Carragher called him a "failed galactico", Isak answered with a goal

Before the match at Bournemouth, Jamie Carragher labelled Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola "failed galacticos". The Swede answered in the only way that counts: the winning goal in the 57th minute, Liverpool's second league win of the season and a triumphant return for Andoni Iraola to the stadium he left. Isak already has four Premier League goals, as many as he managed in the whole of last season, and only Haaland is ahead of him in the league. The other two "galacticos" did not shake off the label: Wirtz played poorly and came off in the 71st minute, and Barcola registered not a single key pass. Liverpool are unbeaten but trail Manchester City by six points - and City come to Anfield on 11 October. That is when we find out whether record transfers are worth what they cost.

Carrick is "safe" on the United bench, at least on paper

Manchester United went out of the League Cup at the first hurdle: they led Brighton 2:0 after ten minutes through Shea Lacey and Mason Mount, then lost 2:3 at Old Trafford. Two wins in six matches this season, and the previous weekend a 0:1 defeat to City, who played more than an hour with ten men. The club says Michael Carrick's position is safe and no replacement is being sought, but at the same time, according to reports, they are "making assessments" in case they have to move him on. That is exactly the kind of confidence we know well in the Balkans: you are safe right up to the day you are not. On Sunday United only drew at Fulham, and Carrick said they had "done enough to win". The table, unfortunately, does not count impressions.

Álvarez is changing agents, not the dream of Barcelona

Julián Álvarez is seriously considering leaving Fernando Hidalgo, the agent who has represented him throughout his career, and has already spoken to Javier Pastore's agency The Elegant Game. The same agency represents Enzo Fernández and helped him force his exit from Chelsea, and Fernández is a close friend of Álvarez. The message is clear: the summer saga with Barcelona has not ended, it is only changing representatives. Atlético Madrid were willing to sell him to anyone except the rival chasing them for the title, and director Gil Marín publicly put the blame on the agents and on Barça. The Argentine meanwhile has three appearances without a goal, one assist against Liverpool and fans who are not forgiving him. Whether the club will block the transfer again is an open question, but the 26-year-old striker clearly is not giving up.

Dimitrievski conceded three at the Mestalla as Valencia sink towards the bottom

Stole Dimitrievski was again in Valencia's starting eleven, but the evening at the Mestalla ended with three goals in his net: Valencia - Real Sociedad 2:3 in the seventh round of La Liga. Sučić opened in the 26th minute, Mayol levelled in the 57th, Soler restored the visitors' lead from the penalty spot, a Beitia own goal made it 2:2 in the 84th, and then Barrenetxea settled it in the 91st with a superb strike. Valencia are second from bottom with just four points and five defeats, while Sociedad jumped to eighth. For the Macedonian international this is a club in crisis, not a place where a reputation gets built: a goalkeeper can make saves, but he cannot score them. How long will Valencia hold on like this before they start looking for someone to blame?

Elmas got six minutes in Turin as Atalanta lost a third in a row

In Turin, Juventus beat Atalanta 2:0: Francisco Conceição in the 28th minute and Bremer with a header from a corner in the 77th. Eljif Elmas came on only in the 84th minute, when everything was already settled, so he had neither the time nor the space to change anything. Atalanta did not have a single shot on target in the first half, now have three straight defeats and just six points in 12th place. Coach Maurizio Sarri surely did not want a return like that to the stadium where he once managed Juventus. For Elmas the question is an old one: six minutes a week is not game time for a player his national team expects to carry matches. Spalletti and Juve, meanwhile, are on 10 points, three behind the leaders.