Man Utd in want of a carry as we await Arsenal’s response to Liverpool title blow – Premier League speaking factors

Rashford rejuvenated at Villa

Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa – Tuesday, 7.30pm kick-off

Marcus Rashford has solely began one sport for Aston Villa up to now – which arrived within the 2-2 draw with Liverpool within the Premier League – however after spearheading the 2-1 comeback victory in opposition to Chelsea with two assists for fellow newcomer Marco Asensio, followers ought to anticipate to see much more of him.

It’s nonetheless early days in his tenure at Villa and the pattern measurement is small, however the indications are there to recommend a change has been flipped since departing Outdated Trafford.

The ahead has virtually tripled his photographs, touches within the opponent’s penalty space and possibilities created per sport since switching purple for claret and blue.

It was additionally his spectacular free-kick from vary that rattled the crossbar earlier than falling to the ft of Ollie Watkins for the equaliser in opposition to Ipswich.

Each his output and intent are rising with each outing and even when the everlasting transfer to Villa Park doesn’t come to fruition, one factor is evident: Rashford appears to be like rejuvenated forward of his newest probability to shine in opposition to Crystal Palace.
Patrick Rowe

Do not write off Brighton in race for Europe

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bournemouth – Tuesday, 7.30pm kick-off

In late November, Brighton sat fourth within the Premier League however an unkind festive interval dragged Fabian Hurzeler’s facet into midtable.

Regardless of a scalp at Outdated Trafford in December, a run of two wins in 10 video games meant that the excitement that when surrounded Brighton’s push to interrupt into the established top-six positions was transferred to the likes of Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest who capitalised to seek out themselves in beneficial positions.

It could have taken a 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest however Brighton have been reinvigorated following three consecutive victories since. Their current run began by dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup to maintain their hopes of silverware alive earlier than placing three previous the identical opponents simply days later.

Brighton hit Southampton for 4 final day out and look to have regained their kind as they put together for the run-in. Sixth place is Brighton’s highest-ever league end and so they may nonetheless higher that given their kind. Their conflict in opposition to Bournemouth is attention-grabbing for a lot of causes.

Bournemouth have had the plaudits for his or her kind however a current wobble means Brighton will again their probabilities of gaining floor on the Cherries. Brighton had been Bournemouth earlier than it was in vogue for sides to upset the Premier League institution. On Tuesday evening, Brighton can inch nearer to getting their crown again as the actual top-six disruptors.
William Bitibiri

Cunha to fireplace Wolves to security?

Wolves vs Fulham – Tuesday, 7.30pm kick-off

Wolves had 9 factors from 16 video games when Vitor Pereira was appointed simply earlier than Christmas. They had been 5 factors from security, nearer to backside membership Southampton than drawing away from the relegation positions. They face Fulham on Tuesday a membership revived.

The win over Bournemouth was their fourth with out conceding below Pereira within the Premier League. Add in two FA Cup wins and Wolves have gained greater than they’ve misplaced since he arrived. Beat Fulham and they’d transfer eight factors away from the drop zone.

None of it might have been doable with out Matheus Cunha. With 13 Premier League targets this season, a complete bettered by solely six gamers within the competitors, all of them enjoying for golf equipment far greater up the desk, he has been Wolves’ distinction maker.

After a January by which media hypothesis about his future raged, Cunha has scored in every of his 4 video games in February. The Brazilian ahead has by no means scored in 5 video games in a row in knowledgeable profession that has spanned 5 golf equipment in 4 completely different international locations.

He dismantled Fulham within the reverse fixture earlier this season, scoring two gorgeous targets and aiding one other in a 4-1 win for Wolves at Craven Cottage, the workforce’s greatest of the season. Something near a repeat would all however finish relegation fears.
Adam Bate

Chelsea’s probability to seek out some confidence

Chelsea vs Southampton – Tuesday, 8.15pm kick-off

Chelsea’s backbone has taken a little bit of successful in the previous few weeks.

Cole Palmer’s purpose and help output has dried up, neither of Chelsea’s two goalkeepers seem eager on saving a shot, Nicolas Jackson is injured whereas Trevoh Chalobah has joined a defensive absentee record that appears to develop and develop.

All of the whereas, Enzo Maresca’s Blues have slid down from Champions League certainties to seventh place. What they want is a few respite, and fortunately for them backside of the league Southampton are coming to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

It provides Palmer an opportunity to get again to his finest, the prospect of a primary Premier League clear sheet in two months, plus a strategy to give their Jackson-less ahead line some confidence. Pedro Neto impressed as a false 9 possibility in opposition to Aston Villa – nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient for a win.

