Our chief football writer reviews the main talking points from the weekend's action
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A weekend sent to Arsenal like manna from heaven. Not only did they do what is now customary – win without ever truly hitting their straps because they are so defensively sound – but they saw both supposed title rivals lose away from home.
Perhaps Bournemouth and Sunderland are now rivals in this bizarro Premier League season. They dispatched Nottingham Forest and Chelsea – top-seven teams in 2024-25 – respectively to force their way into increasingly dizzying heights.
Do we include Manchester United too now they have won three games on the spin for the first time since February 2024? God knows.
At the bottom, Wolves lost and so remain winless and woeful. West Ham are somehow playing worse yet above Wolves, while Forest now have a five-point gap to Burnley in 16th. Look out for Fulham, four lost on the spin and sinking a little.
This weekend’s results
Friday
Leeds United 2-1 West Ham
Saturday
Chelsea 1-2 Sunderland
Newcastle United 2-1 Fulham
Manchester United 4-2 Brighton
Brentford 3-2 Liverpool
Sunday
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Wolves 2-3 Burnley
Everton 0-3 Tottenham
Obvious statistic that will depress Wolves supporters
I think Wolves are going to go down, unless they make another midseason managerial appointment that sparks a significant change alongside serious January investment. And I’m not sure either of those things work this time.
This was a tale of two bad halves. In the first, Wolves were poor defensively against direct balls over the top and down the channels, albeit they pulled themselves back into it. In the second half, Burnley sat deep and challenged Vitor Pereira’s team to break them down and they couldn’t do that easier. Then you overload and get caught.
And here’s the huge problem: will it get any easier? Wolves have already played all three promoted clubs and have lost each time, two of them at Molineux. They will enter November without winning a league fixture and it doesn’t seem possible to appoint a better coach than the one they have. It’s a doomsday scenario.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira reacts to fans after the final whistle of the Premier League match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Picture date: Sunday October 26, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira reacts to the fans’ fury (Photo: PA)
Does anybody at West Ham want to defend?
Nuno’s team selections have been absolutely bizarre and have confused West Ham supporters: Callum Wilson not starting even with Nicklas Fullkrug injured, Andy Irving a key player and Aaron Wan Bissaka as the left-sided central defender of a three. These points are all relevant.
But also: does anybody actually want it enough? Watching West Ham defend is frustrating to a neutral, let alone a supporter. Nobody takes responsibility. Nobody seems to want to do the ugly stuff and nobody seems to show any leadership (bar poor Jarrod Bowen). Those three centre-backs cost almost £100m and are lacking any obvious basic qualities for their position.
Dyche must find Forest spark
The problems at set pieces and the physical cost of playing Thursday night football were both evident during the first half at Bournemouth (where Forest fans will tell you that they always lose). But the larger issue surrounds the lack of goals from an inherently talented attacking unit.
Forest tried to play the ball on the floor during the first half and in their air during the second, but neither worked. They have scored one goal in their last seven league games and that was from a corner.
Interestingly, Sean Dyche mentioned the fitness in his post-match interview, relevant given the European workload. Some things may have disappeared with the departure of Ange Postecoglou, but if the squad’s physical intensity is off then that will have a lasting mark. These are interesting weeks ahead with Burnley now five points above Forest.
Defensive uncertainty a huge Fulham concern
Two seasons ago, only three teams in the Premier League kept more clean sheets than a Fulham side that had the sixth meanest defence in the division – that was their clear strength.
And now it’s their weakness. Fulham have kept two clean sheets in their last 25 league games and the last time they stopped a current Premier League opponent scoring away from home was November 2024. Marco Silva sounds hugely frustrated with a run of four straight league defeats.
The point is this: since promotion, Fulham’s games have usually been settled by fine margins either way – only once since the start of last season have they won or lost by more than two goals. So when your defence starts to be a little less resilient, results quickly fall away.
Read more: Fulham are one of the biggest victims of Premier League’s unfair spending rules
Burnley’s unlikely goalscoring burst
Zian Flemming hadn’t scored all season, yet scored twice. Lyle Foster has been a willing runner this season but not a goalscorer; he got the winner. I thought Scott Parker had got it wrong by going defensive in the second half, but then his team won the game. Rip up everything you know.
This was a historic day that gives Burnley some breathing room (a five-point cushion to the bottom three). The last time they scored three goals against a current Premier League team was April 2022. We desperately worried about their ability to score goals, so say it loudly: Burnley have more than nine other Premier League teams.
Burnley reached 10 Premier League points on 23 December under Vincent Kompany. They matched that on 26 October under Parker. They have a chance.
Farke’s high press is Leeds’ greatest strength
It’s always nice to look for a statistical outlier, and Leeds have a belter. The aim of their high press under Daniel Farke is to make tackles, blocks and interceptions in the final third that lead to chances. So far this season, Leeds have had 10 shots directly resulting from one of these actions. No other team in the division (at the end of Saturday’s action) had managed more than six.
