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

United need a dose of confidence

If Ruud van Nistelrooy was supposed to eliminate nostalgia from Manchester United’s system, then perhaps it was achieved, but perhaps not as intended. If Rúben Amorim was distracted from Sporting’s preparation for Manchester City on Tuesday, he will be more aware of the lack of confidence in a United team. United’s first 60 minutes against Chelsea saw them pathetically searching for their creativity. Even the presence of one of the club’s greatest strikers did not improve the final quality in a group poor in goals. Both Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford were devoid of touch and instinct; The signing of replacement Joshua Zirkzee remains a mystery. There was something of Van Nistelrooy in Rasmus Højlund winning Bruno Fernandes’ penalty, and in the scorer’s knee slide towards the Stretford End tunnel. But there was to be no ecstatic denouement in the era of Ferguson. This United doesn’t do them. Van Nistelrooy still has two matches to play until United seek the postponed progressive future by mistakenly retaining Erik ten Hag. John Brewin

Caicedo and Lavia boost Chelsea

At Old Trafford, Moisés Caicedo’s strikes stood out in a performance where Chelsea let victory slip away. In the desperately dull torpor of the first half, with Caicedo and Roméo Lavia in midfield, Chelsea were in control but Cole Palmer disappointed, against the club supported by his family, just like Enzo Maresca’s other attackers. It was up to Caicedo to move through midfield in the style that has recently become customary. Transfer values ​​totaling £220 million dictate that his partnership with Enzo Fernández must work, but that is not yet the case. The Argentine couldn’t even get the better of United’s pedestrian midfield after replacing Lavia. With Lavia came Chelsea’s push. Maresca has not been afraid to sideline the players that ownership wants to recruit. For example, he carefully handled the situation of Mykhailo Mudryk. Lavia, if he can stay injury free, is a much better fit for Chelsea’s midfield by allowing Caicedo to be the player they paid more money for. J.B.

Gordon rolls back the years

It was the sort of cross preceding an unstoppable header that Nolberto Solano used to target at Alan Shearer during Sir Bobby Robson’s tenure at Newcastle. Anthony Gordon prefers to play on the left so he can cut inside and shoot on his naturally stronger right side, but there is plenty to do for right-footed right wingers and Gordon has excelled in that role as the prospects of Arsenal title were shaken. His assist for Alexander Isak’s winner also gave Newcastle hope at the end of a week when they reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup and notched a first Premier League victory in six attempts. On a day when Gordon, Isak, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Hall were the strong men of the game, all Eddie Howe lacked was a specialist centre-forward to understudy Isak. Importantly, the Newcastle manager has sent the Swede’s deputy, Callum Wilson, to the Pioneer Hospital in Doha where Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are undergoing physical repairs. If Wilson’s back is healed, European qualification could attract him. Louise Taylor

Solanke makes the difference

Dominic Solanke’s value to Tottenham Hotspur won’t just be measured by his goals. The attacker can mingle with the defenders, chain the play and direct his team’s pressing. But for a team that has a habit of wasting points from winnable positions, having a ruthless striker is not something to be looked down upon. Spurs, who once could rely on Harry Kane to settle tight games, will have a better chance of finishing in the top four if Solanke scores. He made the difference in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa, scoring his side’s second and third goals, and could take credit for outplaying England team-mate Ollie Watkins, who missed a glaring chance in the first half . “The goals are superb and as a striker I’m sure he likes the fact that he has a few, but I can’t speak highly enough of him and what he brings to this team” , declared Ange Postecoglou. Jacob Steinberg

Every title contender needs a Gomez

Arne Slot attributed Liverpool’s transformation into a team worthy of leading the Premier League to a change in attitude against Brighton, more than his own tactical changes, and it was Joe Gomez who epitomized the fight, quality and the character that was sorely lacking in their first match. -half display. The defender was introduced at the break after Ibrahima Konaté injured his arm when Virgil van Dijk landed on him and played a major role in extinguishing Brighton’s threat. For a player who was left out of Slot’s first Premier League team at Ipswich and whose future at Liverpool was in serious doubt this summer, Gomez’s attitude and professionalism are exemplary. He is what a title contender needs. “I know he’s coming from an interesting summer,” Van Dijk said. “But the way he conducted himself on and off the field was remarkable. He is so respected within the club and the team. He’s a fantastic player and he showed it again. He was exceptional. Andy Hunter

