Today’s key questions:

Sunderland v Newcastle

Will the local rivalry open up a game that looks set to be strong on defences after last week’s disciplined back-line performances from both sides? Will we see a rare 0-0 in the derby?

Arsenal v Liverpool

Can the unexpected start of Samir Nasri inspire a relatively depleted Arsenal team to overcome an upwardly-mobile Liverpool side devoid of Luis Suarez?

Aston Villa v Blackburn

What price a goal? Alex McLeish’s main strength as a manager is constructing defences while one of Blackburn’s few assets towards the end of last season was their backline. With Shay Given and Richard Dunne in resurgent form, will we even see a strike today?

Chelsea v West Brom

Will Roy Hodgson’s disciplined framework frustrate a disciplined Chelsea that still look short of a few creative players? Or will we start to see the Andre Villas-Boas effect?

Everton v QPR

Is money too tight to mention? Will David Moyes’s fire overcome QPR’s funds? Neither side had ideal starts to the season with Everton’s game postponed and QPR getting beaten 4-0 – so who’ll begin this one stronger?

Swansea v Wigan

How many goals will we see in this one, with two of the most open teams in the league facing off?

The big team news today is that Samir Nasri STARTS but Luis Suarez stays on the bench.

At the Stadium of Light it’s all Sunderland… but still no goals in their derby against Newcastle.

OH! And, against the run of play, Newcastle should have had a penalty there. Seb Larsson appeared to handle the ball on the line as he got himself in the way of Joey Barton’s goalbound header.

The Arsenal team for today:

Szczesny, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Sagna, Frimpong, Ramsey, Nasri, Arshavin, Walcott, van Persie

Liverpool:

Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Kuyt, Carroll

Tide beginning to turn at the Stadium of Light as Fabricio Coloccini heads wide.

Sky just throw up a chart that runs through the most Premier League assists per player since 2004.

What a redundant feature. If a player has appeared in every year since then, he’ll surely have more assists. Better to have assists per appearance/minute

Robbie Savage with – yes – an interesting, perceptive question on twitter:

“Why not keep your best player Suarez for this game against a potential 4th place contender giving him another week instead of playing s’land”

Since Fabregas’s debut in the Premier League, Stewart Downing has played 2,169 minutes more than the Spaniard in the division. Via @Matt_Furniss of Opta.

Predictions for today’s games, by the by:

Sunderland 0-0 Newcastle

Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

Aston Villa 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

Everton 3-1 QPR

Swansea 3-3 Wigan

Chelsea 2-0 West Brom

Canal+ in France are apparently claiming that Samir Nasri’s talks with Manchester City have broken down and he is now likely to stay at Arsenal. He did supposedly tell friends during the week that City would be his least desired option, and would prefer a move to United, Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Decen start for Arsenal with Nasri pretty much immediately giving a display of what they’ve been missing with a piercing ball down the flanks for Walcott.

Strong running from Van Persie there towards Liverpool goal but Agger shepherds it towards a corner.

Oh Arshavin. He was in acres at the penalty spot and, from a corner, the ball appeared to fall for him perfectly. We were all waiting for a snapshot into the roof of the net… if it was the Arshavin of 2008. Instead he snatched at it tamely.

Very good start from Arsenal, if a little lax in possession. Proactive and forcing many more openings than last week already.

Vermaelen with a forceful defensive header out. THAT was what Arsenal were missing last season.

Koscielny received a fair bit of criticism last season. But, in truth, a central defender can only ever be as good as his partner. As became painfully obvious, Sebastien Squillaci was not suited to Arsenal’s defensive style.

Hmmm… commentator’s curse. Only moments after we enter that, Koscielny pulls up. Looks in a lot of pain and may have to go off.

And Koscielny is coming off. Eighteen-year-old Spanish defender Ignasi Miquel comes on for his Premier League debut. Not ideal.

Liverpool just looking to get a handle on Arsenal’s possession at the moment. Coming into the game more and more though.

