Did Liverpool present the place they should strengthen within the switch window? Premier League hits and misses

Did Liverpool present the place they should strengthen?

The three-1 defeat at Chelsea will do little to bother Liverpool as they celebrated their deserved title. But when anybody was questioning what Arne Slot’s aspect might have appeared like with a couple of accidents, then that efficiency was it.

There have been in all probability some party-related causes for Liverpool’s flat efficiency and a decrease depth than regular, however Arne Slot wished to make use of these closing 4 video games to assist him plan for the summer season. These he introduced into the crew at Stamford Bridge didn’t impress.

All the midfield was modified and the trio of Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott couldn’t address their Chelsea counterparts, notably Romeo Lavia and Cole Palmer who ran the present.

Jones slipped within the build-up to Chelsea’s first, Elliott was hauled off after the Blues’ second – and Endo confirmed he, at 32, will wrestle to duplicate what Ryan Gravenberch did brilliantly all season.

On the prime finish of the pitch, Diogo Jota was nameless with simply 13 touches – he has one league objective in 2025 – whereas Darwin Nunez missed two good openings after approaching. Not less than he managed yet one more contact than Jota.

None had a worse outing although than Jarell Quansah, with one personal objective and one penalty conceded in a disappointing and unconvincing show at centre-half, one which was paying homage to his opening-day struggles at Ipswich.

And with Kostas Tsimikas failing to ease Liverpool’s left-back woes, that appears like 4 areas Liverpool may strengthen this summer season. Left-back, centre-back, midfield and striker – and remember a right-back if Trent Alexander-Arnold departs, as anticipated.
Sam Blitz

Why do Man Utd’s Premier League struggles persist?

Bilbao or bust has been the mantra at Manchester United for a while. Watching them fall to a sixteenth league defeat of the season as they misplaced 4-3 at Brentford, their most for 35 years, made that abundantly clear. However there’s something extra behind their struggles.

Ruben Amorim named the third-youngest crew in Premier League historical past at Brentford. Contemplating United’s current home type, and the eight adjustments made after Thursday’s win over Athletic Membership, defeat was virtually inevitable, unusual as that sounds.

All the pieces, understandably, is targeted on the Europa League. That does not reply the query of why United, the one undefeated aspect in European competitors, have not crushed a crew that will likely be taking part in top-flight soccer subsequent season since January 26.

Since that 1-0 win at Fulham, sealed due to Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike, United have performed 10 groups outdoors the underside three and didn’t win towards any of them. They nonetheless had a spherical left of the Europa League league part after that win.

In the meantime, in Europe United have overcome Actual Sociedad and Lyon. Barring a shock collapse, not one thing you’d put previous this group, you may add Athletic Membership to that checklist. Then they’re one sport from a European trophy. Puzzling.

The defeat at Brentford, though not the fairest sport to attract conclusions from, served up an ideal instance of the issues plaguing Amorim within the Premier League: United have been merely unable to deal with Brentford’s physicality, tempo and direct soccer.

No matter who was picked, as this season has proven us, those self same vulnerabilities would stay.

Amorim has inherited a squad ill-equipped to deal with the rigours of English soccer. These squad-building missteps should be corrected this summer season, significantly if Champions League qualification is secured, in any other case Amorim will see no enchancment.
Zinny Boswell

Can Isak catch Salah in Golden Boot race?

Alexander Isak should have felt like his second would by no means are available in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw at Brighton. Twice he had picked up the ball pondering he was about to have a free shot at objective from 12 yards after referee Craig Pawson had pointed to the spot. VAR ruined Newcastle’s enjoyable by recognizing two incorrect calls from Pawson so it was trying like a kind of days for Isak and his crew.

However yet one more likelihood would come on 89 minutes when Pawson lastly accurately noticed a official penalty and Isak was in no temper to go it up.

In scoring he turned the primary Newcastle United participant to attain 23 targets in a Premier League season since Alan Shearer in 2002 and now has 22 targets in his final 26 league appearances. There’s nonetheless time to catch Mohamed Salah within the Golden Boot race, too. He’s 5 again with three video games to play and Salah has solely scored as soon as in his final six Premier League video games. Stranger issues have occurred.
Lewis Jones

Verbruggen exhibits primary qualities once more

There have been calls from some sections of the Brighton followers for goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to get replaced.

