Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend, featuring a surprise name in the top three and an ode to football’s least fashionable role.

Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend

What year is this? Forest party like its 1979

Nottingham Forest are in the Premier League’s top three. No, this is not a drill.

Ten games into the campaign, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are above Arsenal and Chelsea, and they have conceded just seven goals. After finishing 17th last season, Forest were pre-season favourites for the drop but the Tricky Trees are flying high in the table.

Excellently coached defensively, Forest have made astute additions and brought the best in those already at the City Ground this season. Such has been their start, some are even dreaming of European football next season.

Back-to-back European champions in 1979 and 1980 and regulars in continental competition over the following seasons, Forest found themselves hunting down Liverpool in title races of that era. Nestled in just behind the league-leading Reds right now, the current table certainly has a throwback feel.

Semenyo show suggests Bournemouth face battle to keep him

Will Manchester City have a tougher afternoon all season?

Bournemouth followed their scalp of Arsenal with an upset of the champions, earning a 2-1 win on the south coast. In truth, it could—and should—have been more as the Cherries created six big chances at the Vitality Stadium. Antoine Semenyo was the star of the show, outlining just why Premier League rivals are taking an interest in his services. A cut above those around him, his drive and desire unsettled Pep Guardiola’s side.

His mix of high-intensity running, strength and technical security has Semenyo’s star on the rise.

Gomez is Liverpool’s man for all occasions

With Liverpool losing to Brighton this weekend, the Reds needed a hero in their hour of need. Sure, Mohamed Salah was the predictable match-winner for Arne Slot’s side but few contributed more to the turnaround than Joe Gomez.

On at half-time with Ibrahima Konate injured, Gomez twice came close to scoring, was immaculate on the ball, and won 100% of his defensive duels to help Liverpool get on top.

The 27-year-old has been with Liverpool for almost a decade, a period in which he has won a wealth of major trophies while overcoming the adversity of four serious injuries. After being used in four different positions last season, he came close to leaving in the summer and was overlooked during the season’s opening weeks. His attitude, however, has been outstanding. He won’t take the headlines but he most certainly should receive his flowers.

An ode to football’s least fashionable role

Traditionally, left-back has not been football’s most fashionable position. Times have changed of late with inverting full-backs and chance-creating machines more prominent, but left-backs often do their best work in the shadows.

However, this weekend was one to celebrate for left-backs.

Lewis Hall’s shackling of Bukayo Saka saw him named man-of-the-match in Newcastle’s win over Arsenal, Leif Davis scored a stunning goal for Ipswich against Leicester, and Kostas Tsimikas showed he can be more than an Andy Robertson deputy for Liverpool.

The pick, perhaps, was Milos Kerkez. An all-action presence in Bournemouth’s win over Manchester City, the 20-year-old completed 97% of his passes, recorded two assists and made a vital goal-saving block to deny Bernardo Silva.

Solanke shows worth to Spurs

Ange Postecoglou was confident the goals would come for Dominic Solanke in a Spurs shirt. Even without, the Australian had been delighted with the overall contribution of the record signing, brought in from Bournemouth for a £65m fee in the summer.

Solanke’s lead of the press and ability to bring others into the game is well appreciated by Postecoglou, who selected the 27-year-old as his first-choice in the summer window despite considering the likes of Ivan Toney and Santiago Gimenez.

Last season’s exploits proved Solanke can score regularly at the top level and a well-taken brace this weekend emphasised that point. His first in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa was a delightful dinked finish, before showing his striker’s instinct to slam in a second from close range. A return of four goals and an assist from eight league starts is a healthy opening to his time with Tottenham.

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Solanke, Kerkez, Semenyo

See more – Premier League Awards: Super Semenyo, Rambo rescues Saints

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