And that’s the value of Andy Carroll. Used his physique to beat Sagna to a header from a standing position. Only fine save from Szczesny keeps it out.

Cesc Fabregas watching this one anyway. Has just tweeted about Arsenal’s substitute:

“Come on Iggy. Great future centre-back.”

Second half underway at Stadium of Light, where it’s still 0-0.

Nasri has been applauded by Arsenal fans when near the line, by the by.

Liverpool with a real hold on the game now and have had better of last five.

Kelly much more assured for Liverpool than Flanagan was last week.

Andy Carroll: a dead ringer for Shawn Michaels of WWF and Montreal Screwjob fame.

Charlie Adam attempts an audacious shot from just inside the Arsenal half with Szczesny 10 yards off his line. Just over.

The debutant Frimpong produces a fine save from Reina with a drilled, low strike from 25 yards. Full marks young man.

Arsenal’s two young starters – Jenkinson and Frimpong – have applied themselves well – both shown initiative and assurance.

Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle United

A Ryan Taylor free-kick, in which Mignolet really had to ask questions of himself.

OH Nasri! That’s why they want to keep him etc etc

From his own half, weaved deep into Liverpool’s before unleashing a shot just wide of Reina’s goal.

What has happened to Arshavin? Three years ago I watched him absolutely tear Holland apart in Basel. Within six months of that he was setting the Premier League alight.

Downing now shoots wide from distance. Some backlift on the former Boro man. Most strikes in this game from well outside the box though.

Intricate stuff from Ramsey at edge of Liverpool box before Arshavin – sadly all too typically lately – miscontrols badly to send it wide.

At the Stadium of Light, Lee Cattermole – less untypically – is lucky not to be sent off for an atrocious tackle on Jonas.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool

A fairly even game. Arsenal have arguably had bit better of ball but Liverpool have been a touch more clinical with it. Very little in it though.

Worrying news as RTE commentator George Hamilton was rushed to hospital for heart surgery during a routine trip to the doctor’s for flu, according to the Herald.

Wishing you a speedy recovery George.

Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson – at £71m sterling – cost more than Arsenal’s entire first XI: £63.65m

Still 1-0 to Newcastle at the Stadium of Light. And Sunderland have not responded well to going behind.

Bardsley puts in a ferocious challenge on Coloccini. Straight red for the Sunderland full-back. And that looks like it.

A hopeful stat this for Sunderland: the team have scored 90th-minute goals in each of their last two Premier League matches against Newcastle.

Charlie Adam has been pretty wasteful in the first half. Here’s a nice graph from FourFourTwo’s new app showing exactly how wasteful.

All over at the Stadium of Light.

FULL-TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle United

Back under way at the Emirates. No changes either side.

Both teams struggling to get any patterns or moves going. Cancelling each other out a lot.

Opportunity there for Liverpool. First Adam slipped Carroll through on right, settip up chance for shot, but the striker was a bit too lumbering. Kelly then sends a piledriver just wide.

Frimpong’s been very lively for Arsenal. Looks a good addition to squad.

As it stands, we’re looking at the fourth 0-0 draw in 11 Premier League games this season. It’s lost a bit of spark – the match, that is.

Nervous moment for Liverpool. Reina just deflects a Van Persie strike wide. In truth, the striker didn’t catch it the best after Arshavin had put it on a plate for him.

Frimpong gone for a second booking after dangerous tackle on Lucas. Sullies an otherwise impressive performance from the young defensive midfielder. Two red cards in two games for Arsenal – better than their goal average.

Suarez comes on for Carroll and Liverpool immediately look more fluid.

Downing cracks a shot at Szczesny but keeper turns it away.

Having broken up so many Liverpool attacks, Vermaelen then attempts to break the deadlock with a surging run and shot from distance.

GOAL: Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool

Very unfortunate own goal as a block ricochets off Ramsey and in. Liverpool lead. Suarez looked offside in receiving ball to force chance.

