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

As Barney Ronay has noted, Arsenal are facing a weekly renewal of the Game You Just Have to Win If You Want to Be Champions. Did this represent a Game You Just Have to Win Because Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo Was Sent Off? Yes and no. The hosts will naturally be more pleased with a point in the context of the first-half red card, while Arsenal perhaps looked a little jaded and below their best overall. But Enzo Maresca’s side were excellent throughout, despite having to play so much of the match with 10 men, and they deserved something from it. Compared with some Chelsea v Arsenal encounters from the olden days (when more overtly physical iterations of the Blues traditionally used to crush the fragile Gunners) there were no signs of weakness, mental or otherwise, from Arteta’s Premier League leaders in a fierce and physical derby. They will experience few harder tests than this, and a point was fair. Luke McLaughlin

Match report: Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

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Ruben Amorim was not afraid to admit that Manchester United’s newfound prowess from set pieces has taken inspiration from other teams after another two against Crystal Palace sealed a comeback victory at Selhurst Park. Joshua Zirkzee’s clever finish from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick and Mason Mount’s pile-driver made it 10 goals from set pieces so far this season – the same as much-heralded Arsenal. Amorim acknowledged that having more time to work with his players during the week is starting to pay dividends, even if some of their routines may have a familiar feel about them. “We work a lot and we learn a lot in England,” he said. “I think you are used to seeing [a lot of set piece goals]. You learn a lot with other teams how to do it and we are stealing a lot of things to score goals.” Ed Aarons

Match report: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United

With seven minutes remaining at West Ham, an uneasy Liverpool led 1-0 and there were signs that the home side might mount a late charge. Then Liverpool were awarded a free-kick on halfway. A furious Lucas Paquetá was booked for dissent. That was silly enough but what followed was far worse. As Milos Kerkez went down with cramp, Paquetá protested to the referee Darren England, who asked him to back away. Paquetá kept going. England gave him another warning. Alphonse Areola charged in to drag Paquetá away, but the Brazilian wouldn’t leave it. The referee had little option but to issue a second yellow and then a red. In effect it let Liverpool off the hook and ended West Ham’s hopes of an equaliser, a shameful loss of self-control that felt all the more egregious given how the club backed him before Paquetá was cleared of spot-fixing after a two-year investigation by the Football Association. Jonathan Wilson

Match report: West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

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Omari Hutchinson will be wondering what he has to do in order to get a Premier League start at Nottingham Forest. The club-record signing made his seventh substitute appearance on Sunday, bringing much-needed energy and creativity to a team that was unable to compete for much of the first half. Playing on the right wing, Hutchinson was immediately dangerous, beating his man and putting crosses into the box. Despite costing £37.5m, the former Ipswich man is not registered for the Europa League, leaving him limited opportunities to get up to speed at his new club. In the previous home game against Leeds, Hutchinson came on and changed the match in Forest’s favour, assisting a goal for Morgan Gibbs-White to earn the lead. It could be time to play Hutchinson from the start. Will Unwin

Match report: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Brighton

Aston Villa have remedied several of their early-season problems to rack up seven wins in their past eight league matches, the latest coming at home to Wolves. The winning goal, a peach courtesy of Boubacar Kamara, again came from outside the box, where 56% of Villa’s league goals have originated this season. Villa are the Premier League’s form team, but Unai Emery acknowledged he has discussed the importance of boosting the goals-scored column; they have 16 in 13 matches, the lowest tally in the top half. On the final day of last season Villa missed out on a place in the Champions League on goal difference and Emery is keen to avoid a repeat. “We are analysing everything deeply,” said the Villa manager. “I am always worried about something or something we need to improve. We want to score goals and individually get numbers.” Ben Fisher

Match report: Aston Villa 1-0 Wolves

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Pep Guardiola broadly concurs with the England manager, Thomas Tuchel, that Phil Foden is most potent centrally. “I agree with Thomas. I like Phil behind the striker, close to the box. The guys who have this sense of goal have to be close to the goal. But he can play as a winger.” Foden said of his two goals in victory a week after defeat at St James’ Park: “I was frustrated after Newcastle because I missed a few chances – it was eating me up. I wanted to put it right and I’m really thankful that it came off. I managed to score two crucial goals to help us win. That’s the kind of player I want to be. Deciding games and trying to be the player that people look to, to try and make a difference.” Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester City 3-2 Leeds

