Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Saturday has exposed a slight chink in the armour of the champions and, with Liverpool thrashing Bournemouth, has left Jurgen Klopp's side top of the table after 16 matches. In terms of a swing in the respective self-belief of the top two, it was surely the most significant weekend of the season so far.
Elsewhere Manchester United evoked the Ferguson years with their thumping victory over Fulham while Burnley also returned to their former glories in a 1-0 win against Brighton that, just maybe, will get their campaign up and running.
Here are three things we learnt from the weekend action:
1) Man City's left flank looks vulnerable to top quality opposition
Chelsea were completely outplayed for the first 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge, and had Man City opened the scoring it would probably have been another routine win for Pep Guardiola's side. However, once N'Golo Kante scored – with Leroy Sane and David Silva switching off - the home side went on to expose City's defensive flaws on their left side.
Sane is often guilty of failing to track back while Silva struggles to make tackles or interceptions, and so together on the left side City can be got at. Kante was exceptional in the second 45, running beyond Silva and on the inside of Fabien Delph (another weak spot) to give Chelsea a firm grip of the match.
It took brilliance from Cesar Azpilicueta in the tackle (13 completed) and superb passing under pressure from Antonio Rudiger to win possession and avoid the first wave of the City press, but once this was achieved the visitors looked flaky. Man City completed six interceptions on their right-hand third of the pitch, and zero on their left. Top quality opposition can look to this flank for a route to goal.
2) Man Utd's attacking full-backs can improve the club's form
Manchester United's attacking traditions are to quickly distribute the ball out wide for wingers and overlapping full-backs to run directly at the opposition. On Saturday the performances of Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot reminded us of the Ferguson era, in that their bravery going forward galvanised their team-mates and ensured a dominant performance from the entire team.
By constantly seeking out Young and Dalot, United were able to pen Fulham deep in their own half and force the opening. They attempted 15 crosses between them, with Dalot's particularly dangerous from the right. The 19-year-old looks like a brilliant young player, living up to the hype created when Jose Mourinho suggested he could be the club's right-back for the next ten years.
The visitors certainly made it easy for United, sitting in a too-narrow defensive shell and appearing nervous throughout, but nevertheless it was an encouraging sign for the home fans. With Dalot in the team, suddenly they appear emboldened to engage their opponent.
3) Salah has finally adapted to his new centre-forward role - thanks to Shaqiri
Liverpool have added much-needed tactical variety this season after becoming tired and predictable in their 4-3-3 towards the end of 2017/18, which is the main reason for Jurgen Klopp's successful first half of the campaign despite some fairly indifferent performances. Mohamed Salah has arguably been obstructed the most by the changes, having to adapt to a centre-forward role this year after spending the majority of last season as a right winger.
He is finally excelling, and Xherdan Shaqiri is the main reason why. The Switzerland international drifts infield off the right wing to become a number ten for Liverpool, which allows Salah to make the opposite movement from centre to right; their burgeoning partnership is making both players difficult to mark. Salah's hat-trick on Saturday was vintage centre-forward play.
But the Egyptian's new position also means he can drift around in a free role more than he could on the right of a 4-3-3, where his lack of defensive work was occasionally costing Liverpool points. Salah had 66 touches of the ball at Bournemouth, spread evenly across the width of the pitch.
Best of the Week – The return of the real Burnley
After going eight league games without a win Sean Dyche's team badly needed their 1-0 victory over Brighton Saturday – and they had to work extremely hard to get it. Having scored from a set-piece in vintage Burnley style, they then clung onto the three points despite holding just 37% possession and facing a late onslaught on their goal.
Burnley made 13 blocks and 21 clearances, summoning the spirit of 2017/18 to grind out a priceless win and only their fourth clean sheet of the season. It was, perhaps, the result and performance Dyche's team needed to remind them of their talents and kickstart their campaign.
Worst of the Week – Kelechi Iheanacho
Leicester City fans might have expected something out of this game when it was announced both Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen were on the bench for Tottenham, and yet by the end of the match it was the home side's main striker who was most sorely missed. Once again Kelechi Iheanacho failed to inspire, allowing Spurs to crank up the pressure as the Foxes failed to find a way out.
Iheanacho had the fewest touches (16) of any starter, and despite spending 55 minutes on the pitch he only touched the ball once more than Kane – who was only on for the final quarter of an hour. Iheanacho failed to take a single shot or create a single chance for one of his team-mates; Leicester badly need a new striker if they are to adapt to Claude Puel's patient style of football.
