With late goals a major factor, the four major players for the trophy saw their narratives crystalize over the weekend
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here’s always a danger this early in the Premier League season of reading too much into a single set of games. Titles may be lost in September but they are very rarely won. This past weekend, though, did feel like one where many of the prevailing narratives crystalised as Arsenal dug deep to win the sort of game they’ve become used to losing, Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings were exposed as they lost for the first time this campaign, Manchester City swept aside lesser opposition in the manner of old and Chelsea fell apart again.
Liverpool have looked defensively shaky all season. Having been the team of control in the last campaign, making the unremarkable 2-0 win a trademark, they have become the side of the late winner, clinching games this season in the 88th, 94th, 100th, 83rd, 95th, 92nd and 85th minutes. That was never going to be sustainable, but the question was whether general performances would improve, or whether the late strikes would dry up.
The 4-2-3-1 shape with Florian Wirtz playing centrally behind a striker was gone this weekend at Crystal Palace, with a return to the 4-3-3 of last season and Wirtz deployed on the left. That had seemed to add stability when it was used in the second half against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, the Ryan Gravenberch – Alexis Mac Allister – Dominik Szoboszlai trio of last season returned to their positions. But it is not a quick fix; vulnerability has crept into Liverpool and Palace exposed it again and again, particularly before half-time. As so often under Arne Slot, Liverpool improved after the break, but it’s no exaggeration to say they could have been 3- or 4-0 down by then.
