Premier League
Premier League Roundtable: Answering biggest early-season questions

Now that we’ve reached the (unofficial) quarter mark of the 2023-24 Premier League season, theScore’s soccer editors examine some of the biggest questions and storylines that have emerged thus far in England’s top flight.
Can Tottenham actually win the league?
Anthony Lopopolo: A penny for Harry Kane’s thoughts. After all, this Tottenham Hotspur lifer left for greener pastures precisely because he couldn’t win anything in north London. It’s funny to see his former side leading the Premier League while current club Bayern Munich trail Xabi Alonso’s surprise package Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. It helps that Tottenham have no European obligations, or else manager Ange Postecoglou would have the impossible task of rotating his otherwise thin squad. All of that is to say that Spurs really do have a chance because they’ve found scoring elsewhere.

Daniel Rouse: No – but it’ll still be a great season. Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson getting Will Hughes to man-mark Yves Bissouma last Friday indicated managers are already devising effective ways to slow the juggernaut. Spurs could also be punished for a lack of depth. Son Heung-Min must stay fit while there’s little goal threat from shot-shy Dejan Kulusevski and scattergun-shooter Richarlison, and there isn’t much attacking talent elsewhere in the squad. Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have forged a great defensive partnership, but can Eric Dier or Ashley Phillips step up when one is absent?
Gianluca Nesci: Why not? Granted, nobody else in the Premier League is beating their Expected Goal Difference (xGD) by more than Tottenham, who, according to the analytics, are vastly overperforming at both ends of the pitch. They’ve compiled a goal difference of +13 on the back of a modest +5.2 xGD. That’s probably unsustainable, especially when you take the physical demands of Postecoglou’s high-octane pressing system into account. At some point, the opposition will convert chances against Spurs instead of spurning them. The numbers suggest Tottenham can’t keep this going, but the vibes right now say otherwise. The latter winning out is more fun.
Should Manchester United fire Ten Hag?
Lopopolo: The question should be, what are they waiting for? Erik ten Hag has had a year and a half, and hundreds of millions of pounds to spend, to retool the squad, and the result has been calamitous. Put aside the League Cup for a second. Ten Hag has blown the majority of his budget on former players who’ve looked out of their depth in the Premier League and big names who can’t stay healthy or out of the referee’s pocket. “Some of the players he’s spent £60-70 million on I wouldn’t have had at Huddersfield,” longtime manager Neil Warnock said on talkSPORT. The only question is regarding who’d replace him. Antonio Conte is more of the same. Graham Potter was crushed under the weight of expectations at Chelsea. Maybe Zinedine Zidane can bring the joy back to Old Trafford.

Rouse: Not yet. The Manchester derby was deeply concerning. Sofyan Amrabat isn’t a Champions League-grade No. 6, and his replacement at Old Trafford, Mason Mount, was anonymous once again. Antony, the winger bought for €100 million at Ten Hag’s insistence, was only worth a late cameo off the bench and should’ve been sent off. But United’s ownership situation and the future of its executive staff need to be resolved first. Making changes amid the current uncertainty increases the likelihood of another serious misstep – or series of missteps – by this once-proud club.
Nesci: Probably. Ten Hag earned plenty of plaudits during his first campaign by getting Manchester United into the Champions League and ending the Red Devils’ trophy drought via the League Cup. But things are unraveling at an alarming rate. More concerning than the tumult around the club or even the horrible results – which are the worst they’ve been through 10 league matches since 1986 – is that there is no discernible style about this team, something Ten Hag was supposed to implement upon his arrival. Injuries haven’t been kind, but too often his lineup choices have been baffling, and his plan unclear. What’s the Dutchman building toward? On this evidence, it’s not worth finding out.
Are Chelsea improving under Pochettino?
Lopopolo: It’s hard to tell. Advanced statistics tell us Chelsea are creating enough chances to score more than they have managed and that they should ultimately sit higher in the standings. You can sympathize with Mauricio Pochettino because he can’t kick the ball into the net himself. So Chelsea are doing something right. They’re getting into scoring positions, and usually, over the course of the season, the law of averages plays out and goals start going in. That said, scoring was a problem last season and never resolved itself. Maybe Chelsea just have a bunch of below-average strikers and decision-makers.

Rouse: Gradually. Pochettino prides himself on being a coach more than a manager, someone who can improve players on and off the pitch and create a strong team dynamic. So, given the mess he inherited at Chelsea, it was always going to take time. The individual improvements from players like Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher – the latter of whom has worn the captain’s armband after being made available for transfer last summer – along with the promise of Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, and others should give supporters hope that things are steadily getting better.
Nesci: Not really? The failings of the short-lived Graham Potter era remain in place; Frank Lampard’s temporary second stint at the helm was so uninspiring that we’re not even going to acknowledge it here. But no, seriously, it was a waste of everyone’s time. Under Pochettino, the Blues still struggle to turn territorial dominance into goals and continue to throw points away too often. Perhaps Christopher Nkunku’s return will solve that issue and Chelsea will surge up the table to a position that more accurately reflects the obscene amount of money spent to assemble this squad. For Pochettino’s sake, it must. Otherwise he could quickly end up as the latest in a long line of managers to be chewed up and spit out at Stamford Bridge.
Which summer signing has been most impressive?
Lopopolo: Guglielmo Vicario is the bargain of the summer transfer window. In Vicario, who cost a reported €20 million to sign from Empoli, Tottenham have a ready-made replacement for longtime goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. His new teammates love him already. “We are just very comfortable that he’s going to make unbelievable saves,” club captain Son Heung-min said after their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. He could even challenge the previously unshakeable Gianluigi Donnarumma on the Italian national team. Crucially, Vicario is assured with the ball at his feet, making him a perfect fit for Spurs’ proactive approach and a serious threat to Donnarumma’s status as Italy’s No. 1.

