Matchday six of the English Premier League served up sizzling talking points and brilliant games. Here, Econsport picks out the major talking points from another exciting weekend of football in the EPL, as the battle for supremacy gathers pace.
Lingering Issues Haunt United (Manchester United 1 vs 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers)
After an abysmal start to the season-- shocking losses to Brighton &Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur --United had somewhat got back on track with three consecutive victories in all competitions with a single goal conceded along the way. On Saturday at Old Trafford, the party atmosphere necessitated by Sir Alex Ferguson's first public appearance since undergoing surgery quickly dissipated as those clad in red served up a poor performance on the pitch.
Wolves came out the more hungrier side, hunting and pressing ferociously like a pack of wolves. United on the other hand just ambled along. Fred's opener, slightly against the run of play, should have filled the Red devils with intent to go for the kill. If anything, it further gave the visitors more belief to express and wow their travelling fans with a brave display culminating in a well taken second half equalizer from Moutinho.
Stat: Manchester United have only taken fifteen from a possible twenty-one points against newly promoted teams at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho.....Struggle
United showed a chronic lack of urgency, till the dying stages of the match--completely unacceptable from a team of such storied history. Too often their forwards went missing, the likes of Lukaku and Sanchez having very poor days at the office. Paul Pogba's post match admission that United need to attack at home also raised further questions as to the tactics being employed by manager Jose Mourinho. Are the players tired of always playing wiith the handbrakes on under the Portuguese tactician?
Across the Mersey, The Reds Are Right In Red ( Liverpool 3 vs 0 Southampton)
Six out of six. Perfect, unblemished, very much the team to beat. There's a reason Liverpudlians wax lyrical about this team. It isn't just the magnificent trident up front, or the newly found defensive resolve, nor the dynamism in the middle of the park. It just feels like something special is brewing on the horizon. 28 years ago - that's how long it's taken for Liverpool to get off the blocks this quick. Coming off the back of an impressive victory over PSG in midweek champions league action, Jurgen Klopp made three big changes to his side. In came Matip,Henderson and Shaqiri for the visit of Southampton.
Stat: Liverpool's seven wins out of seven in all competitions is the best start the Reds have made to a domestic campaign...Perfect
Like hands in glove,they slotted in seamlessly. Liverpool's renewed depth is a major strongpoint this season. Against the Saints, Matip was solid alongside Van Dijk in defence, getting in amongst the goals with a towering header, Henderson marshalled the middle of the park like he owned it, and in attack Shaqiri was bright--very unfortunate to be subbed at the break in a decision Manager Jurgen Klopp labelled one of the toughest he's had to make. Three unreplied goals plundered, with Salah ending his mini goal drought a further cause for optimism. Two points clear at the top, as Chelsea dropped points at Westham United, and yet to even hit peak form, it would take some stopping to halt Klopp's side should they continue on this upward curve.
Maddison Runs The Show In Leicester Victory (Leicester City 3 vs 1 Huddersfield)
Watching 21 year old James Maddison on Saturday, was a spectacle. The young Englishman signed for Leicester in an estimated £20 million deal over the summer. Three goals in six appearances in all competitions do not tell the full story. The calmness and composure on the ball, ability to unlock defences with scissor-splitting passes, unique technique from set pieces, here was a performance that belied such a young player. You would be forgiven for thinking he has had years of experience at this level. His combination with Iheanacho--who earned an assist for Vardy's third goal-- through the middle was too much for Huddersfield's backline to handle. Kudos to Manager Claude Puel for thrusting the young lad into the thick of the action, with the only question being delivering such performances on a regular basis. Overall the home side showed great character coming from a goal down after Matthias Jorgensen's fifth minute opener for the visitors,with goals from Kelechi Iheanacho, Maddison, and Jamie Vardy securing maximum points to ease the pressure on Puel. For Maddison, he would hope that England manager Gareth Southgate would have been watching. More performances like this and a maiden England call-up will not be far away.
