Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Bournemouth’s win towards Liverpool
Hardly ever has a Premier League staff lurched between extremes fairly like this Liverpool facet. Six days on from their historic 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United comes a 1-0 reverse to a relegation-threatened Bournemouth outfit they beat 9-0 earlier within the season.
“What can I say?” mentioned a baffled Jurgen Klopp afterwards. “It was by no means actually our sport.”
That mentioned, they began promisingly sufficient, making a flurry of possibilities as they sought to choose up the place they left off at Anfield, however alternatives have been handed up and, on the different finish, acquainted points resurfaced as Gary O’Neil’s facet grew in confidence.
Many of the issues stemmed from the right-hand facet, the place Dango Ouattara repeatedly acquired in behind Liverpool’s ragged defensive position. It was one such occasion that yielded the objective and the guests have been lucky to not have been punished earlier.
Virgil van Dijk, as soon as imperious on the coronary heart of this Liverpool defence, was far too simply crushed when it got here, with Philip Billing left in area to dispatch the end from the centre of the field.
Liverpool by no means actually acquired to grips with Ouattara, who continued to threaten on the break deep into the second half, and there have been issues in midfield too. At occasions, a scarcity of depth and management. At others, an entire lack of creativeness on the ball.
That lack of creativeness was by no means clearer than within the closing phases of the sport. Mohamed Salah’s missed penalty got here on 69 minutes. Within the remaining 26, together with stoppage time, and regardless of the urgency of the scenario, they mustered solely two photographs.
It spoke to a whole insecurity in addition to a scarcity of creativity and creativeness, and that regardless of occasions at Anfield solely six days earlier, once they regarded again to their devastating greatest.
It seems it was simply one other mirage. This Liverpool staff are fragile, in each sense, able to brilliance in bursts, however simply as fast to indicate their worst selves. This was a case of the latter.
Nick Wright
Picture: Philip Billing celebrates after the win over Liverpool
Bournemouth had quite a few candidates for the participant of the match award on the Vitality Stadium. Dango Ouattara was one. Marcos Senesi and Lloyd Kelly others. However Philip Billing had as sturdy a declare as anybody.
The Dane’s objective, his second in per week after he struck inside 10 seconds towards Arsenal, was clinically taken, albeit towards an obliging Liverpool defence, and it was simply considered one of many moments which caught the attention.
There have been marauding runs, sensible interceptions and well-timed tackles, the 26-year-old contributing at each ends of the pitch, and most putting of all, significantly in distinction to the sluggishness of Liverpool’s midfielders, was the depth with which he did it.
Billing solely spent 69 minutes on the pitch earlier than his second-half substitution, his early withdrawal a testomony to how he had run himself into the bottom in pursuit of victory, however Premier League monitoring information confirmed he nonetheless made extra high-intensity sprints (22) than anybody in Liverpool colors.
In truth, just one participant on both facet – Ouattara – beat his complete. “We needed to be diligent,” mentioned Billing in his post-match TV interview. He typified that diligence as a lot as anybody. How Liverpool would like to have a midfielder like him proper now.
Nick Wright
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match Crystal Palace and Manchester Metropolis
You do need to query what number of late targets will play an element on this title race.
Arsenal have been the latest masters of that exact artwork, with their last-gasp wins over Aston Villa and Bournemouth. This time, it was Manchester Metropolis hitting all of the traditional cliches.
Their 1-0 win at Crystal Palace noticed the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish having off days, Erling Haaland was lacking sitters and there was a short second the place Palace have been rising in confidence and regarded like they have been able to grabbing one thing.
Nonetheless, up stepped Haaland to the penalty spot and the stress is on Arsenal once more. Nevertheless it’s not simply the Norwegian’s mentality, nor the 28 targets this season. It was the jink and swerve from Rodri within the transfer that gained Metropolis a nook, then a penalty. The solidity of Ruben Dias on the again and the coolness of Kevin De Bruyne when he got here on.
This was a reminder that Metropolis, regardless of Arsenal’s latest heroics, are the mentality kings determined to get again their crown.
Sam Blitz
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Leicester and Chelsea
This week may turn into an important of Graham Potter’s Chelsea tenure.
Simply when persistence was starting to expire, Potter has earned three essential victories to enhance the temper at Stamford Bridge with confidence rising.
A swap to a few atthe again has made them stronger in entrance of objective, however the return of Ben Chilwell and Mateo Kovacic coupled with the performances of Wesley Fofana in defence have been pivotal.