Rouse: James Maddison. It’s increasingly rare to see a player handed a free role in the modern game, but Postecoglou’s decision to almost completely liberate Maddison is inspired. The Englishman drops deep to collect the ball off Tottenham’s defenders, drifts into wide areas, and – most joyfully of all – picks up the ball in the middle and pushes inch-perfect passes ahead of Son. Maddison had eight goal involvements (three goals and five assists) over the opening 10 Premier League matches of the season, making his £40-million transfer from Leicester City look outrageously cheap.
Nesci: Dominik Szoboszlai. Few players in Europe, let alone the Premier League, have acclimated to new surroundings as seamlessly as the Hungarian, who’s endeared himself to the Anfield faithful with his all-action displays at the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield. A dynamic box-to-box presence, the 23-year-old, together with fellow summer arrival Alexis Mac Allister, has transformed a once lethargic midfield into one of the league’s most invigorating units. He’s the only outfield player to play every single minute for the Reds in the league thus far and leads the team in progressive passes. Liverpool famously missed out on multiple midfield targets in the summer, but they hit the jackpot with Szoboszlai.
Which summer signing has been least impressive?
Lopopolo: Nicolas Jackson. What a waste of €37 million. Chelsea have to stop overpaying for the flavor of the month. Jackson would’ve never even been on Chelsea’s radar if he hadn’t gone on a month-long hot streak toward the end of last season. It didn’t seem to matter to co-owner Todd Boehly that the majority of the 12 goals Jackson scored for Villarreal came against bottom feeders. He may care now. Everyone is seeing Jackson for what he is: a streaky player who’s unable to handle the workload. Fortunately, Christopher Nkunku’s return from injury will limit the Senegalese’s minutes going forward.

Rouse: Tom Davies. The departures of Iliman Diaye and Sander Berge, and then signing players like Davies, greatly weakened last season’s promotion-winning squad. The Sheffield United midfielder has made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League since his free transfer – and that’s probably enough. Davies has been on a steady, miserable decline since he scored in Everton’s win over Manchester City in 2017 and appears content to live off that one-hit wonder for the rest of his career. He’s not someone you want on your side in a relegation battle.
Nesci: Kai Havertz. The price tag may not matter in the grand scheme of things with clubs that boast seemingly unlimited Premier League riches, but it absolutely does matter in a case like this, where return on investment is being taken into consideration. Arsenal spent £65 million for a player who, while undoubtedly talented, looked like an awkward fit in Mikel Arteta’s scheme at the time of the signing. Nothing that’s happened since has provided evidence to the contrary. Havertz hasn’t found his best position with his new team, and with just one goal in 10 league appearances thus far, he’s not going to displace Eddie Nketiah as the first choice off the bench behind Gabriel Jesus.
Biggest surprise – positive or negative – so far?
Lopopolo: One of the best teams the Championship has ever seen has turned to mush in the Premier League. What happened to Vincent Kompany’s slick-moving, quick-pressing Burnley side? The loss of Nathan Tella can’t explain Burnley’s regression alone. Perhaps the Clarets simply had more time and space to play high-tempo, risk-free football in the second tier. Teams like Norwich City had issues replicating their football immediately after promotion, and their lack of a suitable Plan B resulted in relegation. If Kompany can’t find a way to score goals without shipping them at the back, Burnley will suffer the same fate.

Rouse: “That’s wrong that, Daz.” The referees’ governing body releasing the audio for Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham Hotspur was an unexpected but entirely welcome gift. The recording had a level of awkwardness usually reserved for television’s finest mockumentaries and a string of meme-worthy quotes such as, “Well done, boys. Good process.” Darren England – or “Daz,” if you’ve been lucky enough to share a stale VAR booth with him – will never live this down.
Nesci: Aston Villa. Last season’s turnaround after hiring Unai Emery – which ultimately got them into the Europa Conference League – was wildly impressive. Now Villa are backing it up. They averaged 1.96 points per game under Emery in 2022-23 and have collected 22 points through 10 matches this campaign, which, for now, has them sniffing a top-four spot. And that’s despite coming out of the gate with lopsided losses to Newcastle and Liverpool, and losing both Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings to serious knee injuries. Few would have expected Ollie Watkins to find the Midas touch in front of goal, or for Emery’s side to turn Villa Park into the fortress it’s become, but both have been welcome surprises in 2023-24.
Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
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Premier League
Thoughts and analysis from goal-heavy weekend of Premier League action

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from another entertaining weekend of Premier League football.
Pep needs a rethink
Something’s amiss at Manchester City.
As a creator, Erling Haaland made telling contributions during Sunday’s pulsating 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur. He showed great awareness to cut the ball across for Grealish, who put City back ahead in the 81st minute, and, as the match edged toward its conclusion, set up Grealish on a one-on-one opportunity that could’ve earned all three points. However, referee Simon Hooper, who initially allowed play to continue, stopped the breakaway to give City a free-kick. It was yet another perplexing decision in a wretched campaign for Premier League officials.
But Haaland was also wasteful. In the first half, he steered the ball wide from 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy and somehow lifted another inviting chance high into the stands. There were some unlucky elements to City’s outing – Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez hit the woodwork in the opening stanza – but ultimately, City failed to kill Tottenham off. It was the same scenario in their previous Premier League matches against Liverpool and Chelsea.

