The Premier League has a new leader today as Liverpool have gone top after recording a 6-1 win over Watford at Anfield this afternoon.
The Merseysiders were sensational as they dismantled the travelling Londoners, with Jurgen Klopp's side leading 3-0 at the break thanks to goals from Sadio Mane, Phillipe Coutinho, and Emre Can.
They could easily have been up further, but remedied that in the second half by continuing their dominance, adding goals through Firmino, Wijnaldum, and Mane again. An emphatic performance leaves them one point clear of second place Chelsea, and two ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal, who both failed to win this weekend.
Arsenal took on Spurs in the North London derby in today's early kick-off at the Emirates, but neither side could muster a performance or enough chances to deserve the win. The Gunners took the lead late on in the first half after a Mesut Ozil free-kick was put into his own net by Kevin Wimmer, before Spurs drew level thanks to a Harry Kane penalty in the 51st minute, after Laurent Koscielny brought down Mousa Demebele in the box.
The result meant Arsenal passed up the chance to go top of the table and resigned Tottenham to their fourth straight league draw, and meant neither side capitalised on Manchester City's shock draw against Middlebrough yesterday.
The same can't be said for Manchester United though, as the Red Devils finally got back on track with a 3-1 win over Swansea at the Liberty City stadium. Three goals in 18 minutes left Mourinho's side 3-0 up going into the break, before Mike Van Der Hoorn pulled a conselation back for the Swans.
There's been a lot made of United's recent performances, as well as results, but after carving out 38 shots in their 0-0 draw with Burnley last week, they added the clinical touch to their finishing this week thanks for Pogba and an Ibrahimovic double. One result doesn't make a season, or mean they've turned things around, but United's attack seems to be clicking again, which is a great sign ahead of their home fixture with Arsenal after the international break. We're not ones for gambling, but we'd put the house on United because, well, it's Arsenal at Old Trafford.
At the bottom end of the table we saw champions Leicester continue their poor start to the league season as West Brom recorded a 2-1 victory at the King Power stadium. Having cancelled out James Morrison's strike with two minutes thanks to Islam Slimani, Danny Drinkwater made an uncharacteristically sloppy pass which afforded Matt Phillips the time and space to clip one over the onrushing Ron Zieler.
Whatever about a change in the side's attacking direction, with Vardy and Mahrez struggling to find fomr in their new system, the defence hasn't changed since last season. The longer this campaign goes the more N'Golo Kante's presence is missed, with Robert Huth and Wes Morgan are continually exposed at the back. There's a lack of pace, and then there's those two, you could suggest changing the personal in the back, but the squad depth simply isn't there.
Finally, in what comes as good news to those of us who like to see some competition at the foot of the table, Hull came from behind to beat Southampton at the KC stadium, ending their run of five consecutive losses. Having fallen behind to a Charlie Austin penalty after six minutes, and losing Abel Hernandez to an injury after ten, it seemed like the Tigers were in for another tough afternoon.
Two quickfire goals from Robert Snodgrass and Michael Dawson proved that wasn't to be the case, and ensured Mike Phelan's first league win as the club's permanent boss. Nobody wants to see three teams resigned to relegation before Christmas, but going into this weekend a gap that would suggest as much was starting to form. Wins this weekend for two of the bottom three, Hull and Sunderland, serve to keep that end of the league competitive for the moment, and give Moyes and Phelan some breathing room as we head into the international break.
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