TEN THINGS WE LEARNED from the Premier League

This 12 months’s post-Christmas fixtures marked the midway level of the Premier League season, and we have been served up loads of festive treats.

Manchester United battled again from two objectives right down to beat Aston Villa in a five-goal thriller at Old Trafford, whereas Liverpool maintained their title problem with a 2-0 win at Burnley.

But it was a dismal Boxing Day for Newcastle as they misplaced 3-1 at house to Nottingham Forest, with Chris Wood scoring a hat-trick to hang-out his former membership and hand Nuno Espirito his first win since changing Steve Cooper. Bournemouth swatted apart Fulham to proceed their sensible run of kind and Luton edged previous Sheffield United in a relegation six-pointer.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have been dealt a hammer blow in opposition to West Ham, Chelsea received again on observe, Spurs continued their stuttering season whereas Man City received again to profitable methods after getting back from the Club World Cup. 

Mail Sport has checked out 10 issues we realized from the midweek Premier League motion. 

Garnacho has shortly turn into United’s go-to winger

United made a behavior of coming from behind to win video games throughout their glory years beneath Sir Alex Ferguson, however few gave them a prayer of beating Villa after they trailed 2-0 at half-time on Boxing Day.

Yet the Red Devils produced an impressed second-half show, and teenage sensation Alejandro Garnacho was on the coronary heart of it.

Garnacho may be irritating to observe and his finish product has been questioned, however he’s additionally able to producing moments of breathtaking high quality, as we noticed along with his gorgeous overhead kick purpose in opposition to Everton final month.

On Tuesday night time, he took it upon himself to get United again into the sport, scoring twice to drag his aspect stage earlier than Rasmus Hojlund netted the winner.

Garnacho has confirmed himself to be United’s finest winger this season, and he isn’t afraid to strive issues that will not all the time come off. It has been a torrid season for Erik ten Hag’s males, however they deserve immense credit score for the character they confirmed in opposition to Villa, and it was Garnacho who kickstarted the comeback. 

Liverpool have the firepower to manage with out Salah

Mohamed Salah is about to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations subsequent week, and Liverpool may very well be with out their talisman for over a month.

Concerns have been raised over whether or not the Reds will battle for objectives when Salah leaves, however that wasn’t a difficulty on Boxing Day.

Darwin Nunez ended his purpose drought inside 5 minutes earlier than Diogo Jota returned from damage to attain late on and wrap up the three factors. Cody Gakpo’s efficiency was additionally a significant constructive as he regarded extra threatening than he has for a variety of weeks.

Jurgen Klopp additionally has Luis Diaz to throw into the combination, and Harvey Elliott is also pushed additional ahead after starring as a super-sub this time period.

Any group would miss Salah, however Tuesday’s show ought to give Liverpool followers motive to be optimistic that they’ll nonetheless rating loads of objectives over the approaching weeks.

Newcastle want to repair gaping gap in midfield

Newcastle have been badly hampered by accidents over the past two months, however Tuesday’s efficiency in opposition to Nottingham Forest was alarming.

Forest regarded harmful each time they went ahead and can marvel how they solely managed to attain three objectives ultimately. Newcastle’s midfield was nearly non-existent as Forest counter-attacked at will and created likelihood after likelihood.

Eddie Howe’s two years on the helm have been a significant success, however he’s now dealing with the most important problem of his tenure.

The Magpies have been knocked out of Europe and the Carabao Cup in December, and so they play Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa in January, plus the small matter of a North-East derby in opposition to Sunderland within the FA Cup.

Howe must discover a higher stability in his midfield or his aspect shall be picked aside in these video games and their season might start to collapse shortly. 

Kieran Trippier admitted after Tuesday’s defeat that his requirements have dropped in latest weeks. He just isn’t the one one struggling, however Newcastle don’t have any time to really feel sorry for themselves in the event that they wish to arrest their hunch and get again into the combination for a Champions League end.   

In-form Bournemouth might quickly be dreaming of Europe after gorgeous kind  

When Bournemouth have been thrashed 6-1 by Manchester City in the beginning of November, that they had taken simply six factors from their opening 11 video games and have been seventeenth within the desk – and supervisor Andoni Iraola regarded on the brink.

Seven matches later, they’ve picked up one other 19 factors, and a few Cherries followers could even be dreaming of their aspect mounting a cost to get into Europe.

It has been a exceptional turnaround for Iraola’s aspect, and they’re solely getting higher.

Their run has included wins over Newcastle and Manchester United, and Fulham had no reply for his or her free-flowing soccer on Tuesday both.

Bournemouth have been even given their first penalty in 20 months, which Dominic Solanke coolly transformed. There actually isn’t any stopping Bournemouth proper now. 

Relentless Luton’s vitality ranges may very well be their salvation

In the minds of some followers and pundits, it’s a foregone conclusion that Luton shall be relegated again right down to the Championship this season.

That dismissiveness is comprehensible when you think about that they solely received two of their first 16 video games. But they’ve doubled that tally of victories over the previous week to point out that they will not be happening with out a combat.

Their win in opposition to Newcastle earlier than Christmas noticed Rob Edwards’ aspect dig deep to hold on for an necessary 1-0 win. Playing once more three days later, he could have anxious that his gamers would battle to match these vitality ranges at Sheffield United.

With quarter-hour to go, Luton have been 2-1 down and heading for defeat, however they stored pushing and received their reward with two late objectives to show the sport of their favour.

The Hatters at the moment are inside putting distance of security and are beginning to construct some momentum. They may be capable of pull off the good escape. 

Nkunku provides Chelsea their attacking edge again 

Something has been lacking from Chelsea’s group this season – and after the final two video games it is clear that one thing has been Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea’s £52m signing has been absent for the whole season to date with a knee damage earlier than scoring on his Premier League debut in opposition to Wolves – and was then picked to begin within the Blues’ 2-1 win over Palace. 

Nkunku did not have the very best sport of his life in opposition to the Eagles, however what he did do was provide Chelsea an outlet in assault, resuming his harmful partnership with Nicolas Jackson from pre-season and permitting his team-mate to push additional ahead.

It additionally permits gamers like Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez to play of their pure, deeper positions in midfield – after beforehand filling in because the No 10 – and offering Nkunku the liberty to push up. 

Nkunku nonetheless wