1<\/p>\n
Life of O\u2019Reilly for City against Salah<\/p>\n
Amid the headlines about Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham being recalled for England, there was a little less said about Nico O\u2019Reilly being named in Thomas Tuchel\u2019s squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly paid the price for his lack of game time and now the City man gets his opportunity to stake a claim for a World Cup spot. The 20-year-old now goes into camp having become the latest defender to shut out Mohamed Salah. That\u2019s less of an achievement than it used to be, but O\u2019Reilly still had to show tenacity and patience against this nuggety, late-era version of the Egyptian superstar. The City full-back nicked the ball off his man regularly \u2013 much to the delight of the home fans \u2013 and got forward to decent effect, too. If Pep Guardiola trusts O\u2019Reilly in the biggest games and he can avoid injury there is no reason to think that the City academy graduate cannot make England\u2019s most open position his own. Tom Bassam<\/p>\n
2<\/p>\n
Elliott absent from Villa\u2019s party<\/p>\n
After a 4-0 win, presumably it was smiles all round for Aston Villa? It felt that way as Unai Emery and his players departed the pitch after destroying Bournemouth<\/a>. For Harvey Elliott, though, it was another difficult afternoon. Omitted from the match squad for the third successive league game (though he was ineligible to face his parent club, Liverpool), the 22-year-old last played for Villa on 2 October as an 86th-minute substitute against Feyenoord. His last league appearance came in September, when he was hooked at half-time against his former club Fulham. Emery points to the form of those with whom Elliott is competing, including Emi Buend\u00eda and Ross Barkley, both among the scorers on Sunday. Then there is Morgan Rogers, who has evolved into one of Emery\u2019s undroppables. Elliott, a deadline-day arrival, has to play at least 10 games to trigger a \u00a335m permanent move from Liverpool but, after just seven matches and 98 top-flight minutes, might he have played his final game for Villa? Ben Fisher<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Canvot covers for Gu\u00e9hi in style<\/p>\n Crystal Palace\u2019s reluctance to sell Marc Gu\u00e9hi to Liverpool in the summer stemmed from Oliver Glasner\u2019s concerns that his 19-year-old replacement Jaydee Canvot wasn\u2019t experienced enough to cope with the demands of playing in four competitions this season. Gifting a goal to the Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in a Conference League defeat on his first start since a \u00a323m move from Toulouse gave credence to those doubts. In the 0-0 draw with Brighton on Sunday, the France Under-21 international was outstanding as he expertly filled in for the injured Gu\u00e9hi and didn\u2019t put a foot wrong. As Glasner put it, Canvot has \u201call the hardware that you need as a centre-back \u2013 he has pace, he is tall\u201d. He also predicted there is more to come as Canvot\u2019s confidence grows. \u201cNow it\u2019s about giving him time, step by step, helping him to become the best he can be,\u201d the Palace manager said. \u201cI can still remember a little bit when I was 19. When you get your debut in the Premier League, you should be delighted and especially you shouldn\u2019t have fear.\u201d Ed Aarons<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Bees striker succession keeps on rolling<\/p>\n How other clubs must yearn for Brentford\u2019s ability to continue procuring goalscorers. Ivan Toney was initially their star frontman and so effective that he played his way into the England reckoning and then over to Saudi Arabia. Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo took over, scored hatfuls and then departed in big-money moves this summer. How could they possibly cope without their lethal attacking duo? Arise Igor Thiago, whose double against Newcastle took his league tally to eight this season \u2013 behind only Erling Haaland in the top goalscorer list. An injury-ravaged first campaign in England has given way to a wonderful second as he now shoulders the club\u2019s goalscoring responsibility. \u201cHe\u2019s just in a great vein of form,\u201d the Brentford<\/a> manager, Keith Andrews, said. \u201cPlaying full of confidence. A huge personality. He\u2019s loving life, loving football. Long may it continue.