Premier League: 10 Crucial Takeaways from the Latest Round of Action
The latest round of Premier League games provided no shortage of intrigue, surprise results, and interesting subplots. From clashes between coaches to star performances, we examine the key discussions emerging from the games.
Calum McFarlane Makes a Statement Against Guardiola
Calum McFarlane's unexpected duel with the celebrated tactician evoked recollections of previous managerial mismatches. In the case of the Chelsea boss, embarking on his first-team management debut, the challenge was overcoming the Blues' woeful recent record against Guardiola's side. An injury-time strike from the Chelsea star secured a crucial result, an achievement past coaches had failed to accomplish.
2. Liverpool's Inability to Shut Up Shop
Despite the German playmaker finding the net, the Merseyside club finished aggrieved after surrendering a lead evaporate at Fulham. The issue of being unable to control encounters when in the lead persists, with the side almost squandering similar leads in previous weeks. Until they master the art of seeing out a game, the season will remain a challenging affair.
The Arsenal Midfielder Backs Gyökeres to Fire
Arsenal's striker is enduring a lengthy goal drought from live action, but his midfield colleague the England international is adamant the forward is nevertheless vitally influential. The midfielder pointed to Gyökeres' work off the ball and unselfish contributions as crucial to the league leaders success. "Success are bound to arrive," was the midfielder's supportive assessment for his struggling teammate.
Ruben Amorim Must Get Benjamin Sesko to Sharpen Up
Given Manchester United adopting in a incredibly cautious fashion, the responsibility rested with the offensive partnership to deliver. While Matheus Cunha maintained his excellent run, Benjamin Sesko experienced another forgettable outing. The young striker has hit the net elusive since his big-money transfer and wasted a late opportunity to win the contest. The new year presents a pressing requirement for Sesko to regain his form.
5. Le Fée Puts Ange Postecoglou's Side in a Muddle
The Sunderland manager deployed his creative talent in a deeper position at first, before unleashing him into advanced areas as the contest progressed. The switch proved masterful, with the playmaker emerging as the main instigator of the visitor's push for an equalizing goal. After hitting the upright, the midfielder delivered a sumptuous pass for the all-important finish. Having found his feet to the intensity of the Premier League, his impact is on the rise.
6. Nuno Wastes Opportunity to Use Pablo Felipe
During an embarrassing loss for the Hammers, head coach the Portuguese coach opted not to utilize any of his permitted replacements. Among them was recent acquisition the forward, who remained unused even with his club's complete ineffectiveness. He suggested it would have been "unfair" to send the fresh recruit into the action. But, with scoring at a shortage, the need to blood the 22-year-old rapidly is abundantly obvious.
The Teenager Makes Yet Another Big Case
The teenage sensation delivered another exceptional display while playing at right-back. The youngster was impeccable in defence, provided the breakthrough, and set the standard in a stop-start encounter. Now that first-choice defenders back, the dilemma for manager Eddie Howe is if to accommodate the remarkably mature teenager in his preferred engine room berth. "Next Newcastle teams will surely be constructed on the lad," seems an ever more fair assessment.
8. Is the New Manager Bounce Running Out at Nottingham Forest?
The former Burnley boss's early influence at Nottingham Forest was notable, but questions are starting to surface about the side's versatility. The team's transition prowess exists, but appears diminished without previous attackers. Although structured when defending deep, Dyche's men have looked vulnerable when required to chase a game. Cheap turnovers in such situations has shown disastrous, a problem they need to solve immediately.
Igor Thiago's Hot Streak Halts Thomas Frank's Side's Poor Road Form
Thomas Frank's team delivered a display that contradicted their troubled travel sickness. Vital to their commanding win was the in-form streak of number nine the goal-getter. Thiago's presence are giving a platform for the side to aim higher. Attacker Kevin Schade even suggested the ambitious target of a top-seven finish as a possibility, underlining the fresh optimism within the camp.