Maresca nonetheless has the prospect to show this league season into successful. But when they slip up right here, the doubters will develop in numbers…
Sam Blitz

Why a win is so wanted for Man Utd this week

Man Utd vs Ipswich – Wednesday, 7.30pm kick-off

Ruben Amorim is studying that there’s nowhere to cover at Manchester United. Endurance is already beginning to put on skinny in some quarters after claiming simply 15 factors from a doable 45 within the Premier League since he was appointed.

However the match-going followers proceed to remain supportive of their head coach regardless of paying good cash to see arguably the worst workforce the membership has produced for a protracted whereas.

Amorim has been unable to repay this religion with performances to match at Outdated Trafford although. United have misplaced 5 of their seven house league video games with Amorim in cost and their solely wins got here in opposition to Everton below Sean Dyche and Southampton.

How he may do with a victory on Wednesday in opposition to Ipswich to carry the temper. It doesn’t assist that the build-up will likely be dominated by the announcement of a possible additional 200 redundancies and free employees lunches being lower at Outdated Trafford on matchdays.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists these cost-cutting measures are vital to rework and renew the membership, however the good thing about these modifications, if profitable, are unlikely to be felt for a while. Within the meantime, Amorim, as head coach, should undergo the results.

The gamers are feeling the strain of enjoying at Outdated Trafford and that isn’t helped by the seemingly rising discontent amongst supporters in relation to the operating of the membership, and that has been mirrored within the ambiance on matchdays.

There’s little or no pleasure within the air on the Theatre of Goals proper now. Amorim will likely be hoping he can provide them one thing to cheer about on Wednesday – some mild reduction to ease the ache of yet one more dismal season.

INEOS would little question take pleasure in among the strain being eased, even whether it is for a short time.
Zinny Boswell

Liverpool already being topped champions – how will Arsenal reply?

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal – Wednesday, 7.30pm kick-off

The weekend that simply handed is being heralded because the second the title race slipped away from Arsenal. Liverpool capitalised on their house defeat to West Ham in dominant type with a crushing 2-0 win at Manchester Metropolis. It was crushing for Arsenal too.

Failure to win at Metropolis was one of many outcomes that value them the title final season. They’ve been proper there for the final two years, narrowly lacking out to Metropolis, kings of England 4 years operating. Arsenal had been subsequent in line for the throne, it appeared.

However Liverpool have emerged as shock runaway leaders this season. Underestimated as a result of it was anticipated that Arne Slot might battle to comply with Jurgen Klopp. How flawed these predictions had been, with the Reds 11 factors clear with 11 league video games remaining for them.

Mathematically, after all, Arsenal are nonetheless within the title race as they’ve a sport in hand and nonetheless must go to Liverpool. However it might take the league leaders, who’ve misplaced simply as soon as within the league below Slot, to drop 9 factors between now and the tip of the season. Unlikely.

Arsenal, with out a recognised striker, would even have to remain excellent for that to occur. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out for the season, which leaves Arteta to make do with midfielder Mikel Merino up entrance, or probably one in every of his different large forwards.

The extra you dig into it, the extra it appears Arsenal are simply combating for satisfaction at this level. But it surely raises an attention-grabbing query of how Arteta will inspire his gamers and what sort of Arsenal we’ll see between now and the tip of the season within the league.

Defeat at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday would take Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet to inside three factors of the Gunners, who’ve misplaced three of their final 4 journeys to the Metropolis Floor. It’s not unthinkable given Arsenal’s accidents and Forest’s kind this season.

Not solely would such an end result crystallise Liverpool as champions-elect, however it might additionally result in Arsenal wanting over their shoulders within the closing weeks of the season. Arteta wants a response from his injury-stricken squad.
Zinny Boswell

Ange to do treble over Pep?

Tottenham vs Man Metropolis – Wednesday, 7.30pm kick-off

Tottenham’s shock 4-0 victory on the Etihad in November laid Manchester Metropolis’s points naked though proved to be a false daybreak for Ange Postecoglou’s facet, who can earn a 3rd victory of the season over the champions.

Spurs had travelled with out each first-choice centre-backs, had 5 youngsters on the bench, and had misplaced their final sport 2-1 at house to Ipswich but surprised Metropolis to maneuver as much as sixth. Nevertheless, their harm issues would quickly overwhelm them throughout the winter interval and ship them tumbling down the league.

