Matchday 9 of the Premier League is done and dusted with Arsenal, Manchester City and Leicester City winning their respective derbies.
A total of 36 goals were scored across the 10 games, which featured three stalemates—Liverpool vs Brighton, Bournemouth vs Brentford and Leeds United vs Aston Villa. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 5 talking points from Premier League Matchday 9.
- Man City paint Manchester in blue
Manchester City schooled cross-town rivals Manchester United to win the derby bragging rights at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Without even hitting the second gear, the Cityzens were 4-0 up at half-time and in complete cruise control against Man United. Pep Guardiola was jubilant with the way his side carved open their rivals time and again through the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
For United, it was another tale of a miserable day at the home of neighbours, with Erik ten Hag getting a grim experience of derby day. A better second-half performance helped the Red Devils to reduce the humiliation, but City—inspired by Erling Haaland and Phil Foden’s hat-tricks—were class apart on the day and once again proved the gulf between themselves and United.
- Arsenal on the right path toward a title challenge
Arsenal proved no match for Tottenham as they swept them away 3-1 to win the North London bragging rights.
The Gunners were given a reality check by Man United at Old Trafford but they reacted well with wins over Brentford and Spurs. They were superior in almost every department against a Tottenham side who were previously unbeaten in the league.
With the comprehensive win over their noisy North London neighbours, it is fair to say Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are very much in the mix for a title challenge.
- Liverpool’s defensive uncertainty
On Saturday at Anfield, Liverpool were second best in large parts to a Brighton side who had a new manager at the helm in the form of Roberto de Zerbi. The way Brighton cut open the Liverpool side time and again, especially in the first half, was a sight to behold for De Zerbi.
For Jurgen Klopp, it was difficult to comprehend what was happening on the Anfield turf as his side rarely got close to Brighton. The Reds took a 3-2 lead in the second half and later let it slip, thanks to a fantastic hat-trick from Leandro Trossard, which has only increased the defensive uncertainties around the camp.
With Arsenal and Manchester City up next in the Premier League, the form which Liverpool are in at the moment and the manner in which they have defended this season should ring alarm bells for Klopp.
- Leicester City get their first win in an emphatic fashion
A first win this season for Leicester City on Monday gave the home fans something to cheer on. And their first points couldn’t have been any sweeter, with the Foxes sweeping aside their rivals Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the King Power Stadium.
Having lost six games on a trot, Brendan Rodgers was under enormous pressure heading into the East Midlands derby. But his players thrived on the derby atmosphere in an electric King Power Stadium, turning in a complete team performance that eased some immediate pressure off Rodgers’ shoulders.
The sword is still hanging over his neck, though, something Rodgers knows very well.
- Erik ten Hag learns harsh lessons in the derby
Manchester United fans were not at fault for going into their derby clash with Manchester City on Sunday in a buoyant mood after a run of four successive league wins, including successes over Liverpool and Arsenal. But for all United’s recent progress, City gave them a reality check by swatting them aside 6-3 thanks to hat-tricks from Haaland and Foden.
Erik ten Hag’s team selection in the derby backfired, with the decision to not start Casemiro making very little sense. City simply outclassed, outran and outsmarted United in midfield, as Ten Hag stared at the proceedings in utter disbelief.
And if there was anything the margin of victory did demonstrate the gulf between City and United, and just how big a job Ten Hag has at his hands to get the Red Devils back fighting for trophies and titles.