The attack must be more clinical and can lose intensity once they’re ahead, the latter of which could hint at complacency but is likelier the result of missing Ilkay Gundogan (now at Barcelona) and Kevin De Bruyne (injured). However, that’s still not the biggest issue.
The defense is unraveling.
Josko Gvardiol is taking longer than his fellow summer arrivals to acclimate to Pep Guardiola’s game plan and the pace of English football. He can be exposed at left-back; jostling, jinking wingers can outmaneuver him and right-back Kyle Walker is too far away to bail him out with his pace. Guardiola was right to substitute Gvardiol given the freedom Dejan Kulusevski was enjoying down the flank, but his replacement, Nathan Ake, summed up City’s defensive problems with Tottenham’s third goal. Ake lacked sharpness and aggression when Brennan Johnson’s cross sailed over, letting Kulusevski leap above him and head past Ederson.
Sharpness and aggression were also missing for two of Chelsea’s four goals, both of RB Leipzig attacker Lois Openda’s strikes on Tuesday, and the lethargic passing that preceded Giovani Lo Celso’s finish at the Etihad Stadium. Statistically, Manchester City’s current defense is only slightly better than the backline deployed during the opening months of Guardiola’s tenure, when Aleksandar Kolarov sometimes filled in at center-back and other full-backs, like Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna, were well past their best.
With nine goals conceded in four Premier League games, this is Guardiola’s worst defensive spell at City since December 2016.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 3, 2023
Last season, playing four center-backs brought more solidity to Guardiola’s team. It was the solution that led to City winning the treble. This term, the center-back department – whether it’s three or four center-backs fielded – is what must be fixed. Guardiola needs to get creative once again to strengthen his side’s charge for trophies.
Liverpool are mentality monsters again
Who expected Liverpool to concede as many goals to Fulham as they had allowed in their previous 10 home matches combined? But when the defending is “awful,” as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made clear, the improbable gains a few percentage points.
Defending was optional at various points of Sunday’s chaotic match at Anfield, which ended 4-3 in favor of Liverpool following a two-goal outburst at the end of regular time. Trailing 3-2, Liverpool turned the result on its head when substitute Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold rifled unstoppable shots in the 87th and 88th minutes.
That it required such heroics may alarm Klopp, whose side had striven so hard to restore the mystique around Anfield after last season’s breaches. But the late comeback proved something more important in that Liverpool have reacquired the mental strength that delivered many of their most famous results during Klopp’s eight-year reign.
“At 3-3, everyone could see the boys wanted more,” Klopp told reporters, including The Guardian’s Will Unwin.

Klopp referred to his players as “mentality monsters” when they were regularly fighting for trophies. After spending a season in the wilderness, the term could apply again. His next-man-up philosophy is back in full force, with Endo showing incredible calm off the bench and Cody Gakpo injecting energy. There is no selfishness in this team or time for the players to get down on themselves. Darwin Nunez had missed enough chances for any striker to throw a tantrum, but he kept his head and kept going, channelling his frustration by urging the crowd to make more noise. Though he couldn’t get on the scoresheet, Nunez celebrated hardest of all his teammates when Endo and Alexander-Arnold fired back. That’s what Klopp has always demanded: full buy-in from each one of his players in good times and bad.
That sense of self-belief vanished during the 2022-23 campaign, when the Reds dropped points to the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Wolverhampton, and Bournemouth. Every setback threatened to derail their season.
Now you get the sense that Liverpool welcome the challenge.
It’s not that they just fought back Sunday. They scored some ridiculous goals in the process. All four of Liverpool’s goals came from distance, including Alexis Mac Allister’s spectacular half-volley. Mac Allister hadn’t scored for Liverpool before Sunday’s contest, going 16 fixtures without hitting the net. But something had changed.
“Before the game you could see Macca’s foot is right today,” Klopp said. “He was really into shooting. I thought, ‘Wow, you better try it.’ And he obviously thought the same.”
Shorthanded Newcastle pass another test
It’s no secret that Manchester United and Newcastle United aren’t on the same level.
The gulf between the two clubs appeared long before Saturday, and recent results and run of form offered a clue as to what may transpire, but the evidence from over 100 minutes of action at St James’ Park revealed a Grand Canyon-sized abyss.
The mere suggestion that Saturday’s narrow 1-0 result was flattering for Manchester United would be the understatement of the year. Despite missing 13 players through injury, the Magpies still managed to overwhelm in the same fashion by which Tottenham were embarrassed last season in a 6-1 thrashing at the unforgiving stadium on Tyneside in April.