There was so much to admire about Newcastle as they finally won a Premier League away game this season, from the explosive pace of Anthony Elanga to the movement and distribution of the full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. “They were too strong and powerful for us,” said David Moyes. “Maybe the strongest team in the Premier League other than Arsenal.” Also standing out in a fine collective display was Lewis Miley, who at 19 became the second-youngest Newcastle player to score and assist in a Premier League game. Saturday was the teenager’s 60th outing for the club, substitute appearances included, which is some accomplishment given the calibre of midfielders at Eddie Howe’s disposal. The Newcastle manager believes Miley can establish himself permanently. Howe said: “Lewis doesn’t get flustered about anything, he’s so calm, not your usual teenager. He’s always had athleticism but technically he is getting better. He’s got a challenge to get more game time with the midfield we have but I back him to do it.” Andy Hunter

Match report: Everton 1-4 Newcastle

Brazil are blessed with wingers and wide forwards – Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Estêvão, Rodrygo, Savinho, Gabriel Martinelli – but do not have a reliable No 9. This year, Carlo Ancelotti has tried João Pedro, Richarlison, Marseille’s Luiz Henrique, Cruzeiro’s Kaio Jorge, Palmeiras’s Vitor Roque, Matheus Cunha (one goal in 15 appearances for club and country this season), Endrick (11 minutes for Real Madrid) and Forest’s Igor Jesus (no league goals) in that role, but no central strikers have scored any of Brazil’s 17 goals in 2025. Could the Seleção really start next year’s World Cup with a Brentford player up top? Keith Andrews hopes so, after Igor Thiago scored two against Burnley to bring his season total to 11 goals. “He is the top-scoring Brazilian in all of the major divisions, so it is pretty impressive really, isn’t it?” said the Bees’ manager. “[Playing for Brazil] is a big dream of his.” Michael Butler

Match report: Brentford 3-1 Burnley

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Thomas Frank is in trouble at Tottenham: the paying public unconvinced at best, many minds already made up. His bedding-in period lasted no longer than the opening-day win over Burnley. Scaling up from the comforts of Brentford has so far looked beyond Frank. Spurs are a riddle he cannot solve, though the same was true of Ange Postecoglou, Antonio Conte, Nuno Espírito Santo and late-period Mauricio Pochettino. On Saturday, Frank hit out at those fans who jeered Guglielmo Vicario after the goalkeeper’s rush of blood led to Harry Wilson scoring Fulham’s second goal. “They can’t be true Tottenham fans,” was a provocative statement for customers paying high prices to see three home league wins this year. “I’m fine with them booing after the match, no problem,” was Frank’s attempt to clarify but the damage was done. This Saturday’s home game, against Brentford, takes on considerable importance. John Brewin

Match report: Tottenham 1-2 Fulham

Enzo Le Fée has often impressed in a largely left-wing role for Sunderland but the Frenchman always craved relocation to his preferred No 8 brief. That was the position Régis Le Bris envisaged his former Lorient protege filling when he signed Le Fée from Roma but, early this season, he struggled centrally, looking lightweight. Against Bournemouth Le Bris brought the 25-year-old in from the left and he did not disappoint. It was not his fault Sunderland swiftly found themselves two goals down against a strong, rapidly counterattacking Bournemouth. But his stellar penalty execution dragged them back into things and he was involved in the preamble to Bertrand Traoré’s equaliser before supplying the corner that prefaced Brian Brobbey’s winner. Throw in numerous incisive, bravely creative passes, some important tackles and much selfless industry off the ball and Le Bris’s delight was understandable. “This was always my belief about Enzo,” said the Sunderland manager. “I think Enzo can be really strong in the middle of the pitch in this league so I’m very happy. If you play with three creative[central] midfielders like Enzo, Granit [Xhaka] and Noah [Sadiki] it’s really tough for opponents to manage that part of the pitch.” The “Le Fée for France” campaign starts here. Louise Taylor

Match report: Sunderland 3-2 Bournemouth

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