Matchday Two of the 2014/15 EPL season is now done and dusted, with two London clubs and the blue half of Manchester sending messages to the rest of the division.
Spurs put on a clinic in their victory over rivals QPR, while Chelsea maintained their 100 percent start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Leicester.
It was perhaps Manchester City who fired the loudest shot however with their dominant 3-1 win over title hopefuls Liverpool.
Those from the red side of Manchester took to social media to express their frustration at a second below-par performance in a row. QPR fans were left searching for answers after they were convincingly played off the park.
In a second straight action-packed week, here are this week’s winners and losers.
Winner: Man City
A double to Stevan Jovetic and a goal to Argentinian star Sergio Aguero was enough for the current EPL Premiers to re-announce their title credentials, as they recorded a 3-1 win over Liverpool this morning.
Liverpool, who were perhaps only a Stevie Gerrard slip away from winning their first EPL title last season, were a distant second to the Champions, and only scored a consolation goal through a Pablo Zabaleta own goal.
City’s squad is so stacked with talent that betting agencies have them under $3 to retain their title. They registered a comfortable win in this season’s first “Big Four” clash and still look as though they have a fair bit of improvement left in them. Message sent.
Loser: Louis van Gaal
The Dutchman has not enjoyed an easy initiation at Old Trafford, and remarkably there have already been calls on social media to oust the former Dutch national team manager.
Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 formation has attracted the ire of United fans across the globe, and although it is surely unfair to judge his reign in just 180 minutes of football, the signs at Old Trafford are worrying.
The monster money signing of Angel di Maria will be a huge shot in the arm for the struggling former superpower side, however surely more names need to be added for United to truly compete this season.
Winner: West Ham United
The Hammers produced a brilliant performance on the road to beat Crystal Palace 3-1.
New signing Mauro Zarate scored his first goal for his new club in the first half, who went 2-0 up via a brilliant goal to England international Stewart Downing.
Although Palace were able to peg one back, a clever finish from Carlton Cole iced the game, and delivered three points to an impressive West Ham outfit.
Loser: QPR
On the end of a 4-0 hammering this weekend at the hands of Tottenham, there are very real fears that QPR may struggle this season.
Harry Redknapp has a huge job ahead of him, despite having a talented squad at his disposal, to stave off being dragged into a relegation battle this season.
They look as though they have the talent to avoid the drop, but they’ll have to produce much improved performances than that of this past weekend to do so.
Winner: Sunderland
Even at home, few would have expected The Black Cats to take a point off the most successful side in English football history, but that is exactly what a determined Sunderland side did.
This was far from a snatch-and-run effort, as Sunderland had chances to capture all three points, and will be far happier with their performance than their opponents.
Winner/Loser: Everton
If you had offered a draw to Everton fans before kick off, there’s a good chance most would have taken it. However having been two goals to the good heading into the final ten minutes, the draw will now feel more like a loss.
Winner: Diego Costa
Two goals in two games. Is Costa the man to finally break the Chelsea curse?
Stamford Bridge has developed an unwanted record of bringing in top profile strikers, only to see them flop. Crespo, Shevchenko, Kezman, and Torres are just four of the names who have failed to fire for the Blues.
Ironically, it is Costa’s strike partner this season in Didier Drogba who became a mega star while at Chelsea, under Jose Mourinho. If Costa can bang in twenty goals this season, Chelsea may be unstoppable.
Big Win: Tottenham
Anyone who saw that magical 42-pass goal will now be sure that Spurs have come into the 2014/15 to play some football.
The Londoners have been among the best of the rest, i.e. those outside the traditional top four or five superpower sides, for far too long. Is this season the year they finally break into Champions League football?
Big Loss: Liverpool
Liverpool were looking to send an early message that they can compete for the title despite the sale of last season’s top scorer Luis Suarez.
Instead they were on the receiving end of the message, as Many City proved a class above.
Mario Balotelli’s signing should lift Liverpool, who will be top four contenders come early next year, however it’s tough to see them matching the likes of Chelsea, and their opponents yesterday in City.
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