Man Metropolis’s Erling Haaland misfires once more whereas Chelsea nonetheless studying Enzo Maresca’s methods – Premier League hits and misses

Haaland’s struggles in entrance of objective mirror Metropolis’s personal spluttering type

In some ways, Erling Haaland’s latest struggles in entrance of objective for Manchester Metropolis mirror these of the staff themselves, initially considered merely a blip each will come out of very quickly and but we’re nonetheless ready for that to occur.

Haaland, just like the Premier League champions themselves, got here out of the traps quick to begin the season, scoring 10 occasions in his first 5 league video games, however as Metropolis started to wobble, so too did the Norway worldwide.

A lot so, the truth is, that final season’s Premier League high scorer has solely netted three targets in his final 13 matches, coinciding with Metropolis’s personal downturn in type, whereas underperforming his xG by a league-wide complete of 5.2 in that point (3 vs 8.2 xG).

Nothing higher sums up Haaland’s woes of late than his penalty failure in opposition to Everton with the scoreline 1-1 as Jordan Pickford guessed accurately to maintain out his weakly struck effort, extremely the primary time the ahead has seen a goalkeeper save certainly one of his 16 Premier League spot kicks.

And Pep Guardiola’s spluttering title holders want their principal man again to his greatest as quickly as potential, in any other case their lengthy barren run could keep on into 2025.
Wealthy Morgan

Chelsea have lots to be taught underneath Maresca

Enzo Maresca stored referring to Chelsea’s failure to handle the sport in opposition to Fulham as the rationale for shedding at residence in opposition to their west London rivals for the primary time since 1979. The primary quarter-hour of the second half notably, he stated, price his aspect.

There was a second simply earlier than the hour, when it was 1-0, which illustrated precisely what Maresca was getting at. Cole Palmer picked up the ball with Chelsea breaking and blue shirts bursting ahead. Palmer dissatisfied them by intentionally slowing the sport down.

Chelsea voices within the crowd couldn’t disguise their upset. Maresca was alone in applauding the perceived destructive motion. These are the moments he desires to see extra of from his aspect. Fulham got here on the lookout for transitions, and he needed to take that away.

Maresca ideally would love his staff to maneuver up the pitch as a unit to keep away from leaving holes for the opposition to reveal – “Before you attack, you need to make passes, passes, passes so we are together,” the Chelsea boss stated – even when it is on the expense of pleasure.

Leicester followers typically grew to become weary with the methods of their former supervisor final season regardless of him main them to a cushty promotion as Championship winners. Maresca’s philosophy clearly takes a while to regulate to. Not everybody at Chelsea will get it but.

That is maybe why he has repeatedly stated Chelsea aren’t able to problem for the title but. Outcomes have been spectacular, this being their first defeat within the league since shedding at Liverpool in October, however he is aware of that the staff are nonetheless studying learn how to play his approach.
Zinny Boswell

Spectacular Fulham on the rise underneath Silva

Firstly of this season, had you instructed Fulham supporters they’d be heading residence on Boxing Day with their aspect stage on factors with defending Premier League champions Manchester Metropolis, they’d not have believed you. However whereas Metropolis have slumped, it is a Fulham staff on the up underneath Marco Silva. A primary win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 is validation of that.

Maybe much more impressively, this was a historic win achieved with out Emile Smith Rowe or Sander Berge, two of their high performers this time period. Harrison Reed was additionally lacking from a depleted midfield, whereas regulars Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson are within the remedy room, too.

However Fulham have discovered a method to take factors off Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham this time period and, with a change in formation right here, they’ve dealt a blow to neighbours Chelsea. It is a consequence they may enjoy. However with Silva on the helm and this gifted group discovering methods to win in several methods, their prospects for 2025 are wanting vibrant.
Peter Smith

Onuachu sums up Southampton’s striker woes

Paul Onuachu touched the ball 12 occasions within the West Ham penalty field. Eight have been photographs, seven of them have been headers. Regardless of all of that accounting to 0.57 of Anticipated Objectives, all of them failed to search out the web.

In a single recreation, the 6ft 7in striker confirmed incoming supervisor Ivan Juric the precise uphill struggles he faces at Southampton – a sheer lack of targets.

The Saints have scored simply 11 occasions within the Premier League from 17 video games. Extra worryingly, they’ve simply seven targets from eight residence video games.

This can be a aspect who has spent a mixed £75m on Onuachu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Cameron Archer, Ben Brereton Diaz and Mateus Fernandes within the final 18 months – they’ve 5 Premier League targets between them. So many forwards, so little finish product.

