Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 victory at Anfield felt like a statement. Murillo was the standout, heading home from a set-piece and anchoring a defence that repeatedly repelled Liverpool’s advances. Forest’s deep, compact shape and effective press on the break—reinforced by Nicola Milenkovic’s physical presence—left Liverpool frustrated despite roughly 74% possession. Mohamed Salah started brightly but faded, Federico Chiesa produced more expected-goals impact after coming on, and Alexander Isak endured a torrid afternoon, losing every duel and becoming the only Liverpool starter in the Premier League era to lose his first four starts. Alexis Mac Allister’s squandered chance before Forest’s opener was a pivotal moment. Virgil van Dijk’s call for the squad to “look in the mirror” underlined the alarm: senior players went missing and an urgent review of Arne Slot’s title defence now seems necessary.
Sean Dyche’s Forest, by contrast, enjoyed one of their best recent performances. Reverting to a compact, counter-attacking blueprint paid dividends: the tall centre-back pairing dominated aerially, clearances were frequent, and the team defended set-pieces comfortably. Igor Jesus offered energy and work-rate up front, and the win moves Forest unbeaten in four and clear of the relegation zone, looking closer to the side that chased Europe last season.
Manchester City’s trip to Newcastle raised fresh questions about momentum after the international break. City were less clinical at St James’ Park: Erling Haaland and Phil Foden missed chances they might once have taken, Jeremy Doku’s early liveliness faded, and substitutions—most conspicuously bringing on Savinho—failed to change the game’s course. Four Premier League defeats is an unusually high tally for Pep Guardiola’s teams, and while this feels like a temporary blip rather than a crisis, City will need to rediscover their ruthless edge.
Newcastle, meanwhile, will take huge confidence from another dominant home display. St James’ Park continues to feel like a fortress: a sequence of home wins and only two goals conceded in that run. The results have pushed Eddie Howe’s side clear of the relegation zone, with returns from Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento strengthening the full-back options and Harvey Barnes stepping up in Anthony Gordon’s absence. The challenge now is to convert that home form into consistency on the road, with tough fixtures looming.
Chelsea’s efficient 2-0 win at Burnley was another sign of progress under Enzo Maresca but not definitive proof of title credentials. Andrey Santos impressed filling in for Moises Caicedo, and Maresca’s rotation—highlighted by a planned half-time change for Reece James—suggests careful management across a packed schedule. Upcoming tests against Barcelona and Arsenal will be telling for Chelsea’s genuine ambitions, particularly if Cole Palmer remains unavailable.
Wolves’ 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace again exposed a lack of cutting edge. The expected-goals numbers suggest chances are being created, but the finishing intensity and clinical touch are absent. Rob Edwards’ side remain bottom and without a league win in 12 games; forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jorgen Strand Larsen offered effort but not the conviction needed to convert openings.
At the Vitality, Bournemouth fought back to earn a 2-2 draw with West Ham after Callum Wilson’s two early goals. West Ham’s decision to substitute Wilson at half-time swung momentum: Bournemouth piled up an xG of 4.08 in the second half and were repeatedly denied by an outstanding Alphonse Areola, who made ten saves. Bournemouth’s high-xG output without Antoine Semenyo suggests their attacking profile can cope with absences when others step up.
Fulham’s 1-0 win over Sunderland came via Raul Jimenez’s instinctive finish. Marco Silva highlighted Jimenez’s “killer instinct” despite limited training time after international duty. Fulham’s 24-shot tally hinted at creative spark that could be a turning point if sustained. Sunderland’s low shot count under Regis Le Bris highlighted the gulf in intensity and cutting quality on the day.
Brighton continue to diversify their attack beyond Joao Pedro. Danny Welbeck is in excellent form, Yankuba Minteh created multiple chances and led dribble metrics, and Georginio Rutter’s pressing and work-rate add another dimension. That front three is beginning to look like a serious attacking option. Brentford’s Igor Thiago, despite missing a late penalty, has been a revelation: his hold-up play, work-rate and nine goals in 12 games make him one of the league’s most effective new-season strikers.
The weekend produced clear winners and losers. Liverpool and Manchester City faced unexpected issues while Forest and Newcastle gained momentum. Chelsea showed progress but await tougher examinations; Wolves need a drastic improvement in finishing; and several mid-table and promoted sides demonstrated that this season will continue to evolve unpredictably. Teams that tighten up defensively, find cutting finishers, or manage squad rotation smartly will be best placed as the campaign unfolds.