5 issues we realized from the Premier League weekend, that includes Bournemouth’s top-four assertion, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Arsenal’s recruitment remorse.
Cherries are in Champions League chase
Bournemouth despatched the largest assertion of the weekend with a giant win at Newcastle United. The house aspect had been concentrating on a record-breaking tenth straight win in all competitions however had been blown aside by Andoni Iraola’s males at St James’ Park. It’s now 10 unbeaten for the Cherries, who’ve been fearless in taking factors from Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle in latest weeks.
Iraola’s aspect ran riot at St James’ Park regardless of the absence of a recognised ahead, as Justin Kluivert helped himself to a hat-trick. Simply 5 factors separate the groups from fourth to tenth within the Premier League desk with Bournemouth nestled proper within the combine for Champions League qualification. Residence clashes with Nottingham Forest and Liverpool are subsequent up and a chance to make up floor on sides above them.
Can Calvert-Lewin kick on from right here?
Footballers have a humorous means of mocking writers. Forward of the weekend, we had prompt Everton invite gives for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Out of contract in the summertime and 16 video games with out a objective, his sale might present much-needed funds for brand spanking new supervisor David Moyes to speculate. Moyes, nonetheless, retained religion in Calvert-Lewin this weekend and was rewarded.
The 27-year-old broke his objective drought with an exquisite opener in opposition to Spurs, as Everton claimed a vital win at Goodison Park. It was the spotlight of an distinctive all-round efficiency from the ahead, who bullied the guests all through. On this way, he can have an enormous position in Everton’s season. The problem for Moyes is to coax the very best from Calvert-Lewin extra typically.
Slot modifications work a allure for Liverpool
Arne Slot’s double substitution at Nottingham Forest in midweek couldn’t have been extra excellent. Kostas Tsimikas’s first contact was the supply for fellow substitute Diogo Jota to attain together with his first contact, simply 21 seconds after their introduction.
This weekend, Slot’s modifications once more turned the outcome. Darwin Nunez got here off the bench to attain twice in stoppage time as Liverpool left it late to beat Brentford.
11 – Since his first Premier League marketing campaign in 2022-23, Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez has been straight concerned in additional targets in its place than every other participant (11 – seven targets, 4 assists). Tremendous.
Nunez has struggled for favour this season however his chaotic model injected life right into a Liverpool frontline that had laboured. With Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa additionally making encouraging cameos, Liverpool’s depth – and Slot’s intelligent selection of modifications – ensured the table-topping Reds march on.
Are Arsenal set to rue recruitment?
From the surface, the dearth of an out-and-out goalscorer was the plain weak point in Mikel Arteta’s squad final summer season. Formidable defensively and a menace from set-pieces, Arsenal appeared a dependable quantity 9 away from taking that subsequent step.
Nonetheless, the summer season handed with out the signing of a striker, regardless of hyperlinks to Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen. Since then, Arsenal rank solely seventh within the Premier League for open-play targets and eighth for complete photographs, with a misfiring ahead line leaving the North Londoners adrift within the title race. Regardless of 18 efforts on objective within the draw in opposition to Aston Villa, Emi Martinez was compelled into simply three saves of word.
January gives an opportunity to appropriate their error with a lot nonetheless on the road. However there was little motion of word. With Manchester Metropolis set to snap up the free-scoring Omar Marmoush, might Arsenal have performed extra to usher in additional firepower? The approaching days might outline their season.
Amorim in unenviable place
Ruben Amorim was blunt in his evaluation of Manchester United – and himself – after defeat to Brighton this weekend.
Amorim has misplaced six league video games since his arrival in November and has been positioned in an unenviable place. Appointed based mostly on his strategy at Sporting, he has been tasked with implementing a completely alien model, with gamers who don’t go well with his system, in the course of a gruelling Premier League marketing campaign.
Manchester United’s wing-backs had been run ragged by Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma, with neither Diogo Dalot nor Noussair Mazraoui possessing the athleticism or defensive power to thrive in Amorim’s 3-4-3. One of the best-suited wing-back within the squad, Amad Diallo, is healthier utilised additional ahead. Till additions might be made, and that’s prone to wait till the summer season window, there seems set to be extra struggling at Previous Trafford.
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