10 Premier League talking points as Tottenham sack Nuno after Man Utd loss

It was another whirlwind weekend of Premier League action with managers fighting to stave off the sack and the axe falling on one boss in particular.

Nuno Espirito Santo was the second manager to be shown the door this season after Xisco Munoz after only 123 days at the helm of Tottenham.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may feel somewhat responsible after seeing his Manchester United side brush past Spurs 3-0, while there were some shocks as Manchester City and Liverpool both failed to win at home.

League leaders Chelsea extended their advantage to four points with a routine win over Newcastle, while Burnley finally ended their long wait for a win this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been sacked by Tottenham

Southampton claimed an important victory at Watford while Leeds battled past Norwich at Carrow Road.

Arsenal and West Ham made happy returns to the capital from the Midlands after beating Leicester and Aston Villa respectively.

But as it normally goes in the Premier League, the weekend did not go by without some form of drama.

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Here, Mirror Football rounds up all the key talking points from this weekend's action...

1. Levy's Nuno gamble backfires

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has sacked Nuno Espirito Santo after only 123 days in charge

Once the fans launch into mutiny mode, there is only one way to go — and that is out the door. For Nuno Espirito Santo, the Tottenham manager must have felt like the whole world was against him from the first moment.

After watching his side put in a toothless performance against Manchester United in the 3-0 defeat at the Tottenham, Hotspur Stadium, Nuno criticised the players and questioned their commitment.

But there was a feeling this sort of result was coming. It had happened before too when Spurs conceded three against Crystal Palace earlier in the season.

This loss, whereby Spurs did not manage a single shot on target in a home match for the first time since statistical data was recorded, was different. There was no coherent build-up when they had possession and a dysfunctional mess in defence without it.

Harry Kane looked a shadow of the player who won the Golden Boot last season, while Nuno's call to bring off Lucas Moura resulted in loud boos echoing around the stadium.

After just 17 games in charge, Daniel Levy felt he had to correct his latest managerial mistake. But one has to question how many more he will be allowed to make before he himself has to be replaced.

2. Solskjaer's new blueprint

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got Man Utd back to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Tottenham

It would have been difficult for Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to look his players in the eye after their devastating defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

But the Norwegian was defiant when it was put to him the he could lose his job. Th 48-year-old insisted he would see the job through to the end, believing they were close to achieving what he wanted.

In the 3-0 win over Spurs, he had the performance to show for their work on the training ground, switching to a 3-4-1-2 formation in a bid to make Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani work together.

READ MORE: Ronaldo and Cavani break 11-year-old record with Man Utd goal

Ronaldo scored one and set up another as Cavani got on the scoresheet. The pair worked tirelessly to hassle the Spurs backline and make them feel uncomfortable.

The problem he now faces is how to squeeze in his bloated attacking options with Ronaldo, Cavani, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial.

3. West Ham are top four challengers

Jarrod Bowen scored in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa

If there is something to be said about the demise of Manchester United and Tottenham so far this season, there must be praise for teams like West Ham operating on half the budget.

Aside from the £25m capture of Kurt Zouma and loan signing of Alex Kral, David Moyes has been forced to cope with the same squad as last season.

That means having only one striker in Michail Antonio after failing to secure a permanent deal for Jesse Lingard. Yet the 30-year-old has been in the form of his life with six goals and four assists.

The three men behind him, Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen, have vastly improved over the last 12 months.

He even had two academy players in the side in Ben Johnson and, of course, the indomitable Declan Rice.

Moyes has recovered from his Man United nightmare eight years ago to become one of the most respected coaches in the division.

And if he leads the Hammers to Champions League football this season, it would earn him in a place in the club's history.

READ MORE: Gary Neville points out Piers Morgan's hypocrisy over David Moyes

4. Tuchel just as good as Mourinho

Chelsea have conceded only three goals under Thomas Tuchel this season

Not many teams could go three and a half games without Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner and still score 14 goals.

