Matchweek 4 delivered eight fixtures on Saturday, setting the tone with a mix of emphatic wins and frustrating stalemates. Arsenal, Spurs, Fulham, Bournemouth, and Newcastle enjoyed victories, while two games ended goalless. Sunday’s headlines were stolen by Manchester City, who silenced their rivals United with a commanding derby win. Meanwhile, Liverpool continue to defend their crown with a flawless record at the top of the table.
Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United
City snapped their two-game stumble spectacularly, dismantling United at the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden broke the deadlock after 18 minutes, linking up smartly with Jeremy Doku. The win brought relief for Pep Guardiola after a shaky fortnight, though it spelled further crisis for Ruben Amorim, who now faces mounting questions over his position at Old Trafford.
Erling Haaland, ever the dependable finisher, struck twice in the second half to seal the contest, while Gianluigi Donnarumma produced two outstanding saves to deny Benjamin Šeško and Bryan Mbeumo. United’s lack of structure and spark leaves them staring at a turbulent season unless rapid improvements are made.
Burnley 0-1 Liverpool
The champions march on with four wins from four, though not without concerns. A late Mohamed Salah penalty spared Liverpool blushes at Turf Moor, but Arne Slot remains troubled by his left-back dilemma. Milos Kerkez’s rashness in defence, picking up yet another booking, may force the Dutchman to consider reinstating Andy Robertson sooner than planned.
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham continued their fine run under Thomas Frank with a dominant win at the London Stadium. For Graham Potter, however, it was another step in the wrong direction. West Ham’s fragility at set pieces was brutally exposed, conceding yet again from corners. This third defeat of the season underlines the Hammers’ slide, raising serious questions about their defensive organisation and tactical identity.
Newcastle United 1-0 Wolves
Nick Woltemade announced himself in style, scoring the decisive header on his Premier League debut to lift Newcastle. Wolves, however, remain rock bottom with no points to show from their campaign so far. Eddie Howe will be sweating on injuries, with new signing Yoane Wissa sidelined for six weeks due to an ACL problem picked up on international duty. The Magpies’ depth will be tested ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Arsenal returned from the international break rejuvenated, brushing aside Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. New arrivals Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyökeres once again proved decisive, stepping up in the absence of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard.
For Forest, the managerial change from Nuno Espírito Santo to Ange Postecoglou has yet to yield results. Consecutive defeats have checked their bright start to the season, and the pressure is beginning to build.
Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
Chelsea were denied victory in dramatic fashion after Fabio Carvalho struck in stoppage time to snatch a point for Brentford. Kevin Schade had given the hosts the lead, only for Cole Palmer to level the score on his return from injury.
Moises Caicedo then rifled home a stunning strike to hand Enzo Maresca’s side the advantage, but the Blues’ inability to close out matches cost them dearly once again. It is the kind of fragility that will frustrate Maresca as he seeks to instill consistency in his new-look Chelsea side.
Bournemouth 2-1 Brighton
The Cherries’ dream start under Andoni Iraola continued with another statement win. Alex Scott opened the scoring with a composed finish, before Kaoru Mitoma equalised to give Brighton hope. But Antoine Semenyo’s calmly converted penalty restored Bournemouth’s lead and lifted them into the top four.
Brighton, by contrast, have struggled to find rhythm this term, with defensive lapses proving costly in tight contests.
Looking Ahead
With Liverpool setting the pace at the summit and City reasserting themselves in the derby, the early title picture is beginning to take shape. Arsenal and Spurs remain in strong contention, while Newcastle and Bournemouth have added intrigue to the top-four race. At the other end, Wolves and West Ham face growing pressure as their campaigns threaten to unravel before momentum can be found.
The international break arrives at a crucial moment—some clubs will use it to regroup, while others will look to carry their form straight through into the season’s next chapter.