Live

LIVE: OTB Breakfast

07:30 AM-10:00 AM

LIVE: OTB Breakfast
Advertisement
Soccer

Saturday Night Takeaways: Man City flex their muscles and Everton look a serious prospect

Saturday's Premier League action only provided five fixtures. But the start of the weekend hasn't...



Saturday Night Takeaways: Man...
Soccer

Saturday Night Takeaways: Man City flex their muscles and Everton look a serious prospect

Saturday's Premier League action only provided five fixtures.

But the start of the weekend hasn't been without it's talking points with a big batch of games to come on Sunday.

Pep has Man City flying

Five games, 15 goals scored and four conceded. And that's just in the Premier League.

While Pep Guardiola was the man appointed to take Manchester City to the next level, the speed with which his methods are taking root in a squad that underachieved massively last season is outstanding.

Having played Manchester United off the park for long spells in the 2-1 derby win last Saturday and then comfortably disposed of Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek by a 4-0 scoreline, they have taken off from where they left off in their return to Premier League action by brushing aside Bouremouth 4-0.

With Sergio Aguero suspended, three players have stepped up and found the goal trail: Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Kelechi Iheanacho.

They have all responded to Pep's methods, although given that they've seen big names like Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Joe Hart all mercilessly frozen out one way or the other, they know that it's a case of adapt or get out.

Koeman's Everton makes a mockery of Martinez's

Roberto Martinez's first season with Everton was a resounding success but the subsequent campaigns highlighted poor game-management and an inability to defend adequately.

Not so under Ronald Koeman who has instilled discipline and resilience in the Toffee ranks. They went down 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday and last season, they might have lost such a game - exacerbated by the fact that they reportedly rarely practiced set pieces for example.

This season, it's different and Everton are robust defensively, while maintaining the scoring threat of Romelu Lukaku up front.

Their defence is one of the more reliable ones at this point of the season, with just three conceded in five matches.

Seamus Coleman also scored a well-execute goal in today's 3-1 victory, cutting inside onto his left foot and leaving Victor Valdes stranded with a well-placed shot.

West Ham woes

If you have Michail Antonio in your Fantasy Premier League team, then you've had a good time of it. The West Ham winger scored yet again against West Brom.

Unfortunately, the rest of Slaven Bilic's team has not been up to standard as they lost 4-2 for the second week in a row.

Moving into the Olympic Stadium was meant to transform the club on and off the pitch but thus far this season West Ham have been a major disappointment by losing four of their five fixtures.

The big problem has been their inability to defend, seeing as conceding four goals two weeks in a row isn't recommended.

What's worse is they conceded four goals against a West Brom side that is often resistant to the idea of scoring goals under Tony Pulis.

Bilic will need answers fast or face a long, hard season.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Soccer