Manchester United were repeatedly under pressure, enduring wave after wave of attack from a Newcastle side that was able to generate countless opportunities without much resistance. In Manchester United’s attack, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were rendered useless due to the team’s inability to get out of its own half. Rashford tossed his gloves away in anger after being subbed off, while Andre Onana was a fan favorite for all of the wrong reasons. The Cameroonian was relentlessly targeted after his costly blunders against Galatasaray on Wednesday in the Champions League.
But, overall, it was a lack of discipline, leadership, and a disjointed squad that doomed Manchester United and allowed Newcastle to put on a show with their fluid attack.
Newcastle would’ve obviously liked to have secured three points with a more clinical display after outshooting the Red Devils 22-8, but they won’t complain considering they’re dealing with an injury crisis that deepened when goalkeeper Nick Pope suffered what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder in Saturday’s game. His expected absence will likely pose another obstacle for a Newcastle team that’s exceeded expectations without a host of head coach Eddie Howe’s first-team regulars, such as Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, and suspended Sandro Tonali.
Quick free-kicks
Arsenal living on the edge

A win’s a win. But the way Arsenal ended Saturday’s 2-1 victory dulled the shine of what should’ve been a celebratory outcome against a difficult Wolverhampton Wanderers side. In a match in which the Gunners played well enough for 85 minutes to win comfortably, Arsenal’s failure to kill the game off resulted in an unexpectedly intense end to the contest. Instead of putting the finishing touches on a game where they led by two goals after 13 minutes, Arsenal had fans on the edge of their seats after Wolves cut their deficit in half in the 86th minute. It ended up serving as a wake-up call for the hosts, who had seemingly switched off in the second half after dominating the opening 45 minutes. But Mikel Arteta’s men eventually saw the game out, with Arsenal registering their fifth victory by a single goal to pad their lead atop the Premier League summit. While it seems silly to suggest that a team coming off a 6-0 rout in the Champions League needs to be more clinical, Arsenal will need to convert their chances in front of goal more consistently if they have any hope of staying in front of the pack.
Yarmoliuk taking his chance
It took a spate of injuries for Yehor Yarmoliuk to be given opportunities to start for Brentford, but the Ukrainian teenager is quickly endearing himself to the club’s fans. He’s an energetic presence in the Bees’ midfield, keenly hassling opponents and sometimes snapping into challenges. The home crowd gave him a warm reception when he left Saturday’s 3-1 win over Luton Town in the 69th minute after attempting three tackles, completing over 93% of his passes, and producing three key passes. His promising performance followed his fearless full Premier League debut against Arsenal the previous weekend. Yarmoliuk is quickly dispelling any fears that his torn hamstring toward the end of last season with Brentford’s B team harmed his development.
Can Burnley kick on from here?

Before thrashing Sheffield United 5-0 on Saturday, Burnley had lost seven straight home matches by a combined score of 19-5. Vincent Kompany’s side, which won the Championship at a canter, had suddenly become relegation fodder. They couldn’t beat Chelsea, West Ham United, or Crystal Palace – all mid-table fare – so they had to prove they could at least beat the teams around them. That has now happened. The Clarets buried Sheffield United long before Ollie McBurnie was sent off in first-half stoppage time. They genuinely looked good. There were signs of Sean Dyche’s old Burnley – Jay Rodriguez’s goal after just 15 seconds came from a hopeful cross into the penalty area – and signs of the swashbuckling side that ran the second tier ragged under Kompany. With upcoming matches against Wolverhampton, Everton, and Fulham – all winnable – the Clarets have an opportunity to kick on and pull themselves out of relegation trouble.
West Ham should be more watchable
David Moyes repaired his reputation after returning to West Ham United at the end of 2019. He revived a team that had lost its way under Manuel Pellegrini with astute signings and simple yet effective game plans, with his crowning moment coming courtesy of June’s Europa Conference League success. Still, plenty of West Ham fans wouldn’t mind a change at the helm. Despite boasting the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in their ranks, the Irons are often hindered by Moyes’ caution. James Ward-Prowse eventually hit a succession of balls toward Tomas Soucek and Bowen as they sought a late winner in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace, but for much of the match, West Ham seemed to fear losing more than they wanted to win. Moyes was given a generous transfer budget last season and has some talented attack-minded players at his disposal, so West Ham supporters have every right to expect more entertainment from their team. The club needs to raise its ambitions.
Stat of the weekend
Son Heung-Min joined an exclusive, though not entirely desirable, club with his performance at the Etihad Stadium.
5 – Players to register a goal, assist, and own goal in the same @premierleague game:
Kevin Davies v Aston Villa, Dec 2008
Wayne Rooney v Stoke City, Oct 2012
Gareth Bale v Liverpool, Nov 2012
Jacob Ramsey v Man Utd, Nov 2022
?Son Heung-min v Man City, todayFamous. pic.twitter.com/dm9X4e2fyZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 3, 2023
Tweet of the weekend
Guardiola’s reaction says it all after Kulusevski scored a late equalizer for Tottenham in Sunday’s 3-3 draw at City.
This picture sums up Pep Guardiola’s afternoon ? pic.twitter.com/tqtUXUeA59
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 3, 2023
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Premier League
Thoughts and analysis from compelling weekend of Premier League action

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from another entertaining weekend of Premier League football.
Chelsea are broken again? Of course they are
Chelsea are smack-dab in the middle of the Premier League table, and that’s probably about right. Some days they look like legitimate contenders, others like cannon fodder. They win when they’re expected to lose and lose when they’re expected – or at least in position – to win.
Saturday was one of those days. You’d think they could take an undermanned and wounded Newcastle United, even without direct assistance from manager Mauricio Pochettino, who had to sit in the stands as penance for a few too many referee lashings. With 11 senior players out injured, Newcastle needed three goalkeepers just to fill out their bench.
But you wouldn’t know it watching the 4-1 shellacking at St. James’ Park. Chelsea were second best all over the pitch. Newcastle hounded them and bullied them off the ball. Even Chelsea’s wisest old head, 39-year-old defender Thiago Silva, made a fatal error, coughing up possession under the breath of the tireless Joelinton.

