Misfiring Man Utd, clinical Chelsea & Lukaku’s luck: What’s Hot and What’s Not in the Premier League

Nine games were played in the English top-flight over the weekend; which left the top four, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, all separated by just a point heading into November.

Leaders, on goal difference; City thrashed West Brom 4-0 at The Hawthorns to record their first league win since September 24, whilst the Gunners and The Reds kept level on points with the Citizens after entertaining 4-1 and 4-2 victories over Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively.

Fourth-placed Chelsea are just a point behind after their thoroughly impressive 2-0 away win at Southampton, though it could, and should, have been a larger margin of victory.

Elsewhere; Everton fended off West Ham United 2-0 at Goodison Park, plus newly promoted Middlesbrough beat AFC Bournemouth 2-0 as Aitor Karanka’s side sealed only their second win of the campaign.

Watford narrowly fought past out-of-form Hull City 1-0, defending champions Leicester City drew 1-1 away to Tottenham and Burnley survived an onslaught of strikes to frustrate Manchester United to a goalless encounter at Old Trafford.

Ahead of Stoke City’s Halloween hosting of Swansea City on Monday night, Shoot! looks back on the Premier League’s weekend action and points out What’s Hot and What’s Not…

HOT – Liverpool’s title tilt

Despite still failing to iron out those defensive issues, Liverpool look the real deal when tipped as Premier League contenders this season.

Even Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew agreed before Saturday evening’s kick-off, before watching his Eagles get shot down by The Reds at Selhurst Park.

Even though the visitors conceded two first-half headers from an unlikely source in James McArthur, even the likes of left-back Alberto Moreno, who has come under heavy criticism for his displays so far this season, impressed in London, with Liverpool hitting back in terrific style to stay level on points with Man City and Arsenal.

HOT – City crisis, what crisis?

Having picked up just two points from a possible nine on offer before kick-off in the league, plus a winless run of six games in all competitions, City bounced back emphatically to maul the Baggies 4-0 away from home.

Braces from Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan kept the Citizens top of the pile come the end of the weekend, as the visitors soon forgot about their midweek defeat (1-0) at arch-rivals Manchester United in the EFL Cup.

Next up, their home Champions League clash against FC Barcelona on Tuesday night… Gulp!

NOT – Misfiring Manchester United

It was a stat attack at Old Trafford on Saturday, but for all the wrong reasons. Well, for Manchester United anyway!

The Red Devils registered an almighty 37 shots in this match, their most in a Premier League game since 2003/04, but they couldn’t beat former United ‘keeper Tom Heaton in the Burnley net.

The England international shot stopper made 11 saves in this game, the joint-most by a goalkeeper in a Premier League game this term.

Whilst, United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now gone six league games without scoring for the first time since December 2007 with Inter Milan.

How did this remain goalless!

HOT – Lukaku’s luck

West Ham United players and fans alike must be sick of the sight of Romelu Lukaku…

It always seems to be bad luck for the Londoners whenever they come up against Everton’s star striker.

The Belgium international inspired the Toffees to a comfortable 2-0 victory on Sunday, lifting Ronald Koeman’s side up to sixth in the Premier League, just four points adrift of the top four.

The 23-year-old has now scored in his past seven Premier League games against the Hammers, after opening the scoring shortly after the interval, before setting up his team’s second strike later on for Ross Barkley.

Only ex-Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie (eight goals versus Stoke) has had a longer run than Lukaku’s against West Ham.

NOT – Spurs’ stalemates

Much like last season, too many draws and not enough wins are hindering Tottenham’s title bid.

Despite taking the lead through Vincent Janssen (pen) on Saturday, Ahmed Musa equalised for the Foxes shortly after half-time, restricting Spurs to their third successive stalemate in the Premier League.

Although Mauricio Pochettino’s side remain the only outfit not to suffer defeat in the Premier League this season, they are now three points adrift of top spot, and could so easily be the table toppers had it been for a bit more ruthlessness in the final third.

When’s Harry Kane back?!

HOT – Conte’s clinical Chelsea

As well as Liverpool, Chelsea are improving significantly under Antonio Conte since switching to his successful 3-4-3 formation.

Goals from in-form duo Eden Hazard and Diego Costa gave The Blues their fourth straight Premier League win on the bounce at Southampton, as the system of implementing three centre-backs, with Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses as eccentric wing-backs, seems to be paying huge dividends as they showboat their title credentials to the rest of their rivals.

HOT – Great Giroud

Giroud = Goals.

The Frenchman is finally off the mark this season after five appearances in all competitions without a strike to his name, although a toe injury has hampered his campaign to date.

The 30-year-old has had to watch team-mate Alexis Sanchez take centre stage for the Gunners this term, but Giroud broke his 2016/17 duck with a brace against struggling Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

With seven league wins from their last eight outings, Arsenal need to continue this rich vein of form if they are serious about lifting their first Premier League title since 2004, and Giroud’s goalscoring exploits will certainly be a helping hand.

HOT[TER] – Greater Gibson!

Does this man deserve an England call-up?

Ben Gibson, 23, starred as Middlesbrough brilliantly fended off AFC Bournemouth 2-0 at The Riverside, just a couple of weeks after the Cherries thrashed fellow newly promoted outfit Hull City 6-1 on their turf.

Helping secure back-to-back clean sheets for Boro, after their previous goalless encounter with Arsenal, team-mate Stewart Downing believes the centre-half is on course for an international call-up.

Do you agree?

NOT – Hull heading down…

As for Hull City, this season’s fate looks very bleak.

Despite sitting above Swansea City and rock-bottom Sunderland in the standings, the Tigers have now lost their last six Premier League outings in a row following Saturday’s narrow 1-0 loss at Watford.

To make matters worse, captain Michael Dawson deflected in Daryl Janmaat’s cross on 82 minutes to concede the only goal of the game, as Mike Phelan’s visitors fall two points adrift of safety.

Hull have alarmingly fell short of Premier League standard since their opening wins against Leicester City and Swansea.

HOT – Barkley’s back

And finally, he’s back. Back with a bang. It is Ross Barkley!

After a bit of rough treatment from boss Ronald Koeman, the Everton star shone and proved his critics wrong with a man of the match performance in Sunday’s 2-0 home win over West Ham United.

The 22-year-old, who was dropped for the Toffees’ trip to Manchester City a couple of weeks ago, chipped in to net the second goal of the game to secure his club’s first league win since September 17.

After his Etihad Stadium “wake-up call”, Everton fans were delighted to see the England international run the show against the Hammers, as the Toffees got back to winning ways.