Morata more than a perfect replacement for Costa
It was said repeatedly over the summer that Chelsea would struggle to replace Diego Costa; it was then said repeatedly that Alvaro Morata would not be able to fill the boots of the angry striker. Now, following his hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Stoke, it simply has to be said that Morata is looking like more than a perfect replacement for his compatriot.
Still only 24 years old despite taking in La Liga, Serie A, La Liga again and now the Premier League, Morata already has six goals and two assists in six games and as now as many hat-tricks as Costa. He is so much more than a target man and poacher, as his sublime second goal against Stoke demonstrated, zipping down the left from close to the halfway line and finding an exquisite finish. Antonio Conte has found his man, and it’s no downgrade at all.
Lukaku gives United a title-winning edge…
Manchester United’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku applauds supporters on the pitchGetty Images
The moronic Manchester United fans who persist in singing an explicitly racist song about Romelu Lukaku, despite being asked not to by the club and the player himself, don’t deserve the Belgian striker, but United supporters as a whole must be absolutely delighted to have him in their ranks, as he made it eight goals from eight games since his summer move from Everton in a 1-0 win over Southampton.
It is all very well scoring in all these 4-0 wins but it was on Saturday that Lukaku showed his true value for United. His 20th-minute goal was the only one of the afternoon and a game that last season United would surely have drawn ended up in another three points. Lukaku’s cutting edge is really cutting through and it’s these kind of interventions which can build momentum for a title win. Just stop that appalling chant, please.
… but City’s ensemble does the same
Raheem Sterling (L) of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his team mate Leroy Sane (R)Getty Images
While United ground out a narrow win over Southampton thanks to Lukaku, rivals Manchester City were putting Crystal Palace to the sword in a 5-0 home win, sending them clear of Jose Mourinho’s side at the top of the table on goals scored. Both teams have won five and drawn one so far this season and if it continues in this vein, then City’s ability to exercise their attacking muscle could prove decisive.
Leroy Sane opened the scoring, Sergio Aguero scored once and Raheem Sterling got two as the front three all netted – and this with Gabriel Jesus benched. With successive wins of 5-0 6-0 and 5-0 in the league, City did something no other team has for over 50 years and the last couple of weeks have witnessed a serious show of strength from Pep Guardiola. Do City have too many weapons in their arsenal to be stopped?
Mignolet’s wild ride exposes Liverpool’s fatal problem
Simon Mignolet of Liverpool attempts to save as Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City scoresGetty Images
Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet improved an already deeply impressive statistic on Saturday as he made it seven saves from 15 penalties faced in the Premier League. Quite a good afternoon, then, you might imagine for the Belgian. Well, as ever with Mignolet, things weren’t quite that simple in a 3-2 win over Leicester. Yes, he saved superbly from Jamie Vardy’s blasted effort from 12 yards, but it was Mignolet’s reckless challenge on the Leicester striker which saw the penalty awarded in the first place. Mignolet was also at fault for the first Leicester goal as he came for a cross and failed to connect with his punch, allowing Shinji Okzazaki to score, even if the Leicester striker had certainly impeded him as he tried to come for the cross.
The simple truth is that with Mignolet between the sticks, Liverpool can never feel entirely comfortable when a cross comes in or a ball gets put over the top. His rival for the No. 1 spot, Loris Karius, is hardly convincing either, and the problems in Jurgen Klopp’s back four have been widely documented, not least by the manager himself. Liverpool won’t achieve anything this season until they address these problems head on.
Poch is right to be in love with Kane
Tottenham Hotspur’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino (R) speaks with Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry KaneGetty Images
“I am in love with him,” said Mauricio Pochettino of his star striker after a 3-2 win over West Ham. We did not learn anything new about Harry Kane on Saturday, but it is worth reflecting once again on what we do know: that he is the best English striker of his generation and a Premier League player of supreme aptitude and application. Two goals against West Ham took his record in London derbies to 21 goals in 29 matches, an absolutely astonishing record, and underlined once again what a player Spurs have.
Pochettino grabbed him vigorously round the neck in celebration after the final whistle, as well he might. Without Kane’s contribution Spurs may well have lost this game. The visitors to West Ham were 3-0 up but Serge Aurier’s stupid red card – as the new signing picked up a second yellow for a reckless challenge on Andy Carroll – allowed West Ham to score two in reply. But Spurs had done enough – thanks again to one of the finest centre-forwards operating in football today.
Ronald Koeman has to make some very brave decisions
Wayne Rooney of Everton talks to Ronald Koeman, Manager of EvertonGetty Images
Ronald Koeman was being hailed only last season as one of the brightest managers in Europe and an ideal candidate for one of the big jobs. He was even linked with the Barcelona vacancy over the summer, which now seems like years ago the way Everton have started the season.
Fortunately for the underfire 54-year-old, three second-half substitutions sparked a crucial resurgence as Everton roared back to beat Bournemouth 2-1 at home courtesy of two late goals in five minutes from Oumar Niasse. But now Koeman must be decisive. Wayne Rooney has not looked at all good since his high-profile summer switch from Manchester United and his replacement, Niasse, immediately improved things. What the Dutchman does next will say a lot about how strong a manager he can be. Everton’s season cannot afford too many more early setbacks.
Watford are flying – and Silva is destined for big things
Watford’s Richarlison celebrates scoring their second goal with Andre Gray, Andre Carillo and Tom CleverleyReuters
At the end of Saturday’s busy schedule in the Premier League, the team occupying fifth place, with three away victories from three, was Watford. After claiming wins away at Bournemouth and Southampton – as well as drawing at home with Liverpool, the less said about a 6-0 reversal to Man City the better – Marco Silva’s men made it a hat-trick of wins on the road when scoring in the final minute to defeat Swansea City, thanks to Brazilian summer signing Richarlison.
Watford were a Premier League afterthought for most of last season – it is hard to recall anything interesting happening there at all – but with Silva replacing Walter Mazzarri, they have renewed vigour and verve. Silva has rebooted Watford and they are worthy of interest once again. Having fought bravely to try and keep Hull up last season, Silva is embarking on another impressive job in England and if Watford keep this up it would be no surprise to see him on the move again next summer.
