It’s not fairly Fall but, however Week 5 of the 2024-25 Premier League season harvested sizzling takes from the highest 4 to the underside three as intrigue dotted the panorama round England.
Manchester Metropolis and Arsenal performed as engrossing a primary half as you’ll discover between huge boys just for controversy to chop the wires at halftime, whereas Manchester United completed their sport with a first-choice lineup that stated the time for excuses is completed.
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Southampton, Ipswich, Leicester, and Everton all flashed hope for his or her followers, whereas Newcastle’s masks may’ve fallen off in opposition to a Fulham group that’s joined Nottingham Forest as higher than many anticipated.
Chelsea gained huge, Aston Villa was overcame a midweek muscle tax, and each Liverpool and Spurs proved there’s loads of fuel within the tank for leisure below bosses Arne Slot and Ange Postecoglou.
Listed here are 10 ideas about Week 5 from our writers, as Joe Prince-Wright, Andy Edwards, and Nick Mendola share their observations from the newest 10 video games of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Disappointment reigns regardless of sensible first half of Man Metropolis vs Arsenal
Manchester Metropolis 2-2 Arsenal
There’s credit score to be given to Arsenal for defending so properly after taking place a person (once more). There’s credit score to be given for Man Metropolis’s subs serving to to ship an equalizer to the champs at house. And there’s credit score to be given to David Raya for one more spectacular day between the sticks. But we really feel disadvantaged of the chance to essentially consider a sport between two of one of the best groups on this planet. Nobody needs to observe Arsenal pack it in. Nobody needs to observe Man Metropolis attempt to dissect 10 males. And nobody needs to attend months to get one other probability to investigate whether or not Arsenal have it in them to beat Man Metropolis. And that’s as a result of Metropolis stay a greater group who can flex depth a lot tougher than Arsenal. The Gunners may’ve been main at halftime off a banger and their yet-to-be-solved nook routine, however it might’ve been so good to observe them defend that lead on equal phrases. Leandro Trossard price us that when Michael Oliver didn’t let him off the hook (The nice ref had a fairly dangerous day, anyway). The primary 45 minutes gave off a buzz we not often get from two huge groups attempting to go get a win. Extra of that may’ve been fantastic. — Nick Mendola
Chelsea’s wealth of attackers thriving on the counter
The best way Chelsea dismantled West Ham on the counter with simply a few passes time and time once more showcased their plan to unleash unbelievable attacking expertise below new boss Enzo Maresca. He did this quite a bit at Leicester final season. Everyone is fixated on their possession-based model, which is essential, however like Leicester this Chelsea aspect is stuffed with tempo and direct runners on the counter. Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, and Noni Madueke tore West Ham aside with a beautiful mixture of velocity, fast considering, and direct passing. They then had Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and Pedro Neto to carry off the bench and proceed that theme as each time West Ham gave the ball away or Chelsea related a few passes in midfield they’d so many choices. Of their wins at Wolves, Bournemouth, and now West Ham they’ve thrived on the break and even when there are questions on their defensive solidity, their fluidity, and directness in assault greater than makes up for it. — Joe Prince-Wright
‘Excellent’ Jackson leads Chelsea previous West Ham
Rebecca Lowe, Tim Howard, Gary Cahill, and the two Robbies react to Chelsea’s spectacular 3-0 win in opposition to West Ham in Matchweek 5.
Liverpool experience their luck early, then the objectives come
Generally you simply want a little bit of luck and a second probability. Bournemouth began the sport properly and even had the ball in Liverpool’s objective, however Antoine Semenyo was offside by a pair inches when he scored within the third minute. The Reds regarded shellshocked at how shortly the Cherries had began, however that was their wake-up name — loud and clear. Liverpool struck a superb steadiness between managed possession and the short counter-attacking soccer we noticed from them below Klopp. The largest distinction — and an enormous credit score to Slot for reaching this level so shortly — is how comfy they’re to see video games out now. Apart from set items, Bournemouth had 0.23 xG within the second half regardless of taking eight pictures from open play. Liverpool gave them nothing, somewhat than giving them any hope getting again within the sport. — Andy Edwards
Brennan Johnson silences critics with one other successful objective
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Brentford
Perhaps the midweek League Cup sport versus Coventry sport did serve one essential goal, as Brennan Johnson was the one to attain the late winner on Wednesday earlier than doing the identical factor once more on Saturday. Make it two winners in two video games for the 23-year-old, who simply this week deleted his social media accounts after receiving unfair abuse following Spurs’ north London derby defeat to Arsenal. He was hardly the one participant who underperformed in that sport, however he turned the net scapegoat regardless of scoring 5 objectives and offering 10 assists in his first season on the membership. If Johnson hasn’t but confirmed to some that he can play for a top-four contender, he may by no means. However all he has finished this season is displace Dejan Kulusevski to midfield (the place he’s additionally thriving), held off summer time signing Wilson Odobert for a beginning spot, and scored two large objectives within the span of 4 days. A younger participant’s confidence is completely every thing.— Andy Edwards
It’s go time for Man United below Erik ten Hag
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United
