Stones keen to repay Pep
When Liverpool tore Arsenal apart at the end of August they looked like a top-class side. Since then they have been haunted by twin failings. They seem unable to make the most of multiple opportunities in front of goal and, despite outplaying teams, they commit errors and concede goals.
The first issue was thought to be due to Sadio Mane’s suspension but he has returned and nothing has changed but it may be a simple case of bad luck but the same excuse does not work for the second.
No matter how well your forward line is firing – and it is not very well at the moment – you cannot win games consistently without a sturdy defence. Jurgen Klopp and his squad need to regroup and will be glad of the international break.
As Harry Kane rifled in his second goal of the game against Huddersfield on Saturday – a fine left-footed strike with his left foot – that debate raised its head again. Is Kane now considered world class?
Mauricio Pochettino refused to broach the subject of him being in the league of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (after Kane’s goalscoring in the Premier League overtook the former) and rightly so, because he is not at that level but after 13 goals in September the Englishman surely can’t be denied that tag any longer.
He looks like he will score every time he picks up the ball and he looks even more deadly than Sergio Aguero. Ronaldo is the best out-and-out striker in the world right (and yes, he is a striker now) but Kane has put a strong case forward for being the best of the rest.
After a torrid start to the season and a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of a top-four rival in Liverpool the #WengerOut brigade were already looking up prices of hiring novelty planes to fly over the Emirates. But since then there have been eight goals scored, none conceded and no over-reliance on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
They are up to fifth and level on points with Tottenham and Chelsea with a seemingly functional defence, a midfield in Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka who finally understand each other and a strike force which is considered too good for Ozil.
BILIC’S STAY OF EXECUTION
For a few weeks now Slaven Bilic has had the look of a dead man walking at the London Stadium and even if he does manage to continue to dodge the sack from his owners, it appears like this will be his last season in east London regardless.
But it could so easily have been his last weekend had Diafra Sakho not turned the boos to cheers with his last-minute intervention. But, Bilic has some ambitious bosses and with Carlo Ancelotti suddenly available and seemingly run out of super clubs to manage, don’t be surprised to see them try their luck. – The Independent MANCHESTER CITY ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE