Another weekend of Premier League action down, only 34 more to go. We are now four games into the 2018/19 campaign and the table is starting to take shape.
Football fans were treated to an array of exciting games this weekend – starting with Liverpool’s trip to Leicester City and ending with Watford’s dramatic victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Here are five things to take away from the latest round of Premier League fixtures:
Watford ARE The Real Deal
Start taking the Hornets seriously. A goal down and under pressure against Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, Watford could easily have crumbled… but they didn’t.
Teams with a 100% Premier League record: Liverpool, Chelsea, Watford.
— 888sport (@888sport) September 2, 2018
What a start for Javi Gracia ?? pic.twitter.com/V5mMTWGtEF
Javi Gracia’s side are made of stern stuff and the Hornets showed that they can mix it with the best teams in the country on their day. Watch this space, Watford look primed to challenge Everton for the ‘best of the rest’ spot outside of the top six.
When It Rains, It Pours For Manuel Pellegrini
West Ham are in disarray. The Hammers have lost their first four games of the season and fans are already calling for Pellegrini to lose his job - he's 3/1 to be the first Premier League manager sacked.
It was always going to take time for West Ham to settle and adjust but nobody expected four defeats on the spin. The Chilean is proven at the top level and he has the experience to turn things round. Whether he gets the chance to do that or not is another story…
Crystal Palace Rely Too Much On Wilfried Zaha
Okay, we’ve probably known this for a while now but we were reminded of how influential Zaha is to Palace’s success this weekend.
Crystal Palace's last 12 games without Wilfried Zaha:
— 888sport (@888sport) September 1, 2018
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
Lost
One-man team?#CPFC pic.twitter.com/lXVqjr0BOX
The Eagles, well fancied prior to Saturday’s clash, drifted in the betting after news of Zaha’s injury and Southampton, buoyed by that setback, went on to win comfortably. Roy Hodgson’s side have now lost their previous 12 matches without Zaha – Palace need to find a way to without their star winger
Aubameyang And Lacazette Off The Mark
Arsenal needed their two frontmen to step up to the plate and they duly obliged against Cardiff on Sunday afternoon. Fans have been calling for Aubameyang and Lacazette to start alongside each other and Gunners boss Unai Emery listened to those pleas.
Both players may relax with the pressure now off and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Arsenal hit top form in the final third in the not-so-distant future.
Eden Hazard Is The Best Player In The League
The Belgium midfielder looks primed to enjoy a monster year under Maurizio Sarri – he can be Chelsea’s difference maker in the top-flight title race. Hazard has been directly involved in four of Chelsea’s goals in 2018/19 and he will take some stopping on current form.
Eden Hazard has hit the ground running in 2018/19...
— 888sport (@888sport) September 1, 2018
Goals: ⚽️
Assists: ?️?️
Chelsea's creative genius. ?♂️#CHEBOU pic.twitter.com/OZ5PvISjbA
The rumours linking him with a Stamford Bridge exit have disappeared and that has allowed the Belgian to focus on Chelsea; he has been a joy to watch in recent weeks.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