Bendtner coming on for Arsenal.

Bendtner on for Walcott. Arsenal need something. Eleven minutes to go.

Liverpool looking the better passing team now as Arsenal toil to create an opening.

Wenger looks disgusted.

And this is just frustrating for Arsenal. Nothing happening, nothing likely to happen.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool

Suarez taps in after Meireles unselfishly sets him up with simple pass in.

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool

Fans boo Wenger as referee blows whistle.

Full-time thoughts:

• The most worrying thing for Arsenal was that this was the kind of start to the season that was unsurprising to everyone except Arsene Wenger. Despite some superior play to last week at Newcastle – hardly surprisingly since Samir Nasri started – they still looked flat and devoid of spark. At the minute, the team looks like a bit of a patchwork effort – as if they’re just about hanging on to premium-level performers. And, of those, some are suffering an atrociously timed blip/decline. Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott were irrelevant today. If Nasri is now open to staying at the club – as reports in France today made out – then this is hardly the kind of performance that’s going to convince him.
• Liverpool, by contrast, have secured a huge result early on. Aside from the Premier League itself, winning away to one of your direct rivals will potentially have a huge effect in the mini-division for the Champions League places. In saying that, it was only when Luis Suarez came on that they looked any way like winning the game. Before then, there had been an element of getting by without getting on top of the match – just doing enough to stay in it. The first hour also raises questions about Andy Carroll. When he is on the field, it is astonishing the amount of times the rest of the players just try and hit him with an aerial ball. And the worrying aspect for Dalglish was the amount he lost to Thomas Vermaelen. At the moment, Carroll still looks like a player awkwardly fitted into the Liverpool formation. When Suarez was leading the line, however, they looked much more like a fluid, modern side. The second goal emphasised that – a tidy, sweeping passing move that was reminiscent of Arsenal 10 years ago.
• One plus for Arsenal, however, was the performance of Vermaelen. He won almost everything in the year and often compensated for the errors of others. As the game wore on, too, he also attempted to break the deadlock with a surging run. His absence was Arsenal’s main problem last season. Koscielny, for example, looks a completely different player when alongside the Belgian rather than Squillaci. But then this has been the trend for Wenger since 2005: as soon as you solve one issue, another arises.
• Arsenal now have one red card per game, but no goals. It’s 1994-95 all over again. Worse, they’re struggling badly with injuries. Although Wenger already needed to reinforce before Cesc Fabregas’s departure, he’s simply obliged to now.
• The one pity is that Frimpong put in a promising performance beyond his deserved red card. But it’s still telling how much they ceded the midfield battle. Not exactly a statement in a week they lost their marquee star.

Via OptaJoe: the last time Arsenal failed to score in their first two games of the season was 1969-70. They did win the double the following season though.

We’re under way elsewhere in the Premier League too.

Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Agustien, Britton, Routledge, Dyer, Sinclair, Graham
Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Diame, Watson, Gomez, McCarthy, Moses, Di Santo

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Barkley, Heitinga, Rodwell, Osman, Cahill, Beckford
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hall, Gabbidon, Connolly, Buzsaky, Derry, Faurlin, Smith, Taarabt, Agyemang

Aston Villa: Given, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, N’Zogbia, Delph, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Bent, Heskey
Blackburn: Robinson, Salgado, Nelsen, Hanley, Olsson, Hoilett, Dunn, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Goodwillie, Roberts

GOAL: Aston Villa 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

Agbonlahor claims his 50th league goal for Aston Villa

You have to fear for Blackburn really. Tipped them to finish bottom of the table before the season began. And, unless they start buying, it’s hard to see otherwise.

That was a beaut from Agbonlahor, curling one around Robinson.

Kevin Kilbane has put Derby 1-0 up against Doncaster in the Championship.

No goals in 20 minutes of Swansea-Wigan. Frankly, this shocks me.