Earlier than the 1-1 draw with Newcastle, the Seagulls had conceded no less than twice in every of their final six Premier League video games and shipped 24 targets of their earlier 11 league encounters. Verbruggen was not solely in charge however his insecurity and authority has not been serving to his defenders. Brighton even have the worst save ratio within the Premier League this season (59.6 per cent).

Nevertheless, Verbruggen put in his finest efficiency of 2025 to repel Newcastle. Strong from set-pieces and searching far more composed underneath stress, Verbruggen made 4 saves – the decide of which got here in stoppage time to disclaim Callum Wilson a profitable objective. If he can keep in this sort of type, Brighton’s defensive course of and numbers needs to be again on the enhance.
Lewis Jones

Tel places case ahead to start out towards Bodo/Glimt

Ange Postecoglou’s wholesale adjustments in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at West Ham allowed these introduced in to place ahead their case to start out in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Bodo/Glimt – and Mathys Tel took it.

The French ahead was Spurs’ most harmful participant on the London Stadium as he assisted Wilson Odobert’s opener after urgent West Ham defender Max Kilman right into a mistake.

Tel tried eight dribbles – probably the most of any participant within the sport – and had two pictures, with solely Jarrod Bowen having extra.

It was one other promising show from the on-loan Bayern Munich man, who’s discovering his toes out on the left wing for Spurs, with Postecoglou praising the 20-year-old in his post-match press convention.

He mentioned: “He’s taken in the information and he understands the role now a little bit better, especially out on the left.

“These previous couple of weeks, we have clearly had Sonny [Heung-Min Son] out. We have wanted him to fill that void and I feel he is performed that job properly.”

If Tel were to start in Norway on Thursday, then it would be well deserved. And with more performances like this, Spurs will be keen to activate the £45m option to sign him permanently from Bayern.
Declan Olley

Kayode looking the real deal for Brentford

It took Michael Kayode just below three months to make his first begin for Brentford after becoming a member of on mortgage from Fiorentina in January. Earlier than then, there have been fleeting glimpses of what he needed to supply; eye-catching cameos that supplied a style of what was to come back.

However he has began at right-back within the Bees’ final three video games and been a key a part of the crew that has gained three in a row for the primary time since a run between October 21 and November 4 2023.

The 20-year-old appeared desirous to get ahead from the very begin throughout Man Utd’s go to to the Gtech and his boundless vitality precipitated Amorim’s aspect issues – as did his monstrous throw-ins, as proven within the lead-up to Luke Shaw’s personal objective.

Kayode accomplished probably the most dribbles (5) within the match, gained probably the most duels (10) and completed with a 97 per cent go accuracy, probably the most of any participant to play 45 minutes or extra. “He looked like he just enjoyed playing football,” mentioned Thomas Frank afterwards.

There’s certainly little question Brentford will take up the choice to make Kayode’s keep in west London everlasting on the finish of the season.
Dan Lengthy

Hammers season truly fizzling out quick

If ever there was to be a day when issues lastly clicked into place for West Ham underneath Graham Potter, the go to of rivals Tottenham to the London Stadium was certainly it.

The Hammers had per week to arrange for the London derby, a luxurious in comparison with Spurs’ 64-hour turnaround from Thursday’s Europa League semi-final towards Bodo-Glimt.

Spurs had greater than a watch on Thursday’s return leg in Norway, Postecoglou’s eight pre-match alterations made that clear, so alternative knocked for Potter’s beleaguered Hammers to finish a seven-game look forward to a victory.

Earlier than a ball had been kicked, frustration summed up the temper amongst a fanbase who had not seen a victory since late February, however that turned to apathy come full-time.

Hoards headed for an early exit regardless of the scoreboard studying 1-1 with the prospect of a late derby victory nonetheless on the desk.

The truth that was not sufficient to maintain sections of the disgruntled fanbase of their seats exhibits simply how deep West Ham’s rut is with three video games left to salvage one thing from this season.
Jack Wilkinson