EPL round-up: Game of musical chairs continues as table begins to take shape
The Premier League heads for the second international break of the season and it could not have come at a worse time, at least for those who had their eyes glued to the action. The complexion of the table changed almost by the hour across another frenetic weekend before the hiatus.
Five-star Chelsea and ruthless Liverpool continue to benefit from lack of European football
Huge financial costs notwithstanding, the absence of Champions League football has come as a real blessing for Liverpool and Chelsea, something that became even more evident this weekend.
None of City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester could win their League games after their mid-week matches, and Liverpool and Chelsea duly took advantage of the slip-ups to rise to the top 2 positions in the standings.
Chelsea, playing in the late kick-off on Saturday, dismissed a sorry Everton side with a 5-0 thrashing, their fifth consecutive win without conceding. This run has seen them rise from 8th to 2nd and has gone some way in exorcising the ghosts of last season. The winning feeling is back at Stamford Bridge, and don't Eden Hazard and Diego Costa know it.
The strike pair continued their incredible form in the drubbing of the Toffees. Hazard made a mockery of the away side's defence, rediscovering that golden touch he showed so often on his way to winning the Player of the Year award two seasons ago.
Costa, likewise, is scoring week in week out, much like his debut title-winning season. What is different is how he has adapted his game in the absence of Cesc Fabregas, dropping deep to collect the ball and turning supplier at times for Hazard.
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If Chelsea rely on their front pair for firepower, league leaders Liverpool have an equally devastating attacking quartet. Brazilians Coutinho and Firmino have everyone dancing to the Samba tune, and in tandem with the rejuvenated Lallana and summer signing Mane, have combined to deliver 19 goals in just 11 games.
Watford visited Anfield on the back of three clean sheets, but with the four in full flow, didn't stand a chance as they were hit for six. With each passing win, the feeling that this could be a special season for Klopp's men grows stronger.
Fatigued Man City, Arsenal and Spurs slip up
For Liverpool and Chelsea to move up the table, they needed other results to go their way, which is exactly what happened. Playing at home to Middlesbrough, Guardiola's City were expected to collect a straightforward win but were frustrated by De Roon's injury time equaliser.
They were expectedly dominant from the start, and having taken the lead through another Aguero goal should have wrapped up the game. They were not sharp in front of the goal when they needed to be, and it was clear that fatigue carrying over from the Barcelona masterclass was responsible for that.
Arsenal and Spurs were likewise lethargic in a drab game by North London derby standards. With the emergence of Spurs as genuine contenders over the past couple of seasons, this fixture has grown even more in stature as it has in quality, something that was amiss at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Perhaps it was the early kick-off, or the more obvious signs of mid-week exertions on the players that yielded a game of less incidents and more accidents. Both teams will be dissatisfied with a point, Spurs perhaps more so, the 1-1 draw their 7th game without a win in all competitions.
Mourinho's experiment pays off
It was hard to tell, as Manchester United faced off against Swansea, which manager needed the win more. Bob Bradley, still searching for his maiden win as Swans manager was desperate to pile more misery on an under-pressure Jose Mourinho, who took a slight risk in naming an experimental United side.
He had little choice due to the spate of recent injuries plaguing his squad, but it was a choice that worked wonders. Ibrahimovic ended a personal drought and netted the Premier League's 25000th goal and another to go along with Pogba's stunning volley.
The Red Devils and their signings displayed the kind of quality that fans had been crying out for, and with Arsenal up next, may have just rediscovered their mojo at the right time.
League Table taking shape
Eleven games down and unlike last season, there are no major surprises. United moved into the Top 6 on the back of their win, and as expected, it is Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Arsenal and Spurs who keep them company as the League's best sides.
It is hard to imagine the order not changing from now to the end of the season, but you can expect the same sides to be in the mix even on the final day.
Sunderland finally picked up their first win but make no mistake, remain favourites for the drop. Floundering Swansea need to win soon if they're to avoid the same fate.
The likes of Hull, West Ham and Crystal Palace are hovering in and around the relegation zone, and can expect to be engaged in an end season scrap for survival. Champions Leicester City are firmly back down to earth after the blinding success of last term, and sit in 14th.
This really is the best league in the world, and then some.