ALEX CROOK GW3 TAKEAWAYS: Liverpool Lift-Off & Pickford Under Pressure

After an entertaining weekend of Premier League action, Star Sports football ambassador ALEX CROOK is back to discuss his main takeaways from gameweek three…

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🔴 ALEXANDER THE GREAT GIVES LIVERPOOL LIFT-OFF

Andoni Iraola finally knows what it’s like to taste victory as Liverpool manager, thanks in no small part to Alexander Isak.

The £125m man’s Anfield career has been one to forget so far, but in Friday’s 2-0 win at Ipswich the silky Swede bagged a much-needed first-ever brace in the red shirt.

It was not just his two ruthless finishes that should give Liverpool fans hope brighter days are ahead, but also his burgeoning partnership with Cody Gakpo.

The Dutchman has assisted all three of Isak’s goals so far this season, which is ironic given Liverpool would have been willing to sell him to sign either Yankuba Minteh or Ismaila Sarr.

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🧤 TRAFFORD FORM PUTTING PRESSURE ON PICKFORD

Leeds’ unbeaten start to the season continued as they drew 1-1 at Brighton, a game they were unlucky not to win.

Daniel Farke’s side are playing with a real swagger, and they don’t come much more confident than goalkeeper James Trafford.

Trafford was not kept overly busy by a toothless Brighton side but made only really good save to deny Malick Yalcouye.

The former Manchester City man brings a calming presence to his defenders and ig he can maintain this level of form will soon be putting real pressure on Jordan Pickford for his England number one spot.

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👎 CARRICK SUBS COST UNITED

It proved to be another frustrating afternoon for Manchester United.

Despite twice leading at an Everton side with only one recognised striker on their books, the Red Devils had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ last-gasp equaliser was a stunner, but did United boss Michael Carrick mastermind his own downfall?

Taking off the lively Marcus Rashford 20 minutes from time at 1-0 up when Everton’s make-shift right-back Merlin Rohl was on a booking seemed needless.

Throwing on the defensively suspect Noussair Mazraoui in stoppage time and promptly seeing the Moroccan pass the ball straight to Maitland-Niles for his brilliant late equaliser was almost self-sabotage.

Yes, Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score what he though was the winner but if Carrick could turn back time, he would surely make different in-game calls.

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🙌 SPECIAL KAI PUNISHES OLD CLUB

Chelsea brought the chaos and Kai Havertz brought the calm and the class.

While Xabi Alonso’s energetic, front-footed Blues produced a performance which proved they should be nailed on for a top four finish, Arsenal showed the assurance of champions to make it three wins from three.

Right at the heart of their comeback 2-1 victory was the man who once scored a Champions League final winner for the visitors.

Havertz scored the equaliser with a fine run and finish and helped make the clincher for Martin Odegaard with a beautiful dummy to bamboozle the Blues’ back-line.

It is definitely not a case of £60m down the drain as far as Arsenal are concerned.

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📋 TEAM OF THE WEEK

Tzolakis (Hull)

Araujo (Liverpool), Konsa (Arsenal), Egan (Hull), Mitchell (C Palace)

George (Everton), Tanaka (Leeds), Le Fee (Sunderland), Gakpo (Liverpool)

Havertz (Arsenal), Isak (Liverpool)

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Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

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