Yannick Forde analyses 10 talking points from matchday 11 of the EPL.
Shambolic Chelsea beaten again
For some, Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool was seen as extremely important for Jose Mourinho if he wanted to avoid the sack. After taking an early lead on home turf, the Chelsea that ran away with the title last year would have not lost from that point. However, this team is an entirely different proposition. They sat back and invited Liverpool to attack when they were in the ascendency and could have killed off the game. Mourinho will inevitably point out the fact that Phillipe Coutinho’s equaliser was scored in the third minute of two minutes additional time and Lucas should have been sent off. But the way this team surrendered so meekly, without any fight whatsoever after going a goal down, must be a worry.
Liverpool kick-start the Klopp era
After an uneasy start, drawing their first three games and winning one, Jurgen Klopp secured his first win in the Premier League. After being handed the initiative after Chelsea sat back with their one-goal lead, Klopp’s men pegged the champions back. When Coutinho scored in the third minute of two additional minutes at the end of the first half, the luck and the goal was deserved as it had been coming. Coutinho scored again after an end-to-end half-hour in the second stanza; this time a deflected effort and the dejection on the faces of the Chelsea players was surreal. As Chelsea pushed for an equaliser, they were left exposed at the back and substitute Christian Benteke sealed the win with a well taken goal. Can Klopp make Liverpool challenge for the top four?
Arsenal display title credentials in Swansea win
For all the criticisms that have been leveled at Arsenal in the past, perhaps the main one was the fact that there was an absence of the characteristics needed to win the Premier League. However, these characteristics were in abundance in their win over Swansea. Going to a stadium where they had lost their two previous meetings was always going to be tough and the opening exchanges indicated this. However, rather than succumb to this early pressure, Arsenal overcame it and took a foothold on the game. One moment epitomised the new characteristics of Arsenal: Bafetimbi Gomis was played through on goal with just Petr Cech to beat. However, Cech’s experience in standing up to Gomis and Hector Bellerin’s determination to get back stalled the Frenchman who was eventually tackled by the speedy Bellerin. Arsenal are definite title contenders.
Manchester United blunt in attack once again
For the third consecutive game, Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United have failed to score. It is known that United pass the ball well and dominate possession in all of their games, but in the final third there is no creativity or end product. Wayne Rooney was again poor and looks as though he has never played as the striker for United before. The lack of service makes the situation even worse as he does not have the pace anymore to create chances for himself. Anthony Martial was again marooned on the wing but was United’s best player. It is startling that van Gaal has not dropped his captain yet and selected Martial up front. For a team that is failing to the score, the defence does not look all that good either. Were it not for some great saves from David De Gea, United would have deservedly lost the game.
Leicester becoming the Premier League’s comeback kings
After their late-match revival last time out against Southampton, Claudio Ranieri’s team was at it again, this time against West Brom. After going 1-0 down to a Salomon Rondon goal, The Foxes’ resilience was there for all to see again as they fought back to take the lead through two Riyad Mahrez goals after half time. The man of the moment in Jamie Vardy then scored his 11th goal in the league, his eighth in consecutive games as they strangled the life out of the Baggies. It is truly special seeing a club like Leicester enjoying their football like this. They have now collected 10 points from losing positions this season and this will only benefit them in the long-run. Can they keep their position in the top six?
Watford too good for West Ham
West Ham’s amazing run of form, particularly away from home under Slaven Bilic, was halted by newly promoted Watford on Saturday. Odion Ighalo was the star man, as his brace earned the Hornets back-to-back Premier League wins with a 2-0 victory over the in-form Hammers at Vicarage Road. Ighalo notched a goal in either half for Quique Sanchez Flores’ team, as it also secured its second home win of the season. Nathan Aké provided the opening goal, sliding a ball across for Ighalo to poke home into an empty net. Ikechi Anya’s pass found Ighalo for the second, as the front-man clinically slotted past Adrían to secure maximum points for the Hornets. Flores’ men sit pretty in 11th position.
Everton embarrass woeful Sunderland
This Everton performance was reminiscent of two seasons ago, crisp and smooth. Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland side had no answer to the Toffees as they were blown away in impressive fashion at Goodison Park. Everton found themselves cruising after well taken goals from Gerard Deulofeu and Arouna Kone but were pegged back by goals from Jermaine Defoe and Steven Fletcher which left the score at 2-2. However, the hapless Black Cats were torn apart in a 15-minute period were Everton’s class really told. First there was a Sebastien Coates own goal, subsequently followed by a Romelu Lukaku goal and two more goals by Kone to complete his hat-trick. Roberto Martinez’s men must now push on from this.
Sunderland creating their own problems
After an impressive sixth consecutive win over their rivals Newcastle last week, Sunderland fans would have been hoping their team could have kicked on. What they saw was instead a reflection of why their team will struggle to stay up this season. Not only were they blown away in the second half, but the capitulation was quite frankly astonishing. You would have thought you were watching schoolboys. Make no mistake about it, this Sunderland team has one of the worst defences the Premier League has ever seen and has already shipped an alarming 25 goals in just 11 games. After pegging Everton back to 2-2, the Toffees were allowed to win this game far too easily with some irresistible counter-attacking albeit with the help of the naivety in the away team’s atrocious defending. A long season awaits Allardyce.
Spurs continue unbeaten streak
Ever since Tottenham Hotspur lost their opening game to Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United, they have embarked upon an incredible unbeaten streak which now stands at 10 games. And with 20 points from a possible 30 collected, Spurs are on a good run. It seems as if Mauricio Pochettino has finally got the team playing his way and there is an admirable defensive solidity about their game. After all, they have only shipped nine goals which is the joint-second-best defensive record in the league, behind only Arsenal and Manchester United. Their win over Aston Villa was impressive with Harry Kane on the score sheet and Pochettino’s men dominating throughout. This team could potentially be playing Champions League football next season.
Worrying times for Aston Villa
In contrast to their opponents on Monday evening, Aston Villa have embarked upon a winless run ever since their opening day win over newly promoted Bournemouth, losing nine and drawing one. In that run, they have conceded 20 goals and have frequently made individual mistakes all over the pitch. Against an in-form Tottenham side, Villa were pegged back early by a Mousa Dembele strike and acquitted themselves well until a killer blow from Dele Alli just before half time. Jordan Ayew’s 79th minute goal was a consolation for a side who now has just four points from a possible 33. Kane added the gloss on what was not an entirely easy game for Spurs, who allowed Villa back in the game. With a team of limited talent it must be said, new boss Remi Garde needs this team to display belief and industry and, most importantly, pick up points.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
