The weekend's fixtures in the Premier League felt like they could be pivotal for so many teams, especially near the top of the table.
It proved to be a mixed weekend for the title chasers with Manchester City beating Manchester United with ease, Chelsea throwing away two points at home to Burnley, and Liverpool losing their unbeaten start to the season against an in-form West Ham.
Deeper impacts were felt at the other end of the table as both Aston Villa and Norwich City felt the need to sack their bosses, despite the latter actually winning their first game of the season.
Find all that and more as Stats Perform looks at the quirky Opta facts behind the weekend's action.
United soft and unstable
The Premier League's favourite Jekyll and Hyde team, Manchester United, were at it again on Saturday as they 'entertained' neighbours Manchester City.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men had dusted themselves down following their last home game against Liverpool where they were dispatched 5-0 to win well at Tottenham, and then rescue a vital late point at Atalanta in the Champions League. But the 2-0 defeat to City was another reminder of how far they are off the title contenders.
To emphasise the need for improvement at Old Trafford, Eric Bailly's own goal to open the scoring on Saturday meant that United are now without a clean sheet in their last 14 home games in all competitions. The only longer run in the club's history without a home clean sheet was a 21-game stretch between April 1958 and March 1959.
In the Premier League era, only under David Moyes (1.18) have United conceded more goals per game than under Solskjaer (1.13).
Solskjaer may point to the fact that the away team has won nine of the last 12 meetings between United and City in all competitions (D1 L2), including each of the three games in 2021. Perhaps it would all have been fine for the Red Devils had Saturday's game taken place at the Etihad?
Villa hate Fridays
Aston Villa were a team on the rise and Dean Smith was doing a great job at his boyhood club, until they were not, and he was not.
The Villains began the season well enough, with notable victories at home to Everton and away at Manchester United. Then, before you knew it, they had lost five league games in a row, leading to Smith being relieved of his duties on Sunday.
Could it have been the day of the week's fault, though? Heading into the game, Aston Villa had won none of their previous 13 away top-flight matches played on a Friday (D3 L10), with their last win coming in April 1950, a 4-1 victory at Charlton Athletic.
Unlucky for some? It certainly was for Smith and Villa, with the record now at 14 games.
Newcastle cannot buy a win
Excitement continues at Newcastle United right now as the club eagerly anticipates the January transfer window, with an opportunity to finally flex their financial muscle.
However, that remains almost two months away and the Magpies could be in a bit of trouble by then as their 1-1 draw at Brighton on Saturday meant that they are now 11 games into the season and still waiting for their first league win, the only team yet to register a victory.
It is now their longest winless run from the beginning of a league campaign, and most concerning of all to the new owners at St James' Park will be that each of the last four Premier League sides to endure a similar start to a top-flight season have gone on to be relegated. Then again, none of those sides have the wealth Newcastle do now. Then again, is Eddie Howe the right manager to turn their form around?
Only Norwich City (26) have conceded more goals than Newcastle (24) this season, while the Magpies' opponents have had a league-high 21.6 expected goals. Howe's Bournemouth side conceded at least 61 goals in each of their five seasons in the top flight.
Norwich's unconventional response to first victory
Unlike Newcastle, the Canaries finally won their first league game of the season on Saturday, and then sacked head coach Daniel Farke immediately after.
The 2-1 success at Brentford was Farke's 49th and final Premier League game in charge at Carrow Road. His 12.2 win percentage is the second-worst of any coach to preside over 40 or more matches in the competition. Only John Gorman at Swindon Town in 1993-94 achieved a worse win percentage (11.9).
It seems the decision was taken before the game, with Norwich bottom of the Premier League table having lost eight of their first ten games since promotion back to the top flight.
One bright spot other than the three points though was the fact that it was the first time they have scored more than one goal in a game in 28 attempts in a Premier League match.
Hope for whoever comes in to replace Farke, at least.
Eddie Howe sure Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon on Gareth Southgate’s England radar
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says Anthony Gordon could be on England boss Gareth Southgate’s radar after his fine performance in the 8-0 romp at Sheffield United.
Gordon came on as an early substitute for the injured Harvey Barnes at Bramall Lane and gave the Blades defence nightmares, scoring a fine goal in the second half and also assisting Sean Longstaff’s opener.
The 22-year-old has taken his time to find his feet at St James’ Park following his January move from Everton, but has started the season well.
And having been part of England Under-21s’ successful European Championship campaign, he could now be in contention for a call-up to the senior squad for next month’s matches.
Howe said: “I’m sure Gareth is aware of him and I’m sure he’s been aware of him for a long time.
“All Anthony can do is just keep performing like he has and keep his mentality as strong as it has been. He has been a joy to work with and he is reaping the benefits.
“That is probably his best game for us, I thought he was very, very good. Very direct, I thought his goal was very good. He just looked a real threat, he has got so much ability, so much to give and he has got the attitude to go with it as well.
“He has got desire to improve, I see it every day in training, it is great to see him rewarded with that.”
Gordon and Newcastle ran riot as they inflicted Sheffield United’s heaviest-ever league defeat on them.
The Blades have taken just one point from their first six games following their return to the Premier League and a long season looks on the cards.
They actually started brightly but the way they capitulated set the alarm bells ringing for Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom.
“That is the biggest thing from the game for me, which I spoke to the players about,” he said.
“Is this going to define our season? No. It’s three points we’ve lost but what has happened there is something that while I’ve been here, we’ve never seen before.
“That is what has to be addressed. This is a reminder that if we drop below our levels, that can happen, we are playing against good sides. We need to make sure we need to learn from it, it’s not an easy league. You have to compete and that is what we have to take from that.
