If you were hoping to combine a trip to England with a dose of Premier League drama, last Saturday delivered confusion rather than fireworks — and that tells its own story about where the power lies right now.
Liverpool, one of the most famous stadium pilgrimages in world football, was held 0-0 at Anfield by a Fulham side that arrived pointless and winless. It was a third home draw of the season for Andoni Iraola's expensively rebuilt team, despite a forward line that has cost well over half a billion dollars across two seasons. British record signing Alexander Isak ($170 million) drew blanks, as did Bradley Barcola ($166 million from PSG, on his first league start) and Florian Wirtz ($156 million). Alisson admitted the side simply didn't play well; Iraola conceded his players lacked energy and freshness. The frustration was sharpest because it followed a strong midweek Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea's problems are of a different flavour. Xabi Alonso's side drew 2-2 at Stamford Bridge with newly promoted Hull after throwing away a lead — Mohamed Belloumi scored twice for the visitors before Joao Pedro rescued a point. Chelsea have now conceded at least two goals in every league game, 12 in six across all competitions, with their only clean sheet coming against third-tier Luton in the League Cup. Alonso is preaching patience with a new squad and staff, but the fence isn't holding.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are in an even stranger spot: over $400 million spent on new signings, including Manchester City pair Omar Marmoush and Savio, and still zero goals and zero wins after a flat 0-0 with Everton. Aston Villa's poor start continued with a 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest despite a midweek European high, while Ipswich snatched a 3-2 win at 10-man Crystal Palace thanks to Zian Flemming's 90th-minute strike, and Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Brentford thanks to Kevin Schade's double.
For travellers, the takeaway is that an Anfield or Stamford Bridge ticket is no longer a guarantee of entertainment — but that's part of the appeal. Match-day weekends in Liverpool and London still deliver the full ritual: pub culture, stadium tours, and crowds with genuine grievances to air. And with the table this congested this early, any game you catch could matter far more than it looks on paper. Everton's point at Spurs even left them level with Liverpool on six, which Merseyside locals will be arguing about all season.