Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action ( two )

6) United impress to leave Rooney ever more peripheral

Manchester United did not beat Stoke City but José Mourinho was not far wrong to state it was the side’s best performance of the campaign. This makes the road back into the first XI appear a little longer for Wayne Rooney, who was dropped again for the serious business of the Premier League. The captain was also left out for the 4-1 win over Leicester City and though he was once more introduced as a second-half replacement against the second-bottom club Rooney was largely ineffective. The forward will now lead England – and expect to start – during the international break but will he really be reinstated for the trip to Liverpool? It seems unlikely given the side that overran Stoke was unchanged from that which did the same to the champions. A lot can change in football and quickly, of course, but Rooney now seems in the position where he needs an injury (or three) to wrest his place back. Jamie Jackson

7) Moyes benefits from Van Aanholt’s attacking instincts

David Moyes is not a big fan of 3-5-2 but switching to that system, at least on a temporary basis, could just work for a Sunderland side still seeking their first Premier League win this season. That configuration might also bring out the best in Patrick van Aanholt, so often a liability at left-back but an attacking threat when operating as a wing-back. Perhaps it was coincidence but Sunderland improved after shifting to 3-5-2 once Van Aanholt replaced the injured Jan Kirchhoff in the draw withWest Bromwich Albion on Saturday. The substitute scored the equaliser that provided only their second point of the campaign. With Lee Cattermole injured and Kirchhoff probably out for some time too, changing to a back three could also help camouflage Sunderland’s weaknesses in central midfield, where, right now, Didier Ndong seems the one bright spark, and at centre-half. Louise Taylor

8) Goal-shy Swansea need to find a sharpshooter

Swansea City have got themselves into a mess and, irrespective of the managerial situation, all the signs are there that this will be a long, hard season. The past two games have offered a glimmer of hope, but playing well for an hour against Manchester City and 45 minutes against Liverpool is not enough. “It is all about results, it is not about being nice to watch,” Lukasz Fabianski said. It remains a worry where goals will come from – Swansea have scored only six all season and Leroy Fer has four of them – the side lacks pace, and Ashley Williams’s leadership is badly missed. Whether it is Francesco Guidolin, Ryan Giggs, Bob Bradley or someone else in the dugout, those issues will not be easily solved. Borja Bastón, the club‑record signing, needs to come good up front, Ki Sung-yueng could do with regaining the form he showed two seasons ago and how about Jefferson Montero returning from the wilderness? Stuart James

9) Has Deeney put himself in England frame?

Striker

Troy Deeney

Appearances

7

Goals

3

Shots

11

Shots on target

45%

Offsides

0

In an England-centred week, attention at Vicarage Road inevitably focused on two much-discussed figures in the visitors’ entourage: the Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe, in the frame to replace Sam Allardyce, and their on-loan midfielder Jack Wilshere, feeling his way back to fitness and form. But it was Troy Deeney, with his 99th goal for Watford, who caught the eye more on Saturday. Deeney’s path to Premier League prominence has been a chequered one but at a club that chops and changes personnel as much as Watford, he remains a constant and a talisman in his seventh season at Vicarage Road. His goal against Bournemouth was not as spectacular as his effort at West Ham last month, but rewarded a performance that showed his ability both in holding the ball up and finishing, and suggested he is close to regaining his best form. England could do worse. Tom Davies

10) Bilic’s new faces also struggle to adapt to new surrounds

In keeping with Simone Zaza’s awkward start to Premier League life, the striker on loan from Juventus produced a busy second-half cameo but his one real sight of goal was ballooned over. He is one of a large collection of new faces Slaven Bilic is trying to assimilate as quickly as possible in challenging conditions. There has been a real mix of signings. From young prospects to the well decorated and all sorts in between. There is a lot going on and a lot to take in. How on earth do West Ham make them feel at home when the club are struggling to feel at home themselves? Bilic is backing his newcomers to come good. “Some players need time to click with the team, to adjust – and then comes the new stadium and everything,” he says. “Of course they are all good players and they will work – or at least that is what we are expecting them to do. They are good players and they came to improve our team. But we have to help them also as a team to settle in, to a new country, new environment, new league or whatever, as soon as possible.” In the short term he is looking to some older faces to return to help the cause. Aaron Cresswell returns to training during the international break, and Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho are not far away. Both the strikers are not without issues, but Bilic is not in the position to rule anyone out of contention unless he has to. He intends to get to the bottom of Carroll’s late night escapades. “I’m going to see what really happened. We are going to pick up all the information and we are going to talk about it and if needed we are going to act, of course.” Amy Lawrence

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