Welcome to The Briefing, where each Monday this season, The Athletic will tackle three of the most significant questions from the weekend’s football.
This weekend saw Manchester United secure their third consecutive victory, Sunderland maintain their impressive start to the season, Bournemouth become possibly the most thrilling team in the Premier League, and Tottenham Hotspur easily defeat Everton.
Here, we’ll explore whether anyone can genuinely rival Arsenal, if Arne Slot should be more cautious in his commentary on Liverpool’s performance, and consider if one relegation spot is effectively sealed.
Is Arsenal’s Title to Lose?
After nine games in the Premier League season, we’re only just beginning to assess the league positions as they now represent a considerable sample size. However, it appears Arsenal may already be in a dominant position.
The current league standings have an unusual yet refreshing appearance, with Bournemouth and Sunderland currently occupying Champions League spots. Bournemouth’s rise reflects solid growth under Andoni Iraola and smart transfers, while Sunderland is enjoying an exhilarating return to the top flight.
In sharp contrast, the teams expected to challenge for the title are struggling. Manchester City lost to Aston Villa, marking their third defeat of the season, and Liverpool finds themselves seven points behind Arsenal and below a rejuvenated Manchester United.
Should Slot Hold Back on Liverpool’s Issues?
While it’s not unique for defending champions to face a string of losses, the bad news for Liverpool is that recent history shows this spells trouble for title defense. They’ve lost four consecutive league matches, revealing a range of issues with no clear solutions in sight.
Slot’s candid remarks about Liverpool’s struggles have sparked curiosity. While it provides insights into how teams are defeating Liverpool, it raises the question of whether this openness will help them. Perhaps unnecessary honesty about their weaknesses, such as set pieces, isn’t the best approach amidst their current troubles.
Are Wolves Facing Relegation?
Conceding a last-minute goal to a promoted team, particularly after battling back from a deficit, underscores Wolverhampton Wanderers’ precarious situation. With only two points from nine games, their outlook is grim.
Their performance has declined over several seasons. Once a top-10 contender, Wolves now find themselves in the relegation conversation, particularly as the newly promoted teams are displaying more strength than in previous seasons.
Wolves’ management seems content with mere survival, yet this might not be enough if they continue their current trajectory. The club is now facing not just relegation from the Premier League but potentially from the Championship as well.
What’s on the Horizon?
- The Women’s Nations League semi-finals are on Tuesday, with Spain leading against Sweden and a closely contested match between Germany and France.
- For men’s football, Sarina Wiegman’s England team will play Australia in a friendly on Tuesday.
- Carabao Cup fixtures include Grimsby hosting Brentford and Wrexham facing Cardiff on Tuesday.
- Big matches on Wednesday feature Arsenal vs. Brighton, Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace, and more.
- The FA Cup begins on Friday, starting with Luton taking on Forest Green Rovers.
