Man City is now winless in five; Arsenal and Liverpool join them at the top of the league; Sunderland records their worst start to a Premier League campaign ever.
Pep Guardiola’s failure to beat Southampton at the Etihad means he is currently in the midst of his worse run of results during his illustrious managerial career.
Five games without a win.
Five.
Not fifteen, five, and he still sits on the top of the Premier League.
It’s not exactly a crisis is it?
The not-so-barren run has nothing to do with the ability of Guardiola and everything to do with the quality of the Premier League. On any given Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday, any team can beat any other in this league. Guardiola had life easy in Germany and Spain.
Is he the real deal?
The Premier League will figure that out.
You have to love Southampton. Each year, they sell their best players, and lose their manager, and finish higher than the previous year. Claude Puel’s side will have to pull a Jaguar out of the hat to beat last year’s finish of sixth, but only three days after returning from the San Siro (where they spanked Inter and were unlucky to lose), they were unfortunate not to leave Manchester with all three points.
Nathan Redmond put Southampton into the lead in the 27th minute after some slack defending by John Stones. Kelechi iheanacho grabbed a point for City in the 55th minute after scoring for the eighth time in eleven Premier League games. If Sergio Aguero does decide to take his boots elsewhere, City is in good hands with this fledgeling.
Arsenal and Liverpool Level With City on Goal Difference
City’s run of three Premier League games without a win has allowed the big guns to close the gap and Arsenal and Liverpool has made sure they have not been firing blanks.
With City playing the Saints on Sunday, Arsenal gave Arsene Wenger a sweet birthday treat by moving into the Saturday top spot after a goalless draw against Middlesbrough. The draw brings Arsenal’s six games winning run to a halt, and they were unlucky not to take all three points after dominating possession. Middlesbrough’s Victor Valdes was inspiring between the sticks, and the lightning quick Adam Traore produced a man of the match performance as he caused the Gunners all sorts of problems through the middle of the park.
Liverpool joins both City and Arsenal at the top after a 2-1 win at home to West Brom. It was easier than the final scoreline suggested. Sadio Mane volleyed home the first goal after 20-minutes, and Philippe Coutinho scored his fifth goal of the season after bamboozling the West Brom defence in the 35th minute. Gareth McAuley’s 81st-minute consolation goal prevented Liverpool from ending the weekend on top on goal difference.
Spurs Remain Unbeaten; Chelsea Humiliate Mourinho
Spurs remain the only side yet to lose a game in the Premier League after coming away from Bournemouth with a goalless draw. It was yet another game that signified the great work that Eddie Howe is doing with the Cherries. Bournemouth is now sitting in 10th place and will surely escape a relegation dogfight with form like this. Harry Kane is back in training for Spurs, and they could have done with him, today.
Jose Mourinho’s former side Chelsea welcomed the ‘Special One’ to Stamford Bridge by humiliating his Man United side by 4-0. It was a stroll from as early as 30-seconds after a Chris Smalling howler (there were many) allowed Pedro to sneak the ball past a stranded David De Gea to score the fastest goal in this season’s Premier League.
From thereon in Chelsea coasted. United, who showed some Mourinho steel in their goalless draw with Liverpool the week prior, looked hopeless at times as Chelsea carved them open with ease. United face Burnley at home before travelling to South Wales to face the Swans and nothing, but six points will do before they take on Arsenal in their usual tempestuous fixture. Chelsea has now won three games on the spin since their mauling away at Arsenal. They have scored nine times without reply. United have drifted out to 20/1 for the title.
Sunderland Worse Start to a Premier League Campaign
Once upon a time there was an up and coming manager at Everton called David Moyes. He never won anything, but for some reason, his peers thought his mid-table finishes were worthy of a job at Man Utd. Since that drastic failure Moyes has looked like an extra on the Walking Dead and the skin will get more sallow after yet another defeat.
It was West Ham who did the damage, and boy did they leave it late. Winston Reid smashing home a contentious winner in the 94th minute (several players seemed to be in an offside position and impeding the keeper) to leave Moyes fuming during his post-match interview. He can fume all he wants. It’s the worse start to a Premier League campaign in Sunderland’s history – who could have thought they could have stooped any lower? Only the return of Big Sam can save them now. West Ham, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their previous three and have won the last two without conceding a goal.
Here are the rest of the weekend’s results
Premier League Results (Week 9)
Bournemouth 0 v 0 Spurs
Arsenal 0 v 0 Middlesbrough
Leicester City 3 v 1 Crystal Palace
West Ham 1 v 0 Sunderland
Hull 0 v 2 Stoke
Swansea 0 v 0 Watford
Burnley 2 v 1 Everton
Liverpool 2 v 1 West Brom
Man City 1 v 1 Southampton
Chelsea 4 v 0 Man Utd
Premier League Table
- Man City – 20
- Arsenal – 20
- Liverpool – 20
- Spurs – 19
- Chelsea – 16
- Everton – 15
- Man Utd – 14
- Southampton – 13
- Watford – 12
- Bournemouth – 12
- Crystal Palace – 11
- Leicester – 11
- West Brom – 10
- Burnley – 10
- West Ham – 10
- Stoke – 9
- Middlesbrough – 7
- Hull – 7
- Swansea – 5
- Sunderland – 2
Premier League Title Odds (Courtesy of Oddsshark)
Man City – 5/4
Liverpool – 7/2
Arsenal – 6/1
Chelsea – 6/1
Spurs – 11/1
