Explosive Comeback: Jarrod Bowen's England Recall Imminent, Manchester City Crumbles in Absence of Rodri

Brilliant Bowen is too good to ignore

Jarrod Bowen showcased his clinical prowess in West Ham's 2-0 victory against Sheffield United, contributing to his impressive tally of five goals from seven Premier League games so far this season. Adding to his remarkable scoring record, Bowen also secured a memorable winner in the Europa Conference League final back in June, taking his overall count to six goals in eight matches.

On Saturday afternoon at the London Stadium, he had the opportunity to add more to his tally. His header in the first half, which seemed destined for the net, was brilliantly saved by Wes Foderingham. Nevertheless, he delivered an extraordinary performance that earned him a standing ovation when he was substituted towards the end of the match.

In the aftermath, David Moyes expressed his belief that the 26-year-old is now closer than ever to being selected for the England squad, a statement difficult to dispute. Bowen has been exceptional throughout the Premier League season, with only Erling Haaland and Heung-Min Son outscoring him.

Gareth Southgate has numerous choices in his attacking lineup, but only a few are consistently performing at a top level. Although his goals are attracting attention, his impressive all-around performance against the Blades serves as a reminder that he brings much more to the table.

The opposition struggled to contain him on the left side, where he formed a strong partnership with Vladimir Coufal, demonstrating his exceptional dribbling skills, driving forward with possession, and pressuring the opposing defenders. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Southgate to overlook his contributions.

Amrabat experiment malfunctions Man Utd

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Sofyan Amrabat made five fouls and was booked up against Jordan Ayew

Being able to solve problems is a crucial characteristic of a Premier League football manager. Erik ten Hag, facing the challenge of injuries to Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan Bissaka, and Sergio Reguilon, attempted to address this issue by deploying new signing Sofyan Amrabat in a versatile role on the left side, as he had done in United's comfortable 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace earlier in the week. However, the opposition team was significantly different from the one they faced previously.

Crystal Palace displayed bravery, physicality, and an impressive level of energy upon their return to Premier League action. As a result, Amrabat found himself with more defensive responsibilities, and he struggled to contain the crafty Jordan Ayew, who excelled at winning free-kicks and relieving pressure from his defenders. Ayew managed to draw five fouls from the frustrated Amrabat, bringing his total number of fouls won this season to 25 - seven more than any other player.

Set-piece threat offers Luton survival hope

Time and time again, Amrabat fell into the trap, ultimately resulting in a yellow card for a deliberate handball after Ayew skillfully evaded him. It was a forgettable performance from Amrabat, further contributing to Manchester United's disappointing season so far.

Everton's recent wins against Brentford and Aston Villa raised expectations for a brighter future. However, it turned out to be a momentous day for Luton, as they rejoiced in their first top-flight triumph since April 1992, when they defeated Aston Villa 2-0. Despite the drenched conditions, Rob Edwards led his supporters in the Bullens Road End with three exuberant fist pumps, making the journey from Bedfordshire all the more memorable.

From the away end came the triumphant chant, "The Town is avoiding relegation," and based on this impressive display, it is hard to argue convincingly that the Hatters will make an immediate comeback to the Championship.

Luton displayed brilliance and fully deserved this victory, exemplified by Alfie Doughty's menacing crosses. Each player adhered diligently to the game plan and demonstrated excellent organization without possession. They exhibited great strength during set-pieces and capitalized on their opportunities.

Nasty reality check for Everton

Despite facing adversity with the injuries to Reece Burke and captain Tom Lockyer in the second half, the Hatters showcased their exceptional team spirit and unity. This was evident not only in their overall performance but also in their ability to handle setbacks. Additionally, the offside flag denied Carlton Morris his second goal, which could have made the victory even more comfortable. Ben Grounds

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Everton's home Premier League record shows a loss of four games. In attendance at Goodison Park were the co-founders of 777 Partners, Josh Wander and Steve Pasko, alongside Don Dransfield, the CEO of the 777 Football Group. However, despite their team's 23 attempts on goal, they realized the challenging task of rejuvenating Everton into a formidable force in English football.