That is the one advantage of promotion: you have less of the ball but can do more of this pressing. Last season in the Championship, Leeds averaged 61.3 per cent possession and created 25 chances from defensive actions. Now they’re down at 47 per cent but the press is just as energetic and they’re on course to lead the division by the same metric.
It won’t always work, but it’s very effective when it does. Ampadu, Longstaff (twice), Aaronson, Stach (twice), Bogle, Harrison, Okafor and Gudmundsson have all contributed at least one.
Everton’s Hill Dickinson gets its boos bow
There was something deeply enjoyable about the specific noise when Goodison got grouchy, as if the sound of boos was for some reason able to hover in the air like a thick cloud. We worried that a change of stadium might ruin one of English football’s great soundscapes.
And we should not have worried. It turns out the praise wasn’t for Goodison, but Everton fans themselves. I’m not quite sure whether the opprobrium at full-time was directed towards the team, David Moyes or the officials; it doesn’t matter. The Hill Dickinson Stadium will continue the Everton tradition of producing some absolutely sensational booing. They are the best in the league at something.
Baleba drop-off costing Brighton
I don’t want to be too critical of Carlos Baleba because a) he’s very young and b) he was the subject of a £100m transfer rumour in the summer that must be hard for any inexperienced player to deal with.
But his numbers are a bit concerning. Last season, Baleba’s tackles and interceptions combined (125) were 46 higher than any other Brighton midfielder; now he ranks behind four teammates for the per-90 stats. His tackles per 90 are down from 2.7 to 1.7 and his blocks (either passes or shots) are down from 1.6 to 0.6. He’s made one tackle in his own third of the pitch so far in 2025-26.
Bruno’s energy something to behold at Newcastle
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United (39) following the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Fulham at St James' Park on October 25, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Bruno Guimaraes scored Newcastle’s winner (Photo: Getty)
On Saturday, Bruno Guimaraes scored Newcastle United’s late winner. He had four shots, created four chances, was fouled three times and made three tackles. It was, again, a complete performance.
So I wanted to make a point about Bruno’s energy levels and his consistency. He has missed two Premier League matches since February 2023 (weirdly, both away at Bournemouth). Since the start of 2023-24, he has played 136 matches for club and country and he seems to give his all in every one.
“His professionalism to prepare himself to play is of the highest level and I always think you get your rewards if you do that and 90th minute, he’s still going,” said Eddie Howe. “How he’s ended up in the box at that moment, I’d love to see it back. But that’s down to his motivation, so he’s a very special player and a special person and we’re lucky to have him.”
Brentford’s set-piece manager for a set-piece season
Keith Andrews is making real progress and he’s doing it in part because of his history. The cliche is that Brentford are a club that stays ahead of the game. So what better time to promote a set-piece coach as your manager than before a Premier League season during which dead-ball situations appear to be more important than ever.
Their first goal against Liverpool – and other moments of danger – came from the enormous long throw of Michael Kayode. It might not be pretty (insert Kayode ugly pun), but it’s damn effective. This was the eighth time that Brentford have scored from a long throw since the start of last season; no other team in the league has more than three. Andrews has taken his previous work to centre stage.
Glasner must find Palace some rotation options
This isn’t going to be easy, because Crystal Palace did not invest heavily in the summer. But after losing to AEK Larnaca on Thursday evening, Palace’s players looked visibly tired in the second half against Arsenal and were thus unable to muster much of a threat to Arsenal’s lead. This makes it four games without a win and Palace have lost immediately after both of their Europa Conference League group games.
Ten of Glasner’s players have started at least eight of their nine league games this season. Of the six who have started all nine, five started the Larnaca fixture. The opposition in that competition should be of lesser quality, but then losing on Thursday reduces the chances of dead rubber group games.
Palace’s opponents after their other four European matches: Brighton at home in the derby, Manchester United and Manchester City at home, Leeds United away. Can Mateta, Munoz, Mitchell and Guehi get a break?
Maresca’s substitutions continue to hold Chelsea back
It’s the table nobody wants to top, and no team is worse than Chelsea: eight points now dropped from winning positions this season. Weirdly, it was something Chelsea were actually very good at last season, when they won 20 of the 26 matches in which they took a lead (only Newcastle were more efficient).
And I think it might be on Enzo Maresca. On Saturday, with Chelsea needing to break Sunderland down but repel their counter-attacking threat, Maresca took off Josh Acheampong, his most mobile central defender, and Marc Guiu, the only centre forward on the pitch – Sunderland had two shots before Chelsea registered another.
Then Maresca withdrew Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro, probably his two best attacking players this season, to bring on Andrey Santos (previously a fringe player) and Tyrique George, an academy kid. Santos almost immediately got booked and Chelsea looked clumsy defensively as Sunderland scored a winner. This simply isn’t good enough game management.
Onana produces his best Aston Villa display
Amadou Onana has had a stop-start time at Villa Park because of niggling injuries: four separate issues with his hamstring and missing four games with a knock to his foot. Sunday showed why Unai Emery is so keen to get him in the team and maintain his full fitness.
