EPL Winners and Losers: Matchweek 9 | Liverpool, Solksjaer, Foden and more!

Liverpool humiliated Manchester United and their under-pressure boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as they handed out a 5-0 thrashing at Old Trafford. The Merseysiders were four goals up by half-time and added to that tally in the second half despite taking their foot off the gas in the second half.

Mohamed Salah notched a hat-trick for the visitors after scoring for the 10th successive game, while United also had Paul Pogba sent off for a bad tackle on Naby Keita and Cristiano Ronaldo was fortunate not to have received his marching orders. Solskjaer looked a dejected figure on the touchline as his team was booed off at the break, and at the final whistle large parts of the stadium were deserted as the Liverpool players and fans celebrated a famous victory.

The Watford striker returned to former club Everton and promptly fired a hat-trick in a shock 5-2 win for Claudio Ranieri’s men. The 29-year-old did not start a single Premier League game in his six-month loan spell at Goodison Park and felt he had a point to prove.

“I never thought that in 18 games I would not be allowed to start one,” said King. “Had I got a start and not performed I would have understood it. I had another offer that would have given me more security, but was told I would get to play and that I would get the chance at Everton. But it was not delivered, so I feel that was not the intention.”

The Arsenal boss has turned things around after three straight defeats at the start of the season. The 3-1 home win over Aston Villa means the Gunners are now unbeaten in seven games in all competitions and Arteta appears to have answered his critics, at least for now, who believe he should vacate the hot seat at the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester City have now taken 20 points from the past 24 on offer as two-goal Phil Foden stole the show in a 4-1 win at Brighton, and Pep Guardiola believes the England international can get even better owing to his versatility. “In the final third he can play up front, has the quality to move and be aggressive one on one, and can get into the box. He can play as a false nine, a winger, wide right or wide left,” said the City boss.

West Ham United moved up to fourth in the table with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur as Michail Antonio scored his sixth goal of the campaign. Boss David Moyes, who is enjoying his best start to the season since 2004-05 with Everton, believes the club is going from strength to strength.

“At the moment we are growing characters,” insisted Moyes. “Over the past couple of years the players have blossomed. They are all feeling important and feeling like that can make a difference. The club is blossoming now and that comes from the players. Those players are all improving together and that is a good thing we have going.”

What now for Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool? His team looked disjointed and without confidence as Jurgen Klopp’s side ran riot at Old Trafford, but the Norwegian has vowed to carry on and try to turn things around.

“This is my darkest day as a manager but I have come too far to give up,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “The feeling we have had is we are getting where we wanted to be, but in the last few weeks the results haven’t come. We have conceded too many easy goals and that is a worry. I am still thinking about tomorrow’s work. We are all low. This the lowest I have been but I accept total responsibility, but that is mine and mine going forward.”

Everton’s good early season form appears to have evaporated as they conceded four goals in the space of 13 minutes to be consigned to a 5-2 defeat against Watford at Goodison Park, their second successive loss on home turf. The Toffees were undone at set pieces and afterwards boss Rafa Benítez revealed his players had been working on them the day before.

“Trust me, on Friday we were working hard on set pieces and corners to adjust things. Still, you are conceding so now you need to think about how we can improve and give the players the same belief and confidence they had at the start of the season. If you’ve done something you can repeat it, so it’s just a question of making sure the players believe in themselves.”

Norwich City look destined for an instant return to the Championship even at this early stage of the season following their 7-0 thrashing by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where midfielder Mason Mount helped himself to a hat-trick. The Canaries have taken just two points from their opening nine fixtures and morale at the club is understandably low.

“We are very disappointed and you can imagine the feeling in the dressing room right now,” admitted boss Daniel Farke. “But Chelsea are one of the best teams in the world playing in the best league in the world, with one of the best coaches in the world, and today they were good.”