How could such a brutal and heavy defeat follow encouraging performances against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City? The truth is that Chelsea have been a work in progress for 18 months, and they’ll continue to resemble a construction site for as long as they carry this loosely assembled roster of 30 players. Very little links the players Pochettino has at his disposal, and too many of them have considerable kinks in their games. Benoit Badiashile is very much not ready to start games – how can he be when he’s missed so much time? – and Mykhailo Mudryk goes nowhere in a hurry. Marc Cucurella is a full-back, but is he really? Conor Gallagher can’t seem to get the ball to settle between his feet, Nicolas Jackson is reverting to the mean, and Enzo Fernandez’s performances have barely been worth half of the £107 million that Chelsea paid to sign him.
Raheem Sterling is the only player who’s taken any responsibility. While he’s never been the greatest decision-maker and often runs himself into dead ends, he’s at least shown the appetite to take the game to his opponents.
As battered and bruised as Newcastle are, they’re a team in the truest sense of the word, with a clear style of play that Chelsea can only envy. Even as players struggle to meet the demands of Eddie Howe’s high-octane system, others can step up and produce. Chelsea have a bunch of passengers who expect someone else to take the wheel. – Anthony Lopopolo
Did international rigors ruin the league’s main event?
Jurgen Klopp has complained about Liverpool playing in the early Saturday slot after international breaks in the past, and his side’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City certainly lacked the pace and chaos that have defined the teams’ meetings in recent years. The Premier League’s top match of the weekend – and easily one of its biggest fixtures of the campaign – failed to live up to its billing.
Mohamed Salah, who played two full matches on either side of the African continent for Egypt, assisted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s equalizer but failed to register a shot while he was easily subdued by Nathan Ake. Julian Alvarez, usually a bustling attacking presence in Manchester City’s midfield, wastefully skied an effort over the bar and generally labored through 90-plus minutes after representing Argentina in two matches. Dominik Szoboszlai scored twice and totaled 220 touches over two appearances for Hungary; at the Etihad Stadium, he seemed to lose energy toward the end of the first half and was eventually substituted in the 72nd minute.

Alisson appeared the most jet-lagged of all. The Liverpool goalkeeper played every minute as Brazil continued its World Cup qualification campaign with two worrying defeats, and his commitments in Rio de Janeiro and Barranquilla, Colombia, clearly took their toll. His sliced clearance in the first half was punished when Ake sauntered through three Liverpool players and set up Erling Haaland for a clinical finish, but the day could’ve been much worse for Alisson.
His kicking was poor. One attempt to move the ball away from danger went straight to Phil Foden on the edge of the box; the City attacker, perhaps slightly discombobulated after being gifted possession by the league’s best goalkeeper, shot tamely at Alisson. The shot-stopper also dallied on the ball for too long and was almost caught out by a lunging Haaland.
Alisson’s fortune continued into the second half when Ruben Dias tapped in at the far post. The goal was ruled out when Manuel Akanji was adjudged to have fouled Liverpool’s No. 1 while trying to head the ball. In truth, the biggest factor in Alisson’s failure to catch the cross was his poor handling. It was a soft decision that went in Liverpool’s favor.
His luck ran out when he played through the final minutes with an apparent leg injury.
There seemed to be more tired players in Liverpool’s ranks, which hints at how Klopp’s side fared. Manchester City missed a huge opportunity to beat their title rivals. However, for the neutral viewer, the game was a little disappointing when compared to previous clashes between the northwest rivals. The Premier League could’ve scheduled the fixture for later in the weekend to try to get the teams’ stars in better condition but, most of all, this was yet another example of players toiling to meet the demands of modern football’s grueling calendar. – Daniel Rouse
Youngsters thrive in febrile Goodison atmosphere
It wasn’t a setting where players could meditatively drift into positions and calmly nudge the ball around. Goodison Park was a din. Protests against Everton’s 10-point deduction and vociferous receptions for Manchester United players created an angry atmosphere inside the ground that would make some footballers cower and cringe.
Some footballers, but not Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho’s performance in Sunday’s 3-0 win at Everton will live longer in the memory than Mainoo’s due to one moment. The rest of his outing was fairly forgettable as he habitually lost possession (his passing accuracy was a derisory 56.3%) and only completed one dribble, but he etched his name in Premier League folklore with one of the finest goals in the competition’s history.

