However, the 20-year-old had a disastrous debut, being subbed off after just 54 minutes. It highlights how the Premier League remains the toughest league in the world – a baptism of fire for Khusanov, whose error led to Chelsea’s opening goal.
For a young player who speaks minimal English and only had a few training sessions to adjust to his new teammates, it was a challenging start.
The added pressure of being the first-ever Premier League player from Central Asia only compounds the weight of expectations on him.
Fortunately for Khusanov, Manchester City recovered to secure a 3-1 victory with goals from Erling Haaland and the in-form Phil Foden.
This win strengthens City’s push for a Champions League spot next season, though they remain 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Omar Marmoush also made his debut for City and looked more composed, perhaps because of playing in a position where risks are more acceptable.
City appear to find their rhythm in the league and could play a significant role in shaping the title race.
If they go unbeaten for the rest of the season, a miraculous title win might not be out of reach.
Such a feat would undoubtedly rank as Pep Guardiola’s greatest achievement – winning the league four times in a row, overturning a massive deficit. For now, Guardiola is likely focused on taking it one game at a time.
Chelsea, meanwhile, dropped to sixth and looked disjointed since the Christmas period. Once considered title challengers, Enzo Maresca now has significant work to do.
Opponents seem to have figured out how to play against Chelsea, and their biggest flaw lies in the goalkeeping position.
Is it time to drop Roberto Sanchez and give another goalkeeper on the roster a chance? With Newcastle and Bournemouth emerging as legitimate contenders for Champions League spots, Maresca has a tough task ahead to turn things around.
Liverpool maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table with a routine victory over Ipswich.
However, the proper test for Arne Slot’s team comes in their next fixture against the league’s in-form side, Bournemouth.
Bournemouth have thrust themselves into the Champions League conversation after demolishing Nottingham Forest in a scintillating performance.
It wasn’t the happiest of birthdays for Nuno Espirito Santo, who saw his team fall apart at the Vitality Stadium.
What makes Bournemouth’s rise remarkable is their aesthetically pleasing style of play, with players performing above expectations under Andoni Iraola. Even with an injury-hit squad, the next player off the bench seamlessly fits into Iraola’s system.
If Bournemouth can hand Liverpool their second defeat of the season, they will command serious attention from the football world. At that point, I won’t be the only one on Bournemouth Island.
In fact, I’m sure Arsenal fans will join me on Bournemouth Island, rooting for the Cherries to cut Liverpool’s lead.
Arsenal escaped Molineux with a hard-fought three points against Wolves.
Mikel Arteta hopes Iraola can do him a favour next week – from one Basque manager to another. Arsenal’s victory came courtesy of Riccardo Calafiori’s winner, but they had to rely on David Raya’s heroics to stay in the game.
A studs-up tackle by Myles Lewis-Skelly resulted in his sending off and Arsenal played with 10 men until the 70th minute when the referee also dismissed Joao Gomes.
Despite the adversity, the Gunners showed grit and resilience to bring the points back to North London. Can Arteta’s men build on this and get a result against City next week?
By the time you read this, Ange Postecoglou could be out of a job at Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs currently sit 15th in the league and have suffered four consecutive losses. The defeat against Leicester might be the final nail in the coffin for Postecoglou.
Losing to a relegation-threatened team that had lost seven games in a row does not look good.
Postecoglou can point to the injury crisis plaguing his squad, but every team in the league face injury challenges during the season. It’s about adjusting and trusting your academy players to step up.
Take Iraola and Bournemouth as an example. Despite having only 12 fit players in the squad, Bournemouth currently sit seventh in the league and are unbeaten since November.
Iraola has implemented a system that works, showcasing resilience and adaptability. Perhaps Postecoglou could take a page out of Iraola’s book.
The race for the Golden Boot is heating up, with all three top contenders scoring this weekend.
Alexander Isak is closing in on Mohamed Salah and Haaland after his brace took his tally to 17. Can Salah maintain his scoring form to secure both the Premier League title and the Golden Boot, or will Haaland find his rhythm and defend his crown?
Either way, fans will relish the entertainment – because while defence may win championships, goals make the game thrilling.
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