Hits and misses: Pressure mounts on Sage while Liverpool click into gear

Lewis JonesAdams and Cook expose the glaring flaws in United's recruitment Michael Carrick is fighting for his job, but Manchester United's problems run far deeper than the man in the dugout. Their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth was another brutal reminder that you cannot build a competitive midfield simply by throwing money at the problem. All three summer signings started.

Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos were supposed to give United the engine room needed to compete. Instead, they looked like strangers completely outclassed and outbattled by Bournemouth's outstanding pairing of Tyler Adams and Lewis Cook. That is the damning part.

Adams and Cook might not possess the glamour of United's recruitment targets, but they understand the dirty work of Premier League midfield play. They win duels, protect space, move the ball quickly and make life uncomfortable for opponents. United's trio looked ill-equipped to cope with any of it. Carrick may pay the price, but changing the manager will not magically fix a midfield that looks so poorly assembled.

United's recruitment has left them with a fundamental problem in the engine room and this defeat laid it bare for everyone to see. Lewis JonesBournemouth's brilliance is a story too"It was always about us," said Marco Rose in the press conference after his Bournemouth side's 3-0 win over Manchester.

That was hardly the mood inside Old Trafford on a day when the home side's crisis deepened but you understood his point. The Cherries were so deserving of their victory that the three-goal margin flattered United not them. Rayan himself could have had four. It was a display of devastating counter-attacking football and controlled possession, aggressive and effective.

Rose did not have the best of starts in the job with the 5-1 defeat to Chelsea an alarming result. But the response since has been emphatic. The historic win over AC Milan on Thursday night and now this, another grandee of the game mercilessly dispatched. It is four wins in a row in all competitions with 11 goals scored in those four games and not one conceded. "We were just Bournemouth," said Rose afterwards.

But it turns out that just Bournemouth is more than some of the most famous clubs around can handle. Adam BateSunderland's goals problem is becoming a worrying trend There is a growing concern that Sunderland's attacking limitations could become a problem if they are not addressed quickly. The 0-0 draw with Leeds at the Stadium of Light was another afternoon of frustration in front of goal.

Sunderland have now scored just six times in the Premier League this season, the joint-fewest of any side, and have failed to score in three consecutive home league games. As it happened | Teams | StatsLive Premier League table | Watch FREE PL highlightsThere is a temptation to point the finger at finishing but the underlying numbers suggest Sunderland's problems run deeper than simply missing chances.

In each of their last two games at home, they have failed to generate even one expected goal. That points towards a side struggling to manufacture enough high-quality opportunities in the first place. Leeds were quite comfortable with only a few fizzy strikes from distance truly testing James Trafford. Sunderland have shown they can frustrate opponents but they need to offer more in the final third.

At some point, the attacking numbers have to improve otherwise it will be a season where relegation is a serious possibility. Lewis JonesBrighton's wasteful week can't become a theme"It was a missed opportunity," said Fabian Hurzeler after Brighton's defeat at Liverpool. His side have had an unusually wasteful week.

On Thursday, they drew 0-0 with Czech side Jablonec in the Conference League and then on Sunday had 17 shots at Anfield, their most in a Premier League game when managing just one or fewer shots on target. Brighton had averaged 3. 3 goals per game in the league prior to their blank against Liverpool. Yasin Ayari's early chance, before Liverpool went ahead, was a key moment."

If that goes in, the game is completely different," said Hurzeler. "We have to learn we don't have to chase the game. We lost our structure a little bit at 2-0 down." Brighton remain third after having their four-game winning run ended, and starting a new streak won't be any easier with a trip to Manchester City up next.

It is another opportunity to make a statement in their bid to remain among the league's top sides. Hurzeler will hope they can take this one. David RichardsonHull are proving they belong in the Premier League Hull will be frustrated not to have taken all three points against Brentford, but there is plenty for Sergej Jakirovic to be encouraged by.

Eight games into their return to the Premier League, the Tigers are sitting in the top half and looking increasingly comfortable at this level. They were the better side for large periods against Brentford, pressing aggressively, defending resolutely and creating opportunities to win the game late on. Hull 1-1 Brentford - Match report As it happened | Teams | StatsThe caveat is their form.

Hull are now winless in six Premier League games, and while their performances remain encouraging, they need to start turning those displays into victories. Oli McBurnie believes the days of Hull being underestimated are over." We're past that now," he said. "People are taking us seriously as a team in the Premier League, and we just want to show that we can compete at this level."

It is difficult to argue with that assessment. Hull have made their home a difficult place to visit and showed again they can trouble established Premier League sides. But their inability to see out a lead against Brentford underlines the next challenge: turning promise into points. Their top-half position is a reflection of a positive start, but ending this winless run will determine whether they can sustain it.

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