Salah shines as Arsenal wilt
I won't repeat myself regarding Arsenal, although in fairness to them they are declining at an even more rapid rate that I gave them credit for, so I will instead turn to the positives at Anfield... of which each and every one of them was decked in red. Liverpool crushed an abject, almost infantile Arsenal side with consummate grace and reckless ease. Key to this victory were the performances of Can in midfield, and Salah up front. Can remains possibly the most forgotten and under-rated of all Klopp's players. He plays like an Alonso or a Xavi, but has more physical prowess than both. He is strong in the tackle, in the air, can shoot and can pass both short and long. He is not the finished article. But he is 23. And when he plays like this he is certainly the equal of an on song Paul Pogba.
Liverpool dominated midfield to an almost embarrassing degree; although in fairness it was three vs one most of the match, such was Wenger's inability to assemble a team that could follow the mere basics of a formation. But up front Pool were often outnumbered and still tore their opponents to shreds. Mane and Firmino were both excellent but this was Salah's show. Only his finishing let him down in a game where he should have had at hat-trick. His pace is frightening but Salah is far from a Theo Walcott patented blind alley. His positional sense is excellent and time and time again he found the space to punish Arsenal.
Liverpool will get sterner tests that this as the season unfolds. Hell, most of their squad will meet more resistance taking their next shit than they did here... but this was still a ruthless and accomplished outing nonetheless.
Huddersfield and Brighton flicker in different directions
These two promoted clubs were both set to struggle this season, but at this early stage that only looks the case for the one on the South Coast. Huddersfield sit in second place having yet to concede a goal whilst Brighton sit near the bottom, having yet to score one. In all honesty, both their games this week were entirely forgettable, but Brighton really need to find a way to score some goals... especially as they played most of their match against a team with ten men. The Terriers have had a kind start to the season by virtue of the fixture list, but they have certainly taken advantage of it and look well place to defend their points tally when the bigger boys come around.
Brighton do at least have the gifted Anthony Knockaert on their books and the Frenchman was their best player by some distance on Saturday. Keeping him fit and finding a striker who can put away, quite frankly literally anything before the transfer window shuts... is a must if they are to have any chance of surviving.
De Boer looks skewered
No team look worse than Crystal Palace right now. Which given the players they have on their books is both perverse and insane. They look like a squad of footballers who simply have no idea how to follow out the orders from the manager giving them. Yet to get a point, yet to score, yet to figure out what the hell they're supposed to be doing... Palace were beaten 2-0 by Swansea. A result that instantly caused the board to issue a statement that they would be "talking" to De Boer.
One imagines the conversation will mostly be around identity theft and whether the man they have in charge of their football club is in fact the Ajax and Dutch legend... and not just someone who told them a porky on their CV.
For my money, Frank has two more games before he gets the chop.
(I'm sorry... I know. But I could have got more in. I really didn't go the whole hog)
Sterling pays for his effort
Raheem Sterling's late winner and subsequent sending off served to highlight two things this weekend. Firstly, that we should all remember that lots of people associated with football are incredibly stupid. And secondly, that it papered over yet again quite how poor City often were. Crucially it doesn't matter what Pep or any pundit thinks (cough... Shearer) - or how rightfully happy Sterling was to score a dramatic winner in the 97th minute... the rule is simple. It's a stupid rule, but the players know it and it's not like it's just been introduced. Vilifying the referee who quite literally would have not being doing his job had he not given a second yellow is immature and reckless.
Of more pressing concern for the City manager was his teams inability again to break down a side who defended deep and tried to hit them on the counter. City have three times played against effectively a back seven, but Pep needs to figure this out and realise that his quick, fluid attack it near useless against such a tactic. The sight of Kevin De Bruyne in the Kante role so far this season is utterly bizarre, as he is on of the few players with the subtlety of vision to unpick a lock. The Belgian is playing too deep and City are not getting any width except from their fullbacks (who eventually supplied the cross for the undeserved winner). I could understand more if City were shooting from deep, but they're not even doing that. Paul Pogba had more shots from outside the box in the first 90 seconds of the Man United game than City had in the entire match.
City have not yet been punished for their frailties, but they certainly don't look as fluid or as powerful as the team across their back yard. Next week's match up with Liverpool looks decidedly tasty indeed... and will tell us much more about both team's chances of a genuine title push this year.
Chelsea have bounced back
2 wins later and their first half horror show against Burnley is beginning to look more like an aberration than a premonition. Good news for Chelsea fans who saw them swat away Everton today with relative ease and move into the international break (why Fifa... just... why) on a healthy six points. Chelsea will always defend well with Conte at the helm, but this was a miles better display in midfield and in Morata, they look to have acquired a striker who needs no time at all to adapt.
Hazard and likely a new signing or two will arrive in time for the next fixture and suddenly Chelsea look a much better bet to defend their title than they did 8 days ago. Everton in fairness were probably a little tired after their midweek excursions and a gruelling opening set of fixtures. Good news for them though is they play Spurs next. The bad news?
It's not at Wembley.
Team of the Weak:
Hart - Joe may be in here for some time. Just giving everyone a heads up.
Holding - Calum Chambers Wenger. Please play him. He is honestly better than what you have.
Monreal - A player who is now a terrible left back, left wing-back, left sided centre back, centre back and right sided centre back. Way to go Arsene.
Collins - Still playing football for West Ham football club. I know, right?
Britos - Channel the inner Holebas in you my friend. No wait not like that.
Cabaye - At what point does "you're better than this" become... oh wait, you're not... this is just it now?
Xhaka - Just wank.
De Bruyne - Come on Kevin, it's time to go rogue.
Ozil - Now beyond parody. The worst big match player who continues to be actually allowed to play in big matches in football... no sporting history.
Hemed - Apparently up front for Brighton this Saturday.
Kane - 24 shots in 3 games, no goals. It's okay Harry, August is over. Be free my friend... be free.
Happy Hunting
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