\u201d Ben Bloom<\/p>\n Igor Thiago points to the sky after scoring Brentford\u2019s third goal against Newcastle. Photograph: John Sibley\/Action Images\/Reuters<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Forest must get more from Igor Jesus<\/p>\n Igor Jesus is clearly a very good footballer, but whether he is a Premier League<\/a> No 9 is yet to be seen. Sean Dyche gave him an hour against Leeds but the Brazilian was unable to act as the focal point demanded by his head coach. When there are balls to chase, he does his best but gives off the impression of someone who would be more suited to playing deeper. When he joined from Botafogo, he was seen as a nine-and-a-half, but none of the three coaches under whom he has played at Forest in four months in England have considered pairing him with anyone. With Chris Wood injured, Igor Jesus has been given more minutes to acclimatise to the Premier League but is yet to score, his five goals coming in the Carabao Cup and Europa League. If he wants to challenge Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi in the longer term, he will need to adapt his game. Will Unwin<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Sesko odd man out in United\u2019s new trident<\/p>\n The advantage of splashing \u00a3200m on three forwards in the summer is that, while it means certain areas of the side still require significant investment, it makes it less obvious if one is struggling. While Bryan Mbeumo is looking increasingly comfortable at Manchester United<\/a> \u2013 the opening goal at Tottenham was his fourth in four league games \u2013 Benjamin Sesko is yet to settle. The Slovenian has scored against Brentford and Sunderland this season but does not seem a natural fit in United\u2019s front three. In an era of big centre-forwards whose grace makes it a surprise how tall they are, Sesko is a 6ft 5in striker who looks 6ft 5in. Sent through late on with the score at 1-1, he clanked into the path of Micky van de Ven\u2019s challenge and left the field with a knee injury that was a worry for Ruben Amorim post-match. Perhaps United aren\u2019t using the striker in a way that maximises his strengths but he looks way off the level of Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Jonathan Wilson<\/p>\n Benjamin Sesko is denied by Micky van de Ven during Manchester United\u2019s draw at Tottenham. Photograph: Nigel Keene\/ProSports\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Older Irons bring fire to flagging side<\/p>\n Both Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen were presented with special shirts to mark 250 appearances for West Ham. Both arrived together in January 2020 and starred in the club\u2019s glorious Conference League run in 2023. In West Ham\u2019s hour of need, their selflessness will be vital. Bowen, the captain, has assumed the role of penitent frontman for a failing institution. Soucek is happy to be supplanted by young Freddie Potts in midfield. \u201cI can be happy for him and hope he will carry on with his performances,\u201d the Czech international said. \u201cEven though I want to be on the pitch as much as possible to help the team in any way, I am happy that I am still a big part of the squad.\u201d Against Burnley<\/a>, a scratchy Bowen did not have one of his better games but Soucek came off the bench to win the match. Following his poacher\u2019s goal, it was his shot which led to Kyle Walker-Peters\u2019s late clincher. John Brewin<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Sunderland bridge gap to top flight<\/p>\n Sunderland have made the best start to a Premier League season by a promoted club since Hull City 17 years ago. The 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Saturday means they have taken 19 points from their first 11 games after returning from an eight-year spell outside of the division. The new \u00a331m Keel Crossing, which connects Sunderland\u2019s city centre with the Stadium of Light, opened last month and the club are successfully bridging the gap between Championship and Premier League. Sitting in fourth place having taken a point from the leaders, relegation feels like a distant prospect but there is a warning from that Hull campaign: despite starting the 2008-09 season with 20 points from 11 games, Phil Brown\u2019s side stayed up by just one point. The Sunderland<\/a> slogan for last season\u2019s playoff campaign was \u201cTil the End\u201d, and that fighting spirit was on show again at the Stadium of Light. \u201cHere at Sunderland, we have many players who will give their life to keep a clean sheet or stop a shot,\u201d the manager, R\u00e9gis Le Bris, said after another famous performance. Miles Starforth<\/p>\n Sunderland\u2019s players and fans celebrate Brian Brobbey\u2019s last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal. Photograph: MI News\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Fern\u00e1ndez feeling pain of long season<\/p>\n Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez is another player who appears to be suffering from the impact of the Club World Cup. The Chelsea<\/a> midfielder, who played a key role in the club\u2019s victory in the US last summer, is battling through pain. Fern\u00e1ndez was excellent during his side\u2019s win against Wolves on Saturday but the Argentinian needs a rest and will not represent his country against Angola this week. \u201cI will not be available with Argentina,\u201d Fern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cI was just talking to the medical team because I had a problem with my knee in the last four months. I came with a bone edema [swelling] that got worse in the last weeks and months because we played a lot of games. I think the most important thing is coming to the end of the season and I think it\u2019s good to make this decision together, always respecting the doctors.\u201d Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Everton duo boost England credentials<\/p>\n