1) Manchester City could break Premier League record
Manchester City and Manchester United have goal differences of +14 after five matches. That is more than Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, a division routinely mocked for being uncompetitive. If the Manchester clubs carry on winning by the margins they have enjoyed so far, then they will surpass the Premier League’s record goal difference (+71 racked up by Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea in 2009-10), the best ever mustered by Celtic (+80), the New Saints in Wales (+75) and the preposterous Ligue 1 record set by Paris Saint-Germain two years ago (+83). Of course that is a big ‘if’ because there is a small clutch of teams who could frustrate or even beat them. But United and, in particular, City are likely to ridicule many opponents this season. City beat United to the 2012 title on goal difference (+64 against +56); for José Mourinho there would surely be no sweeter way to prevail over Pep Guardiola this season. Paul Doyle
Match report: Watford 0-6 Manchester City
2) Timid Everton showing no return on investment
Everton did not deserve to lose 4-0 but a decent second-half showing is no sticking plaster for the damage the last three weeks have caused. This was meant to be the season when Ronald Koeman’s side cut loose and went toe-to-toe with the big boys; consecutive league defeats by Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United have brought a 0-9 aggregate and if we throw in Thursday’s debacle at Atalanta the debit column since late August rises by three. Everton’s inability to add a striker has been well noted but equally troubling is their general passivity; it was all well and good for Koeman to set them up compactly at Old Trafford but for 20 minutes, by which point they had long since fallen behind, attacking seemed to be anathema. Why be so timid? Everton looked better when they gave it a go but their lack of boldness is becoming a theme. Should something better not be expected after such an eye-watering summer spend? Nick Ames
Match report: Manchester United 4-0 Everton
3) No Costa, no plan B
It was an afternoon when Chelsea tried to pick out Álvaro Morata and the summer signing did his level best to get on the end of the crosses. It did not happen for him, although that is not to say he was poor. Just because a striker does not score, Antonio Conte said afterwards, his performance ought not to be damned. But where was Chelsea’s plan B? Out of the country, to be precise. Had Diego Costa been about, this was the type of contest the Chelsea and Spain striker would have relished. Arsenal’s back line, with Shkodran Mustafi in fine form, was unusually comfortable; surely Costa would have done something to unsettle them? The former Atlético Madrid forward, who has been in his native Brazil for weeks, has done so in the past. Conte has had his fill of Costa’s devilment. For Chelsea’s opponents, there is relief that he is out of the picture. David Hytner
Match report: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal
4) Saints should get better and better
Virgil van Dijk got 10 minutes on the pitch for Southampton on Saturday and the fans were supportive. The defender, so desired by Liverpool, is on board at St Mary’s until January at least and that is good news for Mauricio Pellegrino. The manager accepts transfer rumours will continue about the Dutchman, the unfortunate consequence of Southampton’s reputation as a club who develop Champions League talent. But there is an upside to this bind. The more stars Southampton create, the more potential stars see the club as an attractive option. This means the south-coast club can attract talent of a higher calibre than they once did. The summer signings Wesley Hoedt and, especially, Mario Lemina, stood out for the visitors on Saturday. Recruited from Lazio and Juventus respectively, they are an obvious upgrade to the squad. Pellegrino may have to endure uncertainty as Southampton manager but there will be opportunities as well as risks. Paul MacInnes
Match report: Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton
5) Ibe finally repaying Howe
Eddie Howe’s record in the transfer market has been mixed since Bournemouth’s promotion in 2015 and none of his signings has disappointed more than Jordon Ibe. The former Liverpool winger has struggled since joining for £15m, even finding himself on the end of criticism from Howe after the FA Cup defeat at Millwall in January. A handy measure of how underwhelming Ibe has been was his record of no assists in 28 Premier League games before the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. That statistic no longer weighs down the 21-year-old, though, after he came off the bench and turned the game by creating fine goals for Andrew Surman and Jermain Defoe. Ibe had been on the pitch for two minutes when he made Surman’s equaliser with a backheel and six minutes later he set up Defoe’s winner with a composed pass, reminding Howe that it is worth persevering with him. Jacob Steinberg
Match report: Bournemouth 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
