Premier League: 10 speaking factors from the weekend’s motion

A lot about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s show on Sunday was puzzling. Actual Madrid’s now-public courtship could have had one thing to do with it, however at occasions it felt he was being frolicked to dry. Poorly as he performed, he was intentionally uncovered by his personal group, left to cope with no matter threats Manchester United might conjure down their left flank whereas the one gamers more likely to drop again and assist him out, Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch, hardly ever did so. When it grew to become apparent that he was having an off day, nothing was completed to cowl for it and nurse him again into the sport. When his personal poor clearance was returned within the buildup to United’s opening aim it discovered him briefly with 4 opponents to cope with by himself, demonstrating that Liverpool’s issues down the suitable weren’t simply a person however a systemic challenge. He’s (normally) an astonishingly good participant, however miracles will generally be past him. Simon Burnton

Match report: Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United

For all that Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot had been his direct opponents for many of the sport (and Fernandes specifically was glorious), one of many primary the explanation why Alexander-Arnold struggled was André Onana. Throughout this season simply 26.2% of André Onana’s passes from open play have been despatched lengthy, peaking at 55.6% within the 2-1 win over Brentford, however on Sunday the determine was 80%. In the meantime throughout your complete sport he solely twice handed the ball to his proper, each occasions enjoying it brief into the right-back place. On each different event he seemed left, six occasions launching it past the midway line on the lookout for runners exploiting the area behind Liverpool’s full-back. Ruben Amorim has been criticised for his tactical inflexibility – however tactical flexibility, for all that United caught with the identical formation, was one of many options of this sport. SB

Response: Amorim hails United’s completely different mentality at Anfield

Jack Grealish’s 84th-minute substitute cameo towards West Ham was a thirty third Manchester Metropolis look because the begin of 2024 wherein the winger failed to attain. Requested about competing with Savinho, who created each of Erling Haaland’s targets and compelled Vladimir Coufal’s personal aim, his supervisor, Pep Guardiola, mentioned: “Savinho is in higher form than Jack [who has suffered injuries this term] and that’s why I performed Savinho. I need the Jack that gained the treble? Yeah. Savinho’s supply into the field: it’s increased [better] than the opposite wingers in that place. They need to combat. They need to say: ‘OK, I’m going to combat with Savinho, to should play in that place.’ I fought quite a bit for [Jack], for him to [recapture top form]. I do know that he can do it. Is there somebody on this room who thinks Savinho doesn’t should play proper now? No. That’s why I play him as a result of he produces.” Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester Metropolis 4-1 West Ham

Is Arsenal’s unfavorable strategy holding them again? The yellow card proven to Ethan Nwaneri simply earlier than half-time of Saturday’s draw towards Brighton was the ninth they’ve picked up this season for time-wasting – two greater than some other facet. Arsenal created little in assault after the 17-year-old goalscorer was compelled off on the break and will have ended up dropping after João Pedro’s controversial penalty. Mikel Arteta was left dismayed by referee Anthony Taylor’s determination however he may even be deeply involved about how his facet struggled to reply to the equaliser and Nwaneri’s harm, given the extended absence of Bukayo Saka. “Actually dangerous information as a result of I feel we’ve misplaced him,” mentioned the Arsenal supervisor. “We needed to take him off at half-time with some muscular points.” Ed Aarons

Match report: Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Chelsea have developed a difficulty with conceding late targets. Is it a mentality challenge? Health? One thing associated to Enzo Maresca’s use of his bench? Regardless of the trigger there was frustration when Chelsea misplaced a 1-0 lead towards Crystal Palace, who rescued a degree due to an equaliser from Jean-Philippe Mateta. Chelsea ought to have had the victory wrapped up; as a substitute they misplaced their means and their injury-hit defence was breached after the seventy fifth minute for the sixth time in 9 league video games. A sample is rising. Palace had been stronger after half-time – simply as Fulham had been after they got here from behind to win at Stamford Bridge – and Maresca was passive. It’s curious that he has been hesitant to make substitutions in current video games. He did nothing till the 81st minute towards Palace. Maresca additionally waited till the ultimate 20 minutes earlier than making modifications towards Fulham, Everton and Brentford, all of whom completed stronger than Chelsea in current weeks. Jacob Steinberg