“We need everyone to step up and it is an eye-opener for the new boys what we are about.
“Newcastle outran us today and that’s not acceptable.”
Erik ten Hag’s got a good thing going at Manchester United – Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans is convinced Manchester United have a “good thing going” under Erik ten Hag despite their shaky start to the season.
Things have gone awry after a promising first campaign under the Dutchman, with the Red Devils losing four of their first six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986.
There were some mitigating factors in that poor run but that did not stop the pressure mounting on the Old Trafford giants heading into Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Burnley.
Ten Hag’s troops were far from their best but Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant volley secured a 1-0 win for a side that begin their Carabao Cup defence at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
Evans watched February’s Wembley triumph from the stands and is now back at the club he came through at as a boy, with the experienced defender confident about United’s future.
“I’ve had some up and down moments at Man United over the years,” said the defender, who won three Premier League titles and a Champions League during his previous spell at the club.
“I think you get that if you want to be at the top. You know, it’s going to be very up and down.
“You’ve got to be able to deal with setbacks and this club is a fantastic club, always want to be challenging at the top, so it’s all part and parcel of it.
“The manager’s got a good thing going here.
“I’m a fan of the club so I was able to watch them a lot last year, been at both finals to support. Like I say, I think the manager’s got a good thing going.”
Evans made his second appearance of the season and first United start in eight-and-a-half years on Saturday evening.
The 35-year-old impressed against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, scoring a goal that was disallowed before providing an exceptional pass for Fernandes’ volleyed winner.
“That was great,” the beaming Northern Irishman said after his 200th United appearance. “I was really looking forward to it all day.
“I got the shout yesterday in training that I was going to be starting, so I couldn’t wait for the game, really.
“I was more nervous in the pre-season, my first pre-season game, to be honest, playing up in Edinburgh.
“I didn’t feel any nerves tonight. I actually felt a lot of excitement going into the game. I couldn’t wait for it and I felt good, I felt ready.”
Evans produced an impressive all-round display at Turf Moor, leading captain Fernandes to pass on the man of the match award that he had been handed.
The centre-back joked it was just the third of a career he never expected to return to such heights having left Leicester on the back of relegation and an injury-hit campaign.
Asked if he ever thought he would get back to this level, Evans immediately responded: “No, definitely not.
“It’s not a case of winding down. I think people’s career trajectories kind of end up that way and it’s very difficult for a club when you’re 35 years old to take a chance on you.
“I had a lot of injury problems last year as well, so for the club to do that and see the value in me, I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity.
“On one side it feels really surreal and then on the other side it just feels completely normal.
“It’s quite difficult to get my head around sometimes, but I’m loving it.
“For a 35-year-old I suppose to come back in – they wanted me to come back in and provide cover – not many people get to do that.
“I know it’s going be a big challenge but hopefully it’s one that I can take on.
“I feel like it’s one that was perfect for me at this stage of my career.”
Sheffield United not looking to sack Paul Heckingbottom despite Newcastle rout
Sheffield United have no immediate plans to sack Paul Heckingbottom after the club suffered their heaviest league defeat when they were hammered 8-0 by Newcastle.
The Blades were put to the sword by a rampant Newcastle to go six games without a win on their Premier League return, but Heckingbottom’s job is currently safe, the PA news agency understands.
There has been speculation linking former boss Chris Wilder to a Bramall Lane return, but even this embarrassing defeat will not change the board’s position.
When asked whether he will be the manager for the next game, he said: “Yes, 100 per cent.
“This might be a theme now by the looks of it. I can’t answer any of that, the game, the players, my department, yeah no problem, but things like that you are asking the wrong man.”
Heckingbottom, who guided the club to promotion last season, has overseen a difficult few days following the death of women’s player Maddy Cusack earlier in the week.
The midfielder, who also worked for the club’s marketing department, was just 27 and the club were left “devastated”.
And the boss admits he will be glad to see the back of a horrible week.
There were poignant pre-match tributes to Cusack and Heckingbottom said: “It has affected a lot of people, there were tears on the pitch before the game.
“But we were determined to end what has been a really tough week strongly and we weren’t able to do that. It has been a tough week for everyone at the club and one we want over.”
The Magpies rewrote the history books, registering their biggest away win and also becoming the first Premier League side to have eight different players score in a game.
Eddie Howe’s side, who endured a difficult start to the season, now look like they are clicking and performed superbly on the back of their midweek Champions League trip to AC Milan.
They did not take their foot off the gas in the second half as they racked up the goals and that was the most pleasing thing for the boss.
Howe said: “It has been a great week for us. That is football for you.
“Before the Brentford game, we knew the importance of that game, a massive point in the week and great to see us back to our very best today.
“I never doubted us in the final third, we have got some outstanding players, and we have had a very tough start to the season in terms of fixtures, but today we were ruthless and kept looking to score, which is they key thing.
“We respect Sheffield United and Paul Heckingbottom and the job he has done here but we just had to do our thing and keep pushing and trying to score goals.
“We weren’t aware of anything during the game regarding the records. We were just trying to keep pushing the lads to keep scoring goals, having that mentality and desire that we want in every game.
“We want to attack well, we want to entertain and be good value when people come and watch us play. One of our fundamental beliefs is that we are always looking to score.
“With top-quality players, results like this can happen, but very rarely, that is why we will enjoy it tonight.
“You hope this ignites something in us and we try to repeat, not the scoreline, but the performance on a regular basis. That is our aim, but the Premier League is very difficult.”
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