Elliot Anderson’s debut for Manchester City quickly turned into a masterclass in midfield efficiency. In just his fourth start, the 22‑year‑old registered 143 successful passes – more than the entire Coventry side managed in the same match (139) – and did so with a staggering 92 per cent accuracy.
Those figures echo the kind of distribution numbers usually associated with City’s captain, Rodri. Anderson was heavily involved throughout the game, touching the ball 178 times and winning every one of his six ground duels. He earned three fouls, covered more kilometres than any of his teammates, and was a constant presence both in defensive phases and in the attacking build‑up. While headlines were dominated by Enzo Fernández’s debut and Erling Haaland’s goal‑scoring exploits, Anderson’s contribution was equally eye‑catching.
He cleaned up almost every loose end City created, showing a blend of composure and aggression that is rare for a player still finding his footing in the Premier League. Statistically, Anderson’s impact is best illustrated by his 26 line‑breaking passes and 21 deliveries into the final third.
This shows he is not merely a conduit for possession; he actively pushes the ball forward, turning defensive recoveries into genuine attacking threats. Paired with Fernández, City’s midfield now feels refreshed, balanced and ready to take on any challenge the league can throw at them.
Across the country, Liverpool’s fans turned up at Ipswich hoping to see the newly‑signed Bradley Barcola, but the real story belonged to a different winger – Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward, who was the subject of intense transfer speculation involving Manchester City and Tottenham, remained at Liverpool and has since emerged as arguably the club’s most influential player this season. After a solid performance on the right wing against Nottingham Forest, Gakpo switched to the opposite flank at Ipswich and delivered two exquisite assists for Alexander Isak, bringing his assist tally to three in as many games. Jamie Carragher summed up the impact succinctly on social media, noting that Barcola would struggle to secure a place in a side that now features Gakpo in such an effective form.
The decision to retain Gakpo could well become a defining moment in Andoni Iraola’s inaugural campaign, as the winger’s contributions have already eclipsed the hype surrounding the £123 million acquisition of Barcola. Ipswich’s own story was less uplifting, especially between the sticks. The club’s goalkeeper position appears to be cursed.
After promoting Arijanet Murić from Burnley when they first reached the Premier League, a series of costly errors plagued the team. This season, new signing Kjell Scherpen arrived from Union Saint‑Gilloise with hopes of stabilising the back line, but his debut against Liverpool was 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 at this level because the margins between victory and defeat are razor‑thin. A single lapse can erase an otherwise disciplined performance, and that is exactly what happened to Ipswich.
The team spent a substantial portion of the match executing their game plan, only for Scherpen’s indecision to undo their work. The club now faces a dual battle – confronting the opposition while also trying to resolve the apparent goalkeeper malaise. Tottenham’s start to the season was similarly underwhelming.
Despite earning a point, they have yet to score a Premier League goal. Their shot count matched that of Nottingham Forest, yet they produced three times as many touches inside the opposition box and doubled their expected‑goals metric.
The lack of cutting‑edge quality in the final third, particularly from Omar Marmoush, and missed opportunities from Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke, meant the performance fell short of the optimism surrounding their summer spend. In the north, Newcastle secured a late winner through Jacob Ramsey, keeping their unbeaten run intact under new manager Matthias Jaissle.
The goal, scored in the 88th minute, highlighted Ramsey’s importance to the squad, while the recent £51 million signing Matías Fernández‑Pardo also made a positive impression after coming on as a substitute. Fernández‑Pardo, a Belgian international new to English football, showed flashes of skill, including a clever shoulder drop to evade pressure, injecting much‑needed energy into Newcastle’s attack.
Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, are looking to replace Anderson with James McAtee. The 23‑year‑old offers a more technical profile, comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and capable of unlocking defences with his vision. While he lacks Anderson’s relentless intensity, his recent performances – five created chances against Tottenham and a 91 per cent pass completion rate in the final third – suggest he is beginning to adapt to the demands of Premier League midfield play. His willingness to win duels and execute tactical fouls indicates a growing understanding of the role’s defensive responsibilities.
Bournemouth’s early season woes have been compounded by a pattern of conceding late goals. After a 90+1 minute equaliser against Manchester City, a similar injury‑time goal against Everton, and now an 88th‑minute concession at Newcastle, the team has dropped five points in their first three matches. Despite starting each game strongly – they were the first club in Premier League history to open the scoring in their first three fixtures – they have failed to secure a win, a trend that has cost them dearly in the standings. Manager Marco Rose will need to address the team’s concentration in the closing stages if they are to convert dominant first halves into victories.
In the Premier League’s fantasy arena, Dominic Calvert‑Lewin’s performance for Leeds has been a source of frustration. He created three clear‑cut chances in the first half but failed to convert any, finishing with a zero‑goal tally despite an expected‑goals value of 0.83.
Missed opportunities included a one‑on‑one chance early on, a header in the buildup to Leeds’ opening goal, and a well‑taken shot that was cleared off the line by Lewis Dunk. While Calvert‑Lewin has shown resilience in other matches, this display underscores the need for greater clinical finishing 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 XI, with centre‑backs Luka Vuskovic and Lewis Dunk forming a solid partnership against Leeds.
Vuskovic’s goal and Dunk’s defensive heroics, including a crucial clearance to deny Calvert‑Lewin, highlighted the depth in Brighton’s back line. Meanwhile, left‑back Olivier Boscagli impressed with his attacking contributions, creating five chances – a tally matching the entire Leeds starting eleven. VAR controversies continued to dominate post‑match discussions. Brentford’s manager Keith Andrews criticised the handling of a penalty decision, while Sunderland’s Dan Ballard saw his goal disallowed after a prolonged review, prompting manager Régis Le Bris to lament the four‑minute deliberation.
These incidents illustrate the growing influence of video‑assistant refereeing on game outcomes and the frustration it can cause among players and fans alike. Aston Villa’s start to the campaign has been bleak, with just one point from three games, no goals scored, and a solitary shot on target.
Key players such as Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins have been absent, leaving Unai Emery with a daunting task. Yet, history shows that Villa can rebound; they struggled to find the net early last season before eventually climbing into a title conversation by Christmas. Emery’s experience and the arrival of new signings like Ibrahim Mbaye, George Hemmings and Nicolas Jackson provide optimism, even if immediate goal‑scoring improvements are not guaranteed. Finally, the newly appointed managers at Crystal Palace and Fulham experienced contrasting emotions after a dramatic 3‑2 victory for the Eagles.
Pierre Sage praised the “petrol” the win injected into his squad, while Fulham’s Alvaro Arbeola lamented missed first‑half chances that could have prevented a third consecutive opening‑day defeat – a situation that historically has preceded relegation for the club. The match underscored the fine margins that dictate success and failure in the Premier League’s opening weeks.