Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Perhaps the comparison isn’t entirely fair. Fabian Hürzeler is 31, new and fresh and clearly exhilarated by the process of climbing the mountain. Erik ten Hag is 54 and in his third season as Manchester United manager, which is enough to wear anybody down. It doesn’t help that Ten Hag’s socklessness makes it seem as if he’s forever on the verge of kicking his shoes off, stuffing his face with Toblerone and driving barefoot to Dundee. But where Hürzeler speaks impressively about processes and the dangers of euphoria, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, Ten Hag seems (understandably) despairing of a team that, in the fifth minute of injury time, can let Simon Adingra cut back on his stronger right foot to cross for João Pedro’s winner. “We have to be more clinical in both boxes,” may be true, but why are they not already? How do you put that right if players aren’t doing the basics? Jonathan Wilson

Match report: Brighton 2-1 Manchester United

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Seven hat-tricks in 68 Premier League games – as many as Wayne Rooney scored in 491 league outings for Manchester United. Ten hat-tricks for Manchester City, 94 goals in 101 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side overall 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 forward’s power and penetration as he again showed the benefits of an extended summer break. Norway’s absence from Euro 2024 has already had a positive impact on City’s pursuit of a record-extending fifth consecutive Premier League title. “I have a feeling he’s sharper,” said Guardiola. “Last season he had problems with his ankle and knee. This season he’s taken care of himself really well and he feels good. He’s staying longer after training sessions to practise crosses. Last season that wasn’t possible. He’s irreplaceable in many aspects but we will find a way when he’s rested.” Andy Hunter

Match report: Manchester City 4-1 Ipswich

There was so much for Chelsea fans to enjoy in their second-half destruction of Wolves. Cole Palmer was back and swaggering, Nicolas Jackson gave a decent display of modern centre-forward play and Noni Madueke supplied grace under pressure with a hat-trick – even if that pressure was self-inflicted on social media after his unfortunate post about Wolverhampton. At the start of the summer, Madueke was one of Chelsea’s young players linked with an exit before the club ever got to see the best of him, Newcastle one of the clubs reportedly interested. Instead Enzo Maresca, while sparing in his praise of Madueke afterwards, now knows he has the use of an explosive winger and, with Pedro Neto also in tow, perhaps the wisdom of shelling Raheem Sterling comes to light. The difficulty, of course, lies in finding a club to foot Sterling’s wages. For aspirant players like Madueke – of which there are several at Chelsea – the issue is finding enough game time to impress the manager. John Brewin

Match report: Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

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Arsenal’s bid to become the first team ever to improve their Premier League points tally for five successive seasons will surely depend on Mikel Arteta’s ability to rotate his squad better this season. Last term, seven players played at least 30 league games as Arsenal amassed 89 points only to still finish behind Manchester City. Everyone knew Arteta’s best starting XI and it created two other issues: core players having to maintain freshness and fringe players needing to retain their belief. This summer, academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe has left for Fulham and Eddie Nketiah is likely to depart too. At City, Pep Guardiola seems to rotate in second-string players without any dip in the team’s performance and Arteta must now learn from his old master. Can Leandro Trossard, for instance, play as well from the start of games as he did as an impact player at Villa Park? City and Aston Villa had five players who started more than 30 league games last season, Liverpool just three. Peter Lansley

Match report: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal

Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen’s goals secured Julen Lopetegui’s first win as West Ham manager, and it was the same duo’s quick thinking at Selhurst Park that prevented a potential catastrophe. The two players spotted that a ballboy was in danger of beingtrapped beneath a falling LED advertising hoarding after Soucek’s opener. “Straight away, I forgot about the goal and tried to save the boy,” reflected the Czech midfielder on his heroic actions. “There were many bodies on the barrier but I was able to lift it so he could run away. It’s probably a better feeling than scoring the goal, the fact I was able to help him. He’s a Crystal Palace fan and he thanked me for being there to help. Jarrod also spoke to him. He said tomorrow he has a game, and he’s happy he’s in good condition to play.” Ed Aarons

Match report: Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham

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Yves Bissouma was on Ange Postecoglou’s naughty step after footage on social media appeared to show the midfielder inhaling nitrous oxide. Left out for Tottenham’s draw with Leicester, 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 a recall – and it was not long before Bissouma made his mark on the pitch. Playing in defensive midfield but given freedom to support the attack, the Malian international soon scored his first goal for Spurs since joining from Brighton two years ago. Now, though, he has to push on. Bissouma is talented but he has been inconsistent in north London and his position in Postecoglou’s starting 11 is under threat after the arrival of Archie Gray. This was simply a first step; Everton were poor and other teams will not allow Bissouma as much time on the ball. Jacob Steinberg

Match report: Tottenham 4-0 Everton

One of Fulham’s marquee signings this summer, Emile Smith Rowe has not taken long to have an impact. The 24-year-old scored on his home debut in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Leicester City. It was Smith Rowe’s first Premier League goal in 857 days, after a lean end to his Arsenal days. The English playmaker had already found the back of the net twice for Fulham in pre-season, and Marco Silvais happy with how he is adjusting. “He settled in the pre-season,” said the Fulham manager. “It was important to get a little bit more confidence and he scored a good finish. He’s far from his best from a physical point of view, he’s going to improve, he’ll adapt more, it was nice to see him be decisive.” Sarah Rendell

Match report: Fulham 2-1 Leicester

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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 been bogged down before Eddie Howe looked to his bench, Andoni Iraola’s frenetic pressing game working perfectly, but Barnes gave the visitors a new edge in attack. Having created a glut of chances, teeing up Joelinton for a header that was kept out only by a superb save from Neto, Barnes laid on the searching cross that set up Anthony Gordon to score the equaliser. After a first season at Newcastle disrupted by injury, Barnes will now hope to make it impossible for Howe to overlook him for a starting spot. “Everyone’s got a point to prove at all times, Harvey will be no different,” said Howe. “He’s a quality player, no denying that.” Will Magee

Match report: Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle

Russell Martin intends to bolster Southampton’s attack before the transfer window shuts 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 opener, dominated the ball but did little with it and Nottingham Forest were untroubled for the most part. The promoted club’s lack of cutting edge must be a concern even at this early stage, with no goals (and no points) from their first two matches. Martin blamed his team’s sluggishness on tension and an overeagerness to impress in their first home game back in the top flight. There was an absence of pace and creativity on show against Forest and Saints will need to become more unpredictable to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. While Forest threatened through Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga as they peppered the hosts’ goal before Morgan Gibbs-White’s winner, the transfer market will be key if Southampton are to become more potent in attack. Simon Mail

Match report: Southampton 0-1 Nottingham Forest

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Liverpool forward Luis Díaz celebrated his 100th appearance for the club in style as he notched a goal and an assist in their 2-0 win against Brentford. The Colombia international’s goal was the first of the Premier League season at Anfield and it is the third campaign in a row that Díaz, who signed for the Reds in 2022, has scored Liverpool’s first league goal at home. Díaz was deservedly named player of the match and topped off his century of appearances with a fine assist for Mohamed Salah’s goal, making it two wins from two and a winning league start at Anfield for his new manager, Arne Slot. SR

Match report: Liverpool 2-0 Brentford

Source: theguardian.com