Five Premier League Takeaways: Wirtz dilemma and Villa 2.0 takes shape | OneFootball

Another Premier League weekend brought more questions for some of the division's biggest clubs, while elsewhere there were encouraging signs for teams heading in the right direction.

Chelsea badly missed Moises Caicedo during a bruising defeat at Brentford, Liverpool have a decision to make over Florian Wirtz, and the pressure continues to build at Manchester United.

ForAston Villa, however, a summer rebuild is beginning to look increasingly exciting, while Pascal Gross continues to underline his status as one of the Premier League's great bargains.

Here are five takeaways from thePremier League weekend.

Caicedo return can not come soon enough for Chelsea

Xabi Alonso made unwanted history on Friday night as Chelsea were badly beaten at Brentford. A 3-0 loss at the Gtech Community Stadium means Alonso isonly the sixth Premier League manager to see his side concede 2+ goals in each of his first five games, with his predecessors, Mick McCarthy, Sammy Lee, Terry Connor, Slavisa Jokanovic, and Scott Parker, all coaches who spent much of their time at the bottom of the division.

Chelsea are far too easy to play through, a situation not helped by Moises Caicedo's absence. The Ecuadorian is one of the best defensive midfielders in European football, and he has left a chasm in the Chelsea side. Almost back, his return can't come quick enough.

Aston Villa 2.0 show encouraging signs

Aston Villa fans were understandably fearful and frustrated in the summer, as the club's Europa League-winning side was ripped apart. Six starters from that win over Frankfurt were sold, as Unai Emery's spine was decimated.

Villa needed to get their business right in the summer and the early signs are positive.

Against Spurs this weekend, several of the new signings showed just what they can do. Zion Suzuki was magnificent in goal as Villa weathered a first-half storm, while Johan Manzambi recorded a goal and assist on his first start.

Nicolas Jackson also netted his first Premier League goal for the club and offered a classy centre-forward performance, and the anxiety around Aston Villa's rebuild might just have turned to excitement in some sections.

Pascal Gross is one of the Premier League's best-ever bargains

Pascal Gross will never dominate the headlines, butBrighton's midfield maestro has been one of the Premier League's most consistent performers for a long time. The 35-year-old has started the season on fire with three goals and three assists in five games, leading the Premier League for goal involvements alongside Joao Pedro.

His 51 assists in the Premier League have taken him past Roberto Firmino (50) and he now has Eden Hazard, Mesut Ozil and Juan Mata (all 54) in his sights. The German cost Brighton just £3m when he first arrived on the south coast in 2017, before returning for a second spell in January after 18 months at Borussia Dortmund.

His two transfer fees combined equate to only £4.5m, with Gross one of the best-value deals in Premier League history.

Should Iraola take Wirtz out the firing line?

Things just aren't happening for Florian Wirtz at Liverpool. A poor performance at Bournemouth has turned the heat up on the German, who has struggled to live up to his big price tag.

There's no lack of effort from Wirtz, but a return of five goals and four assists in 39 games is underwhelming for a £116m investment. Furthermore, his presence has unbalanced a Liverpool midfield that lacks a natural holder, leaving the Reds easier to play through.

Manchester City are up next after the international break and Andoni Iraola must decide whether to take Wirtz out of the firing line, or continue with confidence that he can deliver.

Carrick cannot keep sugercoating misfiring Manchester United

Michael Carrick continues to fire out positive soundbites about his Manchester United side, despite the optics - and results - showing little to be positive about.

The Red Devils required an 89th-minute equaliser to rescue a result at Fulham and head into the international break with five points from five games.

It's the club's worst start to a season since 2014/15 (also five), despite a run of games that has seen Carrick's side face two promoted sides, Everton, Manchester City, and winless Fulham.

Carrick can talk up his confidence in the squad all he likes, but he needs improvement after the international break. Without swift and significant upturn, the pressure will be on.