Brilliant Bowen is too good to ignore
With his clinical low finish in West Ham's 2-0 win over Sheffield United, Jarrod Bowen made it five goals from seven Premier League games this season. Factor in his dramatic winner in the Europa Conference League final in June and it's six in eight.
He could easily have had more on Saturday afternoon at the London Stadium. His goalbound header in the first half drew a fine save from Wes Foderingham. But he was sensational regardless, earning a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.
David Moyes said afterwards the 26-year-old must be "closer than ever" to earning an England recall and it is difficult to argue otherwise. Bowen has been one of the Premier League's outstanding performers this season. Only Erling Haaland and Heung-Min Son have scored more goals.
Gareth Southgate has so many options in his forward line but few are performing at such a consistently high level. It's the goals which are propelling him into the headlines, but his all-action display against the Blades was a reminder that he offers plenty more.
The visitors could not handle him on their left-hand side, where he combined so effectively with Vladimir Coufal, dribbling and driving forward in possession and hounding opposition defenders too. He is becoming impossible for Southgate to ignore.
Nick Wright
Amrabat experiment malfunctions Man Utd
Fixing problems is a key trait of being a football manager in the Premier League. Injuries to Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan Bissaka and Sergio Reguilon has given such a problem to Erik ten Hag, who tried to remedy the issue by selecting new signing Sofyan Amrabat in a hybrid role down the left - like he did during United's comfortable first half performance in the 3-0 win over Crystal Palace in midweek. The difference was the Crystal Palace in opposition was a different team to the one that rocked up in midweek.
They played with bravery, physicality, and a huge amount of spark back in Premier League action. This gave Amrabat more defensive duties to undertake and he was given the runaround by the wily Jordan Ayew - a master of his craft at winning free-kicks and taking pressure off his defenders. He won five fouls off the desperate Amrabat, taking his tally to 25 fouls won over the course of this season - seven more than any other player.
Time after time, Amrabat took the bait and was even yellow carded for a cynical handball after Ayew had ducked past him. A performance to forget in a season to forget so far for Manchester United.
Lewis Jones
Set-piece threat offers Luton survival hope
Wins over Brentford and Aston Villa had fostered hopes of brighter days ahead for Everton, but instead it was a landmark day for Luton, who celebrated their first top-flight victory since a 2-0 success against Aston Villa in April 1992.
A drenched Rob Edwards conducted his followers in the Bullens Road End through three joyous fist pumps in the driving rain. It was a filthy day but so beautiful for those who had made the journey from Bedfordshire.
"The Town are staying up," was the chant from the away end, and on this evidence few would say with any conviction that the Hatters are set for an immediate return to the Championship.
Luton were brilliant and deserved this win, typified by Alfie Doughty's dangerous deliveries. Every player stuck to the game plan and were really organised off the ball. They were really strong at the set-pieces and took their chances.
There's a togetherness which is working for them, and it showed in adversity too as the Hatters lost Reece Burke and captain Tom Lockyer in the second half to injury. This may have been even more comfortable as Carlton Morris was denied his second by an offside flag.
Ben Grounds
Nasty reality check for Everton
Co-founders of 777 Partners Josh Wander and Steve Pasko were in attendance at Goodison Park along with Don Dransfield, the CEO of the 777 Football Group, but they witnessed the size of the task ahead to turn Everton back into a force in English football - despite 23 attempts on goal.
Fourteen of those were off target. It was all so desperate, no finesse, and too frantic.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin described the defending for Luton's crucial second goal from Carlton Morris as "criminal", while Sue Smith said the players looked "scared" after falling behind. The confidence generated from two away wins in the space of five days drained away from the players after falling two goals down at home to a promoted side within 32 minutes.
Everton's surprise win at Brentford had offered them a platform to move comfortably away from the relegation zone ahead of the October international break with this home game coming before another encounter next weekend at Goodison Park against Bournemouth.
The visit of the Cherries will at least trigger happy memories of the last-day victory that secured survival if nothing else, as this 14th home defeat in 23 games since the start of last season underlines the problem Everton have playing in front of their own supporters.
Calvert-Lewin's third goal in as many games was indeed the first home goal of the campaign, but there were few signs of an understanding between he and Beto when the Portuguese came on in the second half. The striker signed for £27m from Udinese missed glaringly when well placed to level. This was a nasty reality check for Everton.
Ben Grounds
Watkins provides another timely England reminder
Brighton will be sick of the sight of Ollie Watkins.
Watkins' hat-trick inspired Aston Villa to an emphatic 6-1 victory over the Seagulls and the England striker has now scored six Premier League goals against Brighton, netting in each of his last four appearances against them.
In his English league career, it's now the outright most goals he's scored against a single opponent, overtaking the five he has vs Liverpool.
The 27-year-old now has seven goals in all competitions this season, including two hat-trick to become the first player to score two trebles in a single season in all competitions for Aston Villa since Andy Gray in 1976/77. He's also only the second player to score more than one Premier League hat-trick overall for the club, after Christian Benteke.
Watkins' rise under Unai Emery continues but his exploits against Brighton were a timely reminder to England boss Gareth Southgate, who was in the stands at Villa Park on Saturday.
He wasn't in the Three Lions squad for the games against Ukraine and Scotland in September, but on this showing he will surely be firmly back in the thoughts of Southgate when he names against Australia and Italy in October.
Oliver Yew
Man City just aren't the same without Rodri
Since Rodri's Premier League debut in August 2019, Manchester City have lost 33 per cent of the top-flight matches they have played without the Spaniard, compared to just 7.5 per cent with him in their side.
The loss at Wolves - as well as the defeat at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup - add to the suspicion that City are just not the same without the dominating presence of Rodri.
Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic are fine players but City lacked urgency and imagination in possession, with Pep Guardiola responding by removing the former at half-time.
City were also flimsy when they lost the ball, with Pedro Neto in particular causing concern when he raided down their left side.
Rodri may not have been able to single-handedly change the outcome of events at Molineux, but the numbers show City are clearly a more vulnerable side without him.
After looking unbeatable during the first weeks of the season, City are suddenly on the ropes - and Mikel Arteta will be desperate to ensure Arsenal are the latest side to expose the hole left by Rodri at the Emirates next Sunday.
Joe Shread
Burnley's season starts now
"As a newly promoted team, I'm not that naive to not guess that it could be this type of start."
Vincent Kompany saw it coming. One point from their first six games back in the Premier League has Burnley second from bottom.
Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Newcastle represented nearly the toughest start they could have had.
There have been flashes of the side that stormed to the Championship title. Zeki Amdouni and Luca Koleosho have shone in difficult circumstances. Now they must deliver in a crucial October.
A trip to Luton is next on Tuesday, followed by misfiring Chelsea, Brentford and Bournemouth. Burnley's season starts now.
David Richardson