Lower than a month earlier, Tottenham had knocked a much-changed Metropolis out of the Carabao Cup and may now land a blow to their top-four hopes. With back-to-back victories and an harm disaster easing, Spurs are starting to make constructive steps ahead once more.

Metropolis, after shedding to Actual Madrid within the Champions League, had been handed one other reminder of their decline in defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

Erling Haaland’s absence was felt in each fixtures but Guardiola’s focus will likely be on how he rebuilds his all-conquering facet and, within the meantime, how they cease a rejuvenated Spurs.
David Richardson

From Beto to Eto’o and the credit score Moyes deserves

Brentford vs Everton – Wednesday, 7.30pm kick-off

Typically it is simple to make soccer seem like a easy sport. David Moyes has labored sufficient magic with beleaguered striker Beto that after a number of quick weeks, supporters are evaluating him to Samuel Eto’o, and never simply due to their comparable names.

Simply take a look at the kind of possibilities he’s being given. Everton followers had misplaced endurance with Beto throughout his restricted appearances below Sean Dyche, however there was an appreciation that being requested to play together with his again to purpose and feed off scraps from crosses was by no means going to be his forte.

9 of his 24 photographs have come from headers, however solely one in every of his six targets. 4 of the opposite 5 strikes have adopted the same sample, sitting on the shoulder of the final man and ending clinically when performed in behind.

Moyes is harshly dogged as a ‘defensive supervisor’ as a result of his counter-attacking type will be nice viewing, and massively efficient when it is on tune.

And it performs into the strengths of direct, pacy ahead gamers – like Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio at West Ham, and like the massive Brazilian at Goodison Park.

Beto remains to be a tough diamond, however Moyes is profiting from the standard he has. Sufficient to show him from resembling a Beta of a Premier League striker into one way more suited to the comparisons together with his near-namesake Samuel.
Ron Walker

Reds know to not take their eye off the ball in opposition to Newcastle

Liverpool vs Newcastle United – Wednesday, 8.15pm kick-off

Regardless of his facet being 11 factors away from Arsenal on the prime of the Premier League after Sunday’s spectacular 2-0 win at Man Metropolis and seemingly closing in on the Premier League title, Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot is refusing to look past Wednesday’s go to of Newcastle United, who in addition they face in March’s Carabao Cup closing, to Anfield.

The Reds produced an equally complete show to see off the champions again firstly of December, solely to then be introduced right down to earth by an exhilarating 3-3 draw at St James’ Park a number of days later in a conflict by which the Premier League’s prime two scorers, Mo Salah and Alexander Isak, netted.

That’s the reason Slot has warned his gamers to not take their collective eye off the ball after they host a fifth-placed Magpies facet with Champions League soccer subsequent season now in sight after victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday noticed them near inside simply three factors of their opponents in third.

“Now we play against Newcastle and we played a 3-3 over there which was, in my opinion, also a good result, although after 89 minutes we were 3-2 up, but we also experienced how difficult that one is,” stated the Dutchman after his workforce’s win on the Etihad,

“In every other league, I think a lead like this would be very comfortable – except for this one because in this league every single game gives you a lot of challenges.”
Richard Morgan

Hammers seek for different formulation to construct on win at Arsenal

West Ham vs Leicester – Thursday, 8pm kick-off

West Ham will go into their Thursday evening house sport in opposition to listless Leicester with a spring of their step after their spectacular win at Arsenal on Saturday. However this completely different problem brings completely different calls for – and can throw deal with Graham Potter’s finest method in opposition to sides West Ham ought to be capable of take the sport to.

Defeats to Brentford and Crystal Palace on the London Stadium, which preceded the win at Arsenal, noticed the Hammers dominate possession however fail to seek out the ultimate third thrust to make that management depend. They must present enchancment in that division right here to take care of the momentum.

The again three which delivered constructive performances at Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa will certainly be parked in opposition to the Foxes, who’ve conceded 10 of their final three league video games. So is loanee Evan Ferguson – a sub on the Emirates – now prepared to start out on the head of a 4-2-3-1?

West Ham had 31 photographs because the shedding facet at Leicester in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first sport in cost in December. If Ferguson can deliver the scientific ending Jarrod Bowen confirmed at Arsenal, that may free Bowen and Mohammed Kudus to tackle their most popular wing roles, Lucas Paqueta to function in a deeper inventive place moderately than as a makeshift false 9 seen in opposition to Brentford, and a template for the Hammers may emerge.
Peter Smith