If you thought Breaking Bad was the best thing on TV this past weekend, you clearly didn’t watch enough Premier League. Here are the top five things we learned this week.
Chelsea could use Lukaku
I know I wasn’t the only person to predict that Romelu Lukaku would be the Premier League’s leading scorer come May.
And I’m not necessarily saying he will be, but what the Belgian proved in his full Everton debut in a 3-2 win over Newcastle United was that HE is the consistent goal scorer Jose Mourinho sought this summer.
Not one Chelsea striker has scored a Premier League goal this season. Lukaku has three.
There’s no denying that the 20-year-old needs to develop and refine his game before he can be a world class player for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
But he can score at this level. Lukaku is the sixth youngest player, and the youngest player not from the UK, to have scored 20 Premier League goals.
Just like West Bromwich Albion did last year, Everton fans get to enjoy the benefits of Roman Abramovich’s investment.
Manchester United are the new Everton
Seven points from six games. It’s certainly not what Manchester United fans were expecting, but have we all forgotten Everton’s last five seasons?
The Toffees made it a frustrating habit of starting the campaign poorly, but would then find their groove and vault up the table to finish fifth come May.
At this point last season, the Red Devils had already lost to David Moyes’ Everton and Tottenham. That 6-1 Manchester derby thrashing was only a couple of years ago, as well. So a slow start for United isn’t completely out of the blue either.
But it certainly is concerning because it doesn’t seem like Moyes knows what the plan is to turn it all around.
Manchester City are cursed away from home
Just when you thought the Blues had figured out how to win on the road…
The Citizens dominated Aston Vila the entire first half and should have been in front 3-0 or 4-0 at halftime. But they didn’t capitalise on their chances and didn’t get the memo that Lady Luck was wearing a Claret and Blue dress on Saturday.
Now many City fans are calling for Joe Hart to be benched. But it should take a few more disastrous road trips like that before they start demanding Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic be replaced by Joleon Lescott and Javi Garcia.
City’s next three road trips? West Ham, CSKA Moscow and Chelsea. Good luck Manny — me thinks you’re going need it.
Suarez-Sturridge might be the best duo in Europe
It took Luis Suarez just 37 minutes to remind Brendan Rodgers what his already successful attack had really been missing.
Liverpool took their foot off the pedal for a bit in the second half, which was dangerous against a Sunderland side that for once this season looked composed and organised. But it didn’t cost them.
There were moments against Manchester United in the midweek League Cup match where Suarez looked a bit rusty, but the Uruguayan hasn’t missed a beat. Imagine where the Reds would be if Suarez didn’t miss ten games because he couldn’t resist a bite?
Mourinho treats English media same as Spanish
Jose didn’t last too long as “The Happy One,” did he?
Note to self: Do not ask a manager about a questionable selection before the match that confirms that decision was a stupid mistake.
As a manager, Mourinho has every right to leave Kevin De Bruyne in London, but a journalist has every right to ask such a question.