The second round of the 2018/19 Premier League season was as entertaining as it promised as clubs from around the country came out all guns blazing, in search of the invaluable three points this weekend. Manchester City put six past Huddersfield Town while Chelsea did enough to beat Arsenal. Manchester United fell to a defeat at Falmer Stadium, heaping pressure on Jose Mourinho while Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 2-0.
Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth both picked up their second wins of the season. There were a number of impressive performances from stars across the country but a few big-name players failed to live up to the expectations. Here are three such players who disappointed this weekend:
Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
The 24-year old was expected to emerge as a leader for United at the back but he was out of his depth and was well below par, giving the Brighton attackers a field day in front of David de Gea’s goal. He made just one tackle and three interceptions all game and was at fault for two of the visitor’s goals and put in a performance that will further frustrate the manager. He did not have too much support from his teammates but United would have had a better chance of taking something from this game if Bailly put in even a slightly better performance.
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Taken off with 20 minutes to spare when Arsenal were level at Stamford Bridge, the German playmaker did not look his usual self, as he failed to create enough chances to put pressure on the Chelsea backline. He struggled to link up play and was often caught in possession, leaving his midfield with a lot of work to do. This is his second below-par performance this season, in two games, leaving Unai Emery’s side without a point so far this campaign.
Fred (Manchester United)
Though not at fault for Brighton outscoring the Red Devils, Manchester United’s new midfielder Fred had a game to forget against the Seagulls. He hardly got a foothold in the game and was chasing shadows all day, leaving his backline with very little support and cover. He lost possession often, was late with his tackles and interceptions, as Brighton often breezed past him in the middle of the park. He is still new to the English game but if he puts in performances like this constantly, the pressure will start to mount and his Manchester United career can go down the hill pretty quickly.
Stat Credit: Whoscored.com