Onana was superb against Manchester City. His physical intensity, putting out fires and doing the dirty work, was matched by others around him. But he was also efficient with the ball (misplaced one pass all game) and continuously looked to play longer balls to spread play despite close attention in midfield. Nobody else in this midfield can quite do everything to that same level. Now wrap him in cotton wool until next weekend.
Direct approach is spooking Liverpool
Since the start of May, Liverpool have conceded two or more goals in more Premier League games than any other team in the division. So it’s fair to say that the secret is out of how to unnerve and ultimately better them.
That secret: play direct. Liverpool’s opponents have attempted the fewest short passes (between five and 15 yards) of any team. Liverpool’s opponents have attempted the most long passes (more than 30 yards) of any team and it’s not even close – 710 with second on 663.
The theory (becoming more sound by the game) is that Liverpool are simply not set defensively when they lose possession. So one longer pass that sets free a runner is far more effective than steadying yourself with safe possession, as Liverpool’s opponents may have chosen to do last season. Then, Liverpool ranked 18th for long passes against them rather than first now.
First-half Manchester United is now a thing
I think the answer to why Manchester United are now in some form is that their new signings have settled and constitute a combination of a decent goalkeeper – Senne Lammens – and some proven Premier League performers (Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo). Over the last two games, all three have been excellent.
Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal for 1-0 with Manchester United's Portuguese defender #02 Diogo Dalot (R) and Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko (L) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on October 25, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Matheus Cunha (C) is up and running for Man Utd (Photo: AFP)
How best to view this improvement? Last season, Manchester United’s first-half performance was a joke: they led five league games at half-time, fewer than Southampton and more than absolutely nobody. They scored 15 first-half goals (20 fewer than Brentford, by way of comparison).
After Saturday, Manchester United have already matched that half-time lead total from last season and at the end of Saturday’s action no team had scored more first-half goals. That is a complete turnaround.
Read more: All hail the arrogance of Man Utd’s best signing since Fernandes
Reijnders struggling since debut Man City show
When Tijani Reijnders scored and assisted on the opening weekend at Molineux, the kneejerk reaction was that Manchester City had found their new driving central midfielder. The Dutchman has a single assist in all competitions since.
On Sunday, Pep Guardiola asked Reijnders to play as the No. 6 but a) that takes away much of what he is good at, and b) he struggled to cope against Amadou Onana. Reijnders didn’t make a tackle, committed four fouls, failed to create a chance and got booked. Put this down as an unsuccessful tactical experiment that costs City crucial ground.
Sunderland the counter-attacking kings
This astonishing early season run just keeps going on and on and on. Sunderland’s 17 points from nine games is the most by a promoted club at this stage of a season since Hull City in 2008-09. You aren’t supposed to be able to do this anymore.
It is based upon magnificent counter-attacking, a replication of Nottingham Forest’s principles last season. Sunderland average 42.3 per cent of the ball (and even that is skewed by having 58 per cent against Burnley), rank behind only Brentford for the percentage of their passes that are 30 yards or more and have 20 more clearances than any other team. They do the basics brilliantly and opposition managers appear to have been guilty of taking Reg le Bris far too lightly.
Read more: Sunderland are embarrassing the elite – now they face four huge calls
Away brilliance carrying Tottenham on
Last week we wrote about how Tottenham’s faltering home form was lowering their potential ceiling this season. This week we’re writing about why we’re not panicking about Spurs.
Their away form isn’t just good; it’s the best in the country. Thomas Frank’s team have taken 13 points from five away league games, four more than any other Premier League team (although Arsenal have an away game in hand).
Perhaps it’s because Thomas Frank feels less pressure to play on the front foot – would fans accept having less possession than Everton at home? – but either way Frank must find a way to replicate these prodigious results. If he does, Spurs can make the Champions League again.
Central midfield dominance sets the tone at Bournemouth
Last season, when Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth were at their peak, this column repeatedly sang the praises of Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie in midfield for the manner in which their out-of-possession intensity set the tone for the team.
On Sunday, both Cook and Christie were on the bench and that’s because Alex Scott and Tyler Adams are doing exactly the same trick. This was the first time in 2025-26 that Elliott Anderson has struggled to dictate a game with his passing and ball retention; that owes much to the dynamism of Bournemouth’s central midfielders.
And that’s also a sign of supreme management: those in reserve are as motivated, and as well-coached, to step in and do exactly what the head coach requires (and then be replaced when they have run themselves into the ground). Bournemouth are second and they deserve to be too.
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This is how they Arsenal win the league
Play it on repeat as Arsenal keep on churning out wins in minimal fuss and who gives a stuff about the entertainment. The best results of their weekend came at Villa Park and the Gtech Stadium, but that’s only because nobody expects Arsenal to slip up against the rest these days.
Arsenal are on course to concede 13 league goals this season. In their 10 Premier League and Champions League matches since the opening weekend, they have allowed a total xG of 5.1. And they’re getting better: the only shots on target against Arsenal in their last four games were from Thiago Almada of Atletico Madrid (at 4-0 down) and an Eddie Nketiah header after 70 minutes on Sunday. It’s going to take something weird for this to change enough for them not to win the league.