Manchester United didn’t ship a objective and a win at Palace however the Pink Devils have been the higher group on the day and have been higher ending or poorer Palace goalkeeping away from getting an anticipated three factors. High-quality. It occurs. However there may be formally no time left for Man United wobbles below Erik ten Hag. They arrive to the Europa League this week with depth on the bench and their finest new gamers wholesome for choice. We noticed Manuel Ugarte and Rasmus Hojlund enter as subs at Palace, and Matthijs de Ligt seems excellent at heart again subsequent to Lisandro Martinez. Constant performances at the very least on the extent of Saturday’s must be the naked minimal with this costly XI on the sector. If the Dutchman can get them, the wins will certainly come as there’s top-four expertise within the aspect. If he doesn’t, he gained’t be there for much longer. — Nick Mendola
One thing’s not proper at error-prone Newcastle
The Magpies entered Saturday as an unbeaten Premier League group, and Harvey Barnes stated through the week that it was a superb signal that their 3W-1D document got here regardless of performances being not the place they wanted to be for a Champions League push. Effectively, that document feels a bit extra applicable now after a loss to Fulham that was each well-won by the hosts and well-fed by the guests. The defending was depressing on Fulham’s first objective — well-taken by Raul Jimenez — after which Nick Pope made a really poor error on one other defense-optional half-chance conceded by Newcastle. By the point Bruno Guimaraes gifted Reiss Nelson the punctuating third Fulham objective, Harvey Barnes’ objective to make it 2-1 was a reminiscence. The Magpies want Sven Botman again to make certain, however additionally they want a heaping dose of humility — Premier League video games aren’t straightforward since you’ve gained slightly prior to now. The gamers and employees haven’t finished sufficient to anticipate to win with inferior effort. — Nick Mendola
Prolonged HLs: Fulham v. Newcastle United MWK 5
Relive Fulham’s four-goal thriller in opposition to Newcastle, the place the Cottagers managed to carry off the Magpies to choose up all three factors at house in Matchweek 5.
Iliman Ndiaye the principle hope for Everton
Leicester Metropolis 1-1 Everton
It has been an unpleasant, disappointing begin to the season for Everton however Iliman Ndiaye has loved a beautiful begin to life as a Toffee. The Senegalese playmaker arrived from Marseille this summer time with huge expectations and he’s lived as much as them already. He now has his first objective for Everton and it was a magnificence as he performed an excellent give-and-go with Ashley Younger and someway squeezed it house. He practically scored one other very good solo objective within the second half and his class and high quality on the ball will likely be essential for Everton of their scrap in opposition to relegation. Ndiaye has the flexibility to select Calvert-Lewin and McNeil round him and that trio mixed properly, particularly through the first half, as Everton acquired themselves into a superb place. They couldn’t maintain on for his or her first win of the season however Ndiaye proved that the Toffees have loads of high quality to pull themselves out of this sticky state of affairs. — Joe Prince-Wright
Correctly entertaining 2-2 break up serves as Sunday precursor to Metropolis-Arsenal
Brighton 2-2 Nottingham Forest
Few had Brighton and Nottingham Forest each sitting fairly and unbeaten after 4 weeks — not to mention 5 — however hopefully these nonetheless ready to crown the Seagulls and Difficult Bushes as professional sides can have been pushed by Sunday’s early match. And it’s becoming that these at Fan Fest in Chicago would’ve gotten this match as an appetizer for Manchester Metropolis vs Arsenal as a result of Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton performed the position of possession-based, fluid machine whereas Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest have been the indignant group ready to fireside ahead however solely when the precedence of holding agency had been met. It was a giant sport with huge objectives and massive fouls, and there’s purpose to imagine that each golf equipment will battle to stay as excessive within the prime half as attainable this season. — Nick Mendola
Aston Villa are a longtime energy
The coach is there. His system is there. The well-managed depth is there. And now Villa can say the expertise of returning to the Premier League from the journey of a Champions League week is there. Villa may’ve regarded leggy to start out the sport, however there was no query who was higher by the hour mark. Granted Wolves at house are a fantastic opponent to shake out the midweek-stressed muscle groups, however Villa’s rotation of forwards and coronary heart from in every single place else ought to encourage everybody that Unai Emery can lead the aspect deep into Europe with out sacrificing their probability to complete within the prime 4 once more. — Nick Mendola
Saints should discover a killer intuition
Over the course of a comparatively comfy second half for Southampton, it nonetheless appeared inevitable that Ipswich would someway discover an equalizer at St Mary’s on Saturday. It got here in a merciless method, with Sam Morsy’s shot deflecting into the highest nook within the ninety fifth minute, however Southampton have been punished for not being ruthless, as veteran Adam Lallana had led the way in which in a composed, assured show however they couldn’t seize the essential second objective. Cameron Archer hit the submit and struck one other shot straight at Arijanet Muric from shut vary, whereas Matheus Fernandes and Ben Brereton Diaz each snatched at huge possibilities. Ipswich had huge alternatives too as Aaron Ramsdale made a few nice stops, however this win was there for Southampton. Saints didn’t seize the second and didn’t handle the sport correctly, as a pointless free kick given away within the 94th minute led to Ipswich’s equalizer. The small margins actually do rely for a lot within the Premier League. Each Ipswich and Southampton have proven they will greater than hold in there within the top-flight this season — the brilliance of Tyler Dibling and Omari Hutchinson will give them hope — however each are nonetheless looking for their first victories as we head into late September. Southampton will likely be feeling sick after being unable to shut out this sport and seize what would’ve been a giant win to lastly give them lift-off again within the Premier League. — Joe Prince-Wright