Baines hits the underside of the bar with a freekick for Everton against QPR

In Germany, Arjen Robben appears to be returning to the form of 2009-10 with a stellar performance. Bayern currently thrashing Hamburg 3-0.

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Emile Heskey

Heskey’s goal comes moments after David Goodwillie wasted a good chance to equalise, blazing a shot wide.

According to Jeff Stelling, that’s Heskey’s 11th goal against Blackburn.

Vintage tweet from @BrianDurand56

“Blackburn 0-2 down at Villa already. “Someone has spiked my team,” says Steve Kean.

Oh, Wenger has had a go – blaming everyone but himself.

“It looks like both goals were offside. The referees are (supposed to be) professional.”

From the ever-hilarious @SurrealFootball

“Both goals were offside”, says Wenger. “Nonetheless, we should have bought some more defenders”, he didn’t add.

GOAL! and SHOCK!

Everton 0-1 QPR

Tommy Smith gets QPR’s first Premier League goal in 15 years.

Completely absent marking from Everton as Smith receives ball in box, turns and curls it around Howard. Questions to be asked of Phil Jagielka.

Everton looking pretty flat since QPR have gone ahead.

Gabby Agbonlahor does have one of the best chants in the Premier League dedicated to him.

To the tune of ‘Karma Chameleon’

“Gabby, Gabby, Gabby, Gabby, Gabby, Agbonlahor…

He’s fast and scores

He’s fast and scores”

Of course, by best, I mean simplest.

“Wave after wave of Villa attack” are the words being used at Villa Park. Not good for Blackburn, given the general functionality of McLeish’s sides.

Wow. According to Stellers – yes, we call him that – Tim Cahill hasn’t scored for Everton in 2011.

Cahill, of course, tried to declare for Ireland ahead of the 2002 World Cup. Loophole at the time prevented it because he had played for a Samoan youth team as a 15-year-old.

Last week, Bolton, Manchester United and Wolves were at the top of the table in a throwback to the 1950s.

This week, it’s Liverpool, Newcastle and it’s 1996 all over again.

HALF-TIME: Everton 0-1 QPR

Everton building up a head of steam but have wasted a few chances.

HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Welcome sound for Alex McLeish: Villa applauded off the pitch after emphatic first-half display.

HALF-TIME: Swansea 0-0 Wigan

Shocked that there are no goals in this game.

Luis Suarez on Twitter:

“Important victory at a very difficult field. Happy to be able to help the team at the end of the match and keep scoring!”

We’re back under way in the Premier League.

I really must stop using the phrase “under way”

Gabriel Agbonlahor has a hamstring injury and goes off for Marc Albrighton

Via @BBC: A grinning Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger when asked whether Samir Nasri’s move to Manchester City was off: “I don’t know anything about it.”

GOAL! Aston Villa 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Morten Gamst Pedersen equalises when Blackburn really don’t deserve it. Now we see the type of defence McLeish has put together.

Hoilett instrumental in that Blackburn goal, setting up Pedersen with a brilliant run and cross.

Oh no! It’s Suwon 2002 all over again. Two Irishmen miss penalties for Reading. Harte and Noel Hunt. Barnsley still lead 1-0 at the Madejski.

Some sad news via Alex Bellos, the author of Futebol:

Brazilian legend Socrates is in intensive care in hospital in Sao Paulo after stomach haemmhorage

And @zonal_marking has just directed our attention to this. Genius or monstrosity?

“What football tactics teach us about dating.”

Mikel Arteta on for Everton as they attempt to finally expose QPR

GOAL! Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers

Darren Bent opens his account for the season. Rebound falls to him and he drills it home.

Moses hits the bar for Wigan, penalty given to Martinez’s side!

Vorm saves from Watson! Gomez had been brought down for the penalty. Still Swansea 0-0 Wigan

Wigan well on top at Swansea now though.

Ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge, Hilario is in for the injured Cech. Torres and Mikel also start. The Nigerian showing great courage in a difficult week.

