Jose Mourinho equals Manchester United record with Liverpool draw while Chelsea's Willian lost the ball every four minutes at Crystal Palace - 10 THINGS WE LEARNED

  • The Premier League returned from the international break over the weekend 
  • Manchester United equalled their best eight-game start with draw at Liverpool
  • Willian lost the ball 14 times in 65 minutes for Chelsea at Crystal Palace 

Manchester United's traditionally dull trip to Liverpool ended in stalemate but it was a memorable weekend for rampant Manchester City

Here, Sportsmail's RALPH ELLIS shares 10 things he learned from the weekend's action throughout the leagues.  

Nemanja Matic is challenged by Liverpool's Emre Can during the goalless draw at Anfield

Nemanja Matic is challenged by Liverpool's Emre Can during the goalless draw at Anfield

 

Jose Mourinho has equalled Manchester United's best haul for the first eight games of a Premier League season after the 0-0 draw at Liverpool took him to 20 points. 


United previously hit that mark in both the 1999-2000 season when they won the title, and again in 2011-2012 when they lost out to Manchester City on goal difference. 

Only time will tell whether that makes parking the bus at Anfield a valuable point, or a missed opportunity to leave them too far behind free scoring City again.

Jose Mourinho encourages his Manchester United team from the touchline at Anfield

Jose Mourinho encourages his Manchester United team from the touchline at Anfield

 

Some 18 months of being in and out of Antonio Conte's starting side seems to have destroyed the confidence of Brazilian midfielder Willian. 

Crystal Palace had clearly targeted the 29-year-old with two or three players putting him under pressure every time he got the ball. 

Mamadou Sakho robbed him far too easily to set up Wilfried Zaha's winner – and that was one of 14 times that Willian lost the ball in the 65 minutes before he was dragged off.

Willian lost the ball 14 times in the 65 minutes before he was dragged off at Selhurst Park

Willian lost the ball 14 times in the 65 minutes before he was dragged off at Selhurst Park

 

Tony Adams revealed in his autobiography that Arsene Wenger holds great store by the amount of high intensity running done by his players, especially in midfield.

The Arsenal manager wouldn't have been impressed as Watford made over 100 more sprints than his team in the 2-1 defeat – 587 against 473. 

Abdoulaye Doucoure (76), Richarlison (74) and Tom Cleverley (61) were the top workers for the Hornets. In contrast Hector Bellerin (65) and Alex Iwobi (53) were the only Arsenal players to make more than 50 sprints.

Abdoulaye Doucoure made 73 sprints for Watford during their victory over Arsenal

Abdoulaye Doucoure made 73 sprints for Watford during their victory over Arsenal

 

When Tottenham announced the club record signing of Davinson Sanchez they said that despite paying £42m the 21-year-old was being bought as an investment for the future.

It's looking more and more as if the Colombian is actually one for the here and now, with the 1-0 win against Bournemouth his seventh full game in a row. 

Sanchez adds some composure on the ball to Mauricio Pochettino's back line – he played 104 accurate passes against the Cherries with 52 of them in the attacking half of the field.

 

It's been a bad week for Wales captain Ashley Williams, who saw his hopes of going to a World Cup dashed by the Republic of Ireland and was then dropped by Everton for the trip to Brighton.

The 33-year-old was the man to make way as manager Ronald Koeman switched from the three man defence he's played most of this season to a back four in the 1-1 draw. Ironically Koeman had said in his pre-match press conference that he wouldn't 'take Williams out of the firing line.' 

An odd promise. Instead it was the first time that Williams has been left out of a Premier League starting line-up – other than one game he missed through suspension - since his £12.5m transfer from Swansea in August last year.

Ashley Williams has endured a difficult week with both Everton and his country Wales

Ashley Williams has endured a difficult week with both Everton and his country Wales

 

Swansea boss Paul Clement made a brave call by dropping his £16.5m club record signing Sam Clucas but replacement Leon Britton more than justified the decision. 

The 35-year-old provided the assist for one of the goals in the 2-0 win over Huddersfield, but also showed he understands the club's traditions and how to make the midfield tick.

Swansea have lost only one of the last 11 games in which Britton has started, winning six and drawing the other three.

 

You hope that Stoke's 18-year-old defender Tom Edwards will see the positives in his debut following the club's 7-2 debacle at Manchester City. 

Edwards, the club's Player of the Year in the Under 18s for the last two seasons, was picked ahead of former England defender Glen Johnson by boss Mark Hughes. 

He set up the second of Mame Diouf's goals before going off with an ankle injury so can't be blamed for the collapse that followed but even so it was a big risk by Hughes to expose the youngster to an afternoon which could have destroyed his confidence.

Stoke youngster Tom Edwards suffered an ankle injury during defeat at Manchester City

Stoke youngster Tom Edwards suffered an ankle injury during defeat at Manchester City

 

The jury is still out on most of the 14 signings made by Harry Redknapp before he got sacked by Birmingham, but there's little doubt that striker Isaac Vassell will turn out to be an asset. 

The 24-year-old, picked up from Luton for a bargain fee believed to be less than £100,000, caused Championship leaders Cardiff all sorts of problems with his strength and pace as Steve Cotterill marked his first game in charge with a vital 1-0 win. 

Vassell, nephew of former Aston Villa, Manchester City and England striker Darius, is already being monitored by Premier League clubs.

Birmingham striker Isaac Vassell is already attracting of the interest of Premier League clubs

Birmingham striker Isaac Vassell is already attracting of the interest of Premier League clubs

 

Gavin Massey is making the most of his good fortune after being rescued from the debacle at Leyton Orient which saw the London club drop out of the Football League. 

Watford-born Massey, 25, was picked up by Wigan on a free transfer and is flourishing under the guidance of Paul Cook. 

Midfielder Massey, who has been used by Cook in an attacking role, is one of only three players who have appeared in every one of the 13 games that has taken the club to the top of League One.

 

Congo international Amine Linganzi was hugely disappointed when after playing a decent role in Portsmouth's promotion season he didn't then get the chance to stay on the South Coast and play in League One.

The 27-year-old, who was instead shipped out on a free transfer to Swindon, could earn himself another chance though. 

He scored his first goal for the club in the 3-1 win at Mansfield that saw David Flitcroft's team move to within a point of the League Two play-off places.