But with 17 different scorers this season, Chelsea share the goalscoring burden amongst them. That was reflected as Reece James scored twice with two brilliant strikes as they cruised past winless Newcastle 3-0.

At the other end of the pitch, the Blues have incredibly shipped only three goals in their first 10 games. If they continue at this rate, they will beat the record of 15 goals conceded by Jose Mourinho 's side in the 2004-05 season.

Chelsea are also second in the 2021 table this year for points (68), only beaten by Manchester City (80). They have gone to Anfield, Tottenham, the Emirates and Etihad and won.

If that does not demonstrate the high level of Tuchel's management skills, nothing will.

READ MORE: Jose Mourinho rages on touchline as Ibrahimovic ends Special One's spotless record

5. A striking problem for Pep

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has been left without a recognised striker this season

Pep Guardiola is not the type of coach to come out and admit he was wrong. He just finds ways to adapt.

It was believed that Manchester City had found a way to deal with their lack of a recognised striker by first placing Ferran Torres in the central role and then Phil Foden.

But missing a focal point can make it easy for teams to set up two blocks of four and defend compactly. That is exactly how Crystal Palace set up, with pressing in City's half, and it paid dividends for Wifried Zaha to open the scoring.

City had other problems to contend with as Aymeric Laporte was given his marching orders late in the first half, a controversial decision in itself.

But with no Sergio Aguero to rely on and failing to land Harry Kane, the Catalan may be tempted to make a signing in January to alleviate his concerns.

READ MORE: Man City face Grealish Jack conundrum as damaging loss raises fresh problem

6. Klopp cannot afford another injury crisis

Naby Keita was taken off injured for Liverpool

Liverpool don't often squander two-goal leads but it was more a case of Brighton hauling themselves back into the game than the Reds throwing their advantage away.

After Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane had put Liverpool in front, fine goals from Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard earned the Seagulls a deserved point.

Of course, those goals came after Naby Keita was brought off injured, meaning Jurgen Klopp now only has four fit players to fit his three-man midfield. One of which is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a player who has had his fair share of injuries.

No one could have foreseen Liverpool's injury crisis last year as Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez were all ruled out with long-term problems.

But this time the German has had his warning signs and may be forced to drop into the January transfer market to sign some cover.

READ MORE: Man Utd and Liverpool's eye-opening transfer net spends in Solskjaer era

7. Arsenal finally clicking under Arteta

Mikel Arteta is reaping the benefits from his summer hire after Arsenal beat Leicester to go nine games unbeaten

Mikel Arteta can finally smile again without some kind of criticism or abuse being thrown at him. After all, the Arsenal boss has turned their season around with his £150m signings starting to show their worth.

Aaron Ramsdale looks unbeatable, Ben White was valiant at the back and Thomas Partey dictated the play against one of the most talented midfield trios in the top flight.

Then there was Emile Smith Rowe, the 21-year-old finishing with aplomb and his academy graduate friend Bukayo Saka thriving in the wide areas.

Arsenal are now nine games unbeaten in all competitions and just three points behind Man City, who smashed them 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium back in August.

If there were any people who could have predicted that to happen after three consecutive defeats confirmed their worst-ever start to a season, then perhaps they can tell us what the lottery numbers are.

READ MORE: Arteta's eight changes show how he has transformed Arsenal in two years

8. January can't come soon enough for Toon

Newcastle director Amanda Staveley has a tough task on her hands to ensure the Magpies do not slip out of the Premier League

The excitement from Newcastle's £305m takeover has quickly worn off for the fans who know there is a real chance they could be relegated this season.

Burnley's 3-1 win over Brentford means the Magpies, along with Norwich, are the only teams yet to win a game this season.

It is not just the results that are concerning for Newcastle; the performances have been far below the standard required to stay up.

There is no question this squad requires a complete overhaul with only a few players, such as Allan Saint-Maximin, protected from being sold.

Director Amanda Staveley has the unenviable task of finding a manager to hire, promising they will have unlimited funds to strengthen the squad but in the meantime managing this squad.