The Chelsea team to play West Brom:

Hilario; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Lampard; Kalou, Torres, Anelka.

Swansea v Wigan is slowing down. Both seem to be settling for a point.

West Brom keep the same XI that started against United:

Foster, Reid, Tamas, Olsson, Shorey; Brunt, Mulumbu, Scharner, Morrison; Tchoyi; Long

If the Northern Irishman hits the bar with a free-kick at Stamford Bridge today, we can say “Chelsea bore the Brunt of West Brom”

Al-Habsi saves well from Stephen Dobbie’s 20-yard strike

Not looking good for Everton. They’re up against a wall of QPR defenders.

OH NO! Great chance squandered for Everton. Fellaini heads straight into the arms of Paddy Kenny from four yards.

FULL-TIME: Swansea 0-0 Wigan

Flabbergasted that ended goalless. And it shouldn’t have with Moses hitting the bar and Watson missing a penalty for Wigan.

FULL-TIME: Everton 0-1 QPR

Neil Warnock’s side claim their first Premier League win since 1996 as Everton toil.

The Premier League goal average after 15 games: 1.73 per game

Some pre-game pointers ahead of Chelsea v West Brom:

• We might finally get to see a real Villas-Boas side today. The tight space of the Brittania was hardly the ideal venue to start road-testing a new approach. In saying that, a hallmark of the Portuguese’s short managerial career so far has been immediate and emphatic effect
• We did see a greater sharpness in Fernando Torres though and there is at least some evidence to suggest today could be the day he announces the proper beginning of his Chelsea career
• Roy Hodgson, however, is adept at building a solid framework for a side and a Chelsea team still fitting some square pegs into round holes might occasionally struggle for fluidity against them
• The main team news on that front is that Malouda doesn’t start, with Kalou and Anelka on the wings for Chelsea

A startling stat from InfoStradaLive:

We have had 2 home wins in #epl this season. We need 5 wins from last 5 games to equal PL record for fewest at this stage – 7 in 1997-98

Chelsea knocking it about patiently at the back now. Terry must have had about 60% of the possession. #Xavi

Long ball forward for Shane Long there, but Hilario comes out of his box to head clear. Sweeper.

This is vintage Hodgson from West Brom. Very well set-up, clearly defined positions.

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 West Brom

Shane Long uses the manners he learned on the hurling pitches of Tipp to muscle Alex off the ball, brush him aside and roll the ball past Hilario.

Still an atrocious error from the Brazilian defender.

Nice interchange there between Torres and Kalou only for the latter to be flattened.

Chelsea making some inroads into the West Brom half there with nice interchanges, but Steven Reid blocks Frank Lampard’s cross.

Corner to Chelsea

Frisson of excitement in the Stamford Bridge crowd there as space opens for Kalou in front of goal… but he skies it.

And almost 2-0 to West Brom there as Scharner forces a smart save from Hilario with a shot from an acute angle.

There’s a bit of flatness about everything at Stamford Bridge at the moment except West Brom’s counters.

Shane Long has now scored against both of last season’s top two in his first two games in the Premier League. Can’t say he’s not suited to the level!

Torres shows further improvement by breaking free from a bank of players in idfield, then receiving Kalou’s return ball to force a deflected strike just over.

Chelsea finding it difficult to open up the centre of West Brom’s defence. This is the kind of game where they need a lock-pick.

Again could have been 2-0 to West Brom! This time Long at fault. Broke brilliantly but played an atrocious ball across for an unmarked Tchoyi. Had it been anyway simple, then would have been 2-0.

It’s games like this where Lampard’s lack of top-level passing technique is illustrated. Has cost him for England too.

OH! Anelka almost threaded Lampard through with exactly the kind of pass Chelsea have been lacking but it’s hacked away.

Chelsea readying Malouda to come on already. There are only 33 minutes gone.

Kalou does indeed go off for Malouda after 34 minutes.

Or, in an alternate world, Chelsea manager Bradley Cooper sends on Carver from The Wire.

