3 things we learned in the Premier League this weekend

With a trio of Sunday fixtures wrapped up, concluding a busy two days of Premier League action, theScore takes a look back at what happened in the English top flight this weekend.

United must do more than defend and break

Manchester City hit six more shots and played almost double the passes of Manchester United. Jose Mourinho's side wasn't able to capitalise on errors in a big-six bout, and was punished for placing greater emphasis on defending than attacking. City deservedly won, but Mourinho could only harp on Michael Oliver's decision to book Ander Herrera when he went down in the visitor's area.

"We did enough to win the game? It depends on your perspective," Mourinho said to the BBC's Match of the Day. "They had more of the ball and apparently more control because they kept the ball more than us. But I think the players fought enough. Without any analysing the match is made of incidents and the penalty was a big incident."

Rather than the refereeing, what Mourinho should be concerned about is the fact defending and counter-attacking isn't getting the better of title rivals. The wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal were lucky, the goalless draw with Liverpool was dull, and Chelsea and City professionally dismissed United.

The Old Trafford faithful won't tolerate unadventurous football for long - especially if this season passes without any silverware.

Pardew's heavy baggage at the Baggies

Expect West Bromwich Albion to act quickly in the transfer window.

The joint-top league scorers for the Baggies are Hal Robson-Kanu, Jay Rodriguez, and Salomon Rondon with two apiece, and the trio started in Saturday's 1-0 loss at Swansea City. They mustered one shot on target between them.

It seems the influence of Alan Pardew's defence-focused predecessor Tony Pulis is loitering.

"I played every attacker I had available but sadly it wasn't enough," Pardew told the Birmingham Mail's Gregg Evans after the match.

There isn't a West Brom injury crisis - only Matt Phillips and Nacer Chadli were missing - but there are some serious issues that need to be addressed in the January transfer window. Robson-Kanu is barely a Championship player, Rodriguez is not an out-and-out striker, and Rondon is a lump.

And to lose against Swansea - a team that infamously tallied fewer shots on target than Stoke City's Kurt Zouma in November - is a clear representation of how tough Pardew's job is at the Hawthorns. Firepower is desperately needed.

Everton equaliser masks Allardyce's odd selection

Liverpool somehow didn't win in Sunday's Merseyside derby so, naturally, Jurgen Klopp's detractors will cite his decision to bench Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, and substitute Mohamed Salah after 67 minutes, as huge errors.

But Sam Allardyce shouldn't be spared criticism.

The fact that there were three right-backs in his defence (Jonjoe Kenny, Mason Holgate, and Cuco Martina) is the fault of the Toffees' recruitment policy, but the decision to put Wayne Rooney on the right and Gylfi Sigurdsson on the left of a midfield quartet meant things were glaringly slow. In the first half, Everton lacked the invention and spark to encroach into Liverpool's half, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's distribution was long and regularly overhit. The Toffees made no attempt at ball retention.

Allardyce brought on Morgan Schneiderlin and Aaron Lennon for Oumar Niasse and Tom Davies at the half, but the difference was minimal. Everton still set up defensively, and Liverpool fumbled for an opening. The penalty call for Rooney's leveller was dubious, and the performance didn't merit a point, but the Toffees now prepare for two matches against Newcastle United and Swansea that could rocket them up the table going into Christmas.

The Allardyce revolution is yielding instant results, albeit fortuitously.

Related: Allardyce's limitations laid bare after Everton's dour derby display

Around the grounds

West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea: Where did that come from? Eden Hazard was flourishing in a central role for the Blues, but he was largely anonymous against an organised Irons defence. Marko Arnautovic was a popular pick for man of the match after his sixth-minute winner, but Arthur Masuaku has improved immeasurably since David Moyes' arrival.

Southampton 1-1 Arsenal: The Gunners were fortunate to take a point from the south coast, with Olivier Giroud popping up to equalise after 88 minutes. It took Charlie Austin only three minutes to open the scoring, putting him among the players making a late dash for England consideration for next summer's World Cup. His competitors include Bournemouth duo Callum Wilson and Jermain Defoe, Watford's Andre Gray, and those who played for Gareth Southgate's Under-21s, like Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke.

Elsewhere:

• Burnley 1-0 Watford
• Crystal Palace 2-2 Bournemouth
• Huddersfield 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
• Newcastle United 2-3 Leicester City
• Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Stoke City

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)