Anderson demonstrates why his price tag is justified.
Did City’s siege mentality finally eclipse Liverpool’s resolve? Their quality shone for an hour with full‑strength squads.
Every virtue of City’s 3‑0 triumph boiled down to Elliot Anderson’s classy display.
Since his £116m jump from Nottingham Forest, the midfielder has paired ball mastery with composure, a true bargain, says Jamie Carragher, matching Rodri’s influence in his role.
Amid City’s growing spotlight and spending scrutiny, Anderson stays calm—exactly what a modern holding midfielder needs: tireless runner, aggressive tackler, clever distributor. Gary Neville hails his big‑game dominance.
Unfazed by pressure, Anderson has won at Anfield two seasons in a row with different teams. The only link between Forest’s grit and City’s finesse? Elliot Anderson.
Laura Hunter
Wirtz falters when the stakes are highest for Liverpool.
Wirtz contributed pressing and movement, hallmarks of Liverpool’s tempo that troubled City for an hour, yet the magic fans craved was absent.
Rayan Cherki netted City’s third, while Wirtz watched from the bench, unable to spark his side in a crucial contest.
Too many stray touches and half‑hearted passes; Munoz and Koumas thrive on hustle, but Wirtz glides and still needs tangible output to earn his spot.
A lone effort flew wide when the game was still level, leaving Wirtz goalless this season and with just one strike in his last 16 league outings. Missed chance for a classy talent.
Adam Bate
Sage delivers a nostalgic Palace performance, costing Glasner his legacy.
Crystal Palace appear to have rekindled their attack under Pierre Sage, evidenced by a 3‑1 comeback over Nottingham Forest.
The Eagles have now hit three‑plus goals in two of their last four league matches—matching what they managed in their previous 37 games combined.
Glasner’s later tenure saw Palace struggle to juggle domestic and European duties, often lacking goals and flair.
Early signs hint at a return to the free‑scoring brand of football that flourished in Sage’s first season, with pace and fluid combos threatening all opponents.
It’s still early for Sage, and two high‑scoring displays don’t guarantee permanence, yet Palace seem freer, with Kamada, Lerma and Pino all on the scoresheet against Forest.
If Sage can keep the offensive surge while shoring up a leaky defence, Palace could become a genuinely dangerous side.
William Bitibiri
Everton’s unbeaten run hinges on adding one key ingredient for European hopes.
Everton sit unbeaten after six games, a feat achieved only twice before in the Premier League era (2006/07 and 2013/14).
Credit goes to David Moyes, whose second spell has steered the club back toward upward momentum.
After five seasons in the bottom half, Everton now seem poised to push higher and entertain bigger ambitions.
Yet Moyes faces a dilemma: Thierno Barry is his lone striker. The 23‑year‑old netted in the 2‑2 Hull draw but needed five clear chances, according to Opta, and missed at least two.
To reach Europe, Everton must find a forward who consistently turns chances into points; Hull exposed the cost of lacking one.
Barry, Everton’s top scorer with 11 league goals since last season, is improving, but relying on him alone feels unfair to both player and manager.
The Frenchman started all eight league games, then suffered cramp at Hull, forcing Moyes to replace him with midfielder Charly Alcaraz.
With just over four minutes plus stoppage, Everton seemed to abandon the chase for a late winner—a match they could have claimed.
The plan hinged on signing Folarin Balogun, but his Monaco deal collapsed at the deadline.
In my view, a January striker signing is essential; ownership uncertainty looms, yet Moyes deserves a proper partner up front for a European push.
Zinny Boswell