Szoboszlai adapts to shine in new role
It was always going to be a tight match but in the end it took a moment of genius from Dominik Szoboszlai to settle it in Liverpool’s favour. The Hungarian is an attacking midfielder by trade but since Jeremie Frimpong’s injury Arne Slot has found a new role for him at right-back. Szoboszlai had clearly learned some free-kick technique from Trent Alexander-Arnold over the years but his ability in the alien position was almost more impressive. He had almost no problems with Gabriel Martinelli and he quickly adapted to Eberechi Eze, who was a greater threat than the man he replaced, but Szoboszlai remained calm and collected throughout. He was able to defend well and also produced some stunning passes, distributing long and short, changing the dynamic of the match as Alexander-Arnold used to. The victory over Arsenal will be remembered for a split second of quality but Szoboszlai should take great credit for how he has adapted to help Slot and his teammates. Will Unwin
Match report: Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal
Sesko must seize chance to step up
When Matheus Cunha’s sprint towards the Burnley goal was curtailed by a muscle problem, it was clear Ruben Amorim had to make a change. The Manchester United head coach had two realistic options, either the exciting new £72m signing Benjamin Sesko or the often-maligned Joshua Zirkzee. He went for the latter. Many were bemused when Sesko was picked as the final outfield player to take a penalty in the shootout loss to Grimsby, but Amorim suggests the two things are connected because the striker is not fit enough after an interrupted pre-season. Amorim belatedly introduced Sesko in the 72nd minute but he did not offer much, missing a couple of good chances to find a third United goal. There is a lack of sharpness to his play and he looked cumbersome but with Cunha and possibly Mason Mount set for spells on the sidelines, there will be greater opportunities for the Slovene to get up to full speed. United cannot afford to be patient with him. WU
Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Burnley
VAR denies King a crowning moment
Josh King thought he had his dream moment. A dart down the inside-left channel, a piece of skill to throw off Tosin Adarabioyo, a deceptive finish to beat Robert Sánchez. It was the 18-year-old Fulham midfielder’s first senior goal and it was rather brilliant. The bungling officials, of course, had other ideas. They found a spurious reason to chalk it off, penalising Rodrigo Muniz for a non-foul in the buildup. “He’s going home not understanding why the goal was disallowed,” Marco Silva said of King. Most people shared Silva’s view. They also agreed with the Fulham manager’s assessment of King as a top talent. Away from the refereeing controversy, it was worth dwelling on the youngster’s performance against Chelsea. King has been given his opportunity this season, the departure of Andreas Pereira making space for him, and he looks ready. He is bright, quick and clever on the ball. King’s potential is some consolation for Fulham after an undeserved defeat. Jacob Steinberg
Match report: Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
Trafford still adjusting to City No 1 role
Other than the result, James Trafford had a very good afternoon. It was his weak pass to Nico González that gave Tottenham their second goal last weekend, but against Brighton it looked as if he had made enough saves to earn Manchester City a point. He saved well from Kaoru Mitoma in the first half, and then he made an exceptional save from a deflected Jan Paul van Hecke effort near the end. But within a minute, Brajan Gruda was jinking round him to roll in the winner. Trafford’s pass completion of 77% was an improvement on the previous two weeks – remarkably so, given he played 17 long balls – but the bigger issue is his starting position. He does not sweep up behind the back line as Ederson does – few goalkeepers do – and that is contributing to City’s vulnerability to balls played behind their defensive line. While Trafford is only 22 and may develop that skill, he does not at the moment look like the right keeper for them. Jonathan Wilson
Match report: Brighton 2-1 Manchester City
Iraola is a manager going places
There is so much to admire about Bournemouth. After a summer in which Andoni Iraola rebuilt his defence after the departures of Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi to Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, his side’s performance in the deserved victory at Tottenham on Saturday suggested the Cherries will be a force to be reckoned with again. It’s a credit to Iraola – who potential suitors will have noted held talks with the club’s owner, the American billionaire Bill Foley, about extending his contract beyond the end of this season but has yet to commit his future – that the dominating £34m centre-back Bafodé Diakité has settled in seamlessly into the Spaniard’s system. Iraloa revealed Bournemouth were still hoping to add another defender on deadline day having previously held talks with Chelsea over a deal for Axel Disasi. “We’ve lost Dean and Zabarnyi so we need another central defender,” said Iraola. “But if not, we still have options, and we will deal with the situation, but it’s true that we are working on it.” Ed Aarons