Very flat out there at the minute for Chelsea, as a largely quiet crowd watch West Brom overhit a corner.

Ashley Cole does very well, jinking through the West Brom line before releasing  a superb shot for the top corner that Ben Foster has to tip away. First moment of real life from Chelsea.

Possible – if also slightly desperate – calls for a Chelsea penalty as Anelka goes down over Ben Foster’s body, the keeper having claimed a cross well.

Free-kick at edge of the box for Chelsea. Mulumbu booked for basically climbing on Torres after Mikel had released him with a swift turn.

Alex’s free-kick is deflected by Malouda but only into the hands of Foster.

Torres does wonderfully to escape two players at the corner flag but Anelka can only head the resulting cross into Foster’s arms.

HALF-TIME: Chelsea 0-1 West Brom

Chelsea showing signs of ingenuity, spark towards the end of half but mostly hopelessly flat. West Brom decent value for their lead and could well have added another.

There was much made of Hodgson’s atrocious away record in the Premier League last season. He looks as it he’s about to drastically improve it today.

Second half kicks off, and Chelsea immediately more advanced than they were in the first half.

Drogba now warming up. If Chelsea don’t have sufficient finesse, his physicality migh do.

Tchoyi wears number-five. As untypical a physical player as he might be, I’m afraid I just can’t countenance an attacking player wearing such a defensive number. It was wrong when Zidane did it.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 West Brom

First goal under AVB comes through Anelka

Anelka picked up loose ball at edge of box after Lampard had been felled, weaved through and got lucky with a deflected finish.

The one worry about that for Chelsea is that it was always going to a moment of individual quality – as opposed to a team strength – for them to score.

Chelsea have come to the party now. Confidence flowing through them after the goal.

And Steven Reid makes a brilliant block to deny Malouda a certain goal from four yards.

Drogba on for Torres.

Drogba shoots just wide. Chelsea still a little too functional.

Malouda breaks down left, three players waiting for the ball in the centre, he shapes… and squares it into Ben Foster’s arms.

Ivanovic coming on for Alex. Could have done with that before the game given the latter’s error.

West Brom ceding more and more ground. They’ve been tight… but are surrendering space around their box now. (As you might predict from a Hodgson side). Chelsea getting more chances now… feel as if something’s going to break. Especially with 21 minutes left.

WHAT a ball from Ivanovic. Some sweep on it. Drogba should have done better.

Odemwingie on for Tchoyi. The latter has put in “a shift”. No wonder he could do with a rest.

Cole drives his way through a tree of legs – and there are shouts for a penalty – but West Brom guide him out for a corner.

Thirteen minutes left. Chelsea basically trying to erode West Brom instead of open them.

Another mild shout for a penalty there as the ball hits Olsson’s arm in the West Brom box.

Almost 2-1 Chelsea. Through ball released Anelka down right, forcing Foster off his line and outside his box. Anelka attempted to curl it around the keeper but just hit wide.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 West Brom

Bosingwa makes inroads down right, crosses for Malouda who finishes easily.

Inspired by Bosingwa.

Peter Odemwingie squanders a great chance to equalise in the 87th minute! Hits straight at Hilario from five yards.

John Terry shows his leadership qualities by grabbing Odemwingie by the collar. Hero.

Kicking off here as Odemwingie goes back for more.

Odemwingie appeared to pinch Ashley Cole on the ground there, after the full-back had gone through him.

Possession: Chelsea 67% West Brom 33%

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 2-1 West Brom

A first win for Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea. We’ll be back in a few minutes with our closing thoughts on the day.

