FIVE things we learned from game week two

Five Things We Learned From The Premier League This Weekend – Game Week 2

What has the Premier League taught us this weekend? As game week two of the 2015/16 Premier League season came to an end last night at Anfield, SillySeason takes a look at five things we learned this weekend.

1. City are early favourites in the title race

Despite finishing as last season’s runners-up, it was still a poor season for the current standards at Manchester City. They finished eight points behind the champions Chelsea and didn’t win a single trophy.

Manuel Pellegrini’s future was in doubt, but the owners have stuck with the Chilean as he has recently signed a new contract running until June 2017.

The faith put in the ex-Malaga boss may pay off, City are off to a flyer in the new campaign and are the early favourites to win their third Premier League title.

They added to Jose Mourinho‘s problems by defeating Chelsea 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium; a massive scalp even if it is so premature in the season.

City have also kept back-to-back clean sheets in back-to-back 3-0 victories, the first coming away at West Bromwich Albion on Monday Night Football. In the past five Premier League seasons, the team that has won the first MNF has gone on to win the title.

The Sky Blues‘ mercurial captain Vincent Kompany looks to be back at his best, two clean sheets and two headed goals in as many games see him return to top form.

2. Riyad Mahrez and Jefferson Montero set for big seasons

Swansea City and Leicester City continued their fantastic start to the new term by defeating Newcastle United and West Ham United respectively.

However, both sides had stand-out players in the wide midfield roles, starting with Swansea‘s Jefferson Montero. The Ecuadorian’s pace and ability to run with the ball had Newcastle right-back Daryl Janmaat all over the place.

So much so that Janmaat received two bookings for two fouls on Montero, ultimately leading to the Dutchman seeing red.

Montero also picked up an assist as he showed his skill to use both feet just as dangerously, as he shifted the ball onto his left before delivering the cross that Andre Ayew headed home for 2-0.

The winger was unlucky not to score himself when he rattled the Magpies‘ post.

On the other hand, Leicester‘s Riyad Mahrez is showing his ability to score goals from a wide position. His goal in the 2-1 win at West Ham was his third of the season, following a brace in the 4-2 victory over Sunderland on the opening day.

Keep an eye out for these two live-wires throughout the season. They both have the positional sense and the ideas on the ball of an ‘old-fashioned’ winger, but their flair makes them a real threat to the opposition.

3. West Ham crash back to reality

After winning 2-0 at Arsenal on the opening day, West Ham fans had real hope that the Slaven Bilic era could give them that competitive push that they so desire.

However, they crashed back down to earth in their first home game, as Claudio Ranieri‘s buoyant Leicester took the spoils at Upton Park.

It’s too early to say whether or not Bilic can improve West Ham, but he certainly has made some shrewd signings and some interesting and positive decisions.

New acquisition Dimitri Payet seems a top player, he looked classy on the ball at the Emirates and scored during the home defeat to the Foxes.

Bilic’s faith in 16-year old Reece Oxford is also refreshing to see and it will be interesting to see how the Hammers respond to their Leicester loss.

4. Sunderland NEVER learn

After fighting relegation for several seasons and somehow escaping every time, you would have thought Sunderland had eradicated their common mistakes.

But evidently, they haven’t.

One of Sunderland’s biggest downfalls is conceding goals, but yet again they have failed to tighten up their defence and have shipped seven goals in their opening two games which have both ended in defeat.

The partnership of Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Coates doesn’t look convincing, as highlighted by Gary Neville on Monday Night Football.

It’s worrying they haven’t improved from last season, especially after losing 8-0 at home to Southampton.

The Black Cats need to learn, and fast. I’ve tipped them to go down, as have many others, and I don’t think that’s going to change unless Dick Advocaat addresses some serious issues at the Stadium of Light.

5. New rules, same old problems

A big story in the off-season was the fact that the offside rule had been tweaked to ultimately improve decisions from the officials.

The thing is, the rule makes complete sense and is rather easy to understand, but the officials have to apply it in the correct manner.

Last night they didn’t.

Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 1-0 at Anfield live on Sky Sports, but it was somewhat fortuitously.

The Cherries‘ captain Tommy Elphick thought he had given his team the lead, but had a perfectly good headed goal disallowed for a dubious foul on Dejan Lovren.

Then more controversy came, as Liverpool took the lead through Christian Benteke. The Belgian was onside when scored but his teammate Philippe Coutinho wasn’t under the laws.

It was a real chance for the officials to make a statement and apply the new rule to show everyone that it can work; now we are left with nothing but doubt and criticism.

It’s as simple as this: When the ball is delivered is Coutinho in an offside position? Yes. Does he make an attempt to play the ball? Yes. Does his attempt to play the ball affect the goalkeepers positioning, therefore giving him a disadvantage? Yes.

This means he is offside, but the decision leaves us thinking ‘do the officials even know the new rule?’

It really was that blatantly obvious.