Premier League week 7 brought us up to the latest international break, and while the league has stuttered with these international interruptions, the action heading into the pause has been fairly dramatic an the table has really begun to take shape.

In week 7, we saw Liverpool stumble yet again, while the top spot changed hands and the early forming title race has been maintaining the expected intensity. Meanwhile, those mid-table challengers looking for European places have been resolute and even towards the bottom end of the table, we have no clear distinction between those who have struggled in the early stages.

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.

Chelsea Turn The Tables

If Stamford Bridge has been searching for a new hero, they may have just found one. In a dramatic finale, Estêvão fired home a 95th-minute winner to seal a 2–1 victory for Chelsea over Liverpool, the kind of late, emotional triumph that can spark belief in a new era. The Brazilian teenager latched onto a loose ball in stoppage time and buried it beyond Alisson, sending the home fans into delirium and delivering one of the most electrifying moments of the young Premier League season.

Earlier, Moisés Caicedo had opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from distance in the 14th minute, before Cody Gakpo levelled for Liverpool midway through the second half. The contest was fast, furious, and balanced on a knife’s edge, until Estêvão’s intervention tipped it Chelsea’s way. The win under Enzo Maresca was more than symbolic; it suggested a team learning to mix technical control with genuine grit.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were left to rue a lapse in concentration after looking largely comfortable for long spells. It marked their third consecutive defeat in all competitions, an uncharacteristic wobble for Arne Slot’s usually relentless side. To cap the chaos, Maresca was sent off for over-zealous celebrations, having left his technical area to join the jubilant pile-on. The image of him roaring down the touchline felt like a snapshot of pure Premier League theatre, passion, pressure, and pandemonium in equal measure.

Arsenal Go Top

At the London Stadium, Arsenal quietly but convincingly moved to the top of the Premier League table with a composed 2–0 win over West Ham. It wasn’t a spectacle for the neutrals, but it was exactly the kind of controlled, professional performance that defines title contenders. Declan Rice opened the scoring against his former club in the 38th minute with a deflected effort, before Bukayo Saka sealed the points from the penalty spot midway through the second half.

Arsenal never looked in danger once they took the lead. Mikel Arteta’s men dominated possession, recycled the ball with maturity, and showed how comfortable they’ve become managing games away from home. Rice, in particular, seemed to thrive under the tension of facing his old teammates, putting in a commanding midfield display that underlined his growing influence in red and white.

While this win wasn’t as explosive as others in recent weeks, it was arguably more impressive for its maturity. The Gunners have developed a knack for turning tricky fixtures into routine victories, a hallmark of evolution under Arteta. By the final whistle, they stood alone at the summit, calm and confident, with their supporters starting to whisper that familiar word again: momentum.

Mid-Table Battles

Further down the table, Bournemouth were the weekend’s surprise entertainers, producing a thrilling 3–1 win over Fulham at the Vitality Stadium. Antoine Semenyo scored twice and Justin Kluivert added another as the Cherries came from behind after Ryan Sessegnon’s opener. Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth’s pressing and quick transitions are finally clicking, and this performance was a statement of intent, full of energy, confidence, and attacking clarity.

Aston Villa also continued their steady climb with a 2–1 victory over Burnley, keeping up their push for another strong season under Unai Emery. Villa’s structure, pressing, and discipline remain among the most consistent in the league, and while they aren’t grabbing headlines, their quiet efficiency is making plenty of noise in the standings.

And at Old Trafford, Manchester United finally offered their fans a weekend without anxiety, seeing off Sunderland 2–0. Mason Mount opened the scoring, and Benjamin Šeško doubled the lead to seal a deserved win. The standout was debutant goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who impressed with his composure and shot-stopping. It was a night of calm competence, something United have sorely missed, and a result that eased pressure on Rúben Amorim, as his project begins to find its footing.

Game of the week: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool After 2 stumbles in the league and Europe, the away trip to an unpredictable Chelsea gave us the level of end-to-end football and drama we would have hoped. With a late winner sealing it for the hosts, it adds a level of pressure to Liverpool that they’ve not experienced under Slot, while Chelsea remain as unpredictable as ever.

Player of the week: Antoine Semenyo Having a stellar start to the season, the 25 year old Semenyo added a brace and assist to his strong start to the campaign. His efforts helped claim 3 points for Bournemouth as they head into the international break inside of the top 4.