FIVE THINGS: Premier League weekend

It has been yet another pulsating weekend in the Premier League, following its timely return from the international break. 

With goals galore, and key events happening at the top and bottom of the league standings, there have been several talking points from this weekend’s matches.

Here at SillySeason, we’ll take a detailed look at the five things which caught our eyes from England’s top-tier over the course of the weekend.

STERLING NETS HIS MANCHESTER CITY HAT-TRICK 

Raheem Sterling showed why Manchester City paid the amount they did for him in the Citizens’ 5-1 victory at home to newly-promoted, AFC Bournemouth.

Sterling netted his first-half treble in emphatic style, with City subsequently returning to winning ways, and the top of the league table, following a tricky couple of encounters for the Sky Blues.

It was a mature, professional performance from the 20-year-old, who had previously flattered to deceive since his £44m move from Liverpool early in the summer – but netted his first career hat-trick, putting the Cherries to the sword.

KLOPP STARTS OFF WITH A POINT

All eyes were on recently-appointed Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, who oversaw his first Reds game on Saturday lunchtime, a 0-0 stalemate away to Tottenham Hotspur.

The German, who replaced Brendan Rodgers at the helm at Anfield a fortnight ago, took charge of his new side in North London, with Liverpool earning a point from the contest.

WIJNALDUM SCORES FOUR, AS NEWCASTLE PICK UP MAXIMUM POINTS 

Georginio Wijnaldum scored four times on Sunday, as Newcastle United romped to a 6-2 win at home to Norwich City, in front of the St James’ Park crowd.

The Dutchman, who signed from PSV in the transfer window, opened the scoring after 14 minutes, before restoring United’s lead 12 minutes later.

Spaniard Ayonzo Perez netted Newcastle third just after the half-hour, with Nathan Redmond scoring a second for Norwich a minute later.

But the day was to belong to Wijnaldum, who added his fourth after 66 minutes, before completing the scoring after 85 minutes, a result which eases the pressure on Magpies manager, Steve McClaren.

UNITED STRUT THEIR STUFF IN EVERTON WIN 

Wayne Rooney departed his former club with his name on the score-sheet, in an emotional day at Goodison Park – as Manchester United beat Everton 3-0 away from home.

The build-up to the game was overshadowed by the sad news of the death of former Everton manager, Howard Kendall, at the age of 69, with both sides observing a minutes applause.

On the pitch, Morgan Schneiderlin got United going with an 18th minute strike, netting low inside the penalty area, as Andrea Herrera and Wayne Rooney completing the goal scoring for Louis Van Gaal’s men on Merseyside.

BIG SAM RETURNS 

Finally, to round up this weekend, we couldn’t not talk about the return of Sam Allardyce, could we?

The 60-year-old returned to the dugout as Sunderland manager last week, and traveled to West Bromwich Albion with his out-of-sorts Black Cats side, who sit bottom of the Premier League pile.

His first game as manager ended in defeat, as Saido Berahino notched the solitary goal at the Hawthorns – next week for Sam, is a home game against local North East rivals, and his former club, Newcastle.