Diogo Dalot’s cross was poor. Garnacho and Anthony Martial were nearing the 6-yard box but the delivery floated around 6 yards behind them, forcing the former to retreat and then spring himself into the air to have any chance of connecting with the ball. Garnacho’s movement and athleticism for the strike were perfect; the ball sailed out of Jordan Pickford’s reach and into the far corner. The winger’s goal was comfortably better than Wayne Rooney’s iconic overhead kick against Manchester City in 2011.
Mainoo’s display lacked the explosiveness of Garnacho’s goal but, in his first start for the club, he was the best player on the pitch. The 18-year-old’s technical ability and consistency through Manchester United’s youth teams have impressed his coaches. His maturity belies his years, and his tactical intelligence has been nurtured through playing a variety of midfield roles in the academy.
Nevertheless, the ease with which he slotted into the midfield alongside Scott McTominay must’ve defied all expectations.
The Everton supporters’ fury intensified as the game slipped away and refereeing decisions went against them, but Mainoo was unflappable in the middle. He made himself available for passes at every opportunity. He was even willing to collect the ball off goalkeeper Andre Onana and then immediately progress play with a smart pass or intelligent turn into space.

Mainoo was also crucial off the ball. He prevented both Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil from scoring during a prolonged spell of Everton pressure while United led 1-0.
Mainoo was a standout player during United’s preseason program but suffered an injury in July that he only recently returned from. If he had stayed fit, one wonders how his team would’ve fared. Erik ten Hag has wanted more mobility in the No. 6 role for some time, and the local teenager appears tailor-made for that duty. – Rouse
Quick free-kicks
Ramsdale survives rough cameo
Aaron Ramsdale was always going to play against Brentford on Saturday. The terms of David Raya’s loan deal prevented Arsenal from playing the goalkeeper against his parent club, leaving Ramsdale as the obvious candidate to fill the void. So he played, not because Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wanted to see a reaction from the goalkeeper he recently relegated to backup, but because he had no choice. That left Ramsdale as a sort of sitting duck, and he started the game with understandable nerves, nearly gift-wrapping Brentford a goal when he dithered on the ball in the penalty area. Though he eventually collected a clean sheet in the 1-0 win, Ramsdale needed two goal-line clearances to preserve it. Credit must go to his teammates, who seemed legitimately invested in his success, however short term. They embraced him at the end of the match, lapping up an important win as much as the fact that he had escaped another potential setback in a season full of them. Now, he has to bide his time until he gets a chance to leave in January. Allowing him to depart is the humane thing to do. – Lopopolo
Edwards and Luton are the perfect fit

Everything is mapped out at Luton Town. Their decade-long rise from the fifth tier was built on prudent planning rather than short-term fixes, and their restrained summer transfer window demonstrated that. The club’s present shouldn’t come at the cost of its future; lavish recruitment followed by relegation would’ve undone years of careful work at Kenilworth Road. The on-pitch expectations are similarly pragmatic. Before the season started, Rob Edwards ensured his squad was equipped to deal with setbacks – a club promoted on a third-tier budget would, of course, encounter them – and that preparation has paid off. Luton have overcome a rough start to climb into 17th place following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. The Hatters are an anomaly in an era where fans crave big-money signings and demand instant results, but their considered approach is their biggest strength. Edwards is the personification of Luton’s philosophy. – Rouse
First sacking of the season must be close
At this stage of last season, Scott Parker, Thomas Tuchel, Bruno Lage, Steven Gerrard, and Ralph Hasenhuttl had already been dismissed. There’s yet to be a managerial change this term, with Julen Lopetegui’s mutual departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers coming a week before the campaign began. That’ll change soon. Vincent Kompany’s refusal to tweak Burnley’s approach has resulted in a naive and error-strewn outfit that, somehow, sits bottom of the table below Everton, who are saddled with a 10-point deduction. Paul Heckingbottom, meanwhile, is a victim of elements outside of his control. He didn’t deliberately weaken his squad over the summer – buying and selling are rarely the responsibilities of modern managers. However, there’s been little evidence to suggest he has the ability to pull the Blades out of the relegation mire. Both Kompany and Heckingbottom are on borrowed time. – Rouse
Game of the season so far?

Don’t let the modest scoreline fool you. Aston Villa’s 2-1 comeback win over an ailing Tottenham on Sunday was arguably the most entertaining contest of the season thus far. The end-to-end action began almost immediately. The two teams, battling for a spot in the top four and playing with aggressive high lines, each had a pair of glorious chances within the opening five minutes of the match. Spurs took the lead through an unlikely source in Giovani Lo Celso, who was making his first Premier League start for the club since Nuno Espirito Santo’s reign. Villa answered 60 seconds later, only for Ollie Watkins’ goal to be ruled offside by VAR. Pau Torres’ equalizer on the stroke of halftime stood, though, and Villa, buoyed by Unai Emery’s tactical changes at the interval, went on to claim all three points thanks to a slick winner by Watkins, who wouldn’t be denied. Son Heung-min, buzzing all match, wasn’t so lucky; he had a hat-trick of tallies chalked off after agonizing reviews. This game had everything and could’ve legitimately finished level at five apiece on another day. These two sides lock horns in the reverse fixture in early March. Don’t miss it. – Gianluca Nesci
Stat of the weekend
Can Ange Postecoglou restore the good vibes at injury-hit Tottenham?
Tottenham are the first team in Premier League history to go unbeaten in their first 10 games of a season and then lose their next three.
Mate. ? pic.twitter.com/2vvBzKknZq
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 26, 2023
Tweet of the weekend
Liverpool need to sign Alexis Mac Allister’s brother, Kevin, just for the memes.
Me watching Home Alone https://t.co/pnw3V3pxCP
— Billie (@Billie_T) November 25, 2023
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Premier League
Thoughts and analysis from dramatic weekend of Premier League action

