PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW ;WEEK 2 TALKING POINTS.

 * Premier League to bend for Pep,

* Inconsistency could derail KOP,

* Chelsea live on Mazzarri's failings,

* Good result for Foxes, Gunners,

* Zlatan taking England by storm

    The second round of the eventful Premier League season have been completed with more drama and intrigues. Hull City experiencing a sort of administrative crisis continue to set heads wagging in amazement on the pitch, securing a 2-0 win away at Swansea. Tottenham got their tittle bid underway with a hard fought 1-0 derby victory over Crystal Palace while Everton left Hawthorns with three full points, following a 2-1 win.

   The week was full of some talking points and questions and we like to see what we can learn to guide our expectations going forward.

* Premier League to bend for Pep

  With cross town rivals, Manchester United already going top with a 2-0 home win over Southampton on Friday night, City's lunch time kick-off at the newly named Bet365 Stadium Britannia offered fears that Pep Guardiola would be shown the grittiness and callousness of the English topflight as Stoke City has built a reputation of taking out top teams, especially at this stadium. The question whether Pep could succeed on a wet windy day at Stoke was given a definite answer to.

  A lot had asked how the Catalan would adapt to the pacy and physical competition. He is known to love possession and relentless attacking and while his first league game, a 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Etihad last week did little to convince, a well taken 4-1 triumph at Stoke gave an insight into just how Pep plans to go about this though challenge. In truth, it was not as straightforward and easy as it usually is for Pep's former teams. Notably, City failed to rack up to 60% of the possession which is quite strange for a team led by the Catalan. They managed just 58% of the ball and for most parts of the second half the game looked balanced with Stoke threatening to equalize. However, one could easily see Guardiola's impact on the team with the way they moved the ball quickly and attacked the spaces that were alarmingly abundant in the Potteries area and as often, his substitutions proved a masterstroke as Kelechi Iheanacho and new recruit, Nolito , came on to swing the pace and balance in City's favour.

From the match, it is clear that Pep might just be ready to twist things up if the going gets tough. The two time Champions League winner is clearly stamping his authority on the team .The way they play has changed markedly and this team would definitely dominate games. The players are adapting to his methods and I think the entire league too would have to.

* Inconsistency could derail KOP

 

After dismantling Arsenal 4-3 at the Emirates on opening weekend, many would have thought Jurgen Klopp's men were really out to take the league by the scruff of the neck. Yet, shell shocked would many be as Liverpool were taken out 2-0 by newly promoted Burnley at Turf moor on Saturday. It was the Clarets first league victory over the KOP as goals from Sam Vokes and Andre Gray had the Reds' tails between their legs as their defensive frailties were laid bare for all to see.

  No doubt, Liverpool experienced a marked improvement when Klopp took over in October last year. The Reds easily bashed the top sides, notably, Chelsea and Manchester City, suffered at the hands of the Merseyside outfit but, against the smaller oppositions, they tend to struggle and it seems to be the case again this season. The major problem is the inconsistency and calamity of Liverpool's defence. This is easily exposed any time the opponents successfully beat the midfield line. All the blame has rested on Alberto Moreno and for good reason but in truth, the entire team deserve a fair share of the blame.

 Klopp demands a high intensity pressing when the ball is lost but, at the back, they have been too loose and poor. Against Arsenal, after going 4-1 up with everyone fearing the worst for the gunners, it was actually Liverpool that were made to hold out for all three points after letting in two, all thanks to their shoddy display at the back.

The Reds are going into this campaign with a lot of ambition. However, inconsistent performances like this would have its effect in the long run. Manchester City, United and Chelsea, sides they should be competing with for the title and top four places, all followed up their opening day victories with impressive wins and there it begins for the KOP to play catchup . These are still early days in the season ,but, as Leicester showed last term, the earlier the start, the better.

* Chelsea benefit from Mazzarri's failings.

     The blues followed up their Monday night 2-1 win at home to Westham United, with another one at Vicarage Road over Watford. The West Londoners have now taken six points from their opening two games under Antonio Conte and while the Italian would be praised for his tactical savvy and game changing substitutions, Walter Mazzarri, his opposite number would be asking himself why he did not apply his team appropriately.

