Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s physicality overpowering Bryan Mbeumo in Manchester United’s area at a corner grabbed him a fifth goal in 10 outings for Leeds: a pretty respectable ratio. “I just tried to cause a ruckus,” said Leeds’ No 9. “I make it difficult for the defender. I read the flight of the ball and was quickest to react. I feel really comfortable [here]. I feel the support from the club and the fans and it is a great feeling stepping on to the pitch, particularly at Elland Road.” Of the contenders to be understudy to Harry Kane as England’s centre-forward, Calvert-Lewin may be the lead act – if he can stay injury-free, which has been a difficulty throughout his career. Jamie Jackson

After the defeat to Atlético Madrid last Tuesday, Manchester United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, could at least sit a bit more comfortably watching Michael Carrick’s side battle to a draw at Elland Road. Lisandro Martínez bemoaned, among other things, the lack of squad depth at United in his post-match comments in Madrid, but one area Wilcox did strengthen over the summer was United’s midfield. Carlos Baleba, a £65m arrival from Brighton, started his first game for the club alongside Andrey Santos, a £50m signing from Chelsea, and the pair held their own against Leeds’ combative midfield three. “They’re both young players adapting to life at this football club and I thought both of them were terrific today,” Carrick said. “That’s a massive positive for us.” As for Martínez, he was taken off at half-time with a tight thigh. Billy Munday

Florian Wirtz created nine chances during Liverpool’s comeback win against Brentford. The German’s effectiveness grew when Brentford were reduced to 10 men but it was still one of Wirtz’s better games in a Liverpool shirt. The playmaker took on responsibility in the second half. Andoni Iraola was happy and perhaps sees a connection growing between Wirtz and Víctor Muñoz. Both of Wirtz’s assists in the league this season have been for Muñoz, a £34.5m summer signing from Osasuna who hugs the touchline and stretches the play with speed and directness. Iraola plays positive, vertical football. Wirtz could be more dangerous if his passes are hitting speedy wingers such as Muñoz and Bradley Barcola. Jacob Steinberg

Ayyoub Bouaddi made his first league start for Manchester City in the win against Ipswich but anyone watching would have thought he was an old hand. The teenager belied his years with a mature performance at the base of midfield, controlling the tempo while keeping things simple in possession and spotting danger when required. The Moroccan cost £85m in the summer from Lille to battle for a place in Enzo Maresca’s revamped side, fighting Enzo Fernández and Elliot Anderson for a spot in the team – and he is looking their equal. “Not bad, yeah?” Maresca joked about Bouaddi’s performance. “I think that the manager is always looking to find minutes and space for good players. Ayyoub is very good. He is very young, coming from France, so we need to help him, not put him under pressure every game. I think he is doing well.” Will Unwin

If you were at Craven Cottage on Saturday and didn’t know which three players Álvaro Arbeloa had brought with him from the Real Madrid setup, you would have assumed one of them was Josh King. The 19-year-old has started every league game this season ahead of Emile Smith Rowe in the No 10 position and has already taken on the role of chief creator. King has been in Fulham’s academy since under-nine level and became a regular in the first team under Marco Silva last season. Arbeloa has spoken of wanting to help the youngster raise his level, to help him kick on. “He’s a top talent,” said Arbeloa after King’s all-action performance against Hull that helped Fulham to their first league win of the campaign. “The sky is his limit. He has the talent, the mentality, the character – he has everything to become a top, top player.” BM

David Moyes claimed Chelsea got the rub of the green with the two goals that condemned Everton to a first defeat of the season but there was no question it was deserved on the basis of their respective second-half performances. Everton’s response to Pedro Neto’s opener was nonexistent, with Moyes’s decision to introduce a seemingly unfit Christian Nørgaard instead of Hayden Hackney a contributory factor, but they could feel aggrieved about Morgan Rogers avoiding a second yellow card in the 44th minute for leaping into James Garner. With Harrison Armstrong booked for what the referee, Paul Tierney, deemed a reckless challenge on Josh Acheampong earlier in the game, his inconsistency on the Chelsea forward’s tackle was a key moment. “I would love to speak on the referees but I would probably get fined,” said Garner. “All this camera stuff on their heads, you need to keep out of the game. Just let referees ref it and stop making it about them. That’s all I’ve got to say.” Andy Hunter

Sven Botman was extremely fortunate not to be sent off for a nasty tackle on Nicolas Jackson as Newcastle lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa, with the excellent Johan Manzambi heading the first-half winner. The rash, high way Botman lunged in on Jackson seemed emblematic of the centre-back’s decline since he suffered a serious knee injury three years ago. The moment has surely arrived for the now under pressure Matthias Jaissle to drop Botman and recall not merely Dan Burn but Fabian Schär, too, in a switch to a more stabilising back three. Newcastle’s failure to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League games at home – a run stretching back into last season under Eddie Howe – emphasises the need for defensive fortification. Moreover Schär’s ball-playing ability, and particularly his dangerous long diagonal passes, would enhance Newcastle’s pretty dismal threat as an attacking force. Tellingly, Jaissle’s team registered only one shot on target on Saturday, paving the way for Unai Emery’s 100th Premier League win as a manager. Louise Taylor

When Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze, it was hard not to be a little suspicious. Though he started his top-level career relatively late, it is rare a player steps up levels at 27 – all the more so given Mikel Arteta is not exactly in love with mavericks and risk. Ultimately, Eze looks better suited to being the main man in a mid-ranking team rather than a cog in a top one which prioritises shape and system above all else. He was anonymous against Nottingham Forest prior to his removal at half-time. Though Arsenal did not explode thereafter, Noni Madueke did offer greater threat, his speed challenging defenders inside and out before scoring a winning goal that, though fortuitous, also reflected the difference he made. There is surely little chance Eze is picked to start Arsenal’s next game, at Bayern Munich, and he is running out of time to establish himself at the club. Daniel Harris

Pierre Sage is treading on very thin ice at Crystal Palace after another disastrous defensive display allowed Brighton to equal their biggest win against their arch rivals. A poor start to the season has been marked by Palace conceding 17 goals in seven league matches – the worst in the division. The chair, Steve Parish, admitted during the international break that the Frenchman’s position remains on “high alert” and, judging by the angry reaction of some Palace fans to the 5-0 thrashing at the Amex Stadium, Sage could be in big trouble. But there must be some sympathy given the failure to adequately replace the influential Maxence Lacroix in central defence after he was sold to Chelsea. That is believed to have led to disagreements with Parish, who has shown a tendency to act quickly if things aren’t going his way. It could be a nerve-racking few days for Sage before Thursday’s trip to face Besiktas in the Europa League. Ed Aarons

Sunderland’s problems are stacking up. Brian Brobbey’s continued absence with an injury sustained while playing for the Netherlands is beyond Régis Le Bris’ control but defeat at Bournemouth was self-inflicted. The swift journey from the Championship to the Europa League has become a stumble. Kevin Danso’s red card was by no means the only error committed during a performance where cross words were exchanged between befuddled defenders. Granit Xhaka found himself incapable of exerting anything like the influence he showed last season. Instead, Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook dominated midfield. Trips to Poznan, Milan and Anderlecht await for Sunderland but Le Bris’ squad is struggling to straddle two fronts. A horrible performance at the Vitality Stadium came despite five purported first-team players being rested against Torreense. Play like they did on Sunday and a struggle in the bottom half surely awaits. Just about everything that went right last season has taken a turn for the worse. John Brewin