Time flies for O’Neil

Statistics that straddle seasons can often seem pointless – or at least unfair – but it’s increasingly difficult to ignore the numbers surrounding Wolves. Gary O’Neil’s side have won one of their last 20 league matches, taking eight points from a possible 60 in that period. Matheus Cunha and João Gomes showed moments of brilliance in Saturday’s draw against Crystal Palace to prove it’s not all bad, but O’Neil, who signed a four-year contract extension in the summer, is running out of time to reverse the situation. Sections of supporters aired their grievances during the match and failure to beat Southampton on Saturday will almost certainly mean the end. Regardless, Wolves are in a long-term relegation fight. “We’re going to have to give up the whole season, we’re going to have to fight, that’s the situation we’re in,” O’Neil said. “We accepted that in the locker room.” Ben Fisher

Iraola’s hard workers surprise champions

No panic after Manchester City’s first Premier League defeat of the season, despite several concerns. While Bournemouth deserved immense credit, with Antoine Semenyo, Lewis Cook and Milos Kerkez as outstanding players, it was a combination of energy and desire that destroyed the champions. Too often, in the press, in duels and even in the latter stages, when City were finally exerting some control, it was a Bournemouth player who was first to touch the ball. Few would accuse a team of serial champions of lacking desire, but in the performances of Ilkay Gündogan, Mateo Kovacic and Kyle Walker, age reared its head. Andoni Iraola lined up Semenyo for Walker to be the winger’s immediate opponent. The Ghanaian roasted Walker so much that Pep Guardiola had to move his captain to central defense. Kevin De Bruyne on the bench was a surprise but he did not play. J.B.

Fabulous Forest in the top 3

Ten games in and Nottingham Forest have conceded just seven goals in the league. It’s an incredible achievement for a team that survived in the Premier League on the final day of last season. The two additions that replaced the back four are Nikola Milenkovic and Àlex Moreno. Matz Sels, Ola Aina and Murillo were already impressing under Nuno Espírito Santo, but they received the perfect additions to make Forest robust and balanced at the back. This indicates that if things aren’t going well, it’s often better to tweak than overhaul and Forest are right to take a more common-sense approach to the market rather than hiring a whole new defense. West Ham managed just three measly shots on Saturday and only one of them was on target as Forest moved into the top three. Will lose

Southampton finally strengthens its defense

Aaron Ramsdale believes Southampton’s performance against Everton showed their unity as they secured a long-awaited first win of the Premier League season. Ramsdale made several impressive saves before Adam Armstrong’s late winner to outshine England rival Jordan Pickford at the other end, but paid tribute to the rest of his defense for their contribution to a first clean sheet of the campaign. “It was a real team effort,” Ramsdale said. “It’s great to get that out of the way, especially in the first win. It was more important than the clean sheet, but putting the two together shows that we are really working for the team. The defenders face the Everton threat they are so good at. If they were successful, I was grateful to be there and those are the standards I hold myself to. This was the real Aaron Ramsdale that Saints fans saw. Ed Aarons

Tractor Boys continues but must win

Ipswich arrived in the brave new world of the Premier League without great expectations, so to have suggested to supporters that their team would avoid defeat in half of their first 10 games would have been a tantalizing prophecy. Yet five draws and five defeats mean the Tractor Boys are one of two teams still without a win and are letting points slip through their fingers. “It’s 10 games we haven’t won, but five we’ve gotten a result in, and probably eight we’ve won,” Kieran McKenna wisely surmised after Leicester snatched a 1-1 draw at Portman Road, while also expressing some legit. complaints towards VAR and referee Tim Robinson. Yet the contrast with Leicester newcomers – who are finding ways to win important points – is stark. While Steve Cooper’s side have already clawed back six points after losing positions, Ipswich continue to squander them. Dominique Booth