Premier League: 10 things we learned this weekend from Southampton’s woes to Liverpool’s grit

Liverpool edged to victory over Tottenham to maintain their six-point lead at the top as Leicester handed out a record thrashing to Southampton

1. Big problems at St Mary’s

Leicester were excellent on Friday night – ruthless and clinical in attack and fluid in their build-up play – but that did little to mitigate Southampton’s dismal performance.

A 9-0 defeat – equalling the 24-year record in the Premier League – sent Southampton into the relegation zone and piled the pressure on manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who now has a sizeable task on his hands to turn this around.

“It was horrible to watch,” said the German coach, and most inside St Mary’s agreed. There were a few thousand forlorn Southampton fans remaining by the end, left wondering what the future holds for the club.

If something doesn’t change soon, relegation looks a real possibility.

Hasenhuttl does not know what will happen after Saints lost 9-0 to Leicester (Reuters) (Action Images via Reuters)

2. City motor on despite unconvincing display

Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola pointed out, were nowhere near their fluent best in the first half of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

“If we play like we did in the first half we will be relegated,” he said. Clearly, then, Guardiola was not impressed. City were restricted well by a stubborn Villa side and looked uneasy at the back, too, where more problems have arisen following the sending off of Fernandinho late on.

There was a transformation after the break, though. It took only a few seconds for Raheem Sterling to put the hosts in front and from then on the game escaped Villa. The fluid interchanges in the final third, the dominance in possession and constant pressing off the ball returned, and City eased to victory.

The Premier League champions remain on the tails of leaders Liverpool, and their ability to flick the switch and take the game away from opposition, even when not at their best, will worry Jurgen Klopp and his players after being hunted down last season.

3. Silva’s Everton woes continue

Marco Silva would have been relieved last week when his side ended a run of four successive league defeats to beat West Ham at Goodison Park. It felt like a crucial three points, a win that perhaps, in the short term at least, saved the Portuguese’s job.

But it has been almost forgotten in the wake of Saturday’s game, a 3-2 defeat at Brighton that will have hurt everyone associated with the club. Everton twice led at the Amex Stadium, but a Neal Maupay penalty with ten minutes remaining and then an injury-time own goal from Lucas Digne consigned the visitors to another defeat.

The Toffees have yet to win away from home in the Premier League this season. They sit in 16th place, just two points above the relegation zone. And time is probably running out for Silva.

4. Pulisic ready to play key role at Chelsea

It has been a relatively slow start at Chelsea for Christian Pulisic, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund with great expectations and enjoyed a pre-season that suggested he would slot in seamlessly at Stamford Bridge.

But he has been on the periphery for the opening weeks of the season, restricted to just three league starts prior to Saturday’s trip to Burnley.

Pulisic celebrates with the match ball (Reuters) (Action Images via Reuters)

And this was his first start since August. Pulisic was clearly eager to impress, driving a low finish into the bottom corner early in the first half before adding two more goals to complete a clinical ‘perfect’ hat-trick.

Chelsea have not been short of goals this season, but an in-form Pulisic could take Frank Lampard’s side to another level.

5. Impressive Sheffield United maintain strong start

Chris Wilder’s side do not look overawed by the top flight. In fact, they look comfortable, capable perhaps of finishing in the top half of the Premier League table.

That is no mean feat for a newly promoted team, especially one with a relatively modest budget.

Sheffield United, on Saturday, backed up last week’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Arsenal with a valuable point at West Ham, with Lys Mousset scoring his second goal in two games.

It leaves the Blades in seventh, with a foundation to build on. Ten games into the season is far too early to come to any conclusions, but the signs are positive for Sheffield United.

6. Dubravka errors cost Newcastle

It looked, for a long time, like Newcastle would grind out a narrow victory over Wolves. They led late in the first half through Jamaal Lascelles and battled hard to keep the visitors at bay.

But a mistake from Martin Dubravka, of which there have been far too many in the last year, cost Steve Bruce’s side two points. According to Opta, only Asmir Begovic has made more errors leading to goals than Dubravka’s six since the latter made his debut in February 2018.

If Newcastle are to avoid the drop this season, they will need more consistent performances from their goalkeeper.

7. Liverpool grind out another win

Liverpool, despite having won nine of ten games this season, have not always eased to victory. They have had to battle to wins, to grind down their opposition.

That was the case against Tottenham on Sunday. The Reds fell behind almost immediately, but had the confidence and strength of character to turn the scoreline around.

It is another narrow victory, another victory by a margin of just one goal, but that will not concern Klopp. Liverpool seem to have winning down to a fine art.

8. Xhaka the scapegoat at Arsenal

Granit Xhaka is a divisive figure at Arsenal. He is the club captain, a technically-gifted midfielder capable of producing moments of brilliance.

But he is too often wild and erratic, too often anonymous when Arsenal need a leader. The reaction from the home supporters when he was withdrawn was one of contempt, and that is concerning for everyone at the club.

It is a sign of a growing feeling of uneasiness at Arsenal. The season so far has not been disastrous, but the club’s fans expect far more than they are getting.

Granit Xhaka responds to Arsenal fans booing him (REUTERS)

9. Rashford and Martial inspire United to welcome away win

United had not won away from home in the Premier League since February, an alarming stat for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But there were signs of real improvement at Norwich as Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both scored – and both missed penalties – in a convincing victory.

United have often looked bereft of ideas in attack this season, short on confidence and lacking the intricacy to break down organised opposition. With Martial back, though, and Rashford returning to form, they are more direct in attack, a more focused threat.

This could be the start of a climb up the table for Solskjaer’s side.

10. Toothless Watford remain winless

Quique Sanchez Flores appears to have addressed some of Watford’s defensive issues – the Hornets have only conceded three goals in their last four league games after letting in eight at Manchester City – but the more pressing concern now is at the other end of the pitch.

Watford, despite a couple of chances, could not find a way through against Bournemouth and remain without a win, rooted to the bottom of the table on five points.

Flores needs to find some balance if he is to guide his side towards safety.