We’re back with our weekly round-up of the Premier League action through a set of hasty conclusions that we’ve come to based on a single round of matches.
Every week here on Opta Analyst, we take a break from our usual deep-dive mindset, take the opportunity not to bother with a large dataset, and arrive at a bunch of snap judgements based on just a single round of Premier League matches.
Sometimes, these are quickly proved to be little more than exactly what we call them: knee-jerk reactions.
But even small sample sizes can carry some weight from time to time, and anyway, sometimes it’s fun to jump to conclusions slightly too quickly.
Read on to see what we’re concluding from the 10 games this weekend.
Chelsea Aren’t Ready for a Title Challenge
Chelsea have made a strong start to life under Xabi Alonso, and after two games, it was maybe slightly prematurely decided that their sharp, exciting and newly formed front three could fire them into an unlikely title race.
With no European football to focus on, too, it was thought that they would be able to overcome their defensive deficiencies with Cole Palmer, Alexander Isak had a tough first season after his record-breaking move to Liverpool, but he is already starting to repay that monster fee this term.
His brace against Ipswich Town on Friday – scored after just nine minutes – was the earliest a Liverpool player had scored twice in a Premier League game since Maxi Rodríguez in May 2011 v Fulham (seventh minute). It was also the first time he had scored twice in a match in any competition for the Reds.
Players are rarely afforded any patience in football, particularly after a big-money transfer, and Isak, who also missed a chunk of last season with a broken leg, was no different. Rival fans rejoiced in watching him toil.
But we all know how good he can be, and the early evidence this season is that he could get back to his best. He is getting into more dangerous positions, with the average xG of his shots up from 0.16 per shot to 0.25. And, as a result, he has already matched his league goal total from 2025-26.
He also looks to have formed an effective partnership with Cody Gakpo, so he will have been pleased the Netherlands international did not leave this summer, having been heavily linked with a move away. Both of Isak’s goals on Friday were assisted by Gakpo – the earliest a player has assisted two goals for the same player in a Premier League match since April 1998 (Leicester’s Steve Guppy for teammate Emile Heskey – 8th minute vs Derby).
After such a disappointing 2025-26, few expect Liverpool to challenge this season, but if Isak plays to anything like his potential, then they’ll always have a chance.
Tyrick Mitchell Deserves An(other) England Chance
In front of England manager Thomas Tuchel, Crystal Palace left-back
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