Manchester United’s poor domestic form hit another low on Wednesday after they lost 1-0 at home to Everton. With all the other title contenders winning, David Moyes’s side find themselves 12 points behind leaders Arsenal, a lead that I don’t think they can overcome. More worrying for Moyes has to be that United are five points behind Liverpool for the fourth Champions League place after Liverpool thumped Norwich 5-1.
Leighton Baines replacement, Bryan Oviedo scored for the second game running as Everton did something they had never managed under Moyes and that was win at Old Trafford.
What has to worry Moyes the most is that Everton are everything United are not. They have pace, power and athleticism while United look old, slow and lacking in ideas.
Arsenal continued to their great start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Hull at the Emirates Stadium, Nicklas Bendtner and Mesut Ozil with the Gunners goals.
Many pundits are waiting for Arsenal to slip up, and with the next four opponents being Everton (H), Napoli (A), Man City (A), Chelsea (H) all before Christmas, that is a possibility. But if Arsenal still have a four gap heading into Christmas, fans will have to start to look at Arsenal as legitimate title contenders.
Waiting for the Gunners to slip up are Chelsea and Man City. Chelsea are four point back after s thrilling 4-3 win at Sunderland while Man City are a further two points back after picking up only their second away win of the season at West Brom 3-0.
The individual performance of the day was at Anfield where Luis Suarez scored four as Liverpool beat Norwich 5-1. Suarez must wish he could play against Norwich every week as this was the third time he has scored a hat-trick against the Canaries.
The result left Liverpool in fourth place, a point shy of City and above Everton on goal difference.
Tottenham are three points back in sixth place, having spoilt Rene Meulensteen’s first game as Fulham manager by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
Newcastle United’s four-game winning run came to an abrupt halt in a 3-0 defeat at Swansea City, while in an upset Aston Villa won 3-2 at Southampton. The game between Stoke City and Cardiff City finished goalless.