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from another entertaining weekend of Premier League football.
Pochettino gives Chelsea courage
Go back a few weeks, and heads would’ve dropped. Manchester City going ahead would’ve presented a treacherous mountain to climb. Belief would drain from a group of Chelsea players who scored one goal in September. Composure would fray, Nicolas Jackson would hack shots into the stands, and Raheem Sterling would run down dead ends.
But on Sunday, Erling Haaland gave City the lead twice, and Rodri did it once. Chelsea fought back on each occasion.
Mauricio Pochettino is gradually getting a grip on the discordant squad he inherited. Chelsea’s press was magnificent in the barmy 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, ruining Manchester City’s usually precise and pacey buildup play. The ambition among Pochettino’s ranks was abundantly clear when, soon after going ahead 2-1, they hounded Rodri in his own defensive third.

It might be tempting to step off when Rodri has the ball in that area. He can resist pressing with his strength and awareness and quickly flip defense to attack once he works into space. But Marc Cucurella was on his tail. The persistence of Cucurella, clearly not dwelling on conceding the earlier penalty, forced Rodri backward into his own box and toward the corner flag. The City midfielder then jabbed the ball up the line before Chelsea collected the loose ball and attacked again.
Conceding four goals can happen against Manchester City – and that’s before you consider the soft penalty given to Haaland and the fortune needed for Rodri’s strike to deflect beyond Robert Sanchez. Chelsea could’ve won this. Ruben Dias was rash with and without the ball while struggling with the home side’s relentlessness. Bernardo Silva did well but was stretched when trying to aid the buildup play and support the attacks. The chaos didn’t suit City, and Chelsea knew it.
“We feel a bit exhausted, to be honest, after a game with that rhythm,” Rodri said after the match. “It wasn’t our best performance, and individually, we can look at ourselves because conceding four goals is not normal for us.”
Pep Guardiola’s side allowed four goals in a match for the first time since a 5-2 defeat to Leicester City in September 2020. It’s hard to think of a clearer sign that things are improving for Chelsea under Pochettino.
A very ‘Spursy’ result
Responding to adversity is one of the hallmarks of title-winning teams.
On the back of their chaotic, incident-filled loss to Chelsea – their first of the season – and missing a handful of critical starters, Saturday’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers was always going to provide excellent insight into Tottenham Hotspur’s ability to sustain their outstanding start to the campaign.
Their response, sadly, left a lot to be desired. Tottenham went limp after Brennan Johnson’s first goal for the club in the third minute at Molineux. The manner in which Wolves stormed back to claim a 2-1 win was certainly dramatic – two goals in stoppage time – but it was hardly undeserved.

“We probably ran out of a little bit of legs there, which is understandable. A lot of those guys haven’t played, and they scored a couple of good goals,” Ange Postecoglou said afterward.
How Tottenham would cope without injured playmaker-in-chief James Maddison has, understandably, hoovered up a lot of attention. But Saturday’s defeat made it clear that defensive absentees will have a greater impact on the club’s fortunes. Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie missed Saturday’s match through a combination of injury and suspension, forcing Postecoglou to start Eric Dier and Ben Davies in central defense against Wolves. The drop off was stark.
Under no real pressure, Dier carelessly hoofed the ball out of play, giving away possession right before Pablo Sarabia’s slick equalizer in the 91st minute – Davies couldn’t come across quickly enough to cover for him and block the shot on the play. The entire backline then fell asleep on Mario Lemina’s winning tally six minutes later. Tottenham fouled Lemina inside his own half, and the 30-year-old picked himself up, dusted himself off, and calmly jogged straight into the penalty area, totally undetected, to receive a pass and send the home crowd into a frenzy. Two lapses in concentration. Two goals against.
Tottenham’s depth will be tested in the coming weeks, especially during the jam-packed holiday slate of matches. The backups failed their first exam.
Magpies down to bare bones
Bournemouth poured forward again and again.
Newcastle United are so ravaged by injuries and worn by their demanding schedule that Emil Krafth, a largely forgotten defender who played one Premier League minute over the previous 18 months, was called off the bench at Dean Court on Saturday. Matt Ritchie hasn’t started a top-flight match since December 2021 but played for over an hour. Lewis Miley, 17, was handed his full league debut. Even Kieran Trippier, one of Newcastle’s most reliable players, has been uncharacteristically sloppy lately.

