Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is paying the price for Romelu Lukaku's exit, Manuel Pellegrini has a hold over Manchester United bosses and Liverpool love a perfect start - 10 things we learned from Premier League this weekend

  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is struggling having not replaced Romelu Lukaku
  • VAR divided opinion again as Tottenham and Chelsea had goals ruled out
  • West Ham are the second-best team based on form in the past five games
  • Liverpool maintained their 100 per cent win record after six games - again
  • Mauricio Pochettino must fix Spurs' leaky defence if they're to make the top four 

Normal service was resumed this weekend as Liverpool and Manchester City showed again that they are above the rest in the Premier League this season.

Pep Guardiola's men returned to winning ways by embarrassing Watford at the Etihad and the Reds maintained their perfect start to the campaign.

Here, Sportsmail's SAM McEVOY picks out 10 things he learned from the latest round of fixtures...


 

Solskjaer pays the price for not getting Lukaku replacement 

Following Romelu Lukaku's £73million switch to Inter Milan this summer, there were fears that Manchester United would live to regret not finding a replacement for the prolific Belgian.

Those fears were realised when Marcus Rashford limped off with a groin injury at the London Stadium, leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer without a recognised striker.

With Anthony Martial currently out with a thigh problem and Mason Greenwood suffering from tonsillitis, Solskjaer was forced to rely on Jesse Lingard to get a goal against West Ham – the same Jesse Lingard that has 29 goals in 173 appearances for United.

Without anyone to rely on up front, Solskjaer will be kicking himself with his gamble backfiring massively so early on in the season. 

Marcus Rashford was forced off against West Ham after suffering a suspected thigh injury

Marcus Rashford was forced off against West Ham after suffering a suspected thigh injury

VAR divides opinion once again

VAR has yet again dominated the headlines this weekend as it ruled out two important goals for offside in both Tottenham and Chelsea's games.

With both proving to be the correct decisions, it still didn't stop fans and pundits alike arguing the case that Son Heung-min and Cesar Azpilicueta's goals should have stood.

Son was adjudged to have been millimetres offside in the build-up to Spurs' second against Leicester while Chelsea fans claimed that Liverpool's defence had 'reset' after Mason Mount received the ball in an offside position.

Regardless of where you stand on the matter, you can't say VAR hasn't caused plenty of drama since its inception.

VAR adjudged Son Heung-min to be millimetres offside in the build-up to Spurs' second goal

VAR adjudged Son Heung-min to be millimetres offside in the build-up to Spurs' second goal

The Hammers not looking back

Manuel Pellegrini became the first coach to beat four different Manchester United managers in the Premier League this weekend when West Ham overcame the Red Devils on Sunday.

While it's an impressive record to hold for the Chilean, he'll be more delighted with his side's recent form, with only Liverpool bettering the boys in claret and blue.

West Ham have won three and drawn two of their last five, which sees them go joint third level on points with Arsenal and Leicester. 

West Ham have won three and drawn two of their last five Premier League games

West Ham have won three and drawn two of their last five Premier League games

De Bruyne on course to smash Henry's assist record

Back in the 2002-03 campaign, Thierry Henry proved that he wasn't just a goal machine when he notched a Premier League record of 20 assists in one season.

Mesut Ozil came close in the 2015-16 season but if anyone is going to break it, it's Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian maestro already has seven assists to his name this season after he set up David Silva and Bernardo Silva in the 8-0 thrashing of Watford on Saturday.

The only issue that plagues De Bruyne is whether he can stay fit for the season. However, should he keep himself healthy, there is no doubt he can surpass Henry's long-standing record. 

Kevin De Bruyne is on course to beat Thierry Henry's Premier League assist record of 20

Kevin De Bruyne is on course to beat Thierry Henry's Premier League assist record of 20

Relentless City can do it all... even without Sterling

It's a testament to Man City that they did not take their foot off the gas despite being 5-0 up after just 18 minutes against a poor Watford side.

Bernardo Silva got a hat-trick, De Bruyne was at his best and Sergio Aguero got his 100th goal at the Etihad in the Premier League.

What makes the result that little bit more impressive was that Raheem Sterling didn't play a single minute of the encounter. 

Raheem Sterling (right) did not feature in Manchester City's 8-0 thrashing of Watford

Raheem Sterling (right) did not feature in Manchester City's 8-0 thrashing of Watford

Liverpool quick out of the blocks

For a second consecutive season, Liverpool are the first top-flight team to win their first six games on the bounce.

Jurgen Klopp's men have beaten both Arsenal and most recently Chelsea in that run, which sees them gain an early advantage in the title race.

While their performance in midweek against Napoli was shaky, their form domestically has left teams fearful as many still don't have an answer for Mohamed Salah and Co.

Liverpool are first top-flight team to win their first six games for a second consecutive season

Liverpool are first top-flight team to win their first six games for a second consecutive season

Almiron and Joelinton need to find their feet at St James' Park

Following his appointment, Steve Bruce promised that his Newcastle side will play an attractive and attacking brand of football at St James' Park this season.

Having scored just four goals in six games, it's safe to say that the Magpies are anything but what Bruce promised with £40million record-signing Joelinton and £21m Miguel Almiron still yet to find the back of the net in the black and white stripes.

The attacking pair squandered chances in the goalless stalemate with Brighton, which has left plenty of Newcastle fans frustrated at the full-time whistle.

Newcastle's record-signing Joelinton squandered a glorious chance against Brighton

Newcastle's record-signing Joelinton squandered a glorious chance against Brighton

Europa League taking its toll on Wolves

After becoming the Premier League's darlings last season, Wolves have struggled domestically to find that form that saw them finish as the best of the rest outside of the top six teams.

Following a long and tough qualifying campaign in pre-season, the Europa League looks to have worn down this impressive Wolves side that looked like losing another league game on Sunday afternoon.

Credit to them for hanging in against Crystal Palace as Diogo Jota scored a 95th-minute equaliser to snatch a point at Selhurst Park. However, boss Nuno Espirito Santo will be wary of the toll their European campaign is having on them.

The Europa League appears to be taking its toll on Wolves who sit in the relegation zone

The Europa League appears to be taking its toll on Wolves who sit in the relegation zone

Pochettino must plug up leaky defence

It was Groundhog Day for Tottenham fans on Saturday as they shipped another two goals from a winning position against Leicester.

After leading 1-0 through Harry Kane's superb opener, Spurs went on to lose thanks to two second-half goals leaving Mauricio Pochettino scratching his head at full-time. 

If they're going to claim a top-four spot at the end of the season, Spurs' Argentine boss is going to have to figure out how to stop their current rot quick. 

Mauricio Pochettino was left scratching his head following Tottenham's 2-1 defeat to Leicester

Mauricio Pochettino was left scratching his head following Tottenham's 2-1 defeat to Leicester

Aubameyang continues to carry the Gunners

Arsenal's form as of late has been suspect to say the least but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang manages to hold his own in the good times and the bad.

The Gabon international scored a brace in the disappointing 2-2 draw with Watford last week and was on hand to score the winning goal in a 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Needless to say, if Unai Emery can get rid of the mistakes and keep Aubameyang firing, the Gunners will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has managed to hold his own for Arsenal this season

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has managed to hold his own for Arsenal this season