Premier League Season Observations
Another Premier League season has begun, showcasing revamped teams, fresh tactical approaches, and a mix of optimism and skepticism among fans.
While numerous observations could be made across all teams, here are five notable highlights from the weekend's matches.
1. Liverpool Struggles Against Counter-attacks
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool has introduced attacking reinforcements, but the team's balance appears off. In their match against Bournemouth, they demonstrated promise in attack but were vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Last season, Liverpool conceded only two goals from fast breaks throughout the entire campaign. Remarkably, they matched that figure in just their opening game this season.
What has changed for Liverpool? Slot indicated that sloppy passing in midfield contributed to their vulnerabilities. These misplaced passes allowed opponents time and space to exploit a disorganized defensive structure, particularly when attacking through the center.
Such situations are riskier than losing possession in wider areas, as attackers are closer to goal and in better positions to shoot.
While Slot emphasized the need for improved decision-making and passing quality, it's evident that Liverpool committed numerous players to their attack. At times, seven or eight players crowded Bournemouth's penalty area, leaving few defenders to cover.
For Antoine Semenyo's second goal, both Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson were caught upfield, unable to return in time to defend against the counter-attack when possession was lost.
Although passing and decision-making must improve, Slot may need to adjust the positions of the full-backs or central midfielders during offensive plays to provide better protection against counter-attacking threats.
2. Manchester City Show Signs of Revival
Despite being viewed as outsiders in the title race—only five of our 33 pundits predict they will lift the trophy in May—Manchester City's convincing 4-0 victory over Wolves has propelled them to 43 points from their last 20 games, more than any other team.
Rodri's season-ending injury last September significantly impacted their Premier League campaign. However, rather than merely waiting for his return, Pep Guardiola has devised a strategy to cope without him, and the former champions have been regaining their form since the start of the year.
The 'non-penalty expected goal difference per game' statistic illustrates how well a team dominates their matches by creating high-quality chances while limiting their opponents' opportunities. This metric indicates that Manchester City is nearly back to the dominance they exhibited prior to the Ballon d'Or winner's injury.
Anyone writing them off does so at their own risk.
READ MORE: 'Top signing for years' - all-action Reijnders shines for Manchester City
3. Graham Potter Yet to Spark Change at West Ham
Graham Potter has not made the impact many anticipated since taking over as West Ham manager in January, as evidenced by the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland, marking their ninth loss in 19 Premier League matches under his leadership.
To match Julen Lopetegui's record before his dismissal after 20 games, Potter must secure a victory against his former club Chelsea at home on Friday night.
While Potter has notably improved the defense—West Ham conceding 13 fewer goals and facing 69 fewer shots than under Lopetegui—this defensive enhancement has come at a cost to their attacking prowess. They have scored only two fewer goals (with one game remaining), but their shot and expected goal metrics have significantly declined.
The improvement in goal difference suggests some misfortune in results, yet their expected goal difference indicates that Potter's improvements have been minimal, and he has yet to truly work his magic at West Ham.
4. Thomas Frank's Innovative Kick-off Routine
Thomas Frank's Tottenham has adopted several successful principles from Brentford's previous season, including creative strategies for set-piece situations. A noteworthy example this weekend was the innovative use of the kick-off as a set-piece routine.
Against Burnley, the ball was passed back to Guglielmo Vicario from the kick-off as the home team advanced up the pitch. Anticipating a long ball, Burnley logically dropped deeper. Vicario's deceptive positioning further sold this routine before he played a shorter pass to Pedro Porro.
By finding Porro near the inner right side of the pitch, closer to goal, he was positioned to deliver a more dangerous cross. Porro is one of Spurs' most effective crossers, and with an extra player at the back post, this strategy could have resulted in an early goal in another scenario.
Launching the ball long early not only alleviates pressure from the opposition but also showcases Frank's emphasis on maximizing marginal gains across the pitch. Expect Tottenham to continue experimenting with their kick-off routines throughout the season.
READ MORE: Rejuvenated Richarlison helps Frank to a 'dream start'
5. Arsenal's Shift Towards Direct Play: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal has adopted a different approach in their summer transfer strategy. Historically a team that dominated possession and played methodically, they are now attempting to introduce a more direct and counter-attacking style.
In their match against Manchester United, Arsenal's more direct play ultimately worked against them. They attempted numerous quick attacks, with players advancing the ball rapidly over large distances before attempting through balls for attackers. In previous seasons, they would have likely opted to maintain possession and restart their attack.
Martin Ødegaard led many of the counter-attacks. However, when Viktor Gyökeres made his runs into the inside right channel, Ødegaard's passing weight was off, resulting in missed opportunities. This end-to-end style of play favored United's quick attackers.
Being left-footed posed a challenge for Ødegaard, as a right-footed player would have been better positioned to direct the pass towards goal, facilitating an earlier shot for someone like Gyökeres.