It was a weekend where normality was restored for some, with Manchester United convincingly beating reigning champions Leicester, but which also saw Arsenal run riot against a Chelsea side truly struggling to get going this campaign.
Throw in a shock defeat by previously second-placed Everton to Bournemouth and there was plenty for supporters to get their teeth into, even before Sunderland provided one of the league’s great collapses.
But what was learned this Premier League weekend?
It was the bedrock of their title charge last season but in defence of their crown Leicester’s backline has crumbled. Nowhere has that disintegration been more evident than from set-pieces.
Three of United’s goals were from corners. There was no organisation or determination to be first and it’s a worry for Claudio Ranieri.
With his strike against Chelsea, Alexis Sanchez notched his 47th goal on his 100th appearance for Arsenal – one fewer than club legend Thierry Henry in his first 100 games.
It’s not just in the statistics the Chilean matches Henry, though. Arsene Wenger has moved Sanchez from the wing to a central role and the experiment is paying dividends. Remind you of anyone?
Adam Lallana is enjoying a renaissance this season and the irony is not lost that he is producing more going forward having moved deeper into midfield.
For a player with little end product, he’s already got three goals for Liverpool this season after his strike against Hull. He also grabbed two assists in that game and it’s hard to think if he has ever played better than on this current run.
When Jose Mourinho took the reins at Manchester United many apprehensively predicted Juan Mata’s time at Old Trafford was up, Marcus Rashford would barely get a sniff of first-team action while the likes of Daley Blind and Ander Herrera would be stuck on the peripheral.
Instead, all have become central protagonists while the likes of Wayne Rooney have taken on supporting roles.
Spelling out the obvious here but Jermain Defoe’s goals alone will not be enough to keep Sunderland up. Of their five league goals this season, he’s scored four and yet it’s still not been enough to reel in a first win.
For a player of his finishing quality, he should not end up on the losing side as consistently as he does.
