2<\/p>\n
Has Watkins tarnished legacy?<\/p>\n
It was only one game after 278 for Aston Villa, accumulated over the previous six seasons \u2013 a period in which Ollie Watkins has scored 108 goals and made himself one of the most popular players in the club\u2019s Premier League history. But the rules are the rules. Nobody can refuse to play and emerge without a mark against their character. This is the charge against Watkins, brought in none-too-subtle fashion<\/a> by Unai Emery after Villa\u2019s 4-0 defeat at Brighton \u2013 a match that Watkins missed as he considers an approach from Al-Hilal. We do not yet have Watkins\u2019s side of the story. Or that of his agent. But given Emery had no other available No 9, it feels pretty clear the manager did not choose to omit Watkins. Villa claim they are not close to any agreement with Al-Hilal, having rejected more than one offer from them. Perish the thought that this could drag on. Villa have one more game before the window shuts \u2013 against Arsenal at home next Monday night. David Hytner<\/p>\n Unai Emery did nothing to deny that Ollie Watkins had refused to play for Villa in their sobering defeat. Photograph: Glyn Kirk\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n United falter as No 9 options look thin<\/p>\n Michael Carrick was limited in his options during Manchester United\u2019s opener because Benjamin Sesko was unable to feature at any point in pre-season but Matheus Cunha was completely ineffective as a false nine. Hull\u2019s back three enjoyed a very quiet lunchtime as they returned to the Premier League. Cunha did not embrace the physical battle and went missing, leaving United with barely any presence in the final third as they failed to threaten their opponents. Sesko was brought on to change the dynamic but was equally ineffectual, while fellow striker Joshua Zirkzee was left on the bench, implying how little trust the coaches have in him. Carrick needs to get Sesko up to speed and sell Zirkzee soon, freeing up funds to find a better alternative if United are to compete this season, especially with the false nine tactic looking flawed. Will Unwin<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Tigers delight in Tzolakis\u2019 debut<\/p>\n Manchester United were impressively unthreatening in their approach to losing at Hull. There was the odd half-baked attempt at scoring or putting a cross into a dangerous area but nothing that made the highlights reel. This was unfortunate for the Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, who had an impressive, if somewhat uncomplicated, debut between the sticks. After being signed for \u00a320m from Olympiakos, United should have made a greater effort to test him. What duties the Greek international was forced to do, were carried out with ease, instilling confidence in the defence in front of him. If he continues to look so calm and assured, Tzolakis could prove himself one of the smartest signings of the season. \u201cWe bought him and we spent some money there,\u201d Sergej Jakirovic said. \u201cHe\u2019s a national team player of Greece, an Olympiakos player. If you\u2019re following Greek football, Olympiakos, it\u2019s a huge stress, huge pressure there, and he\u2019s used to it. For him, I think this is like a cup of tea.\u201d WU<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Cherki\u2019s crucial cameo after disquiet<\/p>\n Rayan Cherki wrested the three points in a cameo that consisted of the corner for Marc Gu\u00e9hi\u2019s equaliser and the cute pass for Josko Gvardiol\u2019s winner. Enzo Maresca gave an insight into the Frenchman\u2019s disquiet at not starting. \u201cRayan is quite a nice and clear boy, if he is not happy he wants to show it. If he\u2019s next to me and he\u2019s not happy, you all realise that he is not happy because he is doing anything just to show that he is not happy. I know that he was not happy today but at the end I had to take a decision,\u201d said the manager. Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Sangar\u00e9 shines against big spenders<\/p>\n At a time when some Premier League<\/a> are willing to spend over \u00a3100m on midfielders there is unlikely to be a better bargain than Mamadou Sangar\u00e9. Brentford\u2019s new signing was excellent for Lens last season and was outstanding on his debut against Tottenham. Sangar\u00e9 dominated midfield, even with Spurs able to field upwards of \u00a3175m worth of talent in Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, and his performance raised the question of why the league\u2019s bigger clubs are not willing to look further afield for signings. Brentford, after all, only paid \u00a339m for Sangar\u00e9. Yet it seems inevitable there will be clubs willing to pay double the price if he has a good first season in England. Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | Every weekday<\/p>\n Sign up to Football Daily<\/p>\n Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s take on the world of football<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Isak struggles on return to Newcastle<\/p>\n At gut-wrenching as it must have been for Newcastle fans to see their side concede a stoppage-time penalty to Liverpool, at least they can take comfort that it wasn\u2019t Alexander Isak that scored the Reds\u2019 dramatic equaliser from 12 yards. The former Newcastle striker had a torrid time on his return to St James\u2019 Park \u2013 booed at every touch, crunched by Lewis Hall in the tackle and sending his only real chance of note into orbit \u2013 but he would surely have fancied taking his revenge with the last kick of the game before Dominik Szoboszlai converted the 99th-minute spot-kick. Worryingly, Isak is lacking the fluency that convinced Liverpool to spend \u00a3125m last summer<\/a> and with Hugo Ekitik\u00e9 still sidelined with a long-term injury, Andoni Iraola doesn\u2019t have a natural replacement at No 9. If Liverpool are to be successful this season, Isak has to turn it on. Michael Butler<\/p>\n Alexander Isak watches the ball during his return to Tyneside. Photograph: Molly Darlington\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Ipswich combat set pieces with O\u2019Shea<\/p>\n A defensive tactical shift from the Ipswich Town<\/a> manager, Gary O\u2019Neil, demonstrated the changing nature of the Premier League. O\u2019Neil, an astute reader of the game, chose to play the tall centre-back Dara O\u2019Shea at right-back to counter the threat of set pieces that have become so prevalent, in Ipswich\u2019s surprise win against Sunderland. \u201cAerially the Premier League is such a test now, from long throws and set pieces,\u201d O\u2019Neil said. \u201cTo have three centre-half types in your back four helps us from set pieces, size-wise.\u201d In the first season since Pep Guardiola departed, the top flight is already shifting away from his neat, passing football to a different beast. Sam Cunningham<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Dewsbury-Hall on path to complete midfielder<\/p>\n David Moyes felt his young Everton team might have been uncomfortable chasing the game against Crystal Palace<\/a> and were therefore indebted to Jordan Pickford\u2019s save from Eddie Nketiah, plus Jean-Philippe Mateta\u2019s finishing, for not having to do so. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall\u2019s guidance was instrumental too. The performance of both teams altered once the midfielder imposed himself, while his superb strike beyond Dean Henderson underlined the quality of a player who will be crucial to Everton\u2019s aspirations. \u201cI want to be better than last season,\u201d said Dewsbury-Hall, who delivered eight goals and four assists in his first Premier League campaign at Everton. \u201cThat\u2019s not just goals and assists, it\u2019s my overall play. A couple of years ago I probably wasn\u2019t getting goals and assists but was influential in play. I want to mix that together and when you do that that\u2019s when you become a complete midfielder. I know I have the ability to do it so fingers crossed I do.\u201d Andy Hunter<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Farke hopes Leeds can cement status<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782369971_681_500.jpg\")
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