Mahrez Gets Off The Mark As Five-star City Hit Cardiff For Five (Manchester City 5 vs 0 Cardiff City)
Making the step up from Leicester City to Manchester City would have been no mean task for Algerian winger, Riyad Mahrez. Adapting to Guardiola's meticulous tactical plan also a different kettle of fish altogether. Formerly the main man at Leicester, Mahrez has had to bide his time at his new club and wait for his opportunity. In City's star studded frontline, starting spots are definitely not easy to come by. Notching two goals on Saturday would have done him a whole world of good, as the citizens returned to winning ways in sumptuous style, after their Champions League wobble against French side Lyon in mid-week, against a Cardiff side who are the bookmakers prime favourites for relegation this season. In Guardiola's barnstorming attacking side, the winger will be aiming for double figures this season in terms of goals and assists. Grabbing two at Cardiff was surely a good way to start.
Bright Afternoon For Spurs (Brighton & Hove Albion 1 vs 2 Tottenham Hotspur)
Having lost three games on the trot for the first time in his Spurs career, there was mounting pressure for manager Mauricio Pochettino in the build up to this clash. Had he taken Tottenham Hotspur as far as he could go? Would a no-signing show over the summer come back to haunt them? Who could be deemed a reliable deputy for striker Harry Kane upfront? On the day however, a professional display secured three points against Brighton with Harry Kane netting from the penalty spot to end his three game goal drought. Indeed it's no coincidence, when Kane is on Song, Spurs dance brilliantly to his tune. Erik Lamela added a second off the bench in the second half to give Spurs breathing space with Anthony Knockaert's late goal ensuring a nervy end to proceedings, but Tottenham held out for the win their performance deserved on the balance of play. Next weekend's trip to Huddersfield offers Pochettino's side an opportunity to build momentum and secure back to back wins. An opportunity he would surely not want to pass up.
Centre Forward Still An Issue For Sarri's Blues (West Ham United 0 vs 0 Chelsea)
Chelsea's centre forward spot would be a source of concern for new Boss Maurizio Sari as they dropped their first points of the season at West Ham. Despite bossing possession, with midfield maestro Jorginho orchestrating things from deep and setting a new pass record, the blues could not break down a resolute Hammers defence, who could have secured victory but for a scarcely believable miss from summer signing Andriy Yarmolenko. Olivier Giroud started up top but struggled to get his side going, with Alvaro Morata not faring much better when he came on. With the wide men not finding their scoring touch--Hazard, Willian had poor days in front of goal by their lofty standards--Chelsea struggled to turn their territorial dominance into a meaningful end product.
Stat: Summer signing Jorginho attempted a jaw-dropping 180 passes against West Ham United. The most ever by a Premier League player and breaking his own record set earlier this campaign against Newcastle United.
Sarri's system relies heavily on the front three creating space and getting in amongst the goals,but with Morata and Giroud yet to hit their strides and Hazard curtailed on the day, the Blues were uncharacteristically lacking a cutting edge in front of goal. A conundrum for the maverick Italian to ponder over.
In other results, Burnley secured their first three points of the season with a 4-nil trouncing of Bournemouth at home, in a performance more akin to Sean Dyche's high-flying charges of last season, than the dour displays served earlier this campaign in their five game winless run. Elsewhere, a beauty from Alexandre Lacazette and a controversial Pierre Emerick Aubameyang second secured a 2-0 win for Arsenal over Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle United held Crystal Palace to a goaless draw at Selhurst Park, while Fulham and Watford shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the early Saturday kickoff.
Next weekend, West Ham United welcome Manchester United to the London Stadium, Manchester City play host to Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal entertain Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers square off against Southampton seeking to maintain their good form, Everton tackle Fulham, Newcastle United face Leicester City at home, Tottenham Hotspur visit Huddersfield Town, and a mouthwatering clash at the Bridge awaits as Chelsea welcome Liverpool. On Sunday, Cardiff City host Burnley, while Bournemouth versus Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football rounds off the weekend action.
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