Eddie Howe’s calmness lifts Bournemouth and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are now so good they can smell the fear of their Premier League rivals
SunSport's Analyst Danny Higginbotham picks out the key men and teams from the weekend's action and explains his choices
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BOURNEMOUTH
I have got nothing but respect for Eddie Howe and the way he refuses to panic.
His Cherries were in the bottom three recently but have now got back-to-back away wins and are climbing the table.
A lot of managers would have tried a new system, or new personnel, when in trouble.
But Howe believes in the way he plays and stuck to it.
If players see a manager panicking — they panic, too. But Howe’s calmness has led his side to two vital wins which was only sandwiched by a defeat to Chelsea.
LIVERPOOL
I wrote about Jurgen Klopp’s side in these pages at the weekend — and how they had played two sitting central midfielders in beating Huddersfield.
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In it, I wondered if the penny had dropped and they would do it again at West Ham.
Well, they did with Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum screening the back-four.
It allowed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to attack with the front three of Roberto Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
So they attacked with four, defended with six. Too often under Klopp, it has been the other way round and they have been caught out.
But now, since the Spurs defeat, and the change of formation, it’s played two, won two, goals for seven, goals against one.
SWANSEA
Tammy Abraham has scored four of Swansea’s meagre tally of seven goals in the Premier League.
The next top scorer has one. That is a lot of responsibility for a young player.
He — and boss Paul Clement — desperately need help from other players in front of goal, or it could be a long season in south Wales.
MANCHESTER CITY
Pep Guardiola’s men are the best team in Europe right now.
And the fear that creates in opponents means City are at an advantage before a ball has been kicked.
Their opponents cross the white line trying to find ways to stop them, rather than playing their normal game.
This means City are already on the front foot.
Look at Arsenal yesterday. They played a central midfielder in defence and dropped £52million Alex Lacazette to the bench.
It was a show of respect to City — but it also showed Arsenal were as concerned with stopping them as hurting them.
BURNLEY
Sean Dyche is doing a great job as Clarets manager.
His priority has been making sure his team are tough to score against.
Only the top three teams in the Premier League have conceded fewer goals than the Clarets.
They really defend superbly as a unit. I have been very impressed with James Tarkowski — who had to be patient while Michael Keane was at the club — and Ben Mee.
They look like a top pairing in the heart of their back four and bring out the best in each other.
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