Match report: Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

Leaving the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, it was straightforward to detect resignation from Everton followers over the state of their group. Sean Dyche’s facet do not less than defend nicely, and did so towards Bournemouth, even when a pearler from David Brooks did for Jordan Pickford. Translating such effectiveness and effectivity additional up the pitch is the primary downside for Everton, however there are tantalising exceptions. Iliman Ndiaye is somebody thriving below Dyche’s tutelage, maybe unexpectedly, and watching him protect the ball 25 yards from his personal aim, maintain off a defender, then spin previous two extra to create a sensible breakaway was a pleasure. In such a second you possibly can see how Dyche desires his group to play with the ball and the way it can incorporate technical gamers. Dyche says the ultimate go is the difficulty and has requested for time. However with Everton as soon as once more wanting over their shoulders on the relegation locations, time is in even shorter provide than traditional. The January switch window feels essential. Paul MacInnes

Match report: Bournemouth 1-0 Everton

When Newcastle scraped a 2-1 win at Wolves in September, the final sport of an odd begin to the season wherein they picked up 13 factors from 5 video games with out ever enjoying nicely, Jacob Murphy was highlighted for instance of how the membership had didn’t kick on. Was he actually what they’d been dreaming of in Riyadh when the Saudi PIF had taken over the membership. However he has remained an everyday and has performed a key position within the run of 5 straight league wins which have lifted Newcastle to fifth. “He’s been very, essential, most likely greater than individuals realise,” mentioned Eddie Howe. “We’ve requested him to do numerous issues. He performs an important position in our urgent, and on the ball, along with his assists and crosses he’s been nice. He’s very versatile, very centered on the group. He doesn’t get the credit score he deserves.” Jonathan Wilson

Match report: Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

With an extended checklist of casualties and absences, Aston Villa are grimly hanging on within the chase for the highest 5. Beating Leicester was a definite grind, performed in biting chilly. With out the suspended Morgan Rogers and Jhon Durán, and with John McGinn pulling up with a hamstring downside, Villa needed to dig deep to beat a hard-working Leicester. Emi Buendía, a forgotten man after a yr out with harm, and Ian Maatsen, an costly signing with simply two league begins, performed their half within the successful aim, gratefully transformed by Leon Bailey, one other who has dropped from prominence. Ross Barkley, additionally beforehand discovering beginning locations exhausting to return by, scored the blistering opener. “I’m pleased with him and he’s all the time constructive,” mentioned Unai Emery of a participant who has matured right into a devoted skilled. If Villa’s soccer doesn’t circulate like final season, the coherence of their recruitment might serve them nicely if others ought to falter. John Brewin

Match report: Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester

Southampton’s plight threatens to be record-breaking. Their 5-0 defeat by Brentford, a visiting group beforehand with out an away win, meant Saints have accomplished 20 matches with the lowest-ever factors whole: six. Derby’s infamous 2007-08 marketing campaign had collected seven by that juncture. Southampton have discovered Premier League life even harder than their earlier relegation season. The brand new supervisor, Ivan Juric, repeated the ill-fated Nathan Jones’s report of dropping his first three matches in cost. Extra direct ways than Russell Martin’s flawed ideology are additionally but to ship. Paul Onuachu, two years a Saint and nonetheless and not using a Premier League aim, doesn’t persuade as a goal man. “I anticipated extra, that I might do extra with the group,” mentioned Juric. The actual winner turned out to be a Southampton fan’s mom, who gained the pre-match rating prize in a St Mary’s hospitality lounge. The substitute striker Adam Armstrong, who changed Onuachu, handed over her winnings – to boos after her 0-5 prediction got here in. JB

Match report: Southampton 0-5 Brentford

Ipswich proceed to high the Premier League’s harm desk and it will get no simpler now Omari Hutchinson, their dazzlingly gifted ahead, is out for a couple of weeks with a groin harm. They’ve struggled all season to maintain gamers out there and it threatens to derail a group that has hardly ever seemed out of its depth. Kieran McKenna’s achievement in giving them a severe shout of escaping hassle, presently solely shy of security on aim distinction, needs to be lauded. The supervisor by no means complains regardless of competing this season with a squad containing most of the stalwarts who took all of them the way in which from League One. They deserved their newest constructing block, a draw at Fulham, and look nicely positioned to enhance between now and Might. Their progress is a triumph of teaching: McKenna has labored wonders and Ipswich can attain recent heights if their remedy room begins to empty quickly. Nick Ames

Match report: Fulham 2-2 Ipswich