Five Premier League Takeaways: Newcastle's high-octane resurgence; Liverpool’s creativity crisis | OneFootball

The Premier League weekend was not short of talking points and discussion.

Newcastle's new manager has made an immediate impact despite difficulties off the pitch, whileArsenal have already shown that the champions will take some stopping. Here are five of the biggest questions and themes to emerge from weekend's Premier League action.

Maresca should give Cherki the keys

Rayan Cherki's stock took a slight hit during the summer. There were reports of tension and frustration within the France squad during the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to his limited playing time, while an Amazon documentary revealed how Manchester City's team had gambled on the Frenchman despite negative feedback on his mentality.

City took that gamble and have been repaid ever since. Cherki was superb last season, recording 12 assists in the Premier League, and has started the new season on fire. He assisted twice in the opening win over Bournemouth, and scored twice himself as Crystal Palace were put to the sword on Friday night.

The 23-year-old is a special talent and capable of unlocking any game. Maresca must coax that from him on a regular basis and give him the platform to become Kevin De Bruyne's heir.

Liverpool full-back failures have set this side back

For all the talk of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and more during the success of the Jurgen Klopp era, one of the defining images of that successfulLiverpool side was Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

The duo set records with their output going forward, racking up assists. Replacing them was never going to be easy, but Liverpool's recruitment of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong has accelerated their stagnation.

Kerkez is full of energy and endeavour, but he lacks the defensive nous of Robertson, and the craft in the final third. He's recorded one assist in 36 league appearances for Liverpool.

Frimpong's fortunes have been even worse. A flying threat from wing-back at Bayer Leverkusen, he's been unable to find that form in a more traditional back four. Defensively, there are arguably bigger question marks than there were against the all-too-often scrutinised Alexander-Arnold.

Neither player has lived up to expectations, and with Salah also exiting in the summer, Liverpool have a huge creativity void.

Matthias Jaissle has got Newcastle firing again

Newcastle United had been backed to struggle this season. A new inexperienced manager had inherited a squad stripped of senior names, with Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes all gone. Seven new signings, all aged 24 or under and with limited Premier League experience, arrived to replace them as the transition took place on Tyneside.

Jaissle has instead led Newcastle to four points from games against Liverpool and Spurs, securing an impressive 2-0 win in North London this weekend.

He's animated and clearly popular, and has brought out the best in last season's strugglers Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa. A fast-paced game plan has played to their strengths, with each looking like a new signing. Optimism is back at Newcastle after a summer of uncertainty.

Chelsea lack control despite perfect start

Chelsea sit alongside the early pacesetters after opening the season with successive wins, but Xabi Alonso will have concerns about his perfect start.

On one hand, Chelsea have been a delight to watch going forward, with Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer dovetailing brilliantly behind Joao Pedro. But the Blues have been vulnerable defensively. Fulham scored twice against them on the opening weekend, and Brighton netted three in defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Emi Martinez's arrival will help, but Alonso needs his side to find greater control and game management. Chelsea led 3-0 inside 32 minutes against Brighton, but almost collapsed as the Seagulls dominated the ball and fought back. Chelsea ended the game with just 26% of possession, and better teams will punish them down the line. Arsenal are up next in a real test of this side.

Attacks win games, defences win titles

Mikel Arteta's machine at Arsenal has been built from the back. The league's best defence for three straight seasons, some questioned why Arsenal needed yet another defensive option when signing Ezri Konsa this season. Arteta, however, knows where success starts.

Arsenal have opened the season with consecutive clean sheets and suffocated Aston Villa's attack on Monday night. At a venue the Gunners lost at last season, Arsenal restricted Villa to no shots on target. It's an ominous sign with William Saliba and Jurrien Timber still sidelined.

According toOpta, Arsenal faced the fewest shots (11), the fewest shots on target (1) and allowed their opponents the lowest xG (0.52) across the first two games of the Premier League season.