Week six of the new Premier League campaign and the table is starting to take shape.
Luton are off the mark, although could be forgiven for thinking they should have had more for their efforts than their first point of the season.
Playing against the 10 men of Wolves for an hour, the Hatters had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.
Striker Carlton Morris secured a draw when he sent Jose Sa the wrong way from the spot 25 after Joao Gomes had handled.
But Luton should have won given they played the majority of the contest with a man advantage after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was sent off for kicking Tom Lockyer.
The home side had fallen behind to a superb solo effort from Pedro Neto five minutes after the break.
This was another reminder of the massive strides Luton have taken in recent times given the last meeting between the sides was in the FA Cup just over a decade ago, when Luton were a National League side.
They won that day and should have repeated that success on this occasion.
Even when both sides had 11 men, Luton were the more cohesive unit and in the first 20 minutes should have profited from the space they were afforded around the Wolves box. It was honours even though between two sides expected to struggle.
Talking of which, if Everton are to struggle, on the balance of their comprehensive win on Saturday teatime, the chances are Brentford will be down there too.
Already short of Ivan Toney, they are racked by an injury crisis, which has upset the balance of the Bees, now without the excellent Rico Henry for the season.
Coupled with Ben Mee’s more temporary absence with a muscle injury, a defensive reshuffle was required before manager Thomas Frank’s options were further reduced when a pre-match mishap ruled out Kevin Schade.
Though this was a first defeat of the season, home form has deserted them, energy levels failing to deliver the yield of the past two seasons and just three points from four matches at the Community Stadium so far.
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds will certainly look more favourable for Everton if the Toffees can keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit.
His match-clinching goal, fresh from the bench, not only secured their first win of the campaign but ensured Everton picked up their first Premier League victory in London since May 2021 under Carlo Ancelotti.
It ended their 13 game winless streak in the capital (drawn five, lost eight).
At the top, champions Manchester City eased past Nottingham Forest as predicted, even following the early second half dismissal of Rodri, after which they easily kept their opponents at arms length.
Although the fact they now will be without the Spanish midfielder for three games is a potential blow. Certainly, they will be matches in which the champions’ squad strength is tested to the full.
The Premier League highlights continued on Sunday, none more so than in North London where the big derby at the Emirates ended all square.
In a thrilling encounter, Arsenal took the lead midway through the first half when a Bukayo Saka shot was deflected into his own goal by defender Cristian Romero.
Spurs levelled three minutes before half-time when James Maddison crossed for Son Heung-min to equalise with a deft finish.
Arsenal restored their lead nine minutes after the restart when Romero was penalised for handball and Saka netted from the spot.
Yet illustrating their positive approach under new manager Ange Postecoglou in his first north London derby, Spurs were back on terms almost instantly when Jorginho, as a half-time substitute for the injured Declan Rice, lost possession to Maddison, who played in Son for another cool finish.
The struggles for Chelsea and Bournemouth continue.
Despite taking a 25th minute lead at Brighton through Dominic Solanke, the first half injury time concession of an own goal proved a psychological blow to which they never recovered.
Within minutes of the restart, Kaoru Mitoma had an instant impact to put the Seagulls ahead before rounding off a 3-1 victory.
The Japan midfielder scored 16 seconds after coming on, then headed in later to clinch a third straight Premier League win.
Chelsea continue to have a miserable time of it as they slipped to a home defeat against Aston Villa.
Malo Gusto’s dismissal for dangerous play just before the hour proved key and, 15 minutes later, Ollie Watkins fired home from a difficult angle.
Mauricio Pochettino’s hosts fashioned plenty of chances before Gusto’s red card for a poorly-timed tackle but, as so often this season, failed to convert any of them with Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling both denied one-on-one by excellent Emiliano Martinez saves.
The quality of some of their personal is not in doubt but building an understanding with a squad comprising so many new faces takes time, even for a boss as accomplished as Pochettino at the helm.
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