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Premier League: Key takeaways from the play this past weekend Liverpool is the clear winner, Chelsea appears to need even more funding, and nobody wants to wager against Villa.
1. Luton looking up despite defeats
The fact that Luton has already hosted the (potential) top three clubs in the league is bad news for them. They have drawn with Liverpool, lost 4-3 to Arsenal due to a winner in the 97th minute, and suffered a tight 2-1 loss to Manchester City in the last five weeks. They have won all three of the games. It's obvious that Rob Edwards would rather play the elite.
The question is whether they can perform at that level against weaker opponents. During that run, they defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 at home, and it has to be the template. They have many of crossing possibilities when they play a 3-4-3, and Andros Townsend is still a very good ball deliverer, as shown when he set up Elijah Adebayo's goal against City.
2. Can Liverpool maintain the same pace?
Liverpool finishes the weekend leading the Premier League table for the first time in over two years. This alone is evidence of Jürgen Klopp's ability to recreate a team that many thought had reached the end of its playing career. How long can they stay there, though? It is often believed that Liverpool is better at leading than chasing, and if they can keep Arsenal at bay at Anfield on December 23, they will most likely win the title at Christmas for the fourth time in the last six seasons. A cynic would point out that a club with this many questions in midfield and defense, still too dependent on Mohamed Salah's goals up front, is ill-prepared to contend.
3. United falters in front of the net
Rasmus Højlund is a centre-forward for Manchester United worth £72 million, however in his 12 Premier League games, he has exactly 0 goals. The young Dane was benched for Saturday's 3-0 demolition of Bournemouth at Old Trafford in favor of Anthony Martial, who has only scored one more goal in the competition this season while on loan during his lackluster seven-year career at United. Martial became enamored with Højlund, who once more found himself in an Erik ten Hag team that is anything from a creatively vibrant bunch. This cannot be right at the "attack, attack, attack" club after 18 months in leadership, and since United's goal differential of -3 is worse than Everton's (level), the manager has some major work to do before Bayern