Week 4 sees the Premier League table begin to take some form of shape, and while 1 point can still make huge differences in the standings, it’s beginning to become clear which sides are on for a good season, while seeing those who are perhaps in for a tough year ahead.

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.

Forest Shock

Nottingham Forest’s 1–0 win at Anfield was one of the standout results of the young season. The decisive moment came from substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi, who curled a superb strike beyond Alisson midway through the second half. It was a goal worthy of winning any game, but to do it at Anfield, where Liverpool had looked strong under new manager Arne Slot, made it feel even bigger.

The victory carried real historical weight. Forest hadn’t won at Anfield since 1969, a span of more than five decades. Moments like this have been painfully rare for the club, but this one arrived with a clear sense of intention: they didn’t come to cling on, they came with a plan to frustrate and then hurt Liverpool. After the match, Nuno Espírito Santo praised both the structure of his side and the impact of his substitutes.

For Liverpool, the defeat was a jolt. After three straight clean-sheet wins to open the Slot era, this setback exposed some early-season frailties. They dominated possession and created chances, Luis Díaz even struck the post, but lacked the sharpness and control in the final third they had shown previously. Slot admitted his team “fell below the standards” he expected.

The bigger picture is that Forest look far more assured than the team that narrowly avoided relegation last season. Nuno’s tactical setup, including narrow wide midfielders to stifle Liverpool’s full-backs, worked brilliantly. The win may be only one match, but it signals that Forest are not simply aiming to survive, they believe they can take on the league’s best.

Cards Galore

What should have been a straightforward contest at the Vitality Stadium turned into one of the most talked-about matches of the season, not because of the football, but because of the officiating. Referee Anthony Taylor produced 14 yellow cards, the most ever shown in a single Premier League match. Players, benches, and even mild challenges weren’t spared in what quickly became a stop–start spectacle.

The reaction was immediate and fierce. Many fans and pundits felt the match was nowhere near physical enough to warrant such a flurry of cautions. Several bookings came for minimal contact or dissent, leaving both managers perplexed. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stopped short of criticising Taylor outright but hinted that the game “did not feel like a 14-card match.” The uproar was so strong that Taylor was removed from Premier League duty the following weekend.

Amid the chaos, Chelsea still managed to secure three valuable points. Christopher Nkunku, returning from injury, came off the bench to score an 86th-minute winner, a bright moment in an otherwise disjointed affair. It was Chelsea’s second consecutive win on the road and hinted at a growing resilience under Enzo Maresca.

But the conversation after full-time revolved almost entirely around the officiating. The match reignited debates about refereeing standards, consistency, and the fine balance between controlling a game and suffocating it. Fans left wondering whether the Premier League’s disciplinary tone for the season had been set, and whether that was a good thing.

Arsenal Dominate

Arsenal’s 1–0 win over Tottenham in the North London derby was significant not just for the points but for its historical context. Gabriel Magalhães powered in the match-winning header from a Bukayo Saka corner, sealing a victory that gave Arsenal their third consecutive away win at Tottenham, something they hadn’t managed since the late 1980s.

What made the win even more impressive was the personnel Arsenal were missing. With Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard both unavailable, Mikel Arteta turned to a midfield trio of Jorginho, Thomas Partey, and Kai Havertz. They delivered a disciplined, intelligent performance, controlling key moments and successfully slowing Spurs’ transitions.

Tottenham started brightly and had chances, with David Raya called into action early on and new signing Dominic Solanke threatening on his home debut. But Spurs struggled to break down Arsenal’s compact structure. As the minutes ticked away, they found themselves pushing but not penetrating, and their frustrations grew.

For Arsenal, the win was more than a derby triumph, it felt like another marker of their maturity under Arteta. Winning away at Spurs is difficult; doing it three seasons in a row suggests a psychological edge. For Spurs, meanwhile, the defeat added to a growing sense that they remain a step behind their rivals in terms of control, solidity, and big-game management.

Game of the week: Aston Villa 3-2 Everton Another 2-0 lead thrown away from Everton as they conceded 3 goals on the bounce after a strong start to lose the game. It’s becoming a major issue that they can’t hold onto early leads, and ultimately they have 0 points from their last 2 games where they should have won them both.

Player of the week: Erling Haaland I am genuinely getting worried he might just be the player of the week every week. At least he was stopped from another hat-trick this week, but still a brace and City win means it could be a pretty good season all round for Guardiola’s side.