Unilad.co.uk & Football Pundette Presents...

HERE ARE THE PREMIER LEAGUE'S BIGGEST TALKING POINTS FROM THIS WEEKEND

HAMMERS BURST CITY’S BUBBLE WITH CLASSY AWAY WIN

It was a week to forget for Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City. Unbeaten after five Premier League wins, it was same old City in the Champions League, when Juventus came from a goal behind to win 2-1. After taking the lead through a towering header by Vincent Kompany, who was only too happy to use Giorgio Chiellini as a climbing frame, the captain went off injured and City capitulated, with errors from defenders Eliaqium Mangala and substitute Nicolas Otamendi leading to both goals.

Most people would’ve punted for the home win on their accumulators when West Ham visited the Etihad given City’s League form- how wrong they were. Early goals from Victor Moses and Sakho left the home fans stunned. City, with Kompany and the mercurial David Silva (injured in the warm up), showed shades of what went wrong for them last season. A defensive shambles, lack of organisation, leadership and a certain Spaniard pulling the strings in midfield, it was down to record signing Kevin De Bruyne to impress, pulling a goal back just before half time.

After the break City huffed and puffed but they couldn’t blow the Hammers’ house down for love nor money. Registering 27 shots, West Ham goalkeeper Adrian pulled off a string of mesmeric saves to deny the home side the equaliser they so desperately searched for. It was an accomplished away win from Slaven Bilic’s side, whose smash and grab tactics early on left City stunned with a mountain to climb.

City remain leaders of the pack, but United are now just two points behind them. A stunning 4-1 Capital One Cup win at the Stadium of Light against an abysmal Sunderland side will go a long way to ease any nerves that may have crept in and boost confidence, but it’s a tricky trip to White Hart Lane next on Saturday to see if Pellegrini’s side can return to form in the League.

HOMETOWN GLORY FOR MOURINHO’S CHELSEA

After a dismal start to the season, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea have enjoyed a winning week to ease the pressure and get their campaign back on track. When Eden Hazard missed a penalty early on in their Champions League tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Portuguese must have feared the worst. But his side went on to brush aside the visitors with a comfortable 4-0 win, with goals from Willian, Oscar, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

It was just the confidence boost Chelsea needed, but the real test was always going to be Arsenal in the League. A fiery encounter was guaranteed, but nobody could’ve quite expected the two red cards that followed. Antagonist extraordinaire Costa was at his villainous best, deploying his trademark wind-up tactics to Arsenal defender Gabriel, who responded with a petulant kick out a la David Beckham vs. Diego Simeone in the World Cup 1998.

After the break Kurt Zouma headed in from close range to give Chelsea the lead and a Calum Chambers own goal from Hazard’s shot sealed the three points for the Blues for only the second time this season. Arsene Wenger’s misery was compounded when Santi Cazorla saw red after receiving a second yellow card. Despite Arsenal going down to nine men, the game for the best part had been wonderfully open and free flowing, but will Wenger be left to rue the day he didn’t spend any of the £200 million sat in the bank on at least a striker, with Arsenal looking remarkably short up front.

The win was vital for Mourinho, who will be comforted by big performances from Zouma, Fabregas and Hazard in particular. Their early season hangover seems to be lifting, but Jose’s headache will linger after news that the FA have decided to charge his striker Costa with violent conduct. He will now miss the next three domestic games, starting with their League Cup match against Walsall. It’s Newcastle away next for Chelsea on Saturday: with their title rivals stuttering, Jose will be hoping his side can continue their return to form on Tyneside, albeit without their main striker.

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Unilad.co.uk & Football Pundette Presents...

HERE ARE THE PREMIER LEAGUE'S BIGGEST TALKING POINTS FROM THIS WEEKEND

Tim Sherwood is a very unhappy man right now. Brendan Rodgers is battling to save himself from being replaced by Jurgen Klopp while it’s down to two teenagers to do the business for both Manchester clubs. As for Jose Mourinho? Well, nobody really knows. It’s just another eventful weekend in the Premier League.

MARTINEZ HEAPS MISERY ON MOURINHO

The Premier League was back with a bang with all eyes were on Goodison Park to see if Chelsea could turn around their dismal start to the season. In a match deemed ‘The John Stones Derby’, Jose’s team went from bad to worse, with Everton running out 3-1 winners in an enthralling tie. It was Steven Naismith, on for the injured Muhamed Besic, who scored a hat trick to leave a beleaguered Mourinho reeling. Matic’s wonder strike gave Chelsea a fighting chance, but credit to Everton who impressed and clinched the three points with fight and endeavour. 

