Liverpool surrender Premier League lead to Manchester City as the race for top four intensifies

What did we learn in the Premier League this weekend?

Manchester City ended the weekend as Premier League leaders after Jurgen Klopp’s side drew against Everton, ending Liverpool’s three-month spell at the summit.

In the weekend’s other big derby, the points were also shared between Tottenham and Arsenal at Wembley following some late refereeing controversy. The result tightens things up in the race for the top four, with Manchester United and Chelsea also picking up positive results.

Crystal Palace and Brighton picked up important wins to ease them away from the relegation zone ahead of their derby next weekend. Elsewhere, Wolves continues their good form against Cardiff and West Ham beat Newcastle.

Here are 10 things we learned from the Premier League this weekend:

1. Liverpool hand City title advantage

After less than three months, Manchester City restored their lead at the top of the Premier League. Both sides have played the same number of matches, but City have one more point and a far superior goal difference.

City have won eight if their last nine in the time that Liverpool have dropped 11 points and Pep Guardiola’s side are clear favourites to retain their crown.

The Merseyside derby stalemate was Liverpool’s fourth draw in their last six league matches, pointing towards a loss of form at a vital stage in the season. City, on the other hand, were at their ruthless best and did not concede a shot on target in their 1-0 win against Bournemouth.

2. Chelsea play their way back into Champions League contention

Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Fulham lifts them to just two points shy of Manchester United in forth and one below Arsenal in fifth with a game in hand against Brighton.

Of course, results are more important than ever at this stage of the season, but the performance on the back of their midweek win against Tottenham was a huge boost for Sarri. Having been on the brink of completely losing control of an already rogue dressing room, the manager appears to have galvanised his side ahead of their final set of fixtures.

Chelsea had began to slip away from fourth place (Action Images via Reuters)

3. Premier League embarrassed by VAR decision

The Premier League’s decision to delay the introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) looks worse with every week and high-profile error that passes.

This week it was the north London derby that produced a clanger. No biggy. The officials failed to notice that Harry Kane was a-yard-or-so offside before he was bundle over in the penalty area by Shokdran Mustafi. A quick VAR check would have confirmed that.

It was not just Arsenal and Tottenham that could have benefited from it. Southampton left Old Trafford feeling they should have been given a couple of penalties.

4. Solskjaer reaches another milestone

Manchester United won their first match after being a losing position for the first time since their came from behind to beat Juventus in the Champions League under Jose Mourinho.

The result and spirited performance takes them closer to Tottenham in third, but, perhaps more importantly, was another significant milestone for interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskajer.

Solskjaer is showing he can produce every kind of win as United manager, whether it’s a dominating performance or a determined effort to come from behind at home. The 3-2 victory against Southampton may have taken him much closer to sealing the job on a permanent basis than it appears on the surface.

5. Rodgers makes his mark but suffers defeat on Premier League return

Rodgers wasted little time in establishing himself at Leicester on his first match after replacing Claude Puel.

The former Celtic manager started with a 3-4-3 that became a 5-4-1 and helped Leicester get back into the game through Jamie Vardy’s strike on the break. His effort, however, was in vain as Andre Gray scored in added time and consigned Leicester to defeat.

"I know we can improve, there are things we need to get better at, but there is a lot of potential in there. I am looking forward to another week's training before my first home game," he said.

6. West Ham finally feel at home

West Ham’s move to the London Stadium was a mixture of a PR disaster and a calamitous showing on the pitch during the first two seasons, but now it finally feels that they are beginning to be content with their new home.

Only the top six teams have won more home games this season after Declan Rice and Mark Noble scored in their 2-0 win against Newcastle on Saturday night. The evening began with an emotional ceremony to unveil the Billy Bonds Stand in the ground and made the stadium feel a little more like home.

Billy Bonds unveiled a stand named after him at the London Stadium (West Ham United via Getty)

6. Pickford rediscovers best form

England and Everton number one goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s form this season has been inconsistent after such a successful summer.

High-profile blunders and some interesting footwork cast doubt on his ability to sustain playing at the top level.

Jordan Pickford was impressive against Liverpool (Getty)

However, in the Merseyside derby, a fixture he made a costly error in at the start of the season, he showed why he is England’s best. His save from Mohamed Salah to deny the forward when one-on-one kept Everton in the game at a vital moment. His command of his penalty area during some tense moments was also particularly impressive.

7. Brighton take important step away from relegation zone and consign Huddersfield to the Championship

Brighton’s first league win in 2019 lifted them five points clear of the relegation zone and relieved some of the mounting pressure on Chris Hughton after a dive in form.

The performance was not one for the ages but it was important one given Burnley, Southampton and Cardiff all lost on Saturday.

Brighton took an important step away from the relegation zone (Getty)

The match was a final chance for Huddersfield to inspire an unlikely escape from the jaws of relegation. Southampton stayed up last season with 36 points and Huddersfield need 22 from the an available 27 to match that.

9. The Palace show rolls on

An emphatic 3-1 win against Burnley put a safe amount of distance between Crystal Palace and the relegation zone. Roy Hodgson remained adamant in recent weeks that safety was the main priority this season, but can now start looking up the table rather than over his shoulder.

Michy Batshuayi scored his second goal for the club following him loan move from Chelsea on deadline day as Palace as the manager made a number of changes ahead of their upcoming derby against Brighton.

Wilfried Zaha and Crystal Palace were in fine form at Turf Moor (REUTERS)

10. Are Declan Rice and Aaron Wan-Bissaka set for England call-ups?

The jittery camera shots of Gareth Southgate and his England assistant manager Steve Holland watching on at Premier League grounds is increasing with just a couple of weeks until the next batch of England fixtures.

Southgate was at Turf Moor watching Burnley vs Crystal Palace and Holland was at the London Stadium to see Declan Rice score in West Ham’s win against Newcastle. The England manager watched a stunning display from Wilfried Zaha, a player that won England caps in friendlies but grew tired of waiting for a competitive appearance and chose instead to play for the Ivory Coast.

The former Palace defender will be keen to make sure the same doesn’t happen with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is continuing to impress in his second professional season and can represent either England or DR Congo.