Fourteen attempts missed their mark. The lack of finesse and the frantic pace made the situation seem desperate.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin criticized the defending for Luton's crucial second goal by Carlton Morris as "criminal", while Sue Smith observed that the players appeared "scared" after conceding. The team's confidence, gained from two consecutive away victories in the span of five days, vanished as they fell two goals behind at home to a newly promoted team in just 32 minutes.

Everton's unexpected victory at Brentford provided them with an opportunity to distance themselves from the relegation zone before the October international break. This home game, before their upcoming match at Goodison Park against Bournemouth, allows them to build upon their recent success.

The arrival of the Cherries will evoke fond memories of the final-day triumph that ensured Everton's survival. However, this defeat at home marks their 14th loss in 23 games since last season, highlighting the challenges they face when playing in front of their own fans.

Watkins provides another timely England reminder

Ollie Watkins has become a thorn in Brighton's side as they will be tired of seeing him. The sensational striker's three goals propelled Aston Villa to a resounding 6-1 triumph over the Seagulls. Impressively, Watkins has now found the back of the net six times in the Premier League when facing Brighton, managing to score in all of his previous four encounters against them.

In his English league career, it's now the outright most goals he's scored against a single opponent, overtaking the five he has vs Liverpool.

He works really hard for the team which sometimes goes unnoticed. Today was the complete performance."

John McGinn on Ollie Watkins' performance vs Brighton

The 27-year-old currently has seven goals this season in various competitions, two of which were hat-tricks. This accomplishment makes him the first Aston Villa player since Andy Gray in 1976/77 to achieve two trebles in a single season across all competitions. Additionally, he joins Christian Benteke as the only other player for the club to have scored multiple Premier League hat-tricks. Watkins' impressive performance against Brighton serves as a timely reminder to England manager Gareth Southgate, who observed the match from the stands at Villa Park on Saturday.

He was absent from the Three Lions squad during the matches against Ukraine and Scotland in September. However, based on his impressive performance, it is highly likely that he will be strongly considered by Southgate when he announces the squad for the upcoming games against Australia and Italy in October. Oliver Yew

Man City just aren't the same without Rodri

Manchester City have suffered a 33% loss in top-flight matches played without Rodri since his Premier League debut in August 2019. In contrast, their loss percentage drops to just 7.5% when he is in their lineup. The recent defeat at Wolves, along with the loss in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle, further reinforces the belief that City lacks the same dominance without Rodri in their midst.

City lacked urgency and creativity in possession, resulting in Pep Guardiola substituting Matheus Nunes at half-time. Moreover, City displayed vulnerability when losing possession, especially when Pedro Neto attacked from their left flank.

City's vulnerability is evident in the numbers, highlighting the impact of Rodri's absence at Molineux. Although he couldn't entirely alter the course of events, it's clear that City relies on him. As the season progresses, City, once deemed invincible, now find themselves in a precarious position. Mikel Arteta is undoubtedly eager to capitalize on this weakness, hoping that Arsenal can exploit the void left by Rodri when they meet at the Emirates next Sunday.

Burnley's season starts now

"As a newly promoted team, I'm not that naive to not guess that it could be this type of start."

With only one point from their first six games in the Premier League, Burnley finds themselves second from the bottom. This challenging start included matches against Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Newcastle. Vincent Kompany had a foreboding sense about their performance.

The side that once dominated the Championship has shown glimpses of their former glory. Zeki Amdouni and Luca Koleosho have displayed their talent amidst challenging conditions. Their performance in October will be pivotal.

Upcoming fixtures include a visit to Luton on Tuesday, followed by matches against struggling Chelsea, Brentford, and Bournemouth. Burnley's season hinges on these games.