This time Jose’s excuse was that his tactics computer didn’t work. A petty squabble with Roberto Martinez over the post-match press conference running order has also made headlines. He went as far to say that refugees are under more pressure than him. The Portuguese claimed people will finally be happy to see his supposed suffering, drowning in a sea of paranoia. With four points from a possible 15, where does the Chelsea manager go from here? The big names are still yet to get started and a lack of cohesion throughout the side is desperately worrying for the reigning Champions. 

Let’s give credit where it’s due to Everton though as it certainly wasn’t all down to a lacklustre Chelsea performance. The Toffees put on a passionate and capable display, with star turns from youngsters Ross Barkley and, ironically, Stones. As the pressure mounts, Chelsea face Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League but the real test is a clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Is the problem really his players or is it time to hold his hands up and admit responsibility? No more dodging, no more migrant comparisons and no more walking out of interviews. Is the clock really starting to tick for Jose? 

INVINCIBLE CITY SNATCH LATE WINNER 

Pacesetters Manchester City kept their unbeaten run going with a 1-0 win in a feisty encounter at Selhurst Park against a spirited Crystal Palace. City had the strength in depth to cope with injuries pre match to David Silva and Raheem Sterling, but star striker Sergio Aguero limping off after a tackle from Scott Dann was a sight most City fans had feared. Enter Kevin De Bruyne, making his debut after his megabucks move from Wolfsburg, and he helped pull the strings and influence City to their fifth straight win in a row.

Jesus Navas should’ve done better after he put his shot wide when he was through on goal, but it was Nigerian youngster Kelechi Iheanacho who wrapped up all three points for Manuel Pellegrini after coming off the bench to score a late winner, with a typical poacher’s goal in the box. At points it threatened to boil over, not least on the touchline, with Pardew and Pellegrini coming to blows. Although the game had been a relatively even affair, City cranked the pressure up throughout the second half and a late winner always looked likely in a wonderfully open and entertaining encounter. 

It’s West Ham at the Etihad next in the League for City, but not before their Champions League campaign gets underway, with a tricky home tie against last season’s finalists, Juventus. Pellegrini will be happy to have Sterling and Silva fit and available again, but Aguero’s knee injury is a big blow. Incredibly, it’s been 450 minutes since Joe Hart has conceded a goal: City’s defence look colossal. But Alan Pardew’s side can take solace in running the early favourites close: Palace looked invigorated and it was a battle to the finish.

MAGIC MARTIAL PILES PRESSURE ON RODGERS

It was the battle of the history boys over at Old Trafford with Manchester United taking on their old school nemesis Liverpool. Both sides desperately needed a win after their pre-international break defeats- and it was the home side that came up trumps. After a dour first half, United drew first blood with Daley Blind breaking the deadlock. That lead was doubled by an unstoppable Ander Herrera penalty, before a magnificent overhead kick by Christian Benteke offered Brendan Rodgers a glimmer of hope. 

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A gift or a curse...

RAVEL’S REDEMPTION: WHY MORRISON’S FATE RESTS IN HIS OWN HANDS

 

It’s not very often people are given a second chance in life. Occasionally individuals have the capacity to excel, but are tainted by demons. Sometimes things do go wrong and that chance to put things right is gratefully received and grasped with both hands. That’s exactly what is happening at the moment with West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison.

After years of hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, he wrote them himself with that incredible solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane recently. Add to that his performance for the England Under-21s this week, in which he scored two goals in a 5-0 drubbing over Lithuania, and you have a lot of plaudits gushing over the 20 year old.

The only thing that stands in Morrison’s way is him. He does himself no favours. Despite the sparkling display during that 5-0 victory he attracted negative attention again, this time for having an on-pitch bust-up with England team-mate Wilfried Zaha. Having a fiery temperament is all well and good, it’s learning to control and channel it in a positive and constructive way - that behaviour certainly doesn’t belong on the football pitch. 

It's that time of the season again...

MISERY FOR MOYES? POINTS FOR PELLEGRINI? IT CAN ONLY BE THE MANCHESTER DERBY

Derby day. Whether Tyne-Wear, split by Stanley Park or across the Black Country, it’s the 180 minutes of football no fan really looks forward to every season. Until it’s over that is. The week leading up to a derby match is filled mainly with dread, nervous excitement and bravado, climaxing with the result.

Pride has just as a big say in it: whoever’s on the losing end has to face the barrage of social media and text abuse from friends, as well as turning into work the next day and burying their head in their laptop to avoid the goads of fans victorious. Naturally, if the boot’s on the other foot it’s one of the sweetest three points the Premier League has to offer. A lot is at stake. 

This Sunday is the 166^th Manchester derby: it’s all change in the dug-outs, with both sides having appointed new managers. With David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini each experiencing derby day for the first time, there’s an extra air of heightened uncertainty lingering around Manchester. Although it’s still early days in the 2013-14 season things couldn’t be tighter table-wise, with the two clubs locked on seven points and City just edging it with a superior goal difference.