Liverpool present energy in depth as hopeless West Ham assault ought to fear Graham Potter – Premier League hits and misses

Energy in depth key for Liverpool’s title problem

For lengthy intervals, it seemed prefer it wasn’t going to be Liverpool’s day.

Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold did not have their taking pictures boots because the ball continued to flash huge of the goal. Darwin Nunez – the hero of the hour for Liverpool – planted a free header huge from Andy Robertson’s cross earlier than blasting a horrible effort over the crossbar from 30 yards because it seemed just like the Reds have 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 finally got here good, and it’s Arne Slot’s capacity to have the ability to empty Liverpool’s bench with recent attacking choices that might be vital of their bid to win a primary title in 5 years.

Liverpool, who have been even with out the injured Diogo Jota, racked up an unbelievable 37 pictures at Brentford – a report for an away aspect within the Premier League – however it was their capacity to maintain that strain with recent legs that finally acquired 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 favored this season, additionally performed a key position 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 scuffling with 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 ship alarming attacking show

West Ham followers might smile on the stat that they’d scored from all three of their pictures on the right track towards Fulham on Tuesday. However few noticed the humorous aspect of their group’s attacking play towards Crystal Palace on Saturday.

No pictures on the right track and subsequent to no risk in any respect within the remaining third. Mohammed Kudus led the road this time as a substitute 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 might be onerous to interrupt down however at occasions West Ham seemed uninclined to even attempt. Higher to maintain possession than assault and danger dropping it?

In fact, the absences of Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio have lowered their attacking choices. However West Ham followers count on way 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 type in entrance of purpose

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

His brace towards 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 12 months with these 4 matching his return for the season previous to 2025. After a gradual begin to the season, he seems to be again to his domineering finest, linking up with Eberechi Eze to burst West Ham’s new supervisor bubble as they linked up for one more purpose.

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

Mateta’s type could have dipped in the direction of the beginning of the season, however his total consistency is what’s pleasing Palace boss Oliver Glasner. Talking after the sport he instructed the press: “When he gets the ball somewhere around the box and he gets a free finish, then it’s very often a goal. He was the same, but he’s also really hard-working, like all our attackers.

“He all the time wants the gamers round him who can provide him the ball, however then when he will get it in the appropriate areas, and that is what we’re engaged on daily with the entire group, then we all know that he has an incredible end.”
William Bitibiri

When Bournemouth click on, it is 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 pleased to run the onerous 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 attainable with synchronicity all around the discipline. 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 aspect at St James’ Park. To have the bravery to go toe-to-toe, persistently attempting to find excessive turnovers, with a group which have received 9 in a row in all competitions is daring. We’re speaking in regards to the Premier League’s most in-form membership.

However Iraola solely is aware of a method. His transitional fashion is fascinating to observe when it clicks and Saturday’s show was a stellar instance of the whole lot 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 outdated aspect Bournemouth who ended their nine-game profitable run in beautiful fashion.

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 towards them since he departed.

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

Their vastly 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.

Happily for Howe and his group, they now have a full week to get well for a much-needed break and restoration after a busy run of video games.

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

Strain constructing on Ruud

These are fraught occasions for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the worst run of outcomes that Leicester Metropolis have endured in over twenty years – and proper firstly 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 fashionable 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 prone to come to an finish quickly following the signing of Woyo Coulibaly however Jordan Ayew can 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 ‘unsuitable’ group won’t all the time make headlines however the poisonous scenes that comply with do are likely to.

Van Nistelrooy says his gamers should take care of it however the issue is that when issues begin to go unsuitable, resilience is missing and issues unravel. They have been in it towards Fulham however there’s a fragility to this group. 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 a hundredth Premier League look in fashion after nodding dwelling the opener, which was rapidly adopted by Adama Traore climbing off the bench to aspect foot his effort expertly – which isn’t typically mentioned about his fashion of play – into the underside nook.

Marco Silva’s aspect all the time 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 appropriate and the duo of Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi flying on the other flank, these goals might develop into actuality by the top of the season.
Patrick Rowe