The 2016/17 Premier League season may be in it’s infancy, but the top seven already has a familiar and unsurprising feel to it.
Manchester City lead the way after a fifth straight win under Pep Guardiola, who has taken to England like a duck to water. Bournemouth were the latest team to fall victim to the talents of Kevin de Bruyne and co as City continue to thrive.
Everton currently sit in second place after four wins from their opening five games, with Ronald Koeman seemingly beginning to extract the most of the huge potential from a talented squad. Spurs’ narrow win over Sunderland moved them up to third, just behind Everton and above Chelsea, who lost to Liverpool on Friday Night.
Arsenal’s recovery from an opening day defeat continued with a 4-1 win at Hull, but Manchester United fell to a third straight defeat against Watford. Crystal Palace put four past Stoke City, as did West Brom against West Ham, as two of last season’s top half team’s continued to struggle.
Elsewhere, there were wins for champions Leicester City, who defeated Burnley 3-0, and Southampton, who edged Swansea 1-0 for a first league win of the season.
But who excelled and who disappointed on Matchday five? Read on over the next few pages to discover who made our 3 up 3 down for this week.
Up: Jordan Henderson
There were some brilliant goals scored this weekend, but none were more spectacular than Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson’s 30-yard peach that secured victory for the Reds at Stamford Bridge.
The Englishman pulled the ball down on the edge of the area calmly, before caressing the ball right into the top corner, leaving one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers flailing helplessly.
The strike was just reward for an excellent performance from Henderson, who after a tricky beginning, looks to be thriving in a deep midfield role. He was first to everything in the middle of the park and constantly picking up possession on the edge of the box whenever Chelsea tried to clear. A brilliant performance and a brilliant goal to match.