Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the new Nani, Pep Guardiola has worked miracles with Fabian Delph and Mr Clancy’s a Stoke supersub… seven things we learned from the Premier League this weekend
With the snooze-fest that is the international break upon us, check out the biggest talking points from the top-flight round
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ANOTHER Premier League weekend is in the books, with more "hot takes"; than you can shake a stick at.
There were some shocks, as Everton finally managed a win.
Then there were some less surprising results... as West Ham were brutally torn apart by Liverpool at the London Stadium.
Manchester City and Chelsea came away with the points in Super Sunday's big games, while Tottenham also tasted victory over beleaguered Crystal Palace.
With the tedious international break now upon us, cast your mind back over the weekend, with its seven biggest talking points...
HAMMERED
You have to feel for Slaven Bilic.
After another home humbling at the London Stadium, this time to Liverpool, the Croatian is staring the sack in the face.
It can’t go on.
And yet just a couple of weeks ago, the club’s co-chairman David Sullivan told Sky Sports that he would stick by his manager despite the club’s slump in form.
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“I believe in morality,” said the millionaire pornographer, adding that he believed in doing “what’s right”.
But there was more. "I think the manager has a three-year contract and is entitled to these three years.
"After the season we will sit down and see if he wants to stay on and if we want him to stay on. That's a long way off.”
Wonder if that’s still the case this morning. And if it isn’t, do Messrs Gold and Sullivan really believe that David Moyes is the man to turn things around?
Really?
WHEN THE CROWD SAY MO!
Like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku before him, Mo Salah is fast becoming another player that Chelsea should be punching themselves repeatedly in the face for letting go.
Quite possibly the signing of the summer, the Egyptian speedster’s performances has helped quell the disquiet over Philippe Coutinho’s desire to leave Anfield.
That and the Reds' dreadful defence...
But he’s weighing in with goal after vital goal.
With 12 goals and three assists from his 17 appearances for Liverpool to date he’s now the highest scoring winger in Europe’s top five leagues.
To put that in some kind of perspective, Reds legends Luis Suarez scored just seven in his first 17 games while Fernando Torres scored 11.
ARSENE WHINGERS
You’ve got to love football fans. Actually that’s not strictly true. It’s not the law or anything.
On Sunday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger brought on Alexandre Lacazette as a 56th-minute substitute and the Frenchman swiftly repaid his boss by pulling a goal back for the Gunners.
Did Wenger get praised on social media for an inspired substitution?
Of course not.
He got lambasted for not starting Lacazette in the first place.
FOR PETE’S SAKE!
Another weekend, another Peter Crouch appearance off the bench and another goal to help rescue a point for Stoke against Leicester City.
That’s Mr Clancy’s third goal as a substitute this season and his 52nd headed goal in the Premier League, stretching his record still further.
That’s all well and good but what does it say about Stoke and Mark Hughes that they’re still reliant on a 36-year-old to come off the bench and rescue them?
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DELPH & SAFETY
Yes, Manchester City are a force of footballing nature but after putting Arsenal to the sword on Sunday, they’ve now scored a record 52 goals in all competitions this season – and we’re barely into November.
That, for the record, is 12 more than any other Premier League side.
And while Pep Guardiola is rightly lauded for taking his side on to a new level, just consider the miracles he’s worked with Fabian Delph.
A bit-part player some way down the City midfield pecking down order last season, the former Leeds and Villa man has been born again as a left-back this year.
He was excellent against in the win over Arsenal at the weekend.
In fact, I’d put good money (and bad money for that matter) on him being England’s first choice left-back at the World Cup Finals next summer.
Now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.
IN THE PU-LIS
Is this the season when The Tony Pulis’ Academy of Anti-Football finally gets shut down?
The West Brom faithful are rightly unhappy with what’s being served up at the moment and I don’t blame them.
In years gone, the functional, fuss-free football that Pulis offers may have served a purpose, suiting a club that seemed to just want to maintain its status as a Premier League outfit.
But times change.
After a defeat to ten-man Huddersfield on Saturday, the Baggies have now won only two of their last 20 Premier League games, scoring just 13 goals.
They’re also without a league win since the second weekend of the season too.
It’s the worst run of any team in the top flight and leaves them only two points above the relegation zone.
Time’s running out for Tony and you get the impression that not many Baggies’ fans will be sad to see him go.
TAKING THE MKH
Losing at Stamford Bridge is one thing but losing in such an unimaginative and wholly predictable fashion will really concern Jose Mourinho.
Nobody, apart from David De Gea, emerged from the defeat with any credit but it’s the form, or worrying lack of it, of Henrikh Mkhitaryan that will concern the Manchester United boss.
The Armenia began this campaign in fine fettle but he was largely absent before being replaced by Marouane Fellaini.
Reaction to his performance on Twitter was vicious.
Some labelled him the new Nani while another wanted the midfielder to lower their coffin into the ground when they pass away, just so he could let them down one final time.
Does he have what it takes to withstand the cut and thrust of these kind of key Premier League battles?
On the evidence to date you’d have to say no.
