Premier League: Five talking points from the week gone by

From a pulsating North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham to Frank Lampard's wait for first home win, Sportstar brings to you the five talking points from game-week four of the 2019-20 Premier League season.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino still hasn't won a North London derby against arch-rival Arsenal at the Emirates stadium.

1) Gunners show spirit in another classic North London Derby

North London derbies tend to live up to the hype and this one did not disappoint, with Arsenal recovering from a demoralising first 40 minutes against Tottenham.

Christian Eriksen returned to the Spurs XI following speculation surrounding his future and netted the opener against the run of play, before Harry Kane converted a penalty foolishly conceded by Granit Xhaka to double the visitors' advantage.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised for Arsenal in the 71st minute of the North London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates stadium on Sunday.

 

However, Alexandre Lacazette superbly reduced the arrears before half-time and a chaotic second half saw big chances at both ends, with Kane striking the post.

Tottenham could not hold on as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang expertly flicked in to equalise, while an offside flag denied Sokratis Papastathopoulos the winner as both sides pressed in the closing stages.

It was wholly predictable that Eriksen would have a key role on his recall and the close-range finish brought up an impressive milestone.

By scoring his 50th Premier League goal, the midfielder became the first Tottenham player to net 50 times in the competition while also providing a half-century of assists.

There was history for Kane, too, as he drew level at the top of the all-time north London derby top-scorers list. Along with Bobby Smith and Emmanuel Adebayor, he now has 10 in all competitions.

The Spurs duo would surely have preferred to reach such landmarks in a victory, as appeared likely when Kane struck.

2) Flawless Liverpool continues 100 per cent start

Since the start of last season, no Liverpool player has scored more goals in all competitions than Sadio Mane (30 – level with Mo Salah).

 

Liverpool's flawless start to the league season continued against Burnley as it clinched a record-setting victory at Turf Moor.

A freak own goal from Chris Wood and strikes from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino - the Brazil forward's 50th for the Reds - delivered a 13th successive league win, a new club all-time high.

Jurgen Klopp's side has been victorious in all four of its opening top-flight fixtures and restored its two-point advantage over defending champion City at the summit.

3) City clinches win but Laporte goes down injured

Laporte leaves the field on a stretcher against Brighton.

 

While Manchester United and Chelsea struggled to collect full points, Manchester City eased past Brighton with a 4-0 win. However, the win came at a cost with defender Aymeric Laporte leaving the field on a stretcher due to a suspected knee injury after colliding with Adam Webster.

City's win over Brighton was straightforward from the moment Kevin De Bruyne gave it the lead after 68 seconds. The Belgium international then set up the first of two goals for Sergio Aguero either side of half-time, the other created by David Silva, who had also laid on the opener.

City later confirmed Laporte had been hospitalised, with a diagnosis on the severity of his problem to follow.

Earlier this week, Laporte was called up for France's Euro 2020 qualifiers, in what would be his maiden international call-up for the world champion.

4) United winless in six Premier League away matches

Manchester United winger Daniel James scored his third goal in his third straight game but it went in vain on Saturday.

 

Daniel James produced an excellent finish to score his third Manchester United goal to give his side a 10th-minute advantage at Southampton but the 10-man Saints ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has now gone three straight league games without a win as Jannik Vestergaard sent in a towering header just before the hour mark.

United could not find a winner even after Kevin Danso's dismissal in the 73rd minute, the left-back picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Scott McTominay.

This meant the Reds' streak of being winless in Premier League away matches was stretched to six games. The last time United won a game away from Old Trafford dates back to February 28, over six months ago, when it beat Crystal Palace.

5)Chelsea boss Lampard still awaits home win

Frank Lampard with Kurt Zouma after Chelsea's draw with Sheffield United.

 

Frank Lampard is still waiting for his first home win as Chelsea boss after the Blues somehow failed to hold on against Sheffield United.

Kurt Zouma's own goal just a minute before regulation time saw the Blades claim a famous point. Callum Robinson had earlier reduced the deficit for the visitor, while he and substitute Lys Mousset were involved as the ball diverted in off Zouma's shin with the clock ticking down.

Tammy Abraham had scored twice before half-time to seemingly put Chelsea on course for victory, but instead Chelsea remains behind its opponents in the table on just five points from four games.

(With inputs from Opta).