England's Top Division: Ten Crucial Takeaways from the Weekend's Fixtures
The most recent set of top-flight fixtures provided a wealth of excitement, unexpected scores, and interesting subplots. Ranging from duels between coaches to star performances, we examine the major points emerging from the encounters.
The Chelsea Boss Stands Firm Against Pep Guardiola
The Chelsea manager's surprise confrontation with the celebrated tactician recalled memories of previous David vs Goliath coaching battles. In the case of the Chelsea boss, embarking on his first-team maiden game, the mission was ending his side's dreadful run of form versus Guardiola's side. An injury-time strike from the Argentine midfielder secured a crucial point, an achievement previous incumbents had struggled to do.
2. Liverpool's Inability to Close Games Out
Despite Florian Wirtz scoring the net, the Merseyside club ended up disappointed after allowing a lead slip away against Fulham. The issue of failing to command matches when in front persists, with the side previously throwing away identical leads in previous outings. Before the team master the skill of seeing out a game, the campaign promises to be a challenging process.
The Arsenal Midfielder Shows Faith In Viktor Gyökeres to Find Form
The Swedish forward is going through a lengthy run without scoring from live action, but his midfield colleague Declan Rice is adamant the player is still vitally influential. Rice pointed to Gyökeres' hold-up play and team-oriented efforts as key to Arsenal's form. "Good things are sure to come," was Rice's supportive assessment for his misfiring teammate.
Ruben Amorim Needs Benjamin Sesko to Improve
Given the Red Devils setting up in a particularly conservative way, the burden fell on the attacking pair to make the difference. Whereas one forward maintained his excellent run, the summer signing suffered another difficult outing. The Slovenian has scored elusive since his high-profile switch and wasted a golden opportunity to snatch the match. January offers a pressing need for him to find his scoring touch.
5. Le FĂ©e Leaves Tottenham in a Spin
The Sunderland manager positioned the French midfielder in a unfamiliar position initially, before releasing him further forward as the match progressed. The switch turned out to be inspired, with he becoming the chief creator of the visitor's comeback for an leveler. After directing the woodwork, he supplied a sumptuous through ball for the all-important goal. Having found his feet to the demands of the Premier League, his campaign continues to grow.
Nuno EspĂrito Santo Fails to Take Chance to Introduce Pablo Felipe
In a embarrassing loss for the Hammers, head coach the Portuguese coach decided not to use any of his permitted substitutes. This meant new signing the forward, who stayed on the bench even with his club's chronic ineffectiveness. He suggested it would have been "too harsh" to throw the recently-arrived striker into the fray. However, with scoring at a shortage, the urgency to assimilate the 22-year-old rapidly is abundantly apparent.
7. Miley Makes Another Major Case
The teenage sensation turned in yet another superb showing whilst filling in at right-back. The youngster was excellent in his own half, created the first goal, and lifted the team in a stop-start encounter. Now that first-choice defenders available, the conundrum for coach the Newcastle boss is how to fit the remarkably mature player in his natural central midfield position. "Future Toon sides will surely be designed around Miley," seems an a safe prediction.
8. Is the Dyche Effect Running Out at Nottingham Forest?
Sean Dyche's early effect at the club was positive, but doubts are starting to surface about the team's adaptability. Forest's transition threat is still there, but appears diminished without previous personnel. Whilst disciplined when sitting back, they can struggle when needing to open up. Giving the ball away in those circumstances has proven punishing, a problem they must rectify quickly.
9. Thiago's Goal Rush Ends The Bees' Travel Woes
Brentford produced a showing that belied their dismal travel sickness. Central to their impressive win was the in-form scoring of striker Igor Thiago. Thiago's goals are providing a base for the team to build on. Teammate Kevin Schade even suggested the lofty target of European qualification as a target, highlighting the renewed belief in the squad.
