you start pressing from the centre, you have to go to the goalie without getting the ball. They pass to the centre-back and you follow that. The work rate was insane.” Andy Hunter
Ward-Prowse delivers when it matters
Defending in the Premier League with every man back is rarely a wise course of action. Nottingham Forest were hanging on for a rare away point, inviting pressure on. They discovered West Ham’s attacking threat does not just come from the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paquetá, expensively imported West Ham talent they had found solutions to following the Brazilian’s early goal, but also from the dead-ball expertise of James Ward-Prowse. “It’s perfect for us, for the big lads in the box,” said Tomas Soucek, after scoring the winner. “You play against [him] and you know it’s going to be on the money,” said Steve Cooper. All 11 of Cooper’s players were defending in their area by the time of Soucek’s decisive goal in injury time Ward-Prowse had already assisted Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser, and his absence from England squads continues to mystify. Set pieces matter at European Championships and World Cups, too. John Brewin
Blades build on first win with crucial point
By the end of October, Sheffield United had played 10 games in the Premier League and earned one point. They were even making the other promoted teams look good. But then they got that 100th-minute penalty against Wolves and everything changed. After securing their first win of the season, they went to Brighton and picked up their first away point. Again, a referee gave them a helping hand, although it was hardly controversial when Mahmoud Dahoud received a red card for placing his heel on Ben Osborn’s achilles. Five minutes later Jaydon Bogle fired in a low cross, Adam Webster turned the ball into his own net, and United were level. Paul Heckingbottom’s likable fighters are up and running. TdL
Wolves relish underdog status
Wolves have beaten the Premier League’s top two on home turf this season but Gary O’Neil acknowledges the next step is to find a consistency that will help his team climb the table. Wolves have gone toe to toe against Manchester City, Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa but remain in the bottom half, with defeat at Sheffield United and a draw at Luton more painful excerpts. There is a sense that Wolves are at their best when they are underdogs but they have a chance to assert some of their newfound authority on Fulham and Burnley after the international break, games either side of a trip to Arsenal. Regardless, impressive strides have been made under O’Neil, who replaced Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the season. “We are probably ahead of the curve in terms of where I expected us to be,” O’Neil said. Ben Fisher
Eze makes case for England call-up
Roy Hodgson has backed Eberechi Eze to be called up for England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers this week after the midfielder proved his fitness in his first start for Crystal Palace since the end of September. The 25-year was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad having been sidelined with a hamstring injury but starred in the thrilling 3-2 home defeat against Everton. Eze’s international experience has been limited to two substitute appearances and with Tottenham’s James Maddison having withdrawn through injury, Hodgson is hoping that the Palace playmaker could be handed an opportunity against Malta and North Macedonia. “I’m just reading between the lines – I think it was obvious he wasn’t called up because he only came off the bench last week against Burnley for 25 or 30 minutes,” he said. “But I’m rather hoping that if having seen him play this full 90 minutes, if they are looking for an alternative to bring into their squad for the injured Maddison then Eze could be an alternative. But you’ll have to ask Gareth Southgate.” Ed Aarons
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 12 | 20 | 28 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 12 | 17 | 27 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 16 | 27 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 9 | 26 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 12 | 25 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 12 | -3 | 21 |
| 7 | Newcastle | 12 | 14 | 20 |
| 8 | Brighton | 12 | 4 | 19 |
| 9 | West Ham | 12 | -1 | 17 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 12 | 5 | 16 |
| 11 | Brentford | 12 | 2 | 16 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton | 12 | -4 | 15 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 12 | -4 | 15 |
| 14 | Everton | 12 | -3 | 14 |
| 15 | Nottm Forest | 12 | -4 | 13 |
| 16 | Fulham | 12 | -10 | 12 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 12 | -16 | 9 |
| 18 | Luton | 12 | -12 | 6 |
| 19 | Sheff Utd | 12 | -21 | 5 |
| 20 | Burnley | 12 | -21 | 4 |
