Sky Sports analysts weigh in on Sunday's Premier League fixtures: Fulham shared points with Manchester United; Everton won at Dickinstone Hill for the first time, beating Brighton; Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest had a tense encounter.
Manchester United's attacking potential is obvious, but it still needs some fine-tuning
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WATCH FREE: Fulham v Manchester United highlights
“We will score because we create a lot of scoring chances.”
Ruben Amorim is confident Manchester United's attack will flourish this season. The numbers back it up. There was a threat of a riot in the Fulham goal in the opening fifteen minutes, but it's alarming how they've lost momentum as games go on.
Pictured: A comparative analysis of Manchester United's attacking performance against last year's figures
Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes started at Craven Cottage on a high note. Cunha was genuinely dangerous on three occasions. The four moved quickly and cohesively in the opposition penalty area, demonstrating remarkable composure.
But the impact faded as Fulham rallied and restricted Casemiro and Fernandes to their midfield diamond. Amorim's substitutions also failed to have the same impact as the hosts', and Emile Smith Rowe equalised with his first touch.
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Benjamin Cesko appeared in the second half but managed only one, unspectacular touch in the opposition penalty area.
Last weekend highlighted United's possession issues, with their first possession share in a decade reaching 60 per cent against a giant, helping them get the ball into the kill zone and create 22 scoring chances.
This time the share of possession dropped by 10%, as Fulham slightly outplayed them in this component, but the attacking action was limited to only ten shots. The process is still ongoing in Amorim's team.
David Richardson
Grealish key to Everton triumph
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Premier League Highlights: Everton vs Brighton
Jack Grealish received thunderous applause before the game at Everton's new Hill Dickinson stadium even started, but the ovation was even louder when he was substituted in the 93rd minute and was named man of the match.
The winger provided two assists in the 2-0 win, as many as he had in his last two seasons with Manchester City combined. Had Dwight McNeil scored late on, it would have been his first hat-trick of assists since his Aston Villa days.
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“I hope he does it again,” commented David Moyes after the game, highlighting the special quality Grealish brings to Everton. “The key thing was he kept the ball. That gave us more composure.”
Photo: Jack Grealish's touches and chances created diagram against Brighton
Grealish's technical ability is not in doubt. The question was whether he would be up for the challenge after the disappointment of being a reserve at City. But he also showed a fighting spirit.
He responded two minutes after the hour mark, winning the ball in his own box. “He was active, he wasn't trying to avoid a challenge, he didn't want to come on after 60 minutes, nothing like that,” Moyes added. “There was no talk of leaving, the hunger to play was obvious.
“You know, you take a player seriously when he says he has something to prove. I think I've had something to prove at different times too. Force majeure requires readiness. I hope Jack is ready for it.”
Adam Bate
Ndoye a promising replacement for Elange
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Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Premier League Match Timeline
Anthony Elanga? Dan Ndoye has impressed in filling the gap, with two goals in his first two starts already – a goal against Brentford and an assist against Palace. He is the first Forest player to score or assist on his first Premier League start for the club since 1998.
- Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest – report and key moments
Elanga's qualities are obvious, Ndoye may be inferior to him in terms of speed, which the Newcastle acquisition distinguished himself with.
However, Ndoye's adaptability has impressed Nuno, who is looking for a flexible and interchangeable attack.
His first-half performance saw him taken off early, with Nuno making a slight adjustment and individual work from Ndoye and Callum Hudson-Odoi securing an assist and a vital point.
Nuno's transfer enquiries remain open but Ndoye looks a bargain at £34m.
William Bitibiri
Unconquered Palace gain confidence
Amidst the turbulent summer at Crystal Palace, it is easy to miss that the team is heading in the right direction. Palace are still unbeaten.
Regardless of the tournament (stars leaving, relegation, Eberechi Eze leaving), the Eagles have made a quality start. Four games without defeat speaks to the confidence created by Oliver Glasner.
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A Super Cup victory and a penalty shootout draw with champions Liverpool were followed by a controversial, action-packed draw with Chelsea on the champions' home field.
The European game was less of a distraction than the possible Eze transfer – but Palace still managed to win. The Forest game felt like a missed opportunity (a goal from a single shot on target), but Glasner will point to progress.
The season has started in contrast to the previous one, where sluggishness put the manager's job in doubt. The improved performances speak to Palace's often overlooked stability.
William Bitibiri
Unlucky Brighton get red carpet treatment for Everton
Failure to score with an xG of 2.46 is an unprecedented failure for Brighton.
This is the highest xG without scoring on an away pitch since Manchester City's game against Crystal Palace in March 2022 (xG = 2.92).
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Perhaps football's providence turned its face to Everton on the stadium opening day. Brighton had no real chances. Fabian Hurzeler will be worried about finishing.
Danny Welbeck missed tough chances (1.54 xG), including a penalty.
Hurzeler hopes that this is just one bad day and not a symptom.
Lewis Jones
Silva's transfer demands at Fulham are heard
Marco Silva has been applauded for his team's fighting spirit at the start of the season.
Two matches, twice with a late goal scored, they shared the points, but could have lost.
- Fulham 1-1 Manchester United – report and best episodes
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Silva has spoken publicly about the lack of new signings – the only summer signing was Benjamin Leconte – and let it slip again after the Manchester United game.
“We need to add two or three players,” he told reporters after the final whistle. “There are still eight or nine days left in the transfer window to finalise the squad.”
“The calendar is tight, there are injuries, and there are not enough players in a number of positions.”
The return of Anthony Robinson and Ryan Sessegnon, as well as Emile Smith Rowe's growing confidence following his goal, will help the team.
However, to convert draws into victories, fresh blood is needed.
There was momentum for victory, but the final breakthrough did not happen.
Patrick Rowe
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