Phil Jones and Chris Smalling advance their claim to be England's first-choice centre back pairing while Raheem Sterling is averaging a goal every 94 minutes - 10 THINGS WE LEARNED

  • Manchester United defeated Tottenham 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday 
  • Pairing of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling has not conceded a goal this season
  • Raheem Sterling has more goals this term already than he managed in all of last  

There were victories for most the big clubs in the Premier League over the weekend, despite a scare for Arsenal at the Emirates.

Manchester United edged past Tottenham, Manchester City beat West Brom, Chelsea overcame Bournemouth and Liverpool defeated Huddersfield,  


Here, Sportsmail's Ralph Ellis shares 10 things he learned from the weekend. 

Anthony Martial is congratulated by Phil Jones after scoring for Manchester United

Anthony Martial is congratulated by Phil Jones after scoring for Manchester United

 

Gareth Southgate could have a decision to make over whether Chris Smalling and Phil Jones become his preferred centre back partnership as the pair continue to improve together at the heart of Manchester United's defence. 

Jones was outstanding and Smalling solid alongside him as United shut out Tottenham to maintain their record of not conceding a league goal at Old Trafford this season. 

United have not let in a goal home or away when the pair have both been on the pitch during that time.

 

Raheem Sterling's place among Manchester City's cast of stars seemed in doubt this summer when his name was linked with a move to Arsenal, but the England star has risen magnificently to the challenge.

His goal in the 3-2 win at West Brom was his ninth of the season in all competitions – only out and out strikers Harry Kane (13) and Romelu Lukaku (11) are the only Premier League players to have scored more. 

Sterling's goals have come at the rate of one every 94 minutes on the pitch, and he already has one more than he managed in 47 matches last term.

Raheem Sterling is averaging a goal every 94 minutes for Manchester City this season

Raheem Sterling is averaging a goal every 94 minutes for Manchester City this season

 

Chelsea starlet Tammy Abraham is quietly making a success of his loan season at Swansea even if the Welsh club are having a tough time. 

The 20-year-old was one of the key performers for Paul Clement's side as they gave Arsenal a tough time at the Emirates, creating the 22nd minute goal for Sam Clucas that gave the Swans the lead. 

Abraham now has four goals and one assist for the struggling side in 11 starts plus three appearances off the bench.

 

Tom Davies will be hoping David Unsworth keeps the Everton manager's job after being picked to start a league game for the first time in six weeks. 

The 19-year-old burst into the first team last season but has struggled under Ronald Koeman this term and the 2-0 defeat at Leicester was his first 90-minute Premier League appearance of the campaign. 

The energetic midfielder couldn't be faulted for the defeat. He fought most duels (15), made most tackles (five) and only Idrissa Gueye won the ball back more times than his eight.

Tom Davies made more tackles than any other Everton played in the defeat at Leicester

Tom Davies made more tackles than any other Everton played in the defeat at Leicester

 

Roy Hodgson probably ended up wishing he'd made 11 changes for the midweek Carabao Cup collapse at Bristol City rather than the 10 he did. 

Defender Patrick van Aanholt, the only player who started for Crystal Palace at both Newcastle in the league and at Bristol, pulled a hamstring after only 11 minutes against West Ham. 

The Dutchman, who followed Sam Allardyce from Sunderland last January for a £12m fee, is having scans to assess the extent of his injury – but fatigue from two games and so much travelling might have been a factor.

 

Dale Stephens signed a new four-year contract at Brighton following promotion and the 28-year-old has been one of the unsung heroes in the club's promising start to life in the Premier League. 

Bolton-born Stephens, bought by Oscar Garcia from Charlton in January 2014, has played at every level of English football from the National League upwards. And he's adapted quickly to life in the top flight. 

In the 1-1 draw with Southampton which kept Brighton in 12th place he played more passes (74) than any other player on the pitch, and also ran furthest (7.3 miles).

Dale Stephens of Brighton tussles for possession with Southampton's Nathan Redmond

Dale Stephens of Brighton tussles for possession with Southampton's Nathan Redmond

 

Davide Zappacosta must love the half of each Chelsea game when he's on the opposite side of the pitch to the benches. 

The Italian wing back had manager Antonio Conte screaming in his ear all through the second half of the win at Bournemouth in their shared language. 

It probably comes as no surprise to the 25-year-old having played under Conte for Italy during his time as national manager.

 

Derby boss Gary Rowett is getting his money's worth for the combined £4m he paid Hull for Curtis Davies and Tom Huddlestone in the summer. 

While their former club struggle in the bottom half of the Championship without them, the pair have played every minute of their new club's 13 matches this season. 

Richard Keogh is the only other outfield player to have started every league game for Derby, whose 2-1 win at Norwich has moved them to within a point of the play-off places.

Curtis Davies has played every single minute of Derby's 13 Championship matches this season

Curtis Davies has played every single minute of Derby's 13 Championship matches this season

 

Expect bottom of League One Plymouth to make a move in January to keep highly rated Norwich keeper Remi Matthews on loan for the rest of the season. 

The 24-year-old made two brilliant saves to help under pressure boss Derek Adams extend his team's unbeaten run to four in a row with a 1-1 draw to Rochdale. 

Matthews is currently there on an emergency loan and the Pilgrims have to prove every seven days that their other goalkeepers are still injured to keep him.

 

Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince put no pressure on boss Mark Cooper during a horrible start to the tiny Gloucestershire club's life in the Football League and is getting rewarded for his patience. 

The 2-0 win over Morecambe was their third win in a row to climb out of the League Two relegation zone. 

Experienced defender Scott Laird's first goal for the club since his summer free transfer from Walsall clinched the result.