Antoine Semenyo shines for Bournemouth however Liverpool look unstoppable – Premier League hits and misses

Processional really feel to Liverpool’s title cost now

We at the moment are past the purpose the place probably the most pertinent query regarding Liverpool is whether or not or not Arne Slot’s dad thinks they’ve performed effectively.

The query of whether or not his facet will win the Premier League in his first season in cost can certainly not be up for debate. They nonetheless have not performed anybody? Absolutely even probably the most scarred and pessimistic Liverpudlian should now settle for that it’s a foregone conclusion.

The waning diploma of media consideration on the serenity of Slot is not going to concern those that crave the column inches. Even the chatter of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract has fallen silent. Of higher concern instantly would be the severity of the muscle harm he sustained on the south coast.

Competitors, and the chase, is what neutrals need however it’s time to gloss over Liverpool till the inevitable trophy parade.

One of the best workforce within the league, with probably the most full squad, the fewest accidents that matter and crucially the respect now of all their opponents.

Andoni Iraola – like Thomas Frank a few weeks in the past – decreed they’re the perfect within the league, certainly the perfect in Europe. His workforce have been overwhelmed for the primary time since November 23. It was at all times more likely to take a particular outfit to finish that spectacular sequence.

Champions League prime canine and now 9 factors clear at their home summit. They’re nonetheless to face Everton twice however they will now afford to lose each video games and never be caught, such is their superior purpose distinction to Arsenal.

A stumble would make good copy however you can not choose at vulnerabilities that do not stack up in comparison with the problems amongst rivals. The hole, in reality, is just more likely to get wider.
Ben Grounds

It is confirmed: Semenyo belongs at Liverpool

This was a sport received by Mohamed Salah – however on one other day, Antoine Semenyo can be strolling away because the star of the present.

Solely the woodwork and Alisson Becker’s heroics denied him the two-goal hero standing that Salah walked away from the Vitality Stadium with. The winger was a continuing thorn to Liverpool down Bournemouth’s left flank, his six take-ons and 15 touches within the opposition field greater than some other sport.

Extremely, Semenyo nonetheless leads the Premier League charts for many photographs this season with 91, yet one more than Salah at 90. But one participant has 21 targets and the opposite has seven.

Semenyo and Salah are so related in model and with the Bournemouth-player recognized to be on Liverpool’s shortlist, don’t be shocked if that efficiency confirmed that he ought to be at Anfield subsequent season. He may be the participant that replaces Salah.
Sam Blitz

Everton had this of their locker all alongside

Evertonians took some criticism, together with from inside their very own ranks, for demanding extra of Sean Dyche earlier than the eventual acceptance all spherical – together with from the person himself – that his time had run its course.

The supervisor lamented minimal funds and a squad missing attacking expertise for the dour soccer which struggled to provide sufficient targets to usher in greater than the occasional victory – keep in mind him defending his report “if you add wins in”?

However all of that appears questionable now after David Moyes’ return, bringing with it not solely three wins from 4 video games however seven targets.

4 of these got here from open play towards Leicester. Previous to Saturday’s victory, that they had managed solely 9 all season away from set-pieces at Goodison Park.

They performed high-tempo, engaging soccer for a lot of the sport with Vitaliiy Mykolneko bombing down one flank, James Garner pulling the strings in midfield and Abdoulaye Doucoure lastly again within the targets.

There isn’t any nice mourning of the lack of common first-choice striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, even when little was anticipated of his substitute, Beto, given he managed solely 4 targets in 44 earlier Premier League appearances.

However two targets earlier than half-time, each scientific, composed finishes, solely additional serve the concept that this workforce has much more potential than it confirmed, than even some Evertonians realised.

Issues is not going to at all times be this rosy, and issues at Goodison Park can nonetheless be tough across the edges. However as soon as the bounce of David Moyes’ return wears off, there are foundations to construct upon deeper than beforehand thought.
Ron Walker

Forest are the clear sheet kings

Nottingham Forest are the whole lot Brighton should not. Harmful, aggressive and scientific.

It is a model of soccer that is not very attractive within the possession mad modern-day world of the Premier League however Forest are so good in each packing containers. They defend deep and in numbers however they do it brilliantly, led by Nikola Milenkovic. Brighton discovered that out as Forest saved a tenth clear sheet of the season – probably the most of any workforce within the Premier League.

