- After the most recent Premier League round of matches, we examine five things that we discovered from the weekend’s schedule.
After the most recent Premier League round of matches, we examine five things that we discovered from the weekend’s schedule.
United’s misfiring forwards
Alejandro Garnacho. Photo/Manchester Evening News
Manchester United is still having trouble scoring goals in the Premier League, but Erik ten Hag’s much-needed victory helped ease the strain at Fulham. The team has only scored 12 goals in eleven matches in the Premier League this season, with Brighton, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Manchester City having scored twice as many or more. Bruno Fernandes’ late winner was the only exception.
Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garncho, Antony, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford are all without a Premier League goal or assist this year. Marcus Rashford was left out against Fulham and has struggled. Hojlund has shown potential, especially in Europe, but the 20-year-old Dane needs an experienced replacement to take some of the load off of him.
Mehdi Taremi of Porto has been mentioned and would make sense to sign. The Iran international, while having a short-term contract, will expire at the end of the current campaign and may be made available in January for a reduced price. His skill is demonstrated by his record of 83 goals in 161 games for the Portuguese team.
Ten Hag’s squad isn’t good enough at either end of the field right now to qualify for the Champions League.
Nottingham Forest win at home
Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa. Photo/The Independent
Nottingham Forest entered their home match against Aston Villa this weekend on a six-game losing streak, with the visitors having the advantage in the form book.
However, since being promoted to the Premier League, Steve Cooper’s team has performed well at the City Ground, having dropped only two of their previous 19 meetings in Nottingham. The comforts of home once more proved helpful as Forest overcame a recent setback to secure an outstanding victory that moved the Reds up to 12th place in the standings.
Ola Aina scored the first goal with a neat finish from the outside of the penalty box, and Forest took the lead after Villa ‘keeper Emiliano Martinez made a mistake. Orel Mangala’s shot was blocked by Martinez, who was only able to parry it up and into the goal.
Together with Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Spurs, Forest is one of just five Premier League clubs that has not lost at home this year. Maintaining such form at home will be essential to the team’s avoidance of relegation.
Jeremy Doku masterclass
When Pep Guardiola tried to transform a Manchester City squad that had just won a treble, he was faced with an almost insurmountable task last summer: to surpass perfection. Jeremy Doku was one of the new signings and has given the Premier League winners a fresh edge.
Doku’s movement and acceleration have been likened to that of former Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin. However, Doku has demonstrated that he possesses the finished product to match his trickery, flicks, and lethal dribbling. This past weekend against Bournemouth, Doku unleashed his inner masterpiece of deft footwork.
Doku became the youngest player—and just the eighth—to record four assists in a Premier League game, and Bournemouth, quite simply, couldn’t keep up as he tormented the pursuing Cherries all day.
Doku scored the first goal at the Etihad and then went on a rampage, setting up four more for his teammates. After that, a deft move set up Bernardo Silva for the second, but Doku’s fourth assist came when he threaded a long pass through the Bournemouth defense. That was the best of the lot.
Doku, who is only 21 years old, possesses every quality that supporters love and opponents detest.
Lascelles Captain’s performance
Jamaal Lascelles trying to shake Jorginho. Photo/Sky Sports
Newcastle were the first side to prevent Arsenal from scoring this season, ending the Gunners’ perfect start to the Premier League.
Jamaal Lascelles, who emerged from the cold to become a star in recent weeks, was the driving force behind a strong defensive effort. Despite being the club captain and having spent nearly ten years at Newcastle, Lascelles’ future as a Magpies player seemed uncertain following just two Premier League starts in the previous campaign.
During the summer, Lascelles declined a transfer because he was committed to sticking with the team’s big plan. Due to Sven Botman’s injury, Lascelles now has a path back in, and he has seized that opportunity with flair.
The 29-year-old continued his recent success by playing brilliantly in the victory over Arsenal. Lascelles’s level has been so high that last month Gareth Southgate called him names. With six clearances and three blocked shots, Lascelles stood tall to help his team win a clean sheet against Arsenal.
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