The Cityzens fell six points off the early pace with defeat at Brighton while their outcast attacker is thriving at his new temporary home

Premier League Winners and Losers: Man City Rebuild Woes, Jack Grealish’s Revival and Aston Villa’s Crisis

And just like that, the Premier League takes its first breather of the season. Three rounds of fixtures are in the books, and now the international break provides managers with a rare chance to pause, reflect, and address both strengths and shortcomings. While the weekend’s headline clash between Liverpool and Arsenal promised fireworks, it fizzled into a low-key battle decided by Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick.

But as is always the case in England’s top flight, drama unfolded elsewhere. From Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola outshining Spurs’ new man Thomas Frank, to Pep Guardiola’s stuttering rebuild, Jack Grealish rediscovering his old swagger, and Aston Villa sinking into early-season chaos — there’s no shortage of stories to unpack. Here are the Premier League winners and losers as the first pause in the campaign arrives.

Winner: Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth’s Bold Statement

Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth – Premier League City

In a parallel universe, Iraola might be pacing the touchline at Tottenham instead of Bournemouth. Spurs opted for Brentford’s Thomas Frank when Ange Postecoglou departed, but the Spaniard has hardly sulked about missing out. Instead, he produced one of the most impressive away wins of the young season.

Bournemouth’s 1-0 triumph over Spurs was far more dominant than the scoreline suggested. Evanilson’s early strike may have taken a deflection, but it was a fitting reward for a performance in which the Cherries racked up 20 shots and never allowed Spurs a single corner. For Frank, it was a sobering reality check after a bright start; for Iraola, it was vindication that his high-energy style can thrive even with a patched-up squad that lost key figures over the summer.

Unbeaten aside from two late Liverpool goals on opening day, Bournemouth look like a side punching well above expectations. Iraola’s reputation as one of Europe’s sharpest young coaches is only growing.

Loser: Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s Rebuild

Two weeks ago, City fans were crowing that their champions were “back” after an opening-day victory over Wolves. Now, they sit in the bottom half of the table after back-to-back defeats. The latest setback, a collapse at Brighton, was particularly worrying.

For an hour, City looked every bit in control, with Erling Haaland finally breaking his duck for the season. But when Fabian Hurzeler made a quadruple substitution, Guardiola’s men simply couldn’t cope. Suddenly, City were sliced open at will, and Brajan Gruda’s late strike sealed a deserved comeback for the Seagulls.

Even Rodri’s long-awaited return couldn’t plug the gaps, with the midfield general openly criticising his teammates’ “kid’s mistakes” after the final whistle. Guardiola is expected to add Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day, but City’s real problems lie further up the pitch, where their rebuild still looks half-finished.

The Manchester derby looms after the break. Two weeks may feel like a lifetime in football, but Guardiola must use every day to stabilise his team — or risk slipping further behind.

Winner: Jack Grealish Rediscovers His Freedom

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton – Premier League

If Guardiola needed salt rubbed into his wounds, it came from Goodison Park. Jack Grealish, once the £100m jewel of City’s crown, is thriving at Everton under David Moyes.

On loan with the Toffees, the England international has already notched four assists in two starts, inspiring back-to-back wins. Against Wolves, his creativity and risk-taking were back on full display — reminders of the fearless playmaker who once lit up Villa Park.

At City, Grealish became “the rest station,” tasked with recycling possession rather than gambling on daring runs or defense-splitting passes. His numbers plummeted, and critics questioned whether he could ever justify his fee. Now, free of Guardiola’s tactical shackles, he’s once again the inventive spark defenders dread.

With England’s World Cup squad beginning to take shape, Grealish’s revival could not be better timed. If his form continues, Thomas Tuchel will have no choice but to restore him to the Three Lions setup.

Loser: Marco Silva’s Boiling Point

Marco Silva’s Boiling Point

Fulham manager Marco Silva has never been shy of letting his emotions show, but at Stamford Bridge, his frustration hit boiling point.

Josh King’s first-half strike, which would have given Fulham the lead, was controversially chalked off after VAR judged Rodrigo Muniz to have fouled Trevoh Chalobah. The call was widely derided, and PGMOL quietly stood down VAR official Michael Salisbury for the following weekend — an admission of sorts.

Silva’s touchline explosion set the tone. He was equally incensed when Chelsea scored late in the half and when Ryan Sessegnon was penalised for handball after the break. Though some of those calls were less clear-cut, it’s easy to understand Silva’s fury given the string of decisions that have already gone against his side this season.

For his own sake, however, Silva may need to cool off during the international break. Another fortnight of combusting over officials, and his blood pressure might not survive the season.

Winner: West Ham Buy Themselves Time

Few managers were under more pressure than Graham Potter after West Ham’s limp start to the season. Two heavy defeats and a Carabao Cup exit had fans fearing the worst. But Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest flipped the mood entirely.

A 3-0 win not only gave Potter breathing room, but also showcased the promise of his squad. Crysencio Summerville injected energy off the bench, setting up goals for Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta before Callum Wilson sealed the victory with his first for the club.

Paqueta’s emphatic celebration was another boost, quelling rumours of a Villa move. With reinforcements still expected before deadline day, West Ham suddenly look steadier. At least for now, they’ve handed the dreaded “crisis club” label to someone else.

Loser: Aston Villa Slide into Crisis

Morgan Rogers Aston Villa 2025-26

And that someone else is Aston Villa. A limp 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace left them 19th in the table and the only Premier League side yet to score a goal this season.

Unai Emery’s side looked stale, their summer spending curbed by Profit and Sustainability Rules. Desperation was clear when Emiliano Buendia — barely used last term — was thrown on at halftime to try to spark a turnaround. It didn’t work.

Worse still, speculation surrounds Emiliano Martinez’s future, with the Argentina goalkeeper linked to a late-window move. Should he leave, Villa would lose not just a world-class keeper but also a vital dressing-room leader. Rumours of Victor Lindelof arriving on a free hardly inspire confidence that the squad will be strengthened sufficiently.

For a team that reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season, the fall has been sudden and severe. Unless Emery can find goals and fresh energy soon, Villa’s crisis may deepen further.

Final Thoughts

The international break comes at a perfect moment for some and an unwanted interruption for others. For Iraola’s Bournemouth, it halts momentum; for Guardiola’s City and Emery’s Villa, it’s a lifeline to regroup. Meanwhile, Jack Grealish is smiling again, West Ham have avoided disaster, and Marco Silva is probably still fuming.

The season is young, but the storylines are already gripping. If the first three weeks have shown us anything, it’s that no one is safe in the Premier League rollercoaster — not even Pep Guardiola.