Premier League week 11 saw us enter into another international break, the final of 2025, and the league disruption continues to provide an intriguing break for several sides. With the table beginning to take shape, the brief pause might come at a good time for several sides.

In week 11, we saw Arsenal drop points against the impressive Sunderland, City cruised to victory over Liverpool as they continue to stumble, and Manchester United bagged a late equaliser to continue their unbeaten run in the repeat of last seasons Europa League final.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

1000 Games Done

There was a real sense of occasion at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola marked his 1,000th game in management, and fittingly, his Manchester City side produced one of their most complete performances of the season. The 3–0 dismantling of Liverpool wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement. City looked fluid, confident, and ruthless, pressing with precision and moving the ball with the kind of rhythm that’s defined Guardiola’s best sides over the years. From the first whistle, it felt like Liverpool were clinging on rather than competing.

Jeremy Doku, once again, stole the show. The Belgian winger tormented Liverpool’s back line all afternoon, his goal was just the cherry on top of a display brimming with directness and flair. With Erling Haaland and Phil Foden also linking up effortlessly, City looked like they’d rediscovered that extra gear which makes them almost untouchable when it clicks. The defensive solidity, marshalled by Rúben Dias, ensured Alisson’s opposite number, Ederson, had a quiet afternoon.

What made the performance even more impressive was the timing. City had been accused of inconsistency earlier in the campaign, but this was the kind of controlled dominance that reminds everyone who’s been setting the standard in English football for the past few years. Guardiola, celebrating his milestone, smiled knowingly at full-time, he’s seen plenty of seasons, and he knows that title races are marathons. But if this is a glimpse of the City that’s about to emerge in the winter months, the rest of the league has every reason to be concerned.

Arsenal Slip-Up

It had to end sometime, didn’t it? Arsenal’s perfect start to the Premier League season came to a halt at the Stadium of Light, as a plucky Sunderland side fought back for a 2–2 draw. The Gunners had looked comfortable for much of the match, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka gave them a deserved two-goal cushion, but the hosts’ late rally exposed an uncomfortable truth: even the most polished sides can lose focus under pressure. Two lapses in concentration, one from a set-piece and another in transition, undid 80 minutes of dominance.

For Mikel Arteta, the draw wasn’t catastrophic, but it was a reminder that his young squad still has lessons to learn about managing momentum and game states. Arsenal have been excellent at dictating play this season, but when the tempo shifts, particularly away from home, they sometimes struggle to regain control. Martin Ødegaard’s influence waned late on, and the defensive pairing of Saliba and Gabriel suddenly looked vulnerable once Sunderland started to commit bodies forward.

The result trims Arsenal’s lead at the top and breathes new life into the chasing pack, particularly Manchester City, who now sense an opportunity to close the gap. In truth, every great title-winning campaign includes a stumble like this one. The real test for Arsenal isn’t whether they can play beautiful football, we know they can, it’s whether they can dig in, reset, and grind out results when the rhythm breaks. Week 11 was their first wobble of the season, and how they respond in Week 12 will tell us a lot about their maturity.

Liverpool Struggle Again

For Liverpool, this was a bruising weekend in every sense. The 3–0 defeat at the Etihad wasn’t just heavy on the scoreboard, it exposed deep-seated issues that new manager Arne Slot still hasn’t managed to fix. Liverpool looked flat, uncertain, and strangely passive, especially in midfield where City carved through with alarming ease. Gone was the pressing intensity that once defined them; in its place, a hesitant, disconnected display that made it easy for City to dictate proceedings.

Slot’s tactical approach has promised more possession-based control, but at times it feels like Liverpool are caught between two identities. The full-backs weren’t as adventurous, the front three rarely pressed in unison, and the balance in midfield looked off once again. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister struggled to influence the game, while Darwin Núñez cut an increasingly frustrated figure up front. It’s still early in Slot’s tenure, but patience can wear thin quickly at a club that measures success in trophies.

There’s no denying that Liverpool have the quality to recover, but right now, they look mentally fragile. The City defeat leaves them drifting from the title conversation and instead glancing nervously at the top-four battle. Supporters will be desperate to see a reaction at Anfield next weekend, not just in the result but in the energy and intensity that once made this team so feared. Slot has a talented squad at his disposal, but Week 11 was a reminder that identity and cohesion take time, and time, in the Premier League, is never freely given.

Game of the week: Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal With Granit Xhaka’s clash against his former side, many expected that to be the main headline as Arsenal continued their march to progress in their title charge, however the hosts continued their amazing start to the campaign with a late equaliser that means Arsenal drop some points and Sunderland stay in the top 4 going into the break.

Player of the week: Igor Thiago Having taken the reigns at Brentford following the departures of Toney, Wissa and Mbeumo in recent years, their new talismanic figure is on top form this season. Having bagged another 2 goals in the win over Newcastle, Brentford haven’t missed a step despite their turnover in the summer.