Premier League 2018/19: 5 talking points from Round 4 of the season

Watford FC v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
Watford provided the big shock of the weekend

The 2018/19 Premier League season will be going on hold for a week to allow players to participate fully in the first international engagement since the World Cup.

Before the international break, the fourth round of matches went down and it was as expected: filled with heart-pumping, end-to-end action that produced 27 goals and a red card among other headline-grabbing stories.

Defending champions Manchester City marked the 10th anniversary of the club's takeover by the City Football Group with a routine 2-1 win over an ultra-defensive Newcastle United team. Big-spending Liverpool held on to the top spot with a 2-1 win away at Leicester City in a game characterized by a howler from Reds' goalie Alisson Becker.

Chelsea and Watford also maintained their 100% records with home wins over previously unbeaten opponents: Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

Down at the bottom, West Ham remain the only pointless team following the 1-0 home loss to Wolves while Cardiff City scored its first couple of goals but still lost 2-3 to a very shaky Arsenal side.

Here is a look at 5 talking points from the weekend's Premier League action:

#5 Left-backs as assist leaders

Manchester City v Newcastle United - Premier League
Mendy is currently topping the assists table

One of the more interesting things that have emerged so far in this nascent Premier League season has been the rise to prominence of left backs as assist leaders. Jose Holebas (Watford), Paul Robertson (Liverpool), Marcos Alonso and the effervescent Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City) are a few of the left backs that have taken center-stage this season.

All four are left-backs in the finest of modern fullback tradition: speedy (except Alonso) runners who occupy the left flank and bomb up and down providing both defensive/offensive services. Due to the congestion caused by teams fielding 2-3 midfielders these days, the fullbacks have become potent attacking weapons and often more likely to be providers of goals rather than midfielders

All four provided assists on the weekend with Holebas' exceptional deliveries from dead ball situations leading to two assists in the Hornets' shock win over Tottenham. These two assists put him joint top of the assist table with World Cup winner Mendy whose return from a long layoff has added an extra dimension to the Cityzens' already frightening depth in attack.

#4 Javi Gracia deserves credit for revitalized Watford

Watford FC v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Gracia and his side are doing brilliantly

A lot of pundits had been predicting that Watford would be one of the teams looking for a new manager in the close season. The thinking was that Spanish manager Javi Gracia would be shown the door following the team's stupefying end to the 2017/2018 season.

He had been appointed in January 2018 following the sacking of Marco Silva whose head had been turned by Everton (which was seeking to replace Ronald Koeman). However, he was unable to lift the team as they sleepwalked their way to the end of the season. Although they were never really in relegation trouble, the performances were dire though a horrendous injury crisis didn't do him any favours.

This season, the 48-year-old former Rubin Kazan has revitalized the Hornets and its paying off. Goalkeeper Ben Foster is the only new buy who has had a starting role in the team. The likes of Andre Gray, Holebas, Roberto Pereyra, Daryl Janmant, Will Hughes are performing at levels they didn't meet last season.

The astute organization of his side will continue to be an asset especially if the team's habitual injury crisis does not rear its head.

#3 Sarriball is coming along nicely at Chelsea

Huddersfield Town v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Sarri's tactics have been adopted wholeheartedly

Whisper it very quietly in the streets of West London and don't let anyone from the Northern part of England hear; Chelsea might just be title contenders. The Blues made it 4 wins from 4 under the new manager with a hard-fought 2-0 win over a Bournemouth side that showed that it could mix steel and resolve with forward-going skill.

Goals from Eden Hazard and substitute, Pedro delivered the three points but there was much to be happy about as it concerns the performance. For once, the centre-back pairing of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger did not look stretched or out of position. Between them, they comfortably dealt with the threat posed by Callum Wilson and Joshua King.

The lack of goals from midfield will be an issue later on in the season and it is surely one that Sarri will look to solve. For now, however, the combination of Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, and Marko Kovacic is working a treat for the Blues. They controlled the game and denied service to the Bournemouth attack.

Alvaro Morata continued his erratic displays but Sarri will not be too worried about that as the team continues to adapt to his methods.

#2 Romelu Lukaku's finishing still needs a lot of work

Burnley FC v Manchester United - Premier League
Lukaku should have gotten more goals

A cursory look at the scoreline from Manchester United's redeeming win over Burnley would give one the false impression that Lukaku had a great game.

The Belgian attacker got two goals but the story from the match was really about his wastefulness in front of goal. A pattern seems to have emerged about his scoring abilities this season: when he has to react instinctively, there are few strikers as deadly as the 24-year-old. However, when he has time to settle and make a decision, he more often than not fluffs his lines.

Against a disjointed Claret side, he got in a header from a delicious Alexis Sanchez cross and was the first to react to a loose ball for his second. However, he missed a host of glittering chances that should have added more gloss to the scoreline.

This has been a recurring fail of his (recall the gilt-edged chance against Tottenham Hotspur that would have put a different complexion to the game). It is one that he will have to address if he ever wants to occupy the world-class striker discussion.

#1 Arsenal's defence continues to cause concerns

Cardiff City v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Arsenal's defence could be their undoing

3 goals, first away win, 2nd win on the bounce, goals by both top scorers: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. By rights, the match against Cardiff City should be seen as job done for Unai Emery and his team.

However, the shocking display by the defence will give cause for concern as if not checked, it will derail the team's top 4 ambitions. The insistence by Emery on passing from the back continues to look ill-advised as goalie Petr Cech almost made a howler in the first few minutes against the Bluebirds.

In the centre of the backline, Shkodran Mustafi had to be bailed out time and time again by partner Sokratis Papastathopoulos. Despite his well-taken goal, one has to wonder for how long Emery will keep faith with the German international.

Hector Bellerin also had a forgettable game as he struggled against Junior Hoilett and often left Matteo Guendouzi with too much work to do. Why Emery has refused to start with Lucas Torreira remains a mystery as the Uruguayan's introduction brought a bit of calm to the defence.

It remains to be seen how Emery will fix the defence but it will be curtains for the club's ambitions if nothing is done.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram