While Manchester City and Arsenal have picked up where they left off last season, and Liverpool and Spurs look much improved, Manchester United and Chelsea are struggling early season. Erik Ten Hag’s team are perhaps fortunate to have any points on the board, and Chelsea look somewhat dishevelled.
Manchester United Manchester United continued splashing money this transfer window, making expensive signings in Danish centre forward Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta and England regular Mason Mount from Chelsea. Yet while both Hojlund and Mount are yet to make an impact, Andre Onana has proved a tremendous signing in goal, revealing a stark change from David de Gea’s abilities, and matching Ten Hag’s philosophy to a much greater extent. Fred has been replaced by Sofyan Amrabat, who impressed significantly in the World Cup for Morocco, but with controversy over Antony, the transfer of Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho’s comments, the scene around Old Trafford is tumultuous.
On the pitch, an opening day victory against Wolves was perhaps undeserved, as Wolves played with attacking impetus and dynamism and racked up 23 shots. Yet for all of Wolves’ impressive chances, Rafael Varane's header gave United the lead. Then on, Andre Onana made a flurry of impressive saves but was staggeringly not reprimanded for clattering Sasa Kalajdzic in the box. An almost dismal performance, but signs of an impressive start for Wolves and Gary O’Neil.
A disappointing loss away at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium followed, before a remarkable comeback win as the Theatre of Dreams welcomed Nottingham Forest. Taiwo Awoniyi speeded across the length of the field and scored before Willy Boly headed home a corner. Almost immediately, United were two-nil down, and a comeback seemed far off in the distance. But Christian Eriksen tapped home a Marcus Rashford cross, before Casemiro scored from a training ground set piece routine to equalize. From two goals down, even against 10 men, Manchester United recovered, and Bruno Fernandes dispatched a penalty earned by Marcus Rashford to secure an important victory. Then came the 3-1 loss at the Emirates. With Luke Shaw and Rafael Varane, key components of United’s backline missing, their performance was largely satisfactory, and Garnacho was centimetres from securing an unbelievable away victory. Manchester United fans are typically over reactionary, but four matchdays into a long season is early to make stark judgements.
Chelsea
1 billion pounds spent under Todd Boehly. Mauricio Pochettino at the helm. The expectations for Chelsea are deservedly immense. This transfer window, almost 15 members of the first team squad have departed in a necessary trimming of a bloated squad. Pulisic. Loftus-Cheek. Lukaku. Ziyech. Aubameyang. Koulibaly. Azpilicueta. Just to name a few. Yet an array of equitable signings have arrived. Robert Sanchez is an apt, but unimpressive replacement for Kepa and Edouard Mendy, while Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill represent defensive upgrades. Malo Gusto offers much needed cover for Reece James, while with Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea’s attack is once again bursting with talent.
Crucially, the stark midfield transformation stands out, with first team regulars in Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic all leaving. After the blockbuster signing of Enzo Fernandez last season, Moises Caicedo surpassed even that, becoming the Premier League’s record transfer. Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino quite simply have no excuses, however, for all of Chelsea’s exuberant, and often irrational spending, the squad still looks lacking.
Against Liverpool, Chelsea were deserving of more than a point, as after a flurry from Jurgen Klopp’s team, Chelsea impressed. They exerted total control, and had Nicolas Jackson or Mykhaylo Mudryk finished their great chances, Pochettino’s team would have secured the three points. Away at the London Stadium, Chelsea’s disappointment multiplied. Nayef Aguerd scored from the new James Ward Prowse supply line, but Chelsea responded fiercely. Carney Chukwuemeka’s quick feet in the box provided the equalizer, before Michail Antonio scored a tremendous goal. Chelsea kept pushing but with Brazilian flair, Lucas Paqueta piled on Chelsea and Moises Caicedo’s misery and dispatched a penalty emphatically.
At Stamford Bridge, against newly promoted Luton Town, it was the Raheem Sterling show. The England forward finally displayed the qualities with which he shone for Manchester City for so many years. With two goals and an assist, Sterling pulled all the strings, exhibiting performances reminiscent of his peak years under Pep Guardiola. And suddenly, the atmosphere around seemed to have turned. But the optimism was short-lived. Nottingham Forest’s resolute defence, coupled with some dismal Chelsea finishing, namely from Nicolas Jackson, resulted in a shock loss for the London outfit. There remain a host of questions around Chelsea, but the expectations are sky-high and unchanging.
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