A shift in power lines as Arsenal stumble, Liverpool collapse, and City rise

SUNDERLAND have shown the Premier League the formula, and now it is up to the rest to replicate it when they face Arsenal.

For the first time in 10 games, Arsenal dropped points, and more importantly, that tight defence finally conceded not just one goal but two over the weekend.​

Sunderland achieved this not by playing silky football but by being more physical than the Gunners.

From the start, they forced Mikel Arteta’s side into a fight, and the usual performers in the back line struggled with the intensity.

Fortunately for Arsenal, not many teams can match the physicality of the Black Cats, and most will struggle when they visit the Stadium of Light.​

Arteta need not panic. He should stick to the strategy because teams like Sunderland are a one-off. Not many can replicate their approach.

Arsenal’s defence is still solid, but they must improve their ability to win second balls and deal with the second phase of play – the international break is a good time to work on this.​

At the Etihad, Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1,000th game in management with a victory over Liverpool.

The win came with Jeremy Doku delivering his best performance of the season, capped by a brilliant goal.

From the first whistle, Manchester City were hungrier and sharper, and their tactical set-up caused Liverpool all sorts of problems.

Despite Erling Haaland missing a penalty, City looked dominant and are now four points behind the league leaders.​

It is back to the training ground for Arne Slot and his team after what looked like a turning point following the midweek win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Slot can wave goodbye to the league title because this is already Liverpool’s fifth defeat of the season.

They lost four games last season, and two of those came after the title was wrapped up. Liverpool are now closer to the relegation zone than the top four. The Reds have lost more matches than Everton.

No one predicted this, and the sad part is how straightforward the formula is to beat them. Teams just need to fight harder because Liverpool’s core is soft.​

Florian Wirtz remains a puzzle. Slot still does not know where to place him. Wirtz started on the left but finished the match as a false nine.

Hopefully, Slot will find the solution in the next two weeks before Nottingham Forest arrive at Anfield.​

In football, the bench can be a blessing or a curse. Unfortunately for Ruben Amorim, none of his substitutions worked against Tottenham Hotspur.

A last-minute goal from Matthijs de Ligt handed them yet another draw. United’s die-hard fans blamed Amorim’s changes for the dropped points.

Some might call it progress since United have not taken a point from Spurs for quite some time.​

United managed the first half well against a flat Spurs side.

For the second match in a row, however, United looked lethargic after the break.

Spurs eventually found their rhythm, and if not for Senne Lammens, United might have lost.

De Ligt caused quite a stir after the match when he claimed the team were tired. Tired? With no European football and seven days to prepare for each match?

Meanwhile, Spurs played on Wednesday and still looked fresher.

Amorim has work to do, but going five matches unbeaten is still a positive step.

​Chelsea remain one of the hardest teams to read. Performances swing wildly, but this can be expected from a young squad undergoing heavy rotation under Enzo Maresca. On their good day, they can beat anyone.

Alejandro Garnacho had his best match in a Chelsea shirt with two assists as they ensured Wolves remained winless.

Maresca probably hopes that the international break will help him build consistency ahead of a congested winter schedule.​

West Ham secured their first back-to-back league wins in a very long time. They remain in the relegation zone but have closed the gap.

There is structure in their play, but the defence is still leaky, something Nuno Espirito Santo is determined to fix.

At least this time, the Irons faithful will not endure a miserable two-week break.​

While Newcastle are flying in the Champions League, their domestic form is suffering.

The Magpies are now closer to the bottom three than the top four. Eddie Howe must find the balance needed to compete in both competitions.

This latest defeat will sting even more because rivals Sunderland are thriving at the top of the table. Howe now has two weeks to get things right.​

This international break has arrived at the perfect time. Managers and coaching teams have plenty to address with their squad.

With a demanding winter schedule ahead, extra sessions on the training ground could be the difference between winning and losing.

Some managers can enjoy the break, while others will need to work harder.