Villa finally stopped the bleeding at Hull, but a 0-0 draw means they have now somehow played three Premier League matches without scoring. After all that summer movement, they’re still trying to work out what the finished side is actually supposed to look like.

Forest aren’t exactly flying either, but they were unlucky not to beat Spurs and had a goal chalked off in that scoreless draw.

Villa Park normally gives them a decent edge and surely they eventually score a bloody goal. I’m still not convinced enough to trust them to win it, though. Forest are awkward, organised and look much happier playing without the ball than Villa currently look trying to break teams down.

Bournemouth might be the most frustrating team in England right now. They’ve scored first against City, Everton and Newcastle and somehow have two points to show for it. They were 2-1 up late at Newcastle before coughing up another lead.

Brentford drew again against Sunderland and are proving difficult to get a proper read on. They’ve created plenty of chances this season, but the results haven’t always matched the performances.

Bournemouth at home should be dangerous again, and I think this is finally the week they actually hold onto one.

Chelsea lost their first serious test of the season, but I wouldn’t be panicking about them. They scored inside two minutes at Arsenal and created enough late to make the champions sweat.

The bigger issue remains the defence. They’ve conceded seven goals in three games, which isn’t exactly title-winning behaviour.

Then we have Hull, the ridiculous early-season cockroach that refuses to die. Three games, seven points and not a single goal conceded. At some point someone will score against them, and Stamford Bridge feels like the obvious place. Hull can frustrate Chelsea for a while, but Chelsea should have too much.

Palace finally woke up. They were on the wrong end of the game early at Fulham but fought their way back to win 3-2, which is a hell of a way to get your first points of the season.

Ipswich were better against Liverpool than the final score suggests, but they still lost 2-0 and remain on three points. They’ve shown enough to suggest they’ll be competitive this season.

Away at Selhurst after Palace finally found some confidence feels like poor timing, though. Palace get the lean at home.

Liverpool finally got the bloody win. After two 2-2 draws to start the season, they went to Ipswich and got through 2-0. It wasn’t some terrifying statement performance, but they’ll happily take boring competence after the defensive chaos of the first fortnight.

Fulham are still searching for their first point after another loss against Palace. They were on top early and looked capable of getting something from the game, but Palace eventually turned it around and Fulham couldn’t stop the momentum once it shifted.

Anfield against a Fulham side already under pressure feels like the sort of fixture Liverpool should put away without needing another late circus.

Tottenham have finally earned a point. Congratulations to everyone involved. Unfortunately, they still haven’t scored a Premier League goal.

The 0-0 at Forest was marginally less disastrous than losing, but Spurs didn’t register a shot on target and their lack of a proper focal point up front is becoming painfully obvious. They’ve spent a fortune and somehow assembled an attack that currently looks like it was selected from people waiting for a bus.

Everton are basically the opposite. Nothing flashy and nothing especially beautiful, but they’re difficult to kill and fought back twice against United. Until Tottenham demonstrate that goals are actually part of their tactical plan, I can’t back them.

Sunderland have been competitive in every game so far. They lost narrowly at Ipswich, beat Fulham and then took a point at Brentford. For a side coming off last season’s shock seventh-place finish, there’s no obvious sign that they’ve suddenly fallen apart.

Unfortunately, Arsenal are coming to town.

The champions passed their first major test of the season against Chelsea, recovering from conceding almost immediately to win 2-1. Three games, three wins, and they already have that slightly irritating ability to look calm while everybody else spends ninety minutes trying to set themselves on fire.

Sunderland can make this awkward at home, but Arsenal are the stronger side everywhere.

Coventry probably deserved more credit than they’ll get for their performance at the Etihad. City had enormous amounts of the ball, but Coventry stayed alive until the end and made them work for the win.

Brighton have now drawn with Leeds after the madness at Chelsea, leaving them with four points from three. They’ve been dangerous going forward but a bit unpredictable, which feels extremely Brighton.

Coventry at home are capable of making this ugly, but Brighton have shown substantially more attacking quality so far. Slight lean to the visitors.

Here we bloody go.

United should probably have six points from their last two matches, but they managed to lead Everton twice and still draw 2-2. There are definitely signs of improvement going forward, though. Mbeumo scored again, Sesko got his first league goal and they look much more dangerous than they did in the Hull disaster.

City are three from three, although Coventry made them work far harder than expected. Even when City aren’t at their best, they still seem to find a way through.

Old Trafford changes this completely and derbies tend to ignore whatever sensible analysis was written beforehand. City are still the better football side and the more reliable one.

Leeds remain unbeaten after drawing at Brighton, and they’ve looked far more comfortable at this level than many expected. Elland Road is already becoming exactly the sort of annoying away trip everyone assumed it would be.

Newcastle are unbeaten as well, but they’ll be annoyed with the Bournemouth draw. They started poorly, fought their way back and rescued a point late, which at least shows this side doesn’t fold when games go against them.

This feels extremely close. Newcastle have more quality on paper, Leeds have the home advantage and haven’t given us much reason to oppose them yet. Monday night at Elland Road has draw written all over it.