The Big 6 Review: Liverpool’s abysmal finishing costs them in GW9
With three London clubs winning and both Manchester clubs losing, this week produced some interesting narratives and new developments. Arsenal are now top of the table, while Spurs are three points behind Liverpool after losing to the Gunners. With Michael Carrick now seemingly closer to unemployment, let’s get into the Big 6 Review.
Arsenal: Steady
Steady is the perfect word to describe Arsenal so far this season. Although they had a difficult night against Liverpool, the result was fair. Mikel Arteta’s men were better in front of goal and created higher-quality chances.
The defence wasn’t great, though, which is a funny thing to say considering they kept a clean sheet. Jurrien Timber got away with a blatant foul on Isak with the game hanging in the balance. A penalty at that point could have changed the outcome.
Liverpool: Scoring problems getting worse?
Liverpool have had scoring problems this season. Understandably so, after losing Mo Salah to Trabzonspor and seeing Hugo Ekitike sidelined through injury. Alexander Isak has stepped up and shown his quality, but he alone cannot compensate for the team’s poor finishing.
Against Arsenal, the Reds were horrendous in front of goal. From 17 shots, Andoni Iraola’s men managed just one on target. This meant they had little room to complain about the result, considering how many opportunities they squandered.
Tottenham: Climbing
You can now say Roberto De Zerbi has turned things around and is climbing the table. In fact, Spurs are now just four points behind Chelsea and three behind Liverpool. By the end of Matchweek 10, they could be swapping places with the 2024/25 league champions.
Tottenham’s story is genuinely inspiring. It took the club five games to score a goal and seven games to record a win. Yet De Zerbi’s men are now just one win behind Liverpool.
Manchester City: Slipping
After winning their first seven games, Man City have now failed to win either of their next two. This has seen Enzo Maresca’s men slip down the table. What’s more? Brighton and Hove Albion – the very team that beat them – are now breathing down City’s necks, sitting just two points behind.
Against Brighton, City were outsmarted despite dominating the game in shots, big chances and possession. The Seagulls picked their moments and created the best chances of the game, scoring where Man City couldn’t.
Chelsea: Emphatic response
Chelsea responded to their defeat against Tottenham with a convincing 2-0 win against fierce rivals Manchester United. Recall that the Blues had lost to Spurs at home last week.
The players produced the response needed and gave Michael Carrick’s men no chance. Chelsea not only dominated possession, but also showed much greater quality in front of goal.
The extra man from the 63rd minute helped after Lisandro Martinez got himself sent off. The win kept the Blues in the top four, although they remain eight points behind the league leaders.
Manchester United: More misery
At this point, Man United are toying with Michael Carrick. They know he’s not the right man for the job, and continuing to keep him in charge while journalists toy with him during press conferences is cruel.
In three key games, Man United have conceded nine goals and scored just one. Whatever you think is responsible for this mess, the manager has to go, even if the players are the ones downing tools.
The question is: if the players played for him last season, why aren’t they doing it now? What changed? Either way, the longer Carrick remains in the job, the longer this disaster festers.
As for the game, there’s really not much to be said. Martinez was unnecessarily combative and rightly received his marching orders. There was only one possible outcome from that point.
The Premier League table is taking shape, and as things stand, Manchester United are the only Big Six team outside the top six, sitting in 17th place.
Spurs will be desperate for Matchweek 10 to arrive, as they’ll want to maintain their momentum. Again, the season is still young, so there’s plenty more to come.
See you in the next one.