Then up the opposite finish, they’ve gamers brimming with confidence. Chris Wooden and Anthony Elanga have been operating sizzling, flanked by a particular efficiency by Morgan Gibbs-White. When he performs like this, floating across the pitch creating a lot havoc, there are fewer higher within the Premier League.

Forest a pleasure.
Lewis Jones

Hurzeler exhibits his inexperience

Fabian Hurzeler bought this so unsuitable.

High-level administration is all about discovering options to issues and Hurzeler didn’t remedy the puzzle offered to him with central midfielders Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari being unavailable.

He threw Jack Hinshelwood into an unimaginable scenario of making an attempt to play central midfield on his personal towards Gibbs-White, who was within the temper to trigger carnage. Forest utterly ran riot in that house.

They have been of their ingredient, setting their counter-attacks to perfection because the Brighton defence could not cope – as proven by some horrific and out-of-character errors from a few of their key gamers.

At a membership that is not used to dropping video games on this vogue, the supervisor will now be below massive scrutiny.
Lewis Jones

Newcastle enter crunch February out of types after Fulham loss

The two-1 dwelling defeat to Fulham was not the efficiency and consequence Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would have envisaged heading right into a crunch run of video games in February.

Fulham spoiled his 700th sport as a supervisor with a comeback win which is able to give Arsenal actual hope heading into Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at St James’ Park, the place the Magpies have suffered back-to-back defeats.

Their second-half efficiency was alarmingly poor as Fulham dominated the play with the house facet creating only one massive probability.

Newcastle will should be considerably higher in midweek if they’re to guard their 2-0 first-leg lead and attain the Carabao Cup ultimate.

Past that, Howe’s facet have an ungainly FA Cup fourth-round tie at League One leaders Birmingham adopted by some daunting Premier League fixtures.

Newcastle face three of the highest six as they go to Manchester Metropolis, host Nottingham Forest earlier than heading to leaders Liverpool.

With Howe not anticipating the membership to conduct any additional switch enterprise within the winter window, he must look internally to repair their issues.

If he can achieve this, then come the top of his 705th match he might effectively have steered Newcastle to a cup ultimate, the FA Cup fifth spherical and reignited their top-four hopes.

An enormous month lies forward.

Southampton could not, might they?

“We are fighting, we don’t want to give up,” stated Southampton boss Ivan Juric after their 2-1 win at Ipswich. They’ve been written off by loads – and with good cause.

Going into this sport that they had simply six factors, the fewest ever recorded by a Premier League workforce at that stage. They’d not received in 13 matches and simply as soon as all season. But Juric – after dropping his first six in cost – sees indicators of hope that Southampton might in truth keep away from the drop.

They nonetheless have loads to do. Their win at Ipswich – helped by two errors by Aro Muric – places them on 9 factors, eight adrift of security with 14 video games to play.

However new signings Welington and Albert Gronbaek added power and thrust, Joe Aribo confirmed his high quality, even when dropping into defence, Mateus Fernandes appears a expertise, whereas the return to health of Kamaldeen Sulemana and Tyler Dibling carry the degrees of this workforce.

Accidents to Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jack Stephens are a fear however lastly Southampton have one thing to construct from. Subsequent up within the league are south coast clashes at dwelling to Bournemouth and Brighton. Can they again it up?

“Today was important for me, for everybody to win and get more confidence,” added Juric. Simply how vital it could possibly be come the top of the season stays to be seen. Will this be their turning level?
Peter Smith

Morrison: Muric is just not ok

Clinton Morrison gave a damning evaluation of Aro Muric after the Ipswich goalkeeper’s errors towards Southampton proved expensive.

The keeper was overwhelmed by Joe Aribo for Saints’ opener after which parried a shot into the trail of Paul Onuachu for the Premier League’s backside membership to grab a late winner.

No participant has made extra errors resulting in a purpose within the Premier League this season than Muric and, talking on Soccer Saturday, Morrison stated the ‘keeper’s errors might show expensive for Ipswich’s survival hopes come the top of the season.

“The problem with Ipswich is the goalkeeper is not good enough,” he stated.

“He made two big mistakes. The first one, a shot from Joe Aribo, it’s not that powerful, just goes through him. Poor goalkeeping.

“Then the second, as an alternative of parrying it away, which you are taught as younger goalkeepers, he parries it straight again into hazard.

“He has cost them quite a few points and come the end of the season that could cost Ipswich. It’s not just down to him but today there were two big moments. When you’re playing against teams at the bottom you have to do better.”