Eight talking points from Premier League gameweek 8
We are now eight games into the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, and it’s still just as unpredictable as before. Just five points separate Arsenal (11th) and Manchester City (10th) from their ‘Big Six’ rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, who currently occupy second and third respectively, whilst Leicester City have opened up a one-point gap at the top. West Brom, Burnley and Sheffield United were non-movers at the other end of the table, as all three teams are still in search of their first win of the season.
With that in mind, read on as we take a look back at eight talking points from gameweek eight.
- Southampton’s high-flying form continued
The Saints hosted Newcastle United at St. Mary’s on Friday night, and Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side carried on their fine form with a 2-0 victory. Goals in each half from Ché Adams and Stuart Armstrong secured Southampton’s fifth win in eight league games, and – albeit short-lived – shot the Saints to the top of the table. Somewhat unsurprisingly, if you check the football betting comparing the best odds, they aren’t expected to be there, or thereabouts, come May.
- Manchester United remain unbeaten away from home
İstanbul Başakşehir may have ended Man United’s lengthy unbeaten run away from home in all competitions last Wednesday night, but with a 3-1 victory over Everton, their unblemished Premier League streak away from Old Trafford continued. Bernard gave the Toffees the lead, but a quick double from Bruno Fernandes flipped the scoreline, before Edinson Cavani netted his first goal for the Red Devils deep in added time to round off the 3-1 victory. Man United made it four away wins from four this season, but their streak runs way into the last campaign too.
- Three successive defeats for Everton
That leads us nicely onto our next point. Defeat for Everton meant that Carlo Ancelotti’s side have suffered three successive losses. After a fierce start to the season, which saw them win three-from-three, the Toffees were sitting pretty at the top of the league. However, following a draw with Liverpool and defeats against Southampton, Newcastle and Man United, Everton have now fallen to seventh and are five points off the pace.
- Timo Werner is finding his feet
Chelsea’s fearsome attack are finally starting to click, and Timo Werner, who is tasked with leading the line, is beginning to find his feet. The German striker scored the Blues’ fourth goal in their 4-1 win over Sheffield United, making it five goals in his last four games in all competitions, and four in his last four Premier League outings.
- Injury-time drama at the London Stadium
A London derby between West Ham and Fulham rounded off Saturday’s Premier League action, and the game didn’t spring into life until injury-time. Tomáš Souček fired the Hammers into the lead in the 91st minute, but Fulham were gifted a penalty in the 98th, and up stepped RB Leipzig loanee Ademola Lookman in the dying embers. However, instead of just blasting home the penalty and taking a point back to west London, the young Englishman attempted a cheeky Panenka, which was easily collected by West Ham keeper Łukasz Fabiański. Fulham boss Scott Parker was understandably outraged.
- Tottenham grind out another win
Spurs started the season in free-scoring form, putting five past Southampton and six past Man United. However, in recent weeks they have had to really dig deep for their victories, with late winners against Burnley and Brighton, and against West Brom they were at it again. Despite their dominance, the game remained deadlocked for the most part, that was until the ever-reliant Harry Kane headed home with two minutes to spare. It was three victories on the trot for José Mourinho’s side, as they continue to look like title contenders.
- Leicester go top with win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
After a mixed start to the season for Brendan Rodgers’ side, which saw them win their first three games before losing twice on the bounce, Leicester have put together another three-game winning run, which has sent them to the top of the table. Their latest triumph was a 1-0 win over nearby Wolves. Jamie Vardy sent the Foxes into the lead with a 15th-minute penalty, and after missing another spot kick in the first half, that goal was all that separated the sides when the final whistle was blown.
- Aston Villa stun another member of the ‘Big Six’
Villa have been another surprise package so far this season. Dean Smith’s side avoided relegation by just one-point last term but are currently up in sixth with 15 points from seven games. Their 7-2 victory over Liverpool might just go down as the shock of the season, but Smith’s men were at it again on Sunday night, thrashing Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka’s own goal was all that was in it for much of the game, but a quick double from Ollie Watkins, who also scored a hat-trick against the Reds, late on, left the Gunners on the receiving end of an embarrassing 3-0 defeat.
