Premier League, Week 5: Manchester City crush United

There was an unmistakeable lack of cohesion throughout the away side’s defensive structure. The two banks of four template has served both Ferguson and Moyes well, but the gap between United’s three bands was staggering at times. Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young were often found pressing City’s central defenders, but the rest of the side was not as keen to defend so proactively, leading to an incredible disjoint between the lines of midfield and attack.

• New title challengers emerge across Europe

For the most part, though, it was the visitors that exerted control in the first half, with Cardiff content to simply sit back and defend. Spurs maintained the vast majority of possession and tried their luck again and again, with eleven shots total in the first half. Roberto Soldado seemed intent on putting his side ahead, but the majority of his shots went straight to David Marshall. Christian Eriksen got in a couple shots from distance, but again, nothing the Cardiff keeper couldn’t handle.

Goal: Paulinho 90+3

United didn’t have much of a response. The defending champions, devoid of Robin van Persie thanks to injury, couldn’t get any serious traction in the final third, and whenever they tried the hosts were able to counterattack. It was City who looked more likely to score again, and score again they did.

Having conceded on the brink of halftime, the visitors decided to make it symmetrical by going 3-0 down immediately after the interval. Aguero was the man once more, slipping home a lofted ball from Negredo for his second of the match.

Alvaro Negredo set up the goal, and it was a beautiful assist. He held up the ball and cut a great ball back across the face of goal. Absolutely no one tracked the run of Aguero (this is a theme in this game) and he finished easily. Here’s the goal, via @FeintZebra on Twitter. Hover over the image to animate.

And here’s the second from the same source.

Just before the break, City created a corner with one of their few quick and direct counter-attacking attempts after their goal, and they made the most of it. Alvaro Negredo won the header off Samir Nasri’s corner, flicking the ball into Yaya Toure. No one marked the Ivorian, who tapped in to make it 2-0. Watch the goal below, via @FeintZebra on Twitter.

• Jose Mourinho needs a midfield

Here’s the goal, via @brocadfael on Twitter.

Manchester United had set up a bit defensive in this one and are going to have to change up their gameplan a bit. They have the talent to find a goal, but they’re looking a bit rattled at the moment.

Manchester City are looking the more likely team to score 15 minutes into the Manchester Derby, but the visitors are holding their own.

Wayne Rooney was a bit lucky to escape a booking in the 15th minute when he kicked the ball at Samir Nasri after the whistle had blown, but it was obvious that he went to kick the ball before he heard Webb blow for a free kick. He pleased to escape a booking and Webb accepted his explanation.

Michu’s opener was a tad bit unlucky for Palace. Jonjo Shelvey picked up the assist with a through ball, but his pass bounced off a Palace defender and fell perfectly into Michu’s path off the deflection. He hit a powerful low shot within Julian Speroni’s reach, but the Palace keeper could only get a slight touch on the ball and couldn’t stop it from going into the back of the net.

The game almost turned into an instant rout two minutes later, when Chico Flores struck the post off a corner. Fortunately for Palace, they would stay just one goal down for the rest of the first half, but they never seriously challenged Michel Vorm’s goal and gave up a second to Swansea just three minutes into the second half.

Sunday’s game was nothing like that, with Mark Hughes’ edition of the Potters actually attempting to play some football. They had half the possession, however, they seemed to forget that they’re the best set piece team in the country. Arsenal scored all three of their goals from dead balls in an odd 3-1 win.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Sagna, Flamini, Gnabry (Miyaichi 73’), Ramsey, Özil (Arteta 80’), Wilshere (Monreal 73’), Giroud

• Jose Mourinho needs a midfield

• PSG-Monaco: The birth of a rivalry

Manchester rivals City and United are both tied on seven points after four games of the Premier League season, and pretty confidently swept away their respective Champions League opponents in midweek. That makes this clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday completely unpredictable, with both sides yet to hit top form.

Out: Martín Demichelis (knee), Gaël Clichy (knock), Micah Richards (hamstring). In doubt: David Silva (hip).

West Brom: Myhill, Ridgewell, Olsson, McAuley, Jones, Mulumbu, Morrison, Sinclair (Yacob 69’), Sessegnon (Berahino 89’), Amalfitano, Anelka (Anichebe 69’)

Goals: Sessegnon (20’), Ridgewell (76’), Amalfitano (90’)

West Ham led twice, but they could not hold on late in the match. A red card sparked an Everton comeback in the final ten minutes, Leighton Baines scored two beautiful free kicks, and Romelu Lukaku scored in his debut to give the Toffees their first away league win since January 2nd against Newcastle.

West Ham were the better side in the first half and it really wasn’t even that close. It just took them awhile to finally get the goal they rightly deserved, even if it did end up being a bit dubious...not that they cared.

Seconds later, Aluko had the ball at the top of the box. He looked to his left, saw Robbie Brady in space, and fed the Northern Ireland international. Brady was completely free to advance towards goal and slot through Krul’s legs, bringing the match back to level pegging.

However, that lead didn’t last long. Barely three minutes into the second half, Hull were level again through the unlikely figure of Ahmed Elmohamedy, who rose unchallenged to nod a Brady free kick in off the far post. Krul was beyond furious, and he had a point, too -- leaving someone unmarked in the six yard box on a free kick is an utterly demented thing to do.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Toure, Agger (Jose Enrique - 57’ ), Sakho, Skrtel (Alberto - 72’ ), Gerrard, Aspas (Sterling - 46’ ), Moses, Henderson, Lucas, Sturridge

Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Lovren, Fonte, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Rodriguez (Cork - 89’ ), Wanyama, Osvaldo, Lallana (Ward-Prowse - 76’ ), Lambert (S Davis - 66’ )

Liverpool Injuries and suspensions

Out: Philippe Coutinho (shoulder), Aly Cissokho (ankle), Sebastián Coates (knee), Glen Johnson (ankle), Luis Suárez (suspension). In doubt: Daniel Agger (ribs), Joe Allen (hamstring).

However, neither team has delivered on the expectation so far. Norwich have picked up four points from their opening three games and Villa just three points, having not won since the opening game of the season. That means that this game could be quite a cagey affair, between two teams looking to push away from the foot of the table.

Norwich City Injuries and suspensions

Carrow Road; Saturday, 12:45 GMT/7:45 AM ET

It’s been a full season now so the Paul-Lambert-facing-his-former-team narrative is somewhat stale, but as a result of that betrayal these two sides have developed a pretty decent semi-rivalry. Both clubs have a similar approach to talent acquisition that still manages to lend each side with a unique identity, but at their best both sides are going to be looking to take advantage of openings on the break. That can lead to an open, end-to-end affair, and it can also lead to an absolute bore of a waste of 90 minutes of your life. No way to know which it is if you don’t tune in!