Elliot Anderson’s performance on his fourth start for Manchester City was nothing short of spectacular, especially when measured against the entire Coventry side. He completed 143 successful passes, a tally that eclipsed Coventry’s combined total of 139, and did so with a remarkable 92% accuracy – figures that would make even Rodri proud.
Anderson touched the ball 178 times, won every one of his six ground duels, drew three fouls, and covered more ground than any other City player on the pitch. His statistical sheet reads like a checklist of midfield mastery.
While the headlines often gravitate toward the debut of Enzo Fernández and the ever‑dangerous goal‑scoring exploits of Erling Haaland, Anderson’s contribution was equally eye‑catching. He was the quiet engine that cleaned up nearly every chaotic moment City found itself in, turning potential threats into opportunities. His 26 line‑breaking passes and 21 deliveries into the final third illustrate a player who is not merely recycling possession but actively advancing it, creating clear avenues for attack. Paired with Fernández, City’s midfield appears rejuvenated and ready to challenge any Premier League opponent that comes their way.
Across the country, Liverpool supporters turned up at Ipswich hoping to witness the debut of Bradley Barcola, but the real story belonged to a different wing‑player – Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward, who remained at Liverpool after a protracted transfer saga that saw Manchester City and Tottenham both express interest, may have become the defining figure of Andoni Iraola’s inaugural season.
Gakpo’s recent displays have been nothing less than transformative. After a solid performance on the right wing against Nottingham Forest, he switched flanks at Ipswich and delivered two exquisite assists for Alexander Isak, bringing his assist tally against the Swedish striker to three in as many games. Jamie Carragher summed up the sentiment on social media at half‑time, noting that Barcola would struggle to find a place in a side featuring this version of Gakpo. The implication is clear: Liverpool’s most valuable piece of business this season might not be the £123 million winger they signed, but rather the talented forward they chose to retain.
Gakpo’s ability to influence games from either wing, combined with his knack for creating high‑quality chances, has already made him a fan favourite and a tactical nightmare for opponents. Ipswich’s own story on the day was dominated by a puzzling goalkeeper dilemma. Since their promotion, the club has cycled through several custodians, none of whom have managed to bring the stability the team needs at the highest level. First came Arijanet Muric, whose tenure was marred by costly errors at crucial moments.
This season, the club turned to Kjell Scherpen, arriving from Union Saint‑Gilloise in Belgium with hopes of freshening up the last‑line defense. Unfortunately, Scherpen’s debut against Liverpool proved disastrous; he was directly responsible for both of Liverpool’s first‑half goals, each time allowing Isak to find the net. Goalkeeping mistakes are magnified in the Premier League because the margins between victory and defeat are razor‑thin.
A team can dominate possession, execute its game plan flawlessly for 45 minutes, and then see all that work undone by a single lapse in concentration. Ipswich now face a dual battle – one against their opponents and another against the reliability of their own goalkeeper. The club must find a way to settle Scherpen quickly, or risk the perception that the No. 1 shirt at Portman Road carries an unwanted curse.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s opening match ended in a solitary point, and the team still has not found the back of the net in the league this season. Despite matching Nottingham Forest in total shots and generating three times as many touches inside the opposition box, Spurs failed to convert their dominance into goals. Omar Marmoush, in particular, lacked the cutting edge required in the final third, while Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke squandered promising crosses with weak headers. The performance offers a modest step forward for Roberto De Zerbi’s project, but it falls short of the inspiration needed to convince supporters that the significant summer spending will translate into a markedly better campaign.
In the north‑east, Newcastle secured a hard‑won victory thanks to an 88th‑minute strike from Jacob Ramsey, preserving their unbeaten run under new manager Matthias Jaissle. The win was not without its own drama; Bournemouth will be left questioning why they failed to secure all three points despite dominating the first half. Jaissle still has issues to iron out, but Ramsey’s decisive goal highlighted his growing importance to the side.
Additionally, new £51 million signing Matías Fernández‑Pardo made a positive impression after coming on as a substitute, showcasing his technical skill and willingness to take on challenges despite being on the receiving end of several hard tackles. Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, are looking to replace Elliot Anderson with James McAtee. The 23‑year‑old midfielder offers a different skill set – more technical, comfortable under pressure, and capable of unlocking defenses with clever passes.
While he may lack Anderson’s relentless intensity, McAtee has already demonstrated his creative potential, creating five clear chances against Tottenham and completing 91% of his passes in the final third. His ability to win duels and make tactical fouls when necessary suggests he could become a valuable component of Chris Glassner’s midfield, offering a fresh alternative to the style Anderson embodied. Bournemouth’s early season woes have been compounded by a pattern of conceding late goals.
After allowing stoppage‑time winners against Manchester City and Everton, they now find themselves on the losing side of an 88th‑minute goal at Newcastle. The club’s inability to hold onto leads has cost them five points from the first three league games, a record that makes them the first Premier League side to open a season with three opening‑goal victories and no wins. Manager Marco Rose will need to address the team’s concentration in the final minutes if they hope to turn their early promise into tangible results.
Fantasy Premier League managers have been left frustrated by Dominic Calvert‑Lewin’s performance at Leeds, where he squandered three clear chances in the first half, including a one‑on‑one missed opportunity and a header that failed to find the net. His lack of clinical finishing left him with an xG of 0.83 but zero goals, prompting criticism from former manager Daniel Farke. While Calvert‑Lewin has shown resilience in other matches, this display underscores the need for consistency if he hopes to reclaim an England call‑up and help Leeds climb the table.
Brighton’s defensive options have also been under scrutiny. Pascal Struijk, signed to replace Jan Paul Van Hecke, has yet to break into the starting lineup, with the centre‑back partnership of Luka Vuskovic and Lewis Dunk delivering solid performances against Leeds.
Vuskovic’s goal and Dunk’s numerous clearances, including a crucial block on Calvert‑Lewin, highlighted the stability already present at the back. Meanwhile, left‑back Olivier Boscagli’s contributions from the flank, creating five chances, have further limited opportunities for Struijk to feature.
The ongoing debate over VAR decisions continued to dominate post‑match discussions. Brentford’s Keith Andrews criticised the handling of a penalty situation, while Sunderland’s Dan Ballard had his goal disallowed after a protracted review lasting over four minutes. Such delays fuel frustration among players and managers alike, as highlighted by Sunderland’s coach Regis Le Bris, who lamented the hesitation in making decisive calls.
Aston Villa’s early season struggles have seen them sit on a single point from three games, with no goals scored and only one shot on target. Key players like Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Ollie Watkins have been absent, leaving manager Unai Emery facing a steep climb. However, the club’s history shows that fortunes can change quickly; last season they took five games to register their first league goal but eventually found themselves in a late‑season title conversation.
Emery’s experience and the arrival of new talents such as Ibrahim Mbaye, George Hemmings, and Nicolas Jackson provide a foundation for improvement, even if immediate goal‑scoring returns are not guaranteed. Finally, the pressure on newly appointed managers at Crystal Palace and Fulham was evident after a dramatic 3‑2 comeback win for the Eagles at Craven Cottage.
Both Alvaro Arbeola and Pierre Sage entered the match under scrutiny after early defeats, but Fulham’s second‑half resurgence earned Sage praise for injecting “petrol” into his squad. In contrast, Palace’s boss lamented missed opportunities in the first half, a pattern that historically precedes relegation for the club. The outcome serves as a stark reminder of how fine the margins can be in the Premier League, where a single missed chance or a late goal can dictate the trajectory of a season.