EPL Review: Ten Hag toast, Rodri irreplaceable, Palmer sensational

Following every weekend of Premier League action, theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points to emerge from the slate of matches. Below, we dissect Matchweek 6 of the 2024-25 season.

‘Sacked in the morning’ 🎶

Manchester United allowed themselves to be duped by a fortunate FA Cup triumph last season. Were it not for that victory over rivals Manchester City – and the extremely lucky semifinal win over Coventry City that preceded it – Erik ten Hag almost certainly wouldn’t still be the manager at Old Trafford.

And yet, there he is. Still. Manchester United are worse off for it.

The Dutchman has survived several humiliating results since taking over, but at what point will his leash run out? Ten Hag insisted, yet again, that he and his team need more time to put everything together following Sunday’s 3-0 shellacking at home against Tottenham Hotspur.

The United brass should instead listen to the Tottenham fans who mockingly chanted that Ten Hag would be “sacked in the morning” during the match.

He can try to use Bruno Fernandes’ harsh red card as an excuse – a yellow would’ve been the correct call on the play – but, in truth, the Red Devils were getting blown out of the water well before going down a man. Tottenham’s first goal, in which the seas parted for Micky van de Ven to storm right through from his own half and set up Brennan Johnson, was symptomatic of Manchester United’s issues. It was painfully easy for Spurs to break through United’s ineffective press and attack the holes that emerged.

Down to 10 men and needing to be laser focused coming out of the halftime interval to keep the deficit to just one goal, United conceded under two minutes into the second stanza. The game was effectively over at that point. The players need to take their share of accountability, of course, but not being prepared just seconds after the restart reeks of a managerial failure.

If Timo Werner could actually finish relatively easy chances, it would’ve been much, much worse for Ten Hag and his team. The scoreline actually flattered United, if anything.

For a club the stature of Manchester United – something that’s become easy to forget given their current malaise – these consistent failures can’t be allowed to continue. At best, this club is treading water right now. Ten Hag clearly isn’t capable of rectifying the situation, which has left United 12th in the table with just two wins from six games.

Quick free-kicks 📝

Life without Rodri begins for Pep

Pep Guardiola is already tired of being asked the same question. He’s not yet sure how, exactly, Manchester City will replace Rodri. “I have to find solutions,” he said bluntly after losing the midfield talisman for the season to an ACL injury. Mateo Kovacic, a very good – but totally different – player to the Spaniard, operated in the Rodri role in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle. The balance wasn’t quite right. City have obviously won without Rodri before – he missed the first three games of this season after being granted an extended break following Euro 2024 – but, overall, there may not be a more valuable player to his team than the 28-year-old. Prior to his injury, City hadn’t lost a league game with him in the lineup dating back to February 2023. There probably isn’t another manager better placed to formulate a new tactical plan in the wake of a key injury, but this will be one of Guardiola’s biggest tests.

How quickly things change

Just a couple of weeks ago, following their loss to Arsenal in the north London derby, things were bleak for Tottenham. Detractors had sharpened their knives, with Ange Postecoglou appearing truly agitated by the criticism being aimed at him and his players. Spurs were minutes away from a humiliating loss to Coventry City in their next match but turned things around with a late brace. All they’ve done since that galvanizing result is win three straight games, scoring three goals in each victory, to arrest what threatened to devolve into a dangerous early-season slide. Dejan Kulusevski is thriving in a midfield role, Dominic Solanke is finding his feet with his new club, and Brennan Johnson is on a roll. How long will it continue?

Mbeumo’s big move is coming

Thomas Frank knows that he can’t keep hold of Bryan Mbeumo much longer. The Brentford striker continued his red-hot start to the season Saturday, scoring his fifth goal in six matches. Were it not for a serious ankle injury last season, the Cameroonian international may already have completed a big transfer that’s looking more and more likely with each passing week. “He was the biggest miss last year even when we had Ivan (Toney) out,” Frank said of the 25-year-old. “We missed our key player … I’m convinced one day he will play for a bigger club; I will definitely buy him if I was at a bigger club.” There were some tenuous links with Liverpool in the summer, but expect the rumors to get louder both in January and, of course, at the end of the season.

Trossard: Zero to hero

Leandro Trossard let his team down with his needless red card last week against Manchester City. He was keen to make amends after serving his suspension in the midweek League Cup fixture. He did just that. Though the eventual winning goal against Leicester City on Saturday was (correctly) credited as an own goal by Wilfred Ndidi, Trossard created it in the 94th minute, adding that vital contribution to the goal he scored earlier in the contest. Initially viewed as a complementary depth piece when he was signed, the Belgian has instead become a vital contributor for Mikel Arteta. His intelligent movement dovetails nicely with Kai Havertz as Arsenal continue to operate without a true No. 9 up front.

Star performer 🌟

Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Who else? Palmer made history this weekend, becoming the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match when he tore Brighton & Hove Albion apart at Stamford Bridge. His record-breaking performance included a 10-minute hat-trick and a sensational free-kick.

Since the start of last season, no player – not even Erling Haaland – has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than Palmer, who’s racked up 28 goals and 15 assists in that time.

“When you have a player in your team like Cole Palmer, then anything is possible,” Jadon Sancho said, according to ESPN. How right he is.

There’s a frightening ease with which the 22-year-old does everything on the pitch, whether it’s creating for his teammates or finding the net himself. Manchester City clearly haven’t needed him, given their enormous recent success, but at what point do we have to start asking if it was a blatant mistake to sell him to Chelsea? We’re probably already past that point.

Best XI 😎

(Courtesy: FotMob)

Highlight of the weekend 🎥

If you want to study perfect volley technique, watch this from James Justin.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Bruno Fernandes’ (unlucky) red card against Tottenham on Sunday was the first dismissal of his Manchester United career in 242 appearances.

Social media moment 📱

Romeo Lavia left a cheeky message for Chelsea teammate Palmer after his historic performance Saturday.

Where we stand 👀

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