SunSport runs the rule over the winners and losers from a hectic weekend of Premier League action
WELL, it was a weekend to forget for Jose Mourinho.
His Manchester United side were thrashed 4-0 by Chelsea at his old Stamford Bridge stomping ground.
United now sit a whopping six points off the summit of the Premier League table, with top five of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham pulling clear.
Sunsport brings you eleven things we learnt from the Premier League weekend…
Klopp’s Liverpool look the real deal
It was often said last season that Liverpool would be a different beast this term now Jurgen Klopp had a full pre-season with his squad, and doesn’t it look just that way. The Reds dominated West Brom at Anfield, and were only denied the chance to go top because of goal difference after Gareth McAuley’s late strike for the Baggies.
The old Eden Hazard really is back
Eden Hazard has already equalled his Premier League goals tally from last season, and its only October. A constant menace against Manchester United, the Belgium ace is no longer the shell of a player he was last season.
Kante is not just there to marshal the defence
N’Golo Kante notched his second goal for Chelsea against United, and what a goal it was, twisting and turning his way into the box before slipping the ball past David De Gea. Team-mate David Luiz joked afterwards that he scores more than Cristiano Ronaldo in training. Could be the first of many for the Blues…
Jose Mourinho is worse than Louis van Gaal
It’s official. Jose Mourinho is a worse Manchester United manager than his much-maligned predecessor Louis van Gaal. After nine matches LVG had 19 points, Mourinho’s got 14.
Mourinho is becoming a specialist in failure
Staying with the main talking point of the weekend, Mourinho has now lost 13 of his last 27 league matches. His previous 13 defeats occurred in 135 league games. Who is the “specialist in failure” now?
Arsene Wenger’s sums don’t add up
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger blamed Arsenal’s midweek 6-0 hammering of Ludogorets for their tame 0-0 draw against Bournemouth. He must make sure his Gunners, with their strongest squad in years, do not become complacent now.
Bob Bradley is not afraid the ring the changes
Swansea’s recently-appointed boss Bob Bradley changed three of his back four for his first home game, the 0-0 draw with Watford on Saturday, and made five changes in total.
Pep’s lost his magic touch
Pep Guardiola has not won in five matches for the first time since his time at Barcelona in 2009. He locked his Manchester City team in the dressing room for 50 minutes after their draw with Southampton. He’ll have a hard job keeping harmony in the squad.
Wilshere is set for biggest season of his career
Jack Wilshere completed 90 minutes of Premier League action for the first time in over two-and-a-half years in Bournemouth’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham. It really is make or break for him this season.
Sissoko elbow could derail Spurs title tilt
Moussa Sissoko is set for a three-game ban after appearing to elbow Bournemouth’s Harry Arter. Should he be given the suspension, he’ll be out for the crucial north London derby at the Emirates on November 6, which is sandwiched between home matches against Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Leicester don’t miss Vardy
No Vardy, no problem. The Foxes demonstrated they can get the job done without their talisman from last season, Jamie Vardy, who was benched for the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace after failing to score in nine games for club and country. It was unheard of last season, but he faces a challenge to get back in the team now.
