IT WAS A busy day of Premier League action with key games at both ends of the table. Here are five talking points after Saturday’s eight fixtures.
Champagne for Leicester but has it gone flat?
Despite his side being held to a scoreless draw by Bournemouth, Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri vowed to treat his players to champagne.
The Foxes’ failure to win at home allowed Arsenal to open up a two point lead at the top of the Premier League but Ranieri insisted his side’s achievement of reaching 40 points was worth celebrating.
He’s not wrong, it’s a remarkable achievement for a side who were rooted to the foot of the table at the same time last year – but have Leicester gone flat?
They’ve now gone three games without victory and the intensity of the first-half of the season appears to be taking its toll. Ranieri even admitted they weren’t firing on all cylinders.
The Foxes are still sitting pretty in second place and have surpassed all expectations but there is a growing body of evidence to suggest they’re running out of steam. Back-to-back trips to White Hart Lane, in the FA Cup and then league, are next on the agenda.
Below-par Arsenal show title winning traits
There was little surprise Arsene Wenger was quietly satisfied in his post-match press conference. His side were far from their best at the Emirates but managed to grind out a 1-0 victory over Newcastle to move two points clear at the summit.
Arsenal could have easily lost to Steve McClaren’s side with the visitors enjoying periods of sustained possession as well as creating several chances. But the Gunners rallied and eventually forced the breakthrough to record an invaluable three points.
“We were not at our best, but we had to dig deep and we can do that when needed,” Wenger said.
Some will question if Arsenal have that mettle but they’re beginning to show a level of tenacity and resolve which was missing in previous seasons.
Of course, there is still a long way to go and it’s difficult to determine whether Arsenal or Man City are favourites at this juncture but the Gunners certainly are in a better position than they’ve been in any season since their last league win.
Granted they didn’t play like potential champions but the hallmark of all good teams is to win when you’re not firing. It may just be their season but Arsenal fans will be whispering it quietly.
Rooney gem lifts United
It was far from convincing but a win is a win and Man United needed it badly. There was a palpable sense of relief around Old Trafford as Louis van Gaal’s side returned to winning ways after a wretched run.
But Lukasz Fabianski, the Swansea ‘keeper, came within inches of heaping more pressure on the under-fire United manager as his last-gasp header drifted agonisingly wide.
Van Gaal must have been hugely grateful because his side, although showing signs of improvement, remain hugely predictable and vulnerable. The hosts dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge and creative flair. The story of their season.
The difference on this occasion was the performance of a couple of players. Ashley Young and Anthony Martial stood-out while Wayne Rooney finally ended his goal drought to get his side out of jail.
It was a hugely significant goal for both team and player. It was his 188th in the Premier League, moving him one ahead of Andy Cole and into second place behind Alan Shearer in the all-time scorers’ chart.
The turning of the tide for Rooney and United? We’re not entirely convinced just yet.
The end is nigh for abject Villa
Since his arrival from Toronto twelve months ago, Jermain Defoe has scored a couple of crucial goals for Sunderland and he came up trumps again on Saturday. The former England striker gave his side a much needed boost as they won the relegation scrap with Aston Villa.
The 3-1 ended Sunderland’s five game losing streak and created daylight between themselves and Villa, who were once again abject in defeat.
You’ve got to feel for Remi Garde. The Frenchman remains without a win since taking over from Tim Sherwood and his side are now all but consigned to relegation.
The visitors enjoyed large chunks of possession and were on the receiving end of a rotten piece of luck when Patrick van Aanholt’s deflected effort gave Sunderland the lead.
But after getting themselves back in the game, Villa once again proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot. Defoe’s late brace plunged the Midlands club closer to the trap door and we’re only in the first week of 2016.
Familiar problems for Liverpool
It’s difficult to assess Jurgen Klopp’s first couple of months in charge of Liverpool. For all the encouraging and progressive results, there have been performances which leave you wondering have they made any headway under the German.
Saturday’s defeat at Upton Park followed similarly humbling results at Watford and Newcastle. Not for the first time, the Reds crumbled in the face of a physical battle and were bullied for much of the afternoon.
Afterwards, Klopp lamented his side for playing at only ’90%’ and was left frustrated by his team’s disjointed attack and inability to defend crosses. The manager urged his players to learn from their mistakes but it doesn’t appear they have.
Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll were on the mark for the hosts as Liverpool were unable to match their opponents’ heart, desire or intensity.
Defensively, they’re extremely vulnerable with neither Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren able to contend with the physicality of Carroll. At the other end, there was little or no service for Christian Benteke, although the striker rarely showed any enthusiasm to get involved and make things happen.
Liverpool face an extremely busy period with FA Cup, Capital One Cup and league fixtures all on the horizon but Klopp’s most important work could come in the transfer window.
