10 biggest talking points of the Premier League Gameweek 4

The fourth weekend of the Premier League season has already started to separate the genuine contenders from the teams still trying to find their direction.

Arsenal and Manchester City remain perfect after four games, while Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have all dropped points at crucial moments. At the other end, promoted Hull City continue to surprise, while Tottenham and Aston Villa are already facing uncomfortable questions.

There is still a long way to go in the season, but some early trends are becoming difficult to ignore.

From Arsenal and City’s perfect starts to Coventry’s nightmare return, Chelsea’s defensive problems and Tottenham’s extraordinary inability to score, here are the 10 biggest highlights from the Premier League weekend.

1. Arsenal and Manchester City lead the way

Arsenal and Manchester City are the two teams that have immediately separated themselves from the rest after four games. Both clubs have won all four of their Premier League matches and sit level on 12 points, with Arsenal leading the table on goal difference.

Arsenal’s latest victory came at Sunderland, where David Raya saved a penalty before Bruno Guimaraes scored just 121 seconds later. Bukayo Saka then sealed a 2-0 win from the penalty spot. City, meanwhile, produced perhaps the weekend’s biggest statement by beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour.

If this continues, it could become a two-horse title race as early as the end of November. The season is still young, but Arsenal and City are already setting a pace that the chasing pack cannot afford to lose sight of.

2. Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool have other priorities

All three clubs might have fancied themselves for the title after the departure of Pep Guardiola, but their priorities are slowly changing this early because they cannot just keep up with the perfect start of the genuine contenders.

Chelsea were held 2-2 by Hull City at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool could only draw 0-0 with Fulham at Anfield, while Manchester United lost 1-0 at home to Manchester City.

United’s four points leave them well behind Arsenal and City already, while Chelsea and Liverpool have also surrendered valuable points. None of the three should be written off after only four matches, but the early evidence suggests that finishing in the top four and staying in touch with the leaders may now be more realistic immediate priorities than mounting a serious title challenge.

3. Hull is here to stay

Hull City maintained their third spot after battling to a draw at Chelsea to extend their unbeaten start. The nature of the opponents faced so far has indicated that this team is finally ready to stay in the top flight, which isn’t much of a surprise because the name Hull City was once a regular in the Premier League.

The newly promoted side now have eight points from their opening four matches after beating Manchester United and Coventry and drawing with Aston Villa and Chelsea. Their latest result was particularly impressive because they came from behind at Stamford Bridge and even led before João Pedro rescued a point for Chelsea.

Hull have not simply collected points against weaker opposition either. Their organisation, defensive discipline and ability to punish mistakes suggest they could be much more than a newly promoted side simply trying to survive.

4. Frank Lampard could get early exit

Frank Lampard’s Coventry City remains the only side yet to pick up a point so far. And they haven’t scored goals too.After leading them back to the Premier League, maybe that is the best the former midfielder could offer, and the owners may have to consider his position if things don’t change sooner rather than later.

Coventry’s nightmare continued with a 5-0 home defeat to Brighton, leaving them pointless and goalless after four games. They have now suffered four consecutive defeats, with their goal difference standing at minus 10.

The defeat also showed how quickly their situation can deteriorate. Taiwo Awoniyi was sent off early in the second half, while Brighton went on to add three more goals. Lampard still has time to change the situation, but the pressure will inevitably grow if Coventry cannot find a goal, let alone a point, soon.

5. Michael Carrick has to be worried

No club won more points than Manchester United from Michael Carrick’s appointment to the end of last season in the Premier League. That statistic got fans dreaming of potentially challenging for the title this year, but after falling eight points behind the leaders after four games, there is a feeling that United haven’t found their messiah in their former midfielder, and that should worry Carrick.

United’s latest setback was especially painful because they were handed a major opportunity against City when Phil Foden was sent off in the first half. Instead of taking advantage, United failed to score and eventually lost to Erling Haaland’s goal. Rashford and Mainoo both hit the woodwork, but City held on for all three points.

Carrick still has plenty of credit from what he achieved last season and the board have been vocal about their support for him, but it is worth note that the expectations have changed. A team hoping to challenge for the title cannot afford to fall so far behind after only four matches, especially when its biggest rivals continue to win.

6. Xabi Alonso would love boring

Chelsea are loved early in the season for their attacking brilliance and were even touted as a potential title contender, but the last two weeks have exposed their defensive weakness.

The 2-2 draw with Hull was another example. Chelsea went ahead through Morgan Rogers, conceded twice to Mohamed Belloumi and needed João Pedro to rescue a point.

Alonso himself admitted after the match that he would love Chelsea to produce a more boring game, highlighting the need for greater control and defensive improvement.

The message is clear. Chelsea cannot continue relying on their attack to rescue them every week. Their front three may be frightening, but the defence has become a problem that Alonso can no longer ignore.

7. Roberto De Zerbi leaves Spurs owners in dilemma

Four games, two points and zero goals scored. Right after a summer window where they spent over €400 million, Roberto De Zerbi leaves Spurs owners clueless about what to do, because sacking him could make their big investments redundant.

Tottenham’s 0-0 draw with Everton extended their extraordinary start without a Premier League goal. They have now failed to score in each of their first four league games, with their goalless run stretching beyond 400 minutes.

The problem for Spurs is not simply the results. They invested heavily in building a new-look squad, yet the attacking production remains almost non-existent.

De Zerbi has spoken about physical and psychological blocks within the team, but the longer the goal drought continues, the more difficult it will become for the manager to convince the club’s hierarchy that patience is the answer.

8. Brighton take advantage of Coventry

After going a man down, Coventry City conceded three more to lose 5-0 against a Brighton side who boast the biggest two wins in the league this season, following their 4-0 victory over Aston Villa in the opening weekend.

Brighton were ruthless against Coventry, with Charalampos Kostoulas opening the scoring before Malick Yalcouyé, Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari completed the rout.

The result again showed the attacking potential of Fabian Hürzeler’s team. Brighton now have two huge victories already this season, and their ability to punish struggling opponents could make them one of the most interesting teams outside the traditional contenders.

9. Aston Villa are getting left behind

No wins after four games. A Villa that finished in the top five last season could already be lost with the mass exodus in the summer, and this new team could be left behind in respect to what is expected of the team as the next step, which should be to start pushing the traditional powerhouses.

Villa suffered another setback on Saturday when Nottingham Forest won 2-1 at Villa Park. Liam Delap put Forest ahead, Alysson equalised for Villa, but Igor Jesus struck late to give Oliver Glasner’s side all three points.

The result leaves Unai Emery’s side still searching for their first league win. After establishing themselves among England’s best clubs last season, Villa cannot afford to spend too long trying to rebuild while Arsenal, City and the other traditional powerhouses continue to move forward.

10. The season could turn out differently

A host of teams that are not expected to make an impact will finish at the top, while those with greater expectations could find themselves fighting a different battle.

Hull are the clearest example so far. They sit third after four matches, while Brighton have already produced two of the league’s biggest victories. At the same time, Tottenham are yet to score, Aston Villa are yet to win, Coventry are still pointless and Manchester United are already eight points behind the leaders.

It is obviously too early to make definitive predictions, but the opening four rounds have already challenged some of the expectations surrounding the season. The teams that were supposed to be fighting for Europe are struggling, while some of those expected to battle relegation are showing that they may have other ideas.

And if Arsenal and Manchester City continue at this pace, the biggest surprise of all could be how quickly the Premier League title race becomes a contest between just two clubs.