Premier League 2017/18 - 5 talking points from gameweek 9

Manchester City v Burnley - Premier League
Manchester City v Burnley - Premier League

The Premier League is past its 9th week and has already made us privy to some exciting encounters.

This weekend saw Manchester United take their first hit of the season, while their local rivals, Manchester City, continued to thrash opponents with their attacking brand of football. Chelsea and Arsenal came back from a one-goal deficit to win their respective matches convincingly, while Tottenham Hotspur thumped Liverpool at Wembley.

Here are five talking points from the weekend action:


#5 Sergio Aguero returns to competitive football

Sergio Aguero, who was sidelined with a fractured rib due to a car crash that he suffered last month, made a comeback to the Premier League this weekend.

It did not take him long to make a mark on the game, as he scored the first goal with the penalty to initiate City's 3-0 victory. He also equalled Eric Brook’s 78-year-old club record of 177 goals with the clean strike into the net.

The club from Manchester is gaining momentum with every passing game, and Aguero's return to the mix will only add to its unbreakable tenacity. It was not that Burnley played bad football. In fact, they made the table-toppers earn the victory and put some serious pressure on the home post in the first few minutes of the second half.

This is what makes City's performance even more impressive. Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne continues to make a case for him as the best player in the league right now. His team is 5 points clear of Manchester United at the moment. Can they be stopped?

#4 Chelsea fight it out against Watford

Chelsea v Watford - Premier League
Chelsea v Watford - Premier League

It was rumoured that Antonio Conte's position as the boss of Chelsea might have been under serious scrutiny after the Italian went through a win-less spell with the West London team in its last three Premier League games.

He was under the scanner yet again as Chelsea trailed 2-1 to a confident and passionate Watford unit after Roberto Pereyra's 49th-minute goal. It looked like Chelsea will succumb to Arsenal's fortune of last week, where the men under Arsene Wenger suffered a similar blow against Marco Silva's troops.

However, Chelsea scripted a miraculous comeback in the latter stages of the game and turned the match on its head after Michy Batshuayi's double strike for them. They displayed extreme reserves of determination and grit to pocket a 4-2 victory at the end of 90 minutes.

Conte's men showed why they are the defending champions of the league with their fightback after being down by a goal against a side that is full of confidence right now. Their campaign this season is definitely alive, more so now.

#3 Tottenham and Harry Kane humiliate Liverpool

Tottenham
Tottenham v Liverpool - Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur's form at Wembley is improving with every game and their thumping victory over Liverpool on Sunday advocates for the same. The team under Mauricio Pochettino looked at a completely different level throughout the 90 minutes and played some smashing football to cripple Liverpool's vulnerable defense.

Their attack was so powerful that Jurgen Klopp was forced to substitute Dejan Lovren just half an hour after the starting whistle, owing to the shambolic display of defense from the Croatian, who ended up giving away two goals to the Spurs.

However, that tactic could not inspire a comeback for the men in red, as the hosts added two more goals in their tally even after his exit. A consolidatory goal for Liverpool came in the form of Mohamed Salah's scruffy strike in the first half of the game. However, the solitary goal could only be a consolation for the visitors as the Spurs ran away with the 4-1 victory.

#2 Arsene Wenger celebrates his birthday with Arsenal's best performance this season

Everton v Arsenal - Premier League
Everton v Arsenal - Premier League

The Gunners gave Arsene Wenger a special gift for his 68th birthday when they secured a clinical 5-2 victory against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. The win was made sweeter by the fact that the men from North London came back from being a goal down to clinch it with style.

To the relief of Gooners across the world, Wenger started the game with Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez up front. This was the first time that the trio played together, and their class showed when each of them contributed a goal in the five scored by Arsenal. Ozil and Sanchez went a step ahead to add an assist each to their tally.

Nacho Monreal, who has easily been Arsenal's best player this season, was the one to equalize after his team found itself 1-0 down to the hosts. Aaron Ramsey also chipped in with the fifth goal of the game.

Ronald Koeman's job is now under a serious threat as Everton, who spent lavishly during the transfer window this season, are now in the relegation zone of the table.

#1 Huddersfield Town AFC create history against Manchester United

Huddersfield Town v Manchester United - Premier League
Huddersfield Town v Manchester United - Premier League

A flamboyant Manchester United team that is unbeaten in the league so far takes on a club that has just been promoted to top-tier football: no one gives a second thought to the game, casting it aside as another easy win for the Red Devils.

That is when sport's favourite underdog story takes the centre stage once again.

The men in blue-and-white stripes take it upon themselves to guard their home ground and do so with substance. They had not scored in the four games that led up to this massive encounter, they not won a league game since August. The Terriers turned all that around in those 90 minutes on Saturday.

Huddersfield AFC created history on the day, when they clinched their first victory against Manchester United in 65 years. It was not just a win, it was a statement of pride. The hosts went 2-0 up in the first half of the game, thereby making their resolve extremely clear to anyone who cared to watch.

They did not let Jose Mourinho's men enjoy relentless possession and kept finding ways to win the ball back. United tried to grasp at the straws with Marcus Rashford's strike in the 78th minute of the game. However, Huddersfield kept pouring their everything in defending their lead as though their lives depended on it.

In some ways, it did.

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