Premier League Hot Takes

The 2026-27 Premier League season is up and running.

A little later in the month of August than usual, top-flight football returned, and there were plenty of takeaways from MD1.

Now, we shouldn’t forget that last season, Aston Villa did not pick up a point or score a goal until mid-September. They then went on a remarkable run that saw them head into January as potential title candidates.

But, this time around, it does feel like it may all have fallen apart at once.

They entered the season completely undercooked and with, frankly, a squad not yet fit for purpose. Key players Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa have all left. Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez could yet depart, too.

Unai Emery is a top-tier manager, but will he be able to balance Champions League football with a squad rebuild this season?

Their 4-0 defeat to Brighton on Sunday was a humbling reminder that the Premier League shows no mercy.

Chelsea needed just 31 seconds to score the first goal of the Xabi Alonso era, as Joao Pedro put them ahead at Craven Cottage, where the Blues went on to win 3-2.

And that set the tone for a scintillating display from Chelsea’s attack, formed of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and the aforementioned Rogers — the most expensive British player of all time at £117m.

Each of that trio scored, while Joao Pedro and Palmer also provided assists, but at the other end of the pitch, Chelsea have problems.

Sure, their defence could do with improvements, but it’s in net that the issue is. Robert Sanchez was at fault for both of Fulham’s goals, and simply put if Chelsea really wish to push themselves into the picture for not only Champions League qualification, but seriously competing for titles, then they have to improve on their goalkeeper options.

There’s a week of the transfer window left. The Blues surely must act.

Manchester City might have got over the line against Bournemouth, but it really wasn’t an encouraging performance from them.