 The Hornets had a very good tactical plan. They harassed Chelsea's stars and never allowed them settle into the game. To a large extent, they bossed the midfield. Chelsea had the ball but could not cause problems with it. Watford were very dangerous and effective whenever they got forward. The likes of Nordin Amrabat, Adlene Guediora, Jose Holebas and Ethienne Capoue, all caused headaches for the blues, with the former Tottenham midfielder, firing a stunner past Thibaut Courtois to give the host a deserved lead at that point. All in all, it looked difficult for Chelsea, until fatigue set in.

 When you play a high intensity game like that, l wonder why Walter could not refresh the team. It was clear as the game etched on that the legs were tiring. These are early days and players are just recovering and gradually getting into shape. No doubt for most parts, the Hornets looked the sharper and fitter side but needed some refreshments. Walter did not bring them on and Antonio Conte simply sent in competent game changers like Mitchy Batshuayi, Victor Moses and Cesc Fabregas, whose future is under some cloud at the moment.

The brilliance of Chelsea's approach cannot be taken away however, up until that point, Watford had totally matched the blues and looked to be cruising to victory. They began to creak. Chelsea had no shot to trouble Gomes in goal and the first time they did, they scored and Fabregas picked them off to send Costa home for the second. It is a big win for Conte and sad loss for Mazzarri and to an extent, it shows the difference in their level.

* Good result for Foxes, Gunners.

   Champions Leicester and runners up Arsenal , had to settle for a goalless stalemate at the King Power Stadium after losing their opening fixtures. The foxes were shocked with a 2-1 loss at newly promoted Hull City, while Arsene Wenger's men were on the wrong end of a seven goal thriller at the Emirates , losing 4-3.

Obviously, both teams have not had impressive starts, but, this stalemate is very beneficial to both sides as it is a platform to build on. How damaging it would have been for the defending champions to have nothing out of six especially after setting an unwanted record of being the first defending champions to lose to a newly promoted side on opening day. For Arsenal, another loss casts immediate doubts on their readiness to challenge for a Premier League title.

 Arsene Wenger has come in for criticism after his usual non challance towards the market. The team is obviously not ready and some key players are yet to get up to speed. However, taking off a point at the champions should bring some respite and Wenger still has a few more days to August 31 to do business.

 For Leicester, the spotlight is on them. Everyone were shocked and also impressed by their unprecedented title triumph , but now, everyone is out to see how they build on that and how they go from here. Last week was a nightmare start and Arsenal obviously was a difficult game at home. People expect a drop off from the foxes but Ranieri has done excellently in the market , keeping the key men from last season on new deals bar N'golo Kante and also adding some quality to the team. The result should boost them and the gunners as both begin to trail their rivals.

* Zlatan taking England by storm.

" The god of football" as Zlatan proclaimed himself has definitely made England his new abode and has now begun to cause ripples all over. The gigantic striker who now proclaims himself as "The god of Manchester" has duly showcased his efficacy over last few games.

 Ibrahimovic is a player that affects the game so acutely. Where it not for the extraordinary prowess of Lionel Messi, he is definitely one of the most deadly, lethal and prolific front men of all time. The Swede has always made a mark wherever he went, recently disembarking from his roundly successful journey in France as a prince at the Parc des Princes. The big man has now scored four times in his first three games for the Red devils; Against Leicester on his debut in the Community Shield, he scored the winner with a towering header  at his first premier league appearance, a long range 25yard finish was scored to gloss United's 3-1 cruise at Bournemouth and last Friday, on his home debut against Southampton, the Saints were found wanting and were duly punished by the inevitable goals as he netted a well taken brace.

  At 34, a lot of questions were raised about his ability to adapt with many reckoning he has given his best at PSG. His case was not helped by Sweden's unfortunate Euro 2016 outing in France , where Ibrahimovic really struggled to get on. But, as is always the case with extraordinary class, Ibrahimovic has shown England that he is not finished yet. This of course is important news for Jose Mourinho who is bidding to restore the Red devils to former glories and with the "god of Manchester" duly performing at peak, they are on course for good things to come. However, for Ibra, this is another adventure he is looking to come off with another flourish.