Kai Havertz seems to have rediscovered his confidence, Enzo Fernandez is blossoming and even Mykhailo Mudryk loved his greatest efficiency up to now.
Picture: Chelsea’s Kai Havertz and team-mate Enzo Fernandez rejoice after retaking the lead
However they’ve not utterly turned the nook but. Conor Gallagher nonetheless needed to clear off the Chelsea line and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor missed a sitter within the second half – the superb margins went their method.
Potter would have taken these three wins in any method they got here, understanding victories are the one real method to construct togetherness inside a bloated squad.
There’s a lengthy, lengthy method to go within the Potter mission, however lastly, they’re displaying indicators of being heading in the right direction.
David Richardson
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Leeds and Brighton
Kaoru Mitoma’s potential has been unleashed. What a breath of contemporary air the Japan worldwide is. Fantastic to look at – ingenious and trendy but additionally dogged and decided. He’s Brighton’s artistic catalyst. It is onerous to imagine that the flourishing ahead solely managed one begin this season underneath former boss Graham Potter. What an oversight.
Mitoma underpins Brighton’s footballing philosophy, which is being cared for and nourished by Roberto De Zerbi. Inexperienced shoots of risk are quick turning into lofty ambitions of a primary European night time on the Amex – nonetheless a pipe dream however the Seagulls are definitely within the hunt. As such, they are going to rightly really feel aggrieved with the best way they have been pegged again twice towards Leeds. Each targets have been particular person moments of brilliance – tough to protect towards – however the margin for error has narrowed as a result of competitors is so fierce.
Liverpool have been resurgent (till Saturday), Newcastle stay within the race and even Chelsea are starting to click on. A tough process made more durable. Again to Mitoma. The ahead will turn out to be the highest-scoring Japanese participant in a single Premier League season if he finds the web once more this time period. “I do know concerning the report. I might similar to to go so far as I can,” the winger instructed Brighton’s official web site this week. He is using the crest of a wave and carrying his team-mates with him. Six targets and two assists because the World Cup restart.
The clamour was all about Leandro Trossard’s affect on Brighton earlier than the Belgian’s huge transfer to Arsenal in January. Nevertheless it’s Mitoma incomes acclaim now. Out of the shadows, into the highlight – lastly, his time to shine.
Laura Hunter
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Tottenham’s dwelling win over Nottingham Forest within the Premier League
After giving an explosive interview in midweek, Richarlison was given the possibility to do his speaking on the pitch towards Nottingham Forest – and he took it.
The Brazilian began forward of Dejan Kulusevski and practically made an instantaneous affect within the third minute, just for his objective to be disallowed for offside by VAR.
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It was a incredible end from Richarlison, however regardless of being denied a primary Premier League objective for Spurs, the ahead channelled his frustration effectively and performed an enormous function in Tottenham’s second.
The ahead drew a reckless problem from Forest captain Joe Worrall to win a penalty for Harry Kane to attain and double the lead.
In truth, Worrall’s deal with was considered one of three fouls gained by Richarlison within the sport – no Spurs participant gained extra, whereas Richarlison had seven touches within the opposition field – solely Kane had extra for the house facet.
The 25-year-old then arrange Heung-Min Son with a cross to make it 3-0.
Richarlison’s eye-catching show was recognised by the Spurs followers as he obtained a standing ovation when substituted within the 84th minute.
His feedback are actually firmly behind him and Spurs will want extra of this from him if they’re to complete within the high 4.
Declan Olley
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s win towards Brentford within the Premier League
The Sean Dyche blueprint is de facto beginning to take form at Goodison Park, with the previous Burnley supervisor having already moved his new facet out of the Premier relegation zone after their 1-0 dwelling win over high-flying Brentford on Saturday.
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Dyche solely took over from Frank Lampard on the finish of January, however Saturday was the third 1-0 win of his tenure, all secured at Goodison, which is quick turning into a fortress, greater than some other staff have managed in that interval.
That additionally means the brand new supervisor is making Everton onerous to attain towards, as three clear sheets in simply his seven matches in cost reveal, with the Toffees having solely managed 4 league shutouts this season previous to Dyche’s arrival.
In the meantime, regardless of taking cost of simply seven video games thus far, Dyche has already gained as many top-flight video games with Everton this season (3) as Frank Lampard did (3/20).
All of which bodes effectively for Everton’s survival hopes, with Dyche having seemingly managed to mould a staff that isn’t solely onerous to beat at dwelling, but additionally one that’s onerous to attain towards.Richard Morgan