6) Burnley are not a long-ball team
“It was just a long ball,” Jürgen Klopp lamented of the opener by Burnley at Anfield, which was a bit rich considering Liverpool equalised via a more direct approach three minutes later. Sean Dyche admitted his gameplan involved targeting Trent Alexander‑Arnold in the air and making life “uncomfortable” for a Liverpool team “who everyone tells you are having a hard time with set pieces”. But to label Burnley simply a long-ball team would be unfair. Both goals on Saturday, to paraphrase the great Bob Paisley, demonstrated it is not about the long ball or the short ball, only the right ball. Dyche said: “Graham Taylor once told me a fantastic story about when he was deemed long ball and he came here [Anfield] back in the day and he had statted about 15 games. He was obsessed with why he was getting labelled that and Bob [Paisley] wasn’t. Bob said: ‘We always pass and keep the ball when we are 3-0 up.’ That was his exact quote.” Andy Hunter
Match report: Liverpool 1-1 Burnley
7) Lascelles is growing up fast
If anyone required a reminder of Rafael Benítez’s excellence as a coach and manager it is contained in Newcastle United’s run of three successive Premier League wins. Benítez was devastated when Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, declined to materially strengthen an ostensibly weak squad this summer but he has responded by moulding a formidably well-organised counterattacking team significantly more impressive than the sum of its parts. Previously somewhat ordinary-looking players, most notably Jamaal Lascelles and Christian Atsu, are improving in leaps and bounds. Eyebrows were raised when Benítez retained the 23-year-old Lascelles as captain but an unusually mature centre-half has responded by raising his game appreciably. Off the pitch, he has arguably proved even braver, winning considerable admiration by going where angels fear to tread and resolving a damaging row between board and players about squad bonuses during a telephone call with Ashley. Louise Taylor
Match report: Newcastle United 2-1 Stoke City
8) Aurier settling in well with Spurs
Of the Tottenham outfield players who started against Swansea City, only Davinson Sánchez did not try his luck at goal. Spurs had 26 shots, with Serge Aurier perhaps guilty of squandering the best chance when he toe-poked his effort wide during second-half stoppage time. But the Ivorian, a £23m signing from Paris Saint-Germain, who has a booming, colourful grin, has already endeared himself to supporters and team-mates alike since his deadline-day move. He shone against Borussia Dortmund and impressed during his cameo role on Saturday, replacing Moussa Sissoko after Mauricio Pochettino preferred Kieran Trippier at right wing-back. “He’s a good player, a powerful, funny lad,” Trippier said. “His English is OK. He has got pace, power. He has got good delivery on him as well. He is a character, he has a bit of banter about him playing all of his French music and stuff and he’s settled in.” Ben Fisher
Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Swansea City
9) Hernández problem causing Bilic a headache
A second consecutive clean sheet was welcome for West Ham but their paucity of ideas in attack was a concern in the goalless draw at West Bromwich Albion. Getting the best out of Javier Hernández is becoming a conundrum for Slaven Bilic. “It is not wide wide, we are playing with three or five at the back, so it is more off the striker,” Bilic said. “I don’t think this position is like left-midfield. It is like playing behind the striker with another player like [Michail] Antonio.” Nonetheless Bilic’s insistence that Hernández was not playing on the flank could not disguise the Mexican’s ineffectiveness in a deeper role that restricts his biggest asset, the ability to poach a goal. If Andy Carroll starts in this defensive 3-4-3 system, though, Hernández is compromised: 4-4-2, then? Perhaps, but a more open approach may expose West Ham’s flaws at the back. Balance remains elusive. JS
Match report: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
10) Huddersfield need to make the most of home games
After five matches Huddersfield Town look organised and snappy, a team benefiting from meticulous work on the training ground. Admittedly they were too passive in their only setback so far, the defeat at West Ham last week, but otherwise they have been refreshing to watch and it will encourage David Wagner that his players responded well against Leicester City after the non-performance at the London Stadium. Their energy caused Leicester plenty of problems and they were aggrieved not to have won after Elias Kachunga’s header in the second half was ruled out for the tightest of offsides. One concern, however, is they have found it difficult to make the most of their enterprising play at home. They needed a moment of magic from Aaron Mooy to beat Newcastle, drew 0-0 with Southampton and gifted Leicester a penalty. They will need to be more ruthless as the season wears on. JS
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