Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  Hojlund needs consistent service from Man Utd teammates

  The significance of Ramus Hojlund’s first Premier League goal was clear in the emotion across the Danish striker’s face. Not only did his opportunistic strike against Aston Villa give Manchester United a valuable comeback victory to ease the pressure on everyone at the club, it highlighted the sort of frontman the £72m summer signing could become.

• Sport

  This is Guardiola’s most challenging season as Manchester City manager

  Never before have Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had so few points after 17 games of a Premier League than they do right now. Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace means Pep Guardiola’s team have won just one of their six league games with last season’s Treble winners now five points off Arsenal’s place at the top of the table.

• Sport

  Nicolas Jackson could be the centre forward Chelsea have needed

  It’s been a long time since Chelsea had a reliable goalscorer in the centre forward position. Diego Costa was the last number nine to truly settle in at Stamford Bridge with Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata and Timo Werner all failing to make much of an impression in the time since.

• Sport

  McGinn has become one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League

  Aston Villa fans have long appreciated John McGinn. Until this season, the midfielder enjoyed a cult status at Villa Park where songs are sung about the Scotland international. Of late, though, McGinn’s reputation has swelled further.

• Sport

  Martial doesn’t deserve the opportunities he’s getting at Man Utd

  When Anthony Martial was loaned by Manchester United to Sevilla in January 2022, few believed he would return. The French striker had become a symbol of the Old Trafford club’s colossal waste in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson age and so few were unhappy to see the back of him.

• Sport

  Lo Celso has made the most of his second chance at Tottenham

  Ange Postecoglou has rejuvenated the careers of several Tottenham Hotspur players, but for a long time Giovani Lo Celso wasn’t one of them. While Spurs started the season by surging to the top of the Premier League table, the Argentinean midfielder was left on the outside looking in as a peripheral figure.

• Sport

  Alexander-Arnold the driving force behind Liverpool’s title challenge

  It was fitting that Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the late winner in a match that underlined Liverpool’s Premier League title credentials. The 25-year-old was the driving force behind the Anfield side against Fulham and he is similarly the driving force behind their title challenge this season.

• Sport

  Kai Havertz finally growing into his new Arsenal role

  Mikel Arteta made a point of leading Kai Havertz over to the Arsenal support after he’d scored a late winner for the Gunners away to Brentford. The German midfielder has faced criticism since joining the North London club from Chelsea, but his header sent Arsenal top of the Premier League table.

• Sport

  Anthony Gordon is making it impossible for Southgate to ignore him

  Not so long ago, Newcastle United’s decision to spend £45m on Anthony Gordon faced scrutiny. The winger failed to make an immediate impact for his new team after joining from Everton in January with some highlighting Gordon’s perceived immaturity.

• Sport

  Points deduction could bring out the best in Everton

  Everton were already preparing for a fight against relegation. Having narrowly avoided the drop last season, the Toffees were once again in the relegation picture near the bottom of the Premier League table when news of a 10-point deduction for violating financial rules broke.

• Sport

  Man City match is Liverpool’s opportunity to prove they can win the title

  Liverpool are the only team that have disrupted Manchester City’s domination of the Premier League over the last six seasons. Indeed, the Reds are the only team not in sky blue to have got their hands on the trophy in that time and they could be the only team capable of stopping City from making it six titles in seven years this season.

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