The seventh matchday of the Premier League witnessed a number of talking points and today we take a look at some of the lessons we learned during the weekend.
The problem is not Pogba
The Red Devils lost 3-1 to West Ham this weekend at a time when they have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Their form has been declining for a few weeks now and their record shows three losses and one draw in their last seven league games. There is also the issue of the tense relationship between coach Jose Mourinho and record signing Paul Pogba which has threatened the stability of the team. The Portuguese coach has long blamed his tricolor playing midfielder for their lack of success, but this new defeat suggests otherwise. Alexis Sanchez is the latest victim of his public criticisms, but to tell the truth, Mourinho himself is not entirely blameless for the situation.
Wolves are in the right league
Newly promoted teams in the Premier League have often struggled to adapt to the demands of the top flight. However, the promotion of Wolves and their subsequent brilliant start to the new season is likely to change that. They have avoided defeats to Manchester City and Manchester United and they were at it once again during the weekend with a deserved 2-0 over Southampton. Ivan Cavaleiro and Matt Doherty were on target as they continued to demonstrate their mettle. Cardiff and Fulham were equally promoted alongside Wolves, but they have found the going tougher, unlike Nuno Espirito Santos’s men. With such kind of displays, Wolves can guarantee themselves of a prolonged life in the Premier League.
Don’t take your eyes off City
Manchester City climbed to the summit of the league table following their 2-0 home win against Brighton. This was made possible by Liverpool who dropped points away to Chelsea and the two are now tied on points with City having a better goal difference. They have not looked convincing at times like was the case in the Champions League against Lyon, but they are leaving nothing to chance domestically. They have a solid squad and with the addition of Riyad Mahrez in the summer, they will be trying to challenge for a second consecutive title triumph.
Expansive play still works
The proponents of attacking football will be happy with the progress being made in the Premier League by a number of sides. Chelsea and Liverpool are the latest sides to have adopted this type of progressive play and their fixture over the weekend is a testament to that. The scoreline probably reflected the true outcome of the fixture, but you cannot fail to notice the quality of play exhibited by both teams. Chelsea are in a transitional period whereas Liverpool have been doing this for quite some time now. With the Premier League table having Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea as the top three sides, we should expect more entertainment as the season progresses.
Newcastle desperate for takeover
Before the weekend, the Magpies were on a rotten run of three straight home losses in the Premier League. They continued their downward spiral this Saturday, succumbing 2-0 to Leicester City in their own yard. Boos echoed around the stadium at the rare sight of club owner Mike Ashley, who has long assumed the role of lead villain amidst the off-field issues. He publicly put the club up for sale in October last year and fans have been desperately awaiting the end of his troubled tenure. Earlier in January, prominent businesswoman, Amanda Staveley was touted to take over but Ashley dashed those prospects, dismissing any such deal being on the table. The Newcastle faithful are growing impatient but there may be a silver lining to their suffering soon enough. Peter Kenyon, the former CEO of Manchester United and Chelsea, is rumored to be interested in leading a takeover of the club.