1) Palhinha absence telling in Fulham loss
Fulham had been meek in opposition to Arsenal: they seemed timid and small from the hole moments, the marvel totally minimum when their guests put the end result past doubt so briefly. Their tilt at Europe is truly fizzling out despite the fact that that are supposed to now not diminish the superb paintings Marco Silva has accomplished in making sure they don’t yo-yo all the way down to the Championship another time. They badly overlooked the suspended João Palhinha: he has overlooked 4 video games in all competitions this season and Fulham have misplaced all 4, conceding 12 targets. Fulham performed a blinder in touchdown him from Sporting and their drop-off with out him is a reminder it’s going to take a little time for them to accumulate the intensity of high quality that can mitigate such absences. On Sunday, they had been not able to get any grip in midfield. At least their subsequent 4 league video games are in opposition to relegation contenders: if Palhinha returns with the affect he wielded prior to now, they are able to nonetheless lever themselves again into the top-six dialog. Nick Ames
2) Rolls-Royce Rodri presentations his value
It says one thing in regards to the high quality of the Premier League that Crystal Palace are by hook or by crook twelfth. To a point the similar is going for Manchester City, who glance transitional when put next with earlier iterations, however nonetheless really feel with regards to champions-in-waiting. There used to be nonetheless one be aware of A-grade high quality. After the fit, Pep Guardiola used to be requested to rank Rodri in opposition to the various top-notch protecting midfielders he has coached. His reaction used to be rapid: “The best.” This is prime reward certainly (Alonso? Lahm? Mascherano?). But Rodri in point of fact is excellent at this and he used to be superb at Selhurst Park, the use of the ball cleverly, resisting Palace’s physicality and protecting the counterattacks. He is arguably essentially the most irreplaceable section on this City crew and completely key to the pursuit of the 2 largest trophies. Barney Ronay
3) Sancho now not the very best 10
When Manchester United signed Jadon Sancho two summers in the past he used to be hailed as a generational participant who would remove darkness from Old Trafford and copious away venues for a decade or extra. The opposite has took place and it used to be very a lot the case once more in opposition to Southampton. The 22-year-old used to be deployed within the No 10 position, a praise from Erik ten Hag that, in spite of Sancho’s huffing and puffing, used to be now not repaid. Every time the ball got here to the participant there used to be a sense it will jump off a shin or a thigh or a cross could be mislaid. Sancho had bodily and psychological demanding situations earlier than Christmas that resulted in the executive deciding he will have to teach clear of the squad; his problem stays to show Sancho’s shape round. Jamie Jackson
Match record: Man Utd 0-0 Southampton
4) Forest now not out of the woods but
While Steve Cooper used to be happy with the best way his crew fought again in opposition to Tottenham after being blown away within the first part, the Nottingham Forest supervisor felt it used to be “a missed opportunity” to position a long way between themselves and the relegation zone. The sight of peak scorer Brennan Johnson being compelled off with a groin harm shall be of primary worry as Forest get ready for Newcastle’s travel to the City Ground on Friday, with the Wales ahead due for a scan. Chris Wood needed to be substituted quickly after coming off the bench as Cooper’s harm considerations fixed. Dean Henderson, Taiwo Awoniyi and Scott McKenna are amongst those that might be again after the world destroy and Cooper will hope that they are able to lend a hand his facet steer clear of being dragged again into critical hassle. Ed Aarons
5) Cherries select off Klopp’s ropey reds
What did Bournemouth get proper in opposition to Liverpool that Manchester United were given so incorrect ultimate week? Setting apart the most obvious – scoring first after which protecting like demons – there used to be spectacular group inside of Gary O’Neil’s crew. “No fluke,” mentioned the executive. Jefferson Lerma and Joe Rothwell’s screening of the again 4 used to be approach awesome to Fred and Casemiro at Anfield. Philip Billing, the goalscorer, used to be way more efficient as a towering No 10 than Wout Weghorst; January signing Dango Ouattara way more productive down the proper than Antony. Every sport is other and Liverpool have habitually sagged with out the relaxation blanket of Anfield this season, however this sort of well-known, well-plotted victory offers O’Neil a preventing probability of survival. “I had belief and I’m sure the boys did as well,” he mentioned. “But it they didn’t then they can certainly believe me after today.” John Brewin
Match record: Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool
6) New supervisor, standard Leeds flaws
Javi Gracia’s plan to stay Leeds within the Premier League used to be on complete show on Saturday, however the outdated behavior that plagued the facet earlier than his arrival nonetheless linger. Some extent in opposition to Europe-chasing Brighton is a superb lead to isolation however on an afternoon when Bournemouth and Everton received, Leeds fell to nineteenth after lapses in protection price all of them 3 issues. Gracia has made Leeds extra threatening in assault; The Spaniard has obviously known his new crew wishes to attain extra targets to have a possibility at survival and this used to be a step ahead in that side. But he should also tighten up on the again to steer clear of extra overlooked alternatives. Aaron Bower
7) Onana main rate for survival
Brentford had greater than two-thirds of the ownership on Saturday, however had been not able to damage down the Everton defence. Under Sean Dyche, Everton have develop into way more disciplined and resilient. A big element of this newfound fortification is midfielder Amadou Onana. His maximum notable intervention used to be to ship a rebound over from shut vary, however his general play elved Everton to a few necessary issues and he roused the group along with his tackling and fist-pumping. It is most likely his shape for the membership will see him focused by means of Premier League competitors whether or not they keep up or now not. He has shaped an outstanding partnership with Abdoulaye Doucouré to lend a hand create a robust backbone with James Tarkowski and Michael Keane, one thing that would stay Everton out of the ground 3 come the tip of the season. Will Unwin
Match record: Everton 1-0 Brentford
8) Returning Evans should hit the bottom operating
Could Jonny Evans’ go back from a four-month harm lay-off supply Leicester with the higher defensive authority to ease their relegation worries? Brendan Rodgers believes the veteran centre-back can upload management, particularly with Wout Faes suspended for the pink card he used to be proven in Saturday’s defeat by means of Chelsea. Evans’s revel in and nous might be a very powerful as Leicester, after 5 successive defeats in all competitions, face 5 in their relegation competitors within the subsequent 8 video games. The Northern Ireland defender performed his first mins on Saturday, after Faes’s 87th-minute dismissal, since being an ever-present when Leicester received 4 issues from their opening 9 video games of the season. ,[Jonny] has labored laborious to get again and the chance might be there for him to return again in,” said Rodgers. “It was great to have him around the squad and that experience will be important for us.” Peter Lansley
Match report: Leicester 1-3 Chelsea
9) West Ham don’t know how to use Scamacca
David Moyes did not hold back when he was asked why his £35.5m striker, Gianluca Scamacca, did not make it off the bench during West Ham’s draw with Aston Villa. “His link-up play is excellent,” he said. “His physical data has got to be much better than it is. Today, Maxi Cornet, the thought was he could get in behind them. We saw Maxi doing that more than Gianluca. Gianluca has got to get himself back.” Fair sufficient, however did West Ham know what they had been getting once they purchased Scamacca ultimate summer season? Were they mindful the Italian would possibly fight to run past Premier League defenders? The tempo is slower in Italy. And finally, used to be there now not a controversy to peer if Scamacca may get at the finish of any crosses all the way through the loss of life phases in opposition to Villa? West Ham want targets if they’re going to keep up. Jakob Steinberg
10) Shy Wolves may face survival fight
A crew with the worst goalscoring file of all 92 English league golf equipment met the crew that had let within the fewest in all 4 divisions. And the predicted consequence arrived. Wolves controlled a function, however Hwang Hee-chan’s equalizer used to be scruffy within the excessive. Alexander Isak, certainly one of Europe’s maximum gifted younger strikers, in the meantime, performed the most efficient sport but of his Newcastle profession, scoring his first. Wolves have a function warning. They had been already enjoying in the intervening time when Miguel Almíron scored within the 79th minute. Julen Lopetegui’s tweak to a again 5 invited on an opponent of prior to now flagging self assurance. The Spaniard had excelled in hauling Wolves into the mid-table glut, however threat lingers. Wolves can have fun 5 years of Premier League soccer this summer season, however their present standing is enigmatic, barren, virtually anti-matter. Nothing a good striker or assured attacking play could not treatment, however is a ways more uncomplicated mentioned than accomplished. John Brewin