Another match week has come and gone, and we are currently in the midst of an international break while we wait for match week 12 to begin in just under two weeks. This most recent week of games provided yet another weekend full of surprises, twists, and a few controversies. Here are the top three things we learned from Premier League match week 11.
Julen Lopetegui Looks Set to Lose His Job
West Ham spent a small fortune this offseason, bringing in the likes of Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, and Luis Guilherme. They currently have very little to show for it, languishing at 14th in the table and looking bereft of ideas on the pitch. The new signings haven’t worked out, and their recent 0-0 draw to Everton further exemplifies just how unrecognizable they look from the side that was challenging for European places last season. The West Ham board may think that Lopetegui can turn it around, but there is little evidence of a game plan on the pitch. The West Ham fans booed the team after the 0-0 draw on Saturday, and you can hardly blame them.
Liverpool are Real Contenders
Although they still have to face Manchester City and Real Madrid in quick succession, Liverpool looks like a team ready to compete for the title. It seemed their season was set for a transition, but Arne Slot has the luxury of having a squad already built with the know-how. Liverpool’s professional 2-0 win over Aston Villa, refereed by the now-suspended David Coote, was another test passed with flying colors by this new-look Liverpool side. They are now five points clear of Manchester City in 1st place, who lost yet again this weekend. While there is still plenty of football left to be played this season, history suggests that teams who build a lead this early on typically stay there until the end.
Manchester City Has Cause For Optimism
For the first time in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career, he lost four games in a row with Manchester City — this time a 2-1 loss to Brighton. City had a disappointing final 20 minutes, where they squandered their one-goal lead and allowed Brighton to fire back twice. Had Halaand had luck break his way just a little more, City could have easily been three goals up. Perhaps they were unlucky, but City will play Tottenham next after the international break, and they already lost to them 2-1 this season in the EFL Cup. Shortly after, they play Liverpool. It is a pivotal moment in the season for City, and they can easily find themselves in a hole early on if their fortunes don’t turn around soon.
