10 Things We Learned From The English Premier League Football Weekend (23-25 Sept 2017)

5. Alvaro Morata:

Juventus' Alvaro Morata leaves the pitch during the Champions League second leg semifinal soccer match between Real Madrid and Juventus, at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki/AP

Categorically not a consolation prize.

Many words were written about Morata in preseason. Rejected by Manchester United in favour of Lukaku, the silver medal Spaniard was perceived as a we-might-as-well Blues replacement for the absolute nuisance that is Diego Costa. He was also seen to be overpriced which, even in an utterly inflated and unstable transfer market, was an argument of more worth; Morata, signed for £60M, had never reached the lofty, cliched, 20-goals-per-season barometer of, to use another cliche, a "top, top player." There was no doubt that Morata was a "top player" - he bettered 0.5 goals per game for Real Madrid last season to reinforce the growing status earned with Juventus in Serie A - but was he a "top, top player"?

On Saturday's evidence, yes: he is a top, top player. He seemed to glide into the perfect position for the opening act of his headline-grabbing hat-trick story, before dispatching the chance with a classy, continental touch and finish. The second goal was even better; there was no catching the run, and no stopping the delicate finish.

The third was as proper, instinctive striker's goal - a top, top striker's goal.

 
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!