Up in the north-east, Pep Guardiola was muttering angrily in the ear of Bruno Guimaraes on Saturday and getting in the face of a television cameraman as Manchester City fell to defeat against Newcastle United.
On Merseyside, Arne Slot, who must have felt as if he were untouchable last season, watched his Liverpool side humiliated by Nottingham Forest, heard fans calling for him to be sacked and pulled out of an appearance at an awards dinner on Sunday night.
At the North London derby, Mikel Arteta sailed on serenely.