Match report: Tottenham 0-1 Bournemouth
Leeds show their mettle in defence
It said much for the paucity of quality on display at Elland Road that all the talk centred on those who were not playing, rather than who was. Both teams failed to ignite, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak again absent and Nick Woltemade not registered in time to play after his £69m club record move from Stuttgart. It is now three games without a win for Eddie Howe’s side and the visiting fans made their feelings about Isak clear with one particularly vicious chant. Better news is that the 6ft 6in Woltemade should make his debut after the international break when Wolves visit on 13 September. Leeds have scored only once this season but have taken four points from three games and not lost in the league at home for almost a year. The midfielder Ilia Gruev lauded the hosts’ attitude. He said: “This performance showed we’re not scared of anything. We played with courage and self-belief from the first minute to the last.” Ross Heppenstall
Match report: Leeds 0-0 Newcastle
Wolves hungry for more signings
Fans in the Sir Jack Hayward Stand made clear their feelings on the state of Wolves. “Back the team or sell the club” was the loudest chant, though Jeff Shi, the chief executive frontman for Fosun International, the owner, also got a mention. Another slow start to the season, another summer where outgoings exceed incomings. This time last year, Pedro Neto departed. Now, Jørgen Strand Larsen wants to leave for Newcastle – although there is an insistence from the club that he must stay. The Norwegian missed the Everton game through injury and was much missed. Sasa Kalajdzic came on as a late sub but, as Vítor Pereira remarked, the Serb is coming back from 560 days out with a knee injury and “can play 15 or 20 minutes”. Pereira was not shy in asking for more recruits before the transfer window closes. “We need someone, a solution in attack and we need a solution in midfield,” he said, adding: “I understand the supporters.” John Brewin
Match report: Wolves 2-3 Everton
Le Fée on the money once more
At 5ft 7in, Sunderland’s French midfielder Enzo Le Fée cuts a diminutive figure in increasingly lofty Premier League circles but his first touch is sensational, his ability to read the game superb. In scoring an equalising penalty and helping create Wilson Isidor’s 96th-minute winner, Le Fée ruined Jordan Henderson’s Wearside homecoming. It might have been different had Sunderland’s excellent Netherlands Under-21s goalkeeper Robin Roefs not saved Kevin Schade’s penalty, but Brentford failed to heed the warning issued when Anthony Taylor awarded that kick after Reinildo hauled Nathan Collins down. Taylor pointed immediately to the spot after Rico Henry dragged Habib Diarra to the floor. Referees are supposed to be getting tough on grappling so it was good to see this edict actually enforced. Cue Le Fée helping Sunderland overturn the lead Igor Thiago’s header briefly gave Brentford, who clearly missed their absent, unsettled striker, Yoane Wissa. Louise Taylor
Match report: Sunderland 2-1 Brentford
Wilson magic boosts under-fire Potter
After West Ham’s first win of the season Graham Potter touched on the volatility of his job. He did so after a question about Mads Hermansen keeping his clean sheet, referencing a difficult start to life at the club. “You get written off in your job after a week, which is ridiculous,” said the West Ham manager. Callum Wilson presumably can vouch for that. The signing of the 33-year-old striker was derided in some quarters, but while Wilson has struggled with injuries, he demonstrated his goalscoring ability off the bench in the victory at Nottingham Forest. Wilson twice went close before capping the scoring at the City Ground with his first league goal in 16 months, proving a handful for Forest after replacing Niclas Füllkrug. West Ham fans will hope there is plenty more where that came from. Ben Fisher
Match report: Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
Palace’s silver linings have clouds
Crystal Palace fans must wonder whether to laugh or cry as their team continue to defy the odds. Eberechi Eze scores the winning goal in the FA Cup final, then signs off on good terms to leave for his boyhood club Arsenal for good money. Marc Guéhi leads the team into their first ever European games to qualify for the group stages – of a competition one level below what their Cup triumph merited. They extend their 14-game unbeaten run to hit eighth spot in the Premier League before the first international break with a wonderful goal from Guéhi – who could now leave for Liverpool. Still, at least they’ve got Adam Wharton … who then pulls up with a groin injury that could mean he misses another opportunity to shine for England over the coming 10 days. Peter Lansley
Match report: Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace
