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Soccerverse Times

analysis01/02/2026

NOTTINGHAM'S FIVES, DERBY DELIGHT & THE CRISIS AT OLD TRAFFORD

Gameweek 5 Analysis: BOA's Forest fire a warning shot while Liverpool compound Manchester Red's misery

NOTTINGHAM'S FIVES, DERBY DELIGHT & THE CRISIS AT OLD TRAFFORD
Image via Soccerverse Times

Written By

L

Laura

Staff Writer

Tactical Analysis Editor

The Season 3 table is beginning to take shape, and if the early signs are anything to go by, we are in for a chaotic campaign. While the usual suspects lurk near the top, it is Nottingham who currently look down on the rest of England Division 1, playing a brand of football that is as ruthless as it is entertaining.

The Forest Fire

After a stumbling opening day loss to Everton, manager BOA has rallied his troops to three consecutive victories, culminating in a devastating 5-2 dismantling of Burnley at Turf Moor. The numbers don't lie: 20 shots, 12 on target, and 63% possession away from home is championship form.

Morgan Gibbs-White (2 goals) and Gabriel 'Gabigol' Barbosa (2 goals) were unplayable, tearing Burnley's defensive lines apart with surgical precision. Murillo even chipped in with an opener inside five minutes. It was a masterclass in attacking transitions, and right now, Forest look like the team to beat.

Derby Day Domination

Over at Old Trafford, the mood could not be more different. Liverpool arrived, saw, and conquered with a professional 2-0 victory that has left Manchester Red reeling in 16th place.

Despite being listed for a record-breaking ₷190M, Mohamed Salah showed his head is very much in the game, opening the scoring after just 10 minutes. Harvey Elliott sealed the deal late on, but the real story was Liverpool's complete control. Limiting Manchester Red to just a single shot on target at home is a tactical triumph for Serrao10, whose side remains unbeaten. For Mastermind and Man Red, winless in four matches, the alarm bells aren't just ringing—they're being smashed with a sledgehammer.

The Chasing Pack

Don't sleep on Brighton. MetalSoccer has the Seagulls flying high in 2nd place, level on points with Nottingham. Young Evan Ferguson is terrorizing defenses with 4 goals already, making him the league's joint-top marksman. Meanwhile, West Ham (12th) might be mid-table, but they've unearthed a gem in Eloge Patrick Zabi Gueu, who has quietly contributed to 5 goals (2G, 3A) in just four games.

At the bottom, it's grim reading for Leicester, Luton, and Burnley, all stuck on a single point. But the biggest shock remains Chelsea languishing in 15th, still searching for their first win. In a league this competitive, a slow start can quickly turn into a relegation dogfight.