Five things we learned from the weekend's football

Five things we learned from the weekend in the Premier League and Football League

1 The international break is perfectly timed for Liverpool

Eight wins from eight games is a dream start for the Reds, who must have a sense of injustice about finishing second in the Premier League last season despite having accumulated 97 points.

But they needed a goalkeeping howler to earn a win at Sheffield United last week and a last-gasp penalty to see off Leicester, with a hard-fought 4-3 Champions League victory over Salzburg in between, so it has not been plain sailing.

With just under two weeks until their next league match, a trip to Old Trafford which is always a momentous clash whatever Manchester United's travails, Jurgen Klopp has the perfect opportunity to regain focus and calm everything down.

And the fact that Mo Salah will have time to recover from an ankle injury means the brief recess could not have arrived at a better time for the new title favourites.

2 Aston Villa are fulfilling their potential

Since promotion from the Sky Bet Championship, Villa have impressed on occasions without perhaps earning their just rewards.

Last month they were unable to see off ten-man West Ham at home and then lost at ten-man Arsenal having led twice so there might have been a few doubts over their character.

However, it all came together in the 5-1 win at Norwich as they brushed aside the Canaries with a confident display, scoring some cracking goals.

There was more than enough evidence at Carrow Road that Villa can stay up this season.

3 Norwich have to tighten up at the back

The humbled Canaries should be feeling more nervous and that famous victory over Manchester City already seems a long time ago.

They were unable to live with Villa, who could have scored eight at Carrow Road.

Daniel Farke talked about injuries and unavailability and he plainly thinks his squad is not strong enough for the survival battle.

Defensive issues are pressing. Norwich have conceded at least twice in seven of their eight games this season – a fact that will come into sharper focus if Teemu Pukki does not rediscover his goalscoring touch.

4 Ireland may have found a new goalscoring hero

Mick McCarthy's team have European qualifiers in Georgia and Switzerland this week and will be mindful that they have scored more than once in just three of their last 15 competitive games – twice against Moldova and once against Gibraltar.

However, salvation could be at hand in the form of Brighton's Aaron Connolly, who caused all sorts of problems for dismal Tottenham in Albion's 3-0 win on Saturday.

His positional play and finishing were excellent and the teenager can provided a much-needed spark to the Irish front line.

5 Portsmouth should soon be in the frame

The knives have been out for Pompey manager Kenny Jackett and the situation was not helped by a televised League Cup thumping by arch-rivals Southampton.

They are 16th in Sky Bet League One but Ellis Harrison's 90th-minute winner at Doncaster brought them a second successive victory and games in hand could work in their favour and propel them up towards a more respectable position in the table.

The foundations are still be there for a promotion push and five of their next seven League One games are at Fratton Park, where they are unbeaten in the league.

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