A better team than Bournemouth would’ve scored five, six, maybe more against the Magpies. Their 2-0 win didn’t adequately reflect their dominance over opponents limping and wheezing their way into the international break.
Trippier told media following the match that the club can’t use the full treatment room as an excuse. Still, he referred to that exact issue when disagreeing with a Newcastle fan immediately after the final whistle. He repeated: “How many injuries have we got? How many injuries have we got?”
The answer is 10, plus two suspensions.
Absentees
Player | Reason | Expected return |
---|---|---|
Miguel Almiron | Injury | Unknown |
Javi Manquillo | Injury | Unknown |
Callum Wilson | Injury | Unknown |
Bruno Guimaraes | Suspended | Nov. 25 |
Alexander Isak | Injury | Late November |
Sven Botman | Injury | December |
Elliot Anderson | Injury | Late December |
Dan Burn | Injury | January 2024 |
Jacob Murphy | Injury | January 2024 |
Harvey Barnes | Injury | January 2024 |
Matt Targett | Injury | February 2024 |
Sandro Tonali | Suspended | August 2024 |
At least the international break has come at a good time for Newcastle. Their next match against Chelsea on Nov. 25 will signal the return of Bruno Guimaraes – Newcastle have failed to win all seven league matches the Brazilian has missed since his debut – and could feature Alexander Isak, who has eight goals over 14 appearances in all competitions. Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson could also be called back sooner than expected.
And besides, this is what Newcastle wanted: the club is competing on three fronts in the Premier League, Champions League, and the League Cup, and will enter the FA Cup in January. Newcastle’s transformation since the Saudi Arabian takeover two years ago has been quick and undeniably impressive. They’re comfortably ahead of where Manchester City were at the same stage of the Abu Dhabi era.
There are still plenty of reasons to be positive on Tyneside.
“We need to dust ourselves down and come back in strong,” manager Eddie Howe said.
Quick free-kicks
Should Kulusevski play centrally?
With an ankle injury expected to sideline primary creator Maddison until January, Tottenham need to get creative to compensate for the extended absence of the team’s leader in assists. Shifting Dejan Kulusevski into a more central role is a possible solution. The Swede, who views himself as more of a No. 10 than a winger, thrived operating in that area during his breakout season with Parma. Kulusevski drives the play forward differently than Maddison – the Englishman is second in the Premier League in progressive passes, while Kulusevski sits second in progressive dribbles – but has the necessary creativity to unlock opposing defenses. However, making that switch could create more personnel problems than it solves considering Tottenham’s lack of depth on the wing. It’s worth at least having the discussion.
No relief for Rashford

Erik ten Hag’s prediction that Marcus Rashford would soon return to form didn’t come to pass in the 1-0 win over Luton Town. For the second match in a row, Rashford operated on the right flank, making room for Alejandro Garnacho on the left. He tested Luton with some decent crosses but otherwise labored through a 12th straight outing without a goal. Ten Hag gives the impression that he wants to play Rashford into form. But that may only be due to his lack of trust in who could replace the 26-year-old academy graduate: Antony, Anthony Martial, and Facundo Pellistri.
Everton starting to click
After years of poor recruitment and a conveyor belt of managers with clashing playing philosophies, Sean Dyche is somehow extracting some reasonable performances out of Everton. Three victories, a draw, and one defeat since the start of October have taken the Toffees from being just a single point above the relegation zone to forming a considerable eight-point cushion. Saturday’s entertaining 3-2 win at Crystal Palace featured some classic sleeves-up Dycheian defending and promising performances from Vitaliy Mykolenko, Jack Harrison, and super-sub Idrissa Gueye. James Tarkowski was at fault for Palace’s second goal but otherwise impressed with five tackles and eight clearances.
VVD is all the way back
Virgil van Dijk has put his 2020 knee injury behind him for good. The Liverpool defender was at his graceful best in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Brentford on Sunday, anchoring the defense with the assured, composed performance that was so common prior to his ACL tear. The Dutchman’s positional sense always made him a good candidate to make a successful return from one of the sport’s most debilitating injuries. Crucially, Van Dijk has also recaptured the physical powers that, combined with his football IQ, made him a colossus at the back during his peak. He’s returned to that elite level this season, and Liverpool are much better off for it.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool 2023/24
He’s back. pic.twitter.com/fPvLRBRB8c
— StatsBomb (@StatsBomb) November 8, 2023
Elanga impressing at Forest
Manchester United were far too hasty in allowing Anthony Elanga to depart. The 21-year-old Swedish winger is taking full advantage of his increased opportunities following his €17.5-million move to Nottingham Forest. He’s already played more league minutes for Steve Cooper than he accumulated all of last season with the Red Devils and has turned that into a team-leading three assists. Elanga scored his first goal of the campaign in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to West Ham United, too. Had United exhibited a little more patience with a young player who was showing promise in the early stage of his career, they could have reaped the rewards of Elanga’s development. Instead, they’re left with minimal options on the wing behind Alejandro Garnacho, who’s still growing.
JWP filling the void

West Ham lost their best player and captain when Declan Rice got his big move to Arsenal this past summer. Replacing him was always going to be an enormous task. James Ward-Prowse is giving it a proper go, though. The set-piece wizard signed for a relatively paltry £30-million fee in August and is a low-maintenance player who provides leadership on the pitch for David Moyes to go along with his unrivaled delivery from dead-ball situations. Ward-Prowse’s two assists, both prototypical deliveries from corner kicks, turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory over Forest on Sunday. He now has nine helpers across all competitions for West Ham on the campaign. His 17 dead-ball assists in the Premier League since 2020-21 are by far the most in England’s top flight. What a weapon to have in your arsenal.
Stat of the weekend
An important reminder to never switch off a Tottenham match before the final whistle blows. There’s always the potential for drama.
8 – Wolves’ win today was the 8th time a team has won a Premier League game they were losing going into the 90th minute – 50% of these matches have involved Tottenham Hotspur (W2 L2). Drama. #WOLTOT pic.twitter.com/KBMsQ4FYUG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 11, 2023
Tweet of the weekend
“We ain’t got no history.”
Thiago Silva is the first player in Premier League history to score in a game where he’s older than both clubs involved.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) November 12, 2023
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