The intent was significantly better from Juric’s Southampton on Boxing Day. The extra direct fashion introduced an attacking verve that rattled West Ham within the first half, whereas wing-backs Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters supplied a lot for Onuachu and Co.

However except Southampton discover their scoring contact, they will not be getting off the underside of the desk any time quickly.
Sam Blitz

Centurion Bowen the distinction once more for Hammers

So usually, Jarrod Bowen is the person to make the distinction for West Ham.

His final three targets for the membership have been match-winners. After his penalty successfully ended Erik ten Hag’s spell as Manchester United boss, it was his trademark end within the latest victory over Wolves which pushed Gary O’Neil nearer to the Wolves lure door.

On Boxing Day, Ivan Juric’s first recreation in control of Southampton resulted in defeat because of Bowen’s predatory instincts.

The 28-year-old was in the correct spot to prod residence from Niclas Fullkrug’s flick-on for his forty eighth Premier League objective, taking him outright second in West Ham’s main Premier League scorers, with solely Michail Antonio now scoring extra (68). It was additionally his one hundredth league objective in English soccer’s high 4 tiers.

“It was massively important to win,” Bowen stated afterwards. “This is our fourth game unbeaten but it was vital to win again. The ambition of this club is to qualify for Europe every year so it was not at stake today but we’ve got some catching up to do.”

This was a dogged victory made spectacular by how Julen Lopetegui needed to take in first-half accidents to Lukasz Fabianski and Max Kilman in opposition to a Southampton aspect determined to impress their new supervisor. And each time you’ve Bowen in your aspect, there’s all the time the stardust to show one level into three.
Ben Grounds

Midfield are main Newcastle up the desk

There is not a extra relentless, energetic and fashionable midfield three within the Premier League than Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali once they play with the roar of the St James’ Park devoted behind them.

Sure, I would embody the Liverpool trio in that debate.

This Toon trio are dynamite and confirmed the Reds that just a few weeks again in that hurricane-like 3-3 draw with Arne Slot’s staff. They’re the bedrock of every thing good Newcastle do. After they perform, the staff features. It explains why the latest type underneath Eddie Howe has rocketed as these three are again to their pulsating greatest. Villa have been utterly outrun and outclassed in that space of the pitch, even earlier than the crimson card.

Newcastle are as much as fifth. And are transferring alongside properly.
Lewis Jones

Dangerous to worse for Tottenham

“It was his ankle and he said he could not continue. We will have to see,” stated Postecoglou after Radu Dragusin was compelled off within the loss to Forest.

After the brief harm replace and outlining how “disappointing” it was to stroll away from the Metropolis Floor empty handed, Postecoglou was nowhere to be seen within the press room.

It took simply 150 seconds for the Tottenham boss to exit the constructing and it was clear to see he was not eager on answering many questions.

An harm to the one recognised centre-back left within the match-day squad, a crimson card for Spence who had proven promise throughout the final three outings and his aspect nonetheless dwelling within the backside half.

The scenario for Tottenham is rising bleaker by the day and the upcoming fixture in opposition to Wolves, which is simply three days away, appears like a must-win recreation.
Patrick Rowe

Man mountain Murillo helps Forest to victory

Forest secured all three factors and the clear sheet to go alongside it in opposition to Tottenham – however they might not have achieved it with out Murillo.

As Postecoglou rightly identified, his aspect possessed a menace within the last third however in the end couldn’t capitalise on it. And that’s due to Forest’s man mountain on the again.

His last figures got here in at 9 clearances, three blocked photographs, three tackles and 5 duels gained.

When there was area, he would shut it. When there was a ball to be gained, there was no contest.

The house crowd serenaded him all through everything of the sport. He’s a fan favorite and it’s clear to see why, the partnership forming with Nikola Milenkovic is the inspiration that this historic season for the membership is being constructed upon.
Patrick Rowe

Huijsen shines once more in Bournemouth defence

Dean Huijsen is seizing his likelihood on the coronary heart of the Bournemouth defence and quick changing into one of many Premier League’s high younger defenders.

The 19-year-old centre-back, who signed for Bournemouth on a six-year deal from Juventus in the summertime, has shone having began within the final 5 league matches, scoring twice and serving to preserve three clear sheets.

Huijsen stood as much as the take a look at of Crystal Palace’s versatile frontline – the power of Jean-Philippe Mateta coupled with the tempo and trickery of Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze.

He gained probably the most duels of any participant, probably the most tackles and had the very best go completion fee. Huijsen’s solely mistake was a cynical foul on Sarr that earned a yellow card. Bournemouth have a gem.
David Richardson