ALEX CROOK PL GW4 TAKEAWAYS: United Woes & Coventry Doomed?

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

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🔴 UNITED NO SHAW THING FOR TOP FOUR

It took just four games of the new season for Luke Shaw’s fitness to become an issue for Manchester United.

Having started the previous 41 Premier League games, Shaw was restricted to watching from the stands as United lost 1-0 at home to ten-man City in the Manchester derby.

Not signing cover for Shaw in the transfer window was aways going to leave Michael Carrick short and is negligent by the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Patrick Dorgu had a shocker filling in for Shaw and was as culpable for City’s winner as the bungling officials.

Not adding to the defence could well cost United a Champions League place.

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😫 NO OVERNIGHT FIX FOR ROBERTO DE SPURSY

After finishing 17th in each of the last two seasons and spending more than £300m on new signings it is still the same old Tottenham.

Spurs have made their worst start to a season since 2008 having failed to score a goal in any of their four Premier League games.

Against Everton on Saturday, Roberto De Zerbi’s expensively-assembled team looked devoid of confidence amid an air of anxiety around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The volatile De Zerbi is already cutting a frustrated figure in his press conferences, and it could get worse before it gets better with a trip to Liverpool in the League Cup tonight.

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⬇️ ARE COVENTRY ALREADY DOOMED?

Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing at home by Brighton means it is now four games, four defeats, 10 goals conceded and none scored for Frank Lampard’s troops.

Coventry’s return to the top-flight after a quarter of a century has been more of a nightmare than a dream.

When Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk, hardly renowned for his finishing, curls one into the corner of your net from 25 yards out you know you are in big trouble.

While Ipswich and, in particular, Hull, are making a good fist of staying up, the Sky Blues already look destined for an immediate return to the Championship.

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 CALVERT-LEWIN IN RUNNING FOR ENGLAND

When Thomas Tuchel names his first post-World Cup England squad on Friday there should be a spot for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The Leeds striker continues his excellent start to the season with a goal in Monday’s 4-1 demolition of Newcastle at a jubilant Elland Road.

Calvert-Lewin was a touch unlucky not to be given a seat on the plane for north America.

But with Tuchel under pressure to ring the changes he surely stands a very good chance of a recall especially as Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are both now playing in Saudi Arabia.

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😈 GLASNER CONTINUES TO BE EMERY’S NEMESIS

What is it about Oliver Glasner always getting the better of Unai Emery?

Glasner’s improving Nottingham Forest beat Emery’s Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on Saturday as the home side’s early-season struggles continued.

Emery has now failed to beat Glaser in eight attempts as Villa boss.

While Forest look like they will have a decent season, Villa frankly are a bit of a mess right now after a summer of upheaval and big-name departures.

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📋 TEAM OF THE WEEK

Raya (Arsenal)

Bogle (Leeds), Dunk (Brighton), Branthwaite (Everton), Davis (Ipswich)

Anderson (Man City), Charles (Fulham)

Belloumi (hull), Gross (Brighton), Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Calvert-Lewin (Leeds)

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

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