Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend, including Ange Postecoglou’s exit from Nottingham Forest and Liverpool’s latest low.
Marinakis mess leaves Forest fighting for survival
Evangelos Marinakis has been boldly ambitious at Nottingham Forest, but there’s an argument his desire to take the club forward has not always been well thought out.
Forest memorably made 43 signings between promotion in July 2022 and February 2024, a scattergun ‘throw enough mud at the wall’ recruitment drive that appeared to lack clear strategy even if it has delivered upward momentum. Knee-jerk decisions have also now impacted the dugout. The breakdown of the owner’s relationship with Nuno Espirito Santo saw him depart, despite the club’s best season in three decades.
Ange Postecoglou was hastily appointed in a stunning style shift, only to be sacked 39 days later after eight winless games. Sean Dyche is now the favourite to replace Postecoglou after the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.
After a short-lived and disastrous dalliance with Postecoglou, it would represent a tactical change back to a more pragmatic approach. What exactly is the plan for Forest? Does anyone even know?
Postecoglou pays price for diving back in at the deep end
Eli Junior Kroupi could be another brilliant Bournemouth buy
Bournemouth brought in more than £200m worth of transfer fees in the summer, as Europe’s top clubs swooped for talent nurtured on the south coast. The Cherries have recruited brilliantly in recent campaigns, with Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez among the success stories.
One of the club’s latest additions announced his arrival this weekend. Eli Junior Kroupi was signed in in February for £12m, but remained on loan at Lorient until the summer. After ending last season as Ligue 2’s leading scorer, Junior Kroupi has made an impressive start in England.
Since the start of last season, Eli Junior Kroupi has scored 25 goals, more than any other player under-20 in Europe.
Scored in back-to-back Premier League games. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/qmPJdmuxAk
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 18, 2025
He netted his first goal as a substitute against Leeds last month, before marking his full Premier League debut with a brace against Crystal Palace. The 19-year-old has now netted three goals in just 96 league minutes.
Arsenal impregnable again at Fulham
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points with a 1-0 win over Fulham this weekend. It was another shut-out for Europe’s best defence, who have gone consecutive Premier League games without conceding a shot on target for the first time since 2003/04.
That season was the last time Arsenal were crowned champions, and optimism is rising in North London. After eight games, the Gunners have conceded just one goal from open play. Issues remain in the final third, but with Kai Havertz nearing a return, Mikel Arteta should have the right amount of attacking depth to keep his side’s momentum going.
🧱 @Arsenal haven’t faced a shot on target in back-to-back matches.
The last time they did that? Their title-winning 2003/04 season. pic.twitter.com/aayu1eEwJb
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 18, 2025
Cunha key to new look Manchester United
Modern football is obsessed with statistics but the eye test often tells a clearer story. Matheus Cunha is yet to provide a Premier League goal or assist for Manchester United but he was outstanding in the 2-1 win at Liverpool.
In an unfavored centre-forward role, Cunha covered every blade of grass and offered the outlet the Red Devils needed under pressure at Anfield.
His ability to hold onto possession and wriggle away from pressure was crucial, with Cunha boasting a bravery on the ball that has been lacking at Old Trafford. Time and time again his relived the pressure with dribbles through traffic and an ability to win fouls. Superb.
More questions than answers for Arne Slot
Liverpool have lost four consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since November 2014. Arne Slot will have hoped the international break could reinvigorate his side, but a home defeat to ManchesterUnited has piled on the pressure.
His new signings are struggling to get going, while leaders of the past regime are equally underperforming. Lackadaisical defending from Virgil van Dijk contributed to an early opener for the visitors at Anfield, while Mohamed Salah is on his longest Liverpool drought without an open-play goal (7 games). Elsewhere, Alexander Isak’s wait for a first Premier League goal goes on and Giorgi Mamardashvili looked nervy deputising for the injured Alisson.
❌ 2-1 L vs. Palace
❌ 1-0 L vs. Galatasaray
❌ 2-1 L vs. Chelsea
❌ 2-1 L vs. Man UtdFour straight losses for Liverpool 😐 pic.twitter.com/rfBk2PHOtG
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 19, 2025
The sole positive from another sobering performance was the impact off the bench. Curtis Jones, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Hugo Ekitike all showed flashes.
The latter now has to play, having been one of the few to perform consistently in the opening period of the campaign. Trips to Frankfurt and Brentford are up next for the floundering champions.
Read – Premier League Team of the Weekend as Man Utd and Arsenal dominate
See more – Premier League Awards: Maguire’s moment, Ange axed
