The Sporting Life football team look at the big talking points from Saturday's Premier League action, including Leeds' solid showing.
Leeds go toe to toe again
Tom Carnduff
The Premier League's weekend highlight came from Elland Road, and while Leeds 1-1 Manchester City didn't give us the goals we perhaps expected, it did provide plenty of entertainment which left those watching completely engrossed in the action.
Pep Guardiola's City side dominated the first 20 minutes and there were fears for Leeds that it could quickly become an evening to forget, but the hosts grew into the game and grabbed a deserved equaliser through new signing Rodrigo - who netted his first goal for the club.
Leeds went toe to toe with Liverpool at Anfield on the opening day but a late penalty provided the heartbreak in a 4-3 defeat. This time, the disappointment is caused by the fact they only left with a point.
That's not to say they had it their own way throughout and City, being City, continued to pose a threat but there were periods of the game where Leeds made Guardiola's side sweat - if they could through the soaking West Yorkshire rain. Once again, we're left fascinated with Marcelo Bielsa's side.
Ian Poveda, a January signing from City, provided a spark for Leeds down the right side while Rodrigo has demonstrated in recent weeks why Leeds splashed out a club record fee of £27m for his services. Bielsa's faith to put youngster Leif Davis in the 77th minute demonstrates his belief in the group of players he has.
Leeds had 53% possession to City's 47; seven shots on target to City's reply of just two. Granted the visitors had more total opportunities but Leeds looked more threatening and tested Ederson throughout. The City goalkeeper may have made a mistake in Rodrigo's goal but it felt a matter of when, not if, Leeds were going to get onto the scoresheet.
As an aside, value is often to be found in the tackles markets where Leeds are concerned and they didn't fail in that area again with 28 successful - also landing an 11/4 winning tip in Saturday's Premier League preview as Ayling posted five. Leeds constantly remain good value in the stats markets but even more so in these big games.
We have an international break but the 17/10 price on Bielsa's side beating Wolves on the first game back already looks good value as they aim to ride this early season momentum. I wasn't buying into Leeds' top-six chances pre-season; the performances so far have already done enough to convince me to at least monitor their price.
Game of two halves shows Palace deficiencies
Paul Higham
What a bizarre game it was at Stamford Bridge as basically nothing happened in the first 45 minutes before, without really having to do too much work, Chelsea walked off with a 4-0 victory over a lacklustre Crystal Palace.
We shouldn’t have been surprised really though should we, given that both of these teams are slow to get going – after this game Chelsea have now scored nine of their 10 Premier League goals in the second half this season.
Roy Hodgson’s Palace are consistently cautious in their approach and their defend-first mentality means that they’ve now failed to score a first-half goal in 30 of the 42 Premier League games they’ve played since the start of last season.
Palace tackle Brighton in their M23 derby game after the international break, with first half goals again set to be at a premium – you’d certainly be looking at the unders for the Eagles anyway.
The manner of this performance, though, could have more serious implications for Palace in the long-term as it brought them down to earth with a bump after that win at Old Trafford and creditable defeat against Everton.
If they continue to play like this, defending deep, conceding possession and hoping to hit sides on the break, then they’ll come unstuck more often than not. This Chelsea game illustrated the pitfalls of their approach perfectly, as so much has to go right for them to get a result.
Any defensive lapse, because of how deep they are, creates a scoring opportunity for the opposition. Any chance they make has to come from so deep as well, relying on Zaha, Townsend and Eze to gallop half the length of the field on a breakaway. They’re talented runners with the ball, so it can happen, but it’s not a high-percentage success rate.
Then there's star man Zaha, who had fewer touches than Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy and was clearly frustrated. That frustration will only grow if Palace continue to play this way and remember that domestically the transfer window remains open until October 16.
Palace had 29 percent possession against Chelsea, 24 against Man Utd and only 24 against Southampton – yes they won two of those games, but they both saw almost everything go their way. That's not the kind of football that a talent like Zaha wants to play.
These kind of dull, uninspiring tactics from Hodgson simply won’t work in the long term. It could cost them plenty of points - and may even cost them their star man.
And it’s why, after backing them to be relegated pre-season, I’m still of the mind that they’ll have work to do to stay up this term. If they lose Zaha then the current 11/2 quotes for relegation will come tumbling.
Chilwell shows his worth
Paul Higham
Ben Chilwell’s move to Chelsea was expected all summer, but eyebrows were nevertheless raised due to the price involved. Against Crystal Palace he went some way to showing just why he’ll be worth the money.
A goal and an assist made it a dream debut for the former Leicester man, and although you can’t count on that contribution every week, his display showed exactly what he’s been brought in to do.
He was on most of the corners and set pieces, and matched his quality of delivery with the timing of his runs down the left and his confidence on the ball. Playing in this Chelsea team, with so many scoring options, he could have a bumper season for assists.
Palace showed what a lot of teams will do against Chelsea – sit back and try and frustrate them – and in these type of games what space there is can after be found down the wings.
Look at how Liverpool operate with their two full-backs, Frank Lampard looks to have found his answer for the left side at least.
Chilwell had two shots, one on target, 111 touches, 11 crosses and three key passes against Palace. In games like these, he’ll have similar stat lines throughout the season so is worth looking at for an assist and in the shots markets.
Pickford's problems continue
Tom Carnduff
A constant talking point and perhaps one that is more relevant now than ever with three England games coming in the next ten days but Jordan Pickford's form was again thrown into question after another mistake in Everton's clash with Brighton.
Ultimately, it wasn't an error which cost Everton but it's a real area of concern for a Toffees side who have addressed many of their problems in this transfer window. A new-look midfield has combined with a much better attack, but issues at the back remain.
It comes from the goalkeeper and we can't even blame the poor weather conditions as Pickford dropped the ball into the path of Neal Maupay to convert from close range and make it 1-1. A routine stop made far more complicated than it should have been.
When we discuss the England squad, the large majority of positions seem settled. The Three Lions' forward line of Kane, Sancho and Sterling is broadly agreed to be the most effective while the midfield usually picks itself when a fully fit squad is available to choose from.
However, while Nick Pope and Dean Henderson are now called up alongside Pickford to form England's goalkeeping core, the duo will be wondering what has to happen for either of them become the first choice. Gareth Southgate may prefer Pickford's distribution but his form isn't justifying inclusion in the squad, let alone a starting position in the side.
Pickford has started all but one of England's competitive fixtures since the beginning of the 2018 World Cup but it's an area that needs to change.
Pope has consistently performed for Burnley while Henderson's showings during a loan spell at Sheffield United last season, and his occasional cameo for Manchester United during the current campaign, should put him ahead of Pickford in the pecking order.
The Everton stopper has gone from 1/33 pre-Brighton to 1/16 to be involved for England at Euro 2021 but Sky Bet offering 8/1 on Pickford not making the 23-man squad for the next major tournament just seems far too big based upon the catalogue of errors we have witnessed.
We may question who else is available to take his spot but Aaron Ramsdale has proven a popular choice with the under-21s and is set for 38 appearances in the Premier League again after joining Sheffield United from Bournemouth. He started both of England's wins over Kosovo and Austria in Euro under-21s qualifying matches during the last international break. Ramsdale is 3/1 to make the squad.
Southgate has made no secret of the fact he'll pick players based on form not reputation during his spell as England boss. Pickford's consistent involvement suggests that he may not practice what he preaches.
Odds correct at 1930 BST (03/10/20)
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