Postecoglou willing to roll the dice
“We’re seeing steps probably quicker than anyone expected,” James Maddison said after an enterprising Spurs left Arsenal with a point. His manager, Ange Postecoglou, was less willing to talk about timelines but it is undeniable that few outsiders expected Tottenham to emerge from the derby unscathed. That they did so was a testament to their bravery, and especially that of Maddison: he was caught in possession glaringly for a chance Gabriel Jesus inexplicably skied, but kept showing up for the ball in difficult areas and finished with two assists. Tottenham looked raw at times, skittish at others, and lived on their nerves for spells, but never strayed from Postecoglou’s fluid, proactive philosophy. “He said today that that’s the way he wants to play,” Maddison said. “If we lose playing his way, that’s on him, his responsibility, and it gives you freedom to go and play as well.” Tottenham are at the start of what will, surely, be a fun and fruitful journey. David Hytner
Watkins shows worth at Chelsea
The hope for Aston Villa will be that Ollie Watkins kicks on after scoring his first goal of the season in his side’s win over Chelsea. Watkins has so far struggled to replicate last season’s devastating performances and there has been speculation that the delay over the striker signing a new deal has affected him. “I am concerned and we are working on it,” Unai Emery said. “We are talking.” Those conversations need to end with Watkins committing his future to the club. Villa are more dangerous when he is running the channels, holding the ball up and pulling defenders out of position. It was not easy for Watkins against Chelsea, who were on top before Malo Gusto’s red card, but he did not let his head drop. His goal owed much to that perseverance. His first shot was blocked by Levi Colwill but Watkins kept going, retrieved possession and scored from a tight angle. Jacob Steinberg
Núñez is now ‘super important’
Jürgen Klopp was keen to get away from his post-match media duties to watch replays of the superb Darwin Núñez goal that restored Liverpool’s lead over West Ham. The acrobatic volley was not the only aspect of Núñez’s game that delighted his manager. The Uruguay international’s all-round performance, and understanding of the defensive work that the team requires of him, provided further evidence of the striker’s improvement and adaptation at Anfield. As Klopp said: “He has made massive steps in the last few weeks. He is a threat. He was always available. It’s super-important for us now that we have a ball player to chip the ball, get it on the chest and play from there. That’s how we scored the third goal at Wolves. The defensive work he puts in is probably the main difference. He always wanted to do it but it was less coordinated. Now that looks much better.” Andy Hunter
Hodgson turns to Palace youth
After their bore draw with Fulham, Crystal Palace face two trips to Old Trafford in five days, potentially without top scorer Odsonne Édouard after the French forward was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury. With his squad already stretched by injuries, Roy Hodgson could hand exciting youth prospect Jesurun Rak-Sakyi another start in the Carabao Cup showdown with Manchester United having restricted him to just seven minutes from three substitute appearances so far in the Premier League. “We don’t have many players at the moment, that’s the problem,” said the former England manager. “In defence we have options, which is good, but when you move forwards into midfield and up front, we don’t have options that would give me a choice to give some players a rest and maybe see some other players. We’ll do our best, we’ll be as organised as we were today and hopefully some of the players who get a chance to play will show me: ‘We’re better than you think.’” Ed Aarons
Ten Hag’s side is a tactical mishmash
What is the mode of play of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United? The question is posed because more than a into his tenure, this observer has scant clue. Are the Dutchman’s strugglers a quick-breaking counterattacking unit or a front-foot, carousel-passing proposition? He would, almost certainly, argue they are the latter with the ball, a high-pressing outfit without it. But on-field evidence hardly supports this. Instead, sometimes United press, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes a geometrically cute attack is constructed, sometimes it is all a bemusing mishmash. “Players can change, the system never does” might be the mantra of a brilliant coach whose blueprint is a constant – à la Pep Guardiola or Roberto De Zerbi. For Ten Hag, the jury is out to decide if he belongs in this bracket. Jamie Jackson
A flaw in Brighton’s armoury?
His team ultimately hit back to continue their fine run, but for some time Roberto De Zerbi lost a fascinating footballing chess match at the Amex. The Italian’s blueprint of expert acute passing through teams from the back is well known. But, in resolutely declining to press high up the pitch, Bournemouth ensured they did not play to his tune. It left the poor Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen bereft of options, led to Bournemouth’s opener and provided a potential answer to blunting the hosts’ fluency. “We decided to go man to man, taking a risk,” said Andoni Iraola. “The only thing on was the keeper. I think we did it really well.” Bournemouth’s joy did not last, but other managers will have noted a strategy to take down the Seagulls that appears to have legs. Ben Bloom
Heckingbottom can take heart
Eight different goalscorers, a trio of Kieran Trippier assists, Newcastle’s biggest win in 24 years; records tumbled at Bramall Lane and yet, for all of the visitors’ ruthless excellence, the headline was Sheffield United’s sheer incompetence in almost every facet. Callum Wilson politely proclaimed: “We knew it was going to be a difficult game.” But the brutal truth for Paul Heckingbottom’s side is that it was nothing of the sort. How on earth do they recover from such a humiliation? Heckingbottom put on a brave face, saying: “You can’t feel sorry for yourself … we can’t shy away from it.” He should take heart, perhaps, from the two 9-0 defeats Southampton suffered under Ralph Hasenhüttl’s watch, after which they battled with great character to achieve two comfortable Premier League survivals, in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Whether Heckingbottom has the talent in his squad to match such a feat, however, is the key question. Dominic Booth
Everton garner new midfield talent
James Garner’s decisive display, playing a part in two of Everton’s goals, was the latest example of a purported elite club’s youth product showing out for someone else. Keen students of Manchester United’s academy were aghast when a star of the club’s representative teams was allowed to join Everton last year, having been a popular, effective player when loaned to Nottingham Forest. Bred as a central midfielder but playing off the left at Brentford, Garner, in tandem with Dwight McNeil – another one-time United trainee – on the other wing, caused repeated problems for the Bees’ injury-riddled and reconfigured defence. “He works ever so hard,” said an approving Sean Dyche. “He’s got a lovely honesty about him, he’s a very good player, and he’s very adaptable.” Such a work ethic, coupled with a dash of class on the ball, makes him an archetypal Evertonian, the likes of which are required if his club’s battle against relegation is to be won. John Brewin
Ogbene lifts Luton with wing play
It may have been his first Premier League start, but Chiedozie Ogbene showed enough in Luton’s draw with Wolves to suggest he’ll be making plenty more this season. Having arrived from Rotherham in the summer, the Republic of Ireland winger had already impressed Luton fans with several lively performances off the bench, but this was a display of sustained flair. Even before they were reduced to 10 men, Wolves struggled to contain his momentum down the left and he combined time and again with Alfie Doughty to create a string of chances. Having drawn some of the loudest cheers of the afternoon, only being denied an assist by an excellent save from José Sá to keep out Carlton Morris, Ogbene’s standout showing did not go unnoticed in the dugout. “People love wide players dribbling and getting at people, or I certainly do anyway,” said his manager, Rob Edwards. “The supporters really bounced off him and I think he felt that. Now he needs to do it again.” Will Magee
Opportunity knocks for Phillips
What will Manchester City do without Rodri for three matches? He is the man that brings control to the team, sets the tone in midfield and brings calm when chaos abounds around him. The Spaniard will almost certainly miss three matches after his sending off against Nottingham Forest. John Stones would be a natural replacement, but a timeframe on his return seems uncertain and Mateo Kovacic only returned to training on Sunday, leaving Pep Guardiola to contemplate giving Kalvin Phillips a run of games. The England international came off the bench soon after Rodri’s dismissal and look composed alongside Matheus Nunes. Phillips rejected the chance to leave in the summer, deciding to stay and fight for a place. The chances of him replacing Rodri on merit always looked unlikely but he will have to rise to the challenge that has been presented. He would have started against Newcastle in midweek regardless and if he further impresses on Wednesday night, he knows he has a glorious opportunity to potentially seize, regardless of how it came about. Will Unwin
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 6 | 13 | 18 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| 3 | Brighton | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| 7 | West Ham | 6 | 1 | 10 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| 9 | Man Utd | 6 | -3 | 9 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | 6 | -1 | 8 |
| 11 | Fulham | 6 | -5 | 8 |
| 12 | Nottm Forest | 6 | -2 | 7 |
| 13 | Brentford | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 14 | Chelsea | 6 | -1 | 5 |
| 15 | Everton | 6 | -5 | 4 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton | 6 | -6 | 4 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 6 | -6 | 3 |
| 18 | Luton | 5 | -8 | 1 |
| 19 | Burnley | 5 | -9 | 1 |
| 20 | Sheff Utd | 6 | -12 | 1 |