Final thoughts

• In the end, Chelsea didn’t so much open West Brom as erode them. Their attack was based on physicality as opposed to finesse, emphasised by when Andre Villas-Boas brought on Didier Drogba for Fernando Torres. Ultimately, too, it was individual moments of brilliance rather thab systemic attacking that turned the game. Anelka weaved through the West Brom defence, Jose Bosingwa showed impetus to break down their right side. But that hints at bigger problems with Chelsea’s framework. As it stands, Villas-Boas is still attempting to place his previously successful framework on top of players that don’t necessarily fit it. Too many central players out wide, for example, no true creative passers in the middle. In that context, they could really do with Mata – who is expected to sign this weekend – and a player of Modric’s ilk. At the moment, Chelsea bear something of a resemblance to a pre-Cantona United in 1992-93 (without the 26-year drought). You can sense there’s real potential there but they need someone to unlock it on the pitch.
• How unfair on West Brom though. Two brilliant performances, but only after two games against last season’s top two in which they acquitted themselves superbly. They may be bottom of the table at this early stage but they’ve illustrated sufficient strengths to suggest they won’t be anywhere near there by the end of the season. One flaw though: Hodson’s system inevitably sees his team surrender space if not losing a game. And that was often a justified complaint against him at Liverpool last season. They were made pay here when the game was there for the taking.
• Many West Brom supporters were underwhelmed when Shane Long first signed for them. After two games in the Premier League, now a lot of other clubs are wondering why they didn’t take the punt. After goals against both of last season’s top two, there can be no questions about his adjustment to the elite division.
• The enigma of Everton persists. Hard to know if a surprising loss against QPR was evidence of their typical early-season slump or signs of malaise for David Moyes. Certainly, that shrinking bank account has lead to bigger problems. They have a good squad and a genuinely excellent manager. But everyone might have reached an impasse. They shouldn’t be in danger of relegation. But it was hardly an ideal start.
• We predicted Blackburn to go down on this very page last week. Nothing in today’s defeat at Aston Villa convinced otherwise. At the very least, they managed to score away from home. By the rest of their performance, that looks like it could be a problem.
• The most worrying thing for Arsenal was that this was the kind of start to the season that was unsurprising to everyone except Arsene Wenger. Despite some superior play to last week at Newcastle – hardly surprisingly since Samir Nasri started – they still looked flat and devoid of spark. At the minute, the team looks like a bit of a patchwork effort – as if they’re just about hanging on to premium-level performers. And, of those, some are suffering an atrociously timed blip/decline. Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott were irrelevant today. If Nasri is now open to staying at the club – as reports in France today made out – then this is hardly the kind of performance that’s going to convince him.
• Liverpool, by contrast, have secured a huge result early on. Aside from the Premier League itself, winning away to one of your direct rivals will potentially have a huge effect in the mini-division for the Champions League places. In saying that, it was only when Luis Suarez came on that they looked any way like winning the game. Before then, there had been an element of getting by without getting on top of the match – just doing enough to stay in it. The first hour also raises questions about Andy Carroll. When he is on the field, it is astonishing the amount of times the rest of the players just try and hit him with an aerial ball. And the worrying aspect for Dalglish was the amount he lost to Thomas Vermaelen. At the moment, Carroll still looks like a player awkwardly fitted into the Liverpool formation. When Suarez was leading the line, however, they looked much more like a fluid, modern side. The second goal emphasised that – a tidy, sweeping passing move that was reminiscent of Arsenal 10 years ago.
• One plus for Arsenal, however, was the performance of Vermaelen. He won almost everything in the year and often compensated for the errors of others. As the game wore on, too, he also attempted to break the deadlock with a surging run. His absence was Arsenal’s main problem last season. Koscielny, for example, looks a completely different player when alongside the Belgian rather than Squillaci. But then this has been the trend for Wenger since 2005: as soon as you solve one issue, another arises
• Arsenal now have one red card per game, but no goals. It’s 1994-95 all over again. Worse, they’re struggling badly with injuries. Although Wenger already needed to reinforce before Cesc Fabregas’s departure, he’s simply obliged to now.
• The one pity is that Frimpong put in a promising performance beyond his deserved red card. But it’s still telling how much they ceded the midfield battle. Not exactly a statement in a week they lost their marquee star.