We learned from the EPL

PEP’S VISION IS COMING TOGETHER

The maroon blanket that coated Antonio Conte’s Chelsea was something to behold on Saturday.

It was a sensational performance away from home against the defending champions to be able to limit Chelsea in the way that they did. For Pep Guardiola it felt like a breakthrough performance, just days after Conte had his own in Madrid.

Now the Italian can rightly feel aggrieved that his side arrived home at 4am on Thursday after playing one of Europe’s top sides while City enjoyed an extra 36 hours’ rest after playing Shakhtar at home.

And it would have been interesting to see these two sides meet on a more even playing field but that is life in the Premier League. Chelsea’s squad is thinner than it should be through their own doing and weeks like this are where it costs you.

For City, who put in a display that surely installs them as title favourites, this dominant performance felt like a statement win.

DOES ROY HAVE AN IMPOSSIBLE JOB?

What can Roy Hodgson do? He inherited a squad with no wins, no points, no confidence and no goals, and who does he have to play in three of his first four games? Manchester City, United and, next, Chelsea.

Those at the club who were only too happy to take the credit for decisions when things went well are mysteriously silent now.

Palace are already setting the Premier League record for the worst start ever and it looks like by the time it ends it will be a record that may take a while to be beaten. Is it already too late for Palace to survive? Forget the Great Escape, staying in the Premier League is already looking like Mission Impossible.

RASHFORD IS SHOWING VERSATILITY AND ABILITY

Recently it’s been a long afternoon for whoever has played rightback against Manchester United, not least because they have to face Marcus Rashford for 60plus minutes before a fresh-legged Anthony Martial enters the fray.

But on Saturday it was especially long for Joel Ward after the Englishman tore him apart from as early as the third minute when he left the Palace man for dead before laying on Juan Mata’s opener.

The Englishman looks to have finally settled on the left of that front three with Mourinho admiring his industrious work rate over Martial’s attacking nous. Even Martial’s stunning midweek performance in the Champions League wasn’t enough to dislodge Rashford from this team. His free kick for Fellaini’s second was a thing of beauty.

Rashford and Martial seem to be jostling for one position in Mourinho’s attack but both are fast, tricky and excellent finishers. They provide a different element to the United offensive push and should their form continue then you wonder if there is a way in which Jose could squeeze them both into the starting XI.

END OF THE ROAD FOR KOEMAN?

Defeat to Burnley on Sunday meant that, despite spending near to £150m in the summer, Everton have actually regressed so poorly that they have only managed two wins in 10 games. They sit just two points above the relegation zone, and yet Ronald Koeman admitted he couldn’t do anything about it as his players did all he asked. Is he now aware that he cannot improve this Everton side? Because his board are beginning to wonder.

Koeman was given the benefit of the doubt after collecting just four points from the opening five games against Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.

But after lacklustre displays against Atalanta and Apollen Limassol in the Europa League and Sunday’s limp loss to Burnley, the pressure is now on the Dutchman.

LIVERPOOL NEED TO REGROUP

KANE IS ACTUALLY WORLD CLASS

ARSENAL GETTING BACK ON TRACK