Liverpool show strength in depth as hopeless West ...

Strength in depth key for Liverpool’s title challenge

For lengthy durations, it regarded prefer it wasn’t going to be Liverpool’s day.

Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold did not have their capturing boots because the ball continued to flash broad of the goal. Darwin Nunez – the hero of the hour for Liverpool – planted a free header broad from Andy Robertson’s cross earlier than blasting a horrible effort over the crossbar from 30 yards because it regarded just like the Reds had been heading for a 3rd straight league draw to begin 2025 and extra dropped factors within the race for the Premier League title race.

However Nunez and Liverpool ultimately got here good, and it’s Arne Slot’s capability to have the ability to empty Liverpool’s bench with recent attacking choices that might be essential of their bid to win a primary title in 5 years.

Liverpool, who had been even with out the injured Diogo Jota, racked up an unimaginable 37 photographs at Brentford – a report for an away facet within the Premier League – but it surely was their capability to maintain that stress with recent legs that ultimately received them over the road.

It was Nunez who got here to the rescue on this event however Harvey Elliott, who has not had as many minutes as he would have preferred this season, additionally performed a key function from the bench with an help for the second.

If Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo do not get you, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott will! And when different sides within the league are fighting accidents and depleted squads, that depth might be the essential consider Liverpool’s bid to deliver the title again to Anfield.
Oliver Yew

Blunt West Ham deliver alarming attacking display

West Ham followers may smile on the stat that they’d scored from all three of their photographs on the right track in opposition to Fulham on Tuesday. However few noticed the humorous facet of their staff’s attacking play in opposition to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

No photographs on the right track and subsequent to no menace in any respect within the closing third. Mohammed Kudus led the road this time as an alternative of Lucas Paqueta however no matter Graham Potter had deliberate, this was an alarming show.

There have been groans across the floor as Lukasz Fabianski and his centre-backs repeatedly exchanged passes within the first half, with seemingly no intention of going forwards. Palace could be arduous to interrupt down however at instances West Ham regarded uninclined to even strive. Higher to maintain possession than assault and danger shedding it?

In fact, the absences of Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio have diminished their attacking choices. However West Ham followers count on much more thrust from their groups, no matter who is out there.

It’s nonetheless early days in Potter’s reign and he’ll hope extra coaching floor time will result in extra cohesive performances. However, on this proof, the mentality of the group must shift right into a extra attacking mindset.
Peter Smith

Mateta continues red-hot form in front of goal

Nook flags beware, Jean-Phillipe Mateta is in red-hot type.

His brace in opposition to a dismal West Ham signifies that Crystal Palace’s marksman now has 4 objectives in his final three video games. It is a run that began because the flip of the yr with these 4 matching his return for the season previous to 2025. After a gradual begin to the season, he appears to be like again to his domineering finest, linking up with Eberechi Eze to burst West Ham’s new supervisor bubble as they linked up for an additional purpose.

By establishing Mateta once more, Eze has now offered eight Premier League assists for Mateta, with no Palace participant aiding a team-mate extra usually within the competitors’s historical past. The tally matches the earlier report with Michael Olise additionally aiding Eze eight instances.

Mateta’s type might have dipped in the direction of the beginning of the season, however his general consistency is what’s pleasing Palace boss Oliver Glasner. Talking after the sport he informed the press: “When he will get the ball someplace across the field and he will get a free end, then it is fairly often a purpose. He was the identical, however he is additionally actually hard-working, like all our attackers.

“He at all times wants the gamers round him who can provide him the ball, however then when he will get it in the fitting areas, and that is what we’re engaged on day-to-day with the entire staff, then we all know that he has a tremendous end.”
William Bitibiri

When Bournemouth click, it’s magical

Justin Kluivert will rightly steal the headlines, his match-winning contribution made all of the extra spectacular by his all-action show. The Dutchman was comfortable to run the arduous yards out of possession, hustling in his defensive half earlier than coming alive when Bournemouth launched their attribute counter-offensive.

However such a pulverising defeat – Newcastle have not misplaced by three objectives at dwelling since December 2021 – was solely doable with synchronicity all around the area. As Andoni Iraola acknowledged post-match, Bournemouth delivered a fantastically ‘full’ efficiency. They made Newcastle look common in each division. Alexander Isak was nameless.

Bournemouth did what only a few groups have, or will, do to Eddie Howe’s facet at St James’ Park. To have the bravery to go toe-to-toe, persistently attempting to find excessive turnovers, with a staff which have received 9 in a row in all competitions is daring. We’re speaking concerning the Premier League’s most in-form membership.

However Iraola solely is aware of a technique. His transitional type is fascinating to observe when it clicks and Saturday’s show was a stellar instance of every little thing clicking completely.
Laura Hunter

Newcastle’s pursuit of club-record run proves step too far

All good issues should come to an finish – however for Eddie Howe it simply needed to be his previous facet Bournemouth who ended their nine-game profitable run in beautiful type.

The Cherries’ victory means Howe is but to beat his former membership, having now misplaced twice and drawn 4 of the six league video games in opposition to them since he departed.

Howe blamed “fatigue” for the heavy defeat and it did look a step too far for his facet as they aimed for a club-record tenth straight win in all competitions.

Their massively disappointing efficiency noticed in-form striker Alexander Isak, who had scored in his earlier eight Premier League appearances, fail to register a shot from open play.

Luckily for Howe and his staff, they now have a full week to recuperate for a much-needed break and restoration after a busy run of video games.

Howe can even be happy that it’s rock-bottom Southampton away subsequent giving the Magpies the proper probability to get again to profitable methods shortly and put this thumping loss behind them.
Declan Olley

Pressure building on Ruud

These are fraught instances for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the worst run of outcomes that Leicester Metropolis have endured in over 20 years – and proper in the beginning of his reign. The Foxes weren’t even within the relegation zone when he arrived. On this type, they seem doomed.

His predecessor Steve Cooper was not too common with the supporters on the King Energy Stadium however this was a decrease level than any he needed to endure. There have been a number of chants of sack the board and others aimed toward sporting director Jon Rudkin too.

However Van Nistelrooy didn’t escape. The continued frustration about James Justin’s inclusion is more likely to come to an finish quickly following the signing of Woyo Coulibaly however Jordan Ayew can also be a goal for supporters, whereas fan favourites are denied minutes.

Ayew was jeered when Facundo Buonanotte lastly got here on for him, whereas there was anger on the removing of Bilal El Khannouss. Selecting what followers understand to the ‘incorrect’ staff won’t at all times make headlines however the poisonous scenes that observe do are likely to.

Van Nistelrooy says his gamers must cope with it however the issue is that when issues begin to go incorrect, resilience is missing and issues unravel. They had been in it in opposition to Fulham however there’s a fragility to this staff. Foxes by no means give up. However they do lose seven in a row.
Adam Bate

Europe on the horizon for Fulham?

After easing their approach into the fixture on the King Energy, Fulham cruised to victory with out getting out of second gear.

Emile Smith Rowe marked his one hundredth Premier League look in type after nodding dwelling the opener, which was shortly adopted by Adama Traore climbing off the bench to facet foot his effort expertly – which isn’t usually mentioned about his type of play – into the underside nook.

Marco Silva’s facet at all times seemed to be in command of the sport and have now solidified their spot within the race for European soccer after climbing into ninth – simply two factors shy of Aston Villa and Man Metropolis forward of them.

It has been 13 years because the Cottagers final dusted off their passports for a visit spherical Europe however with Raul Jimenez recapturing his best type, Harry Wilson shining off the fitting and the duo of Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi flying on the other flank, these desires may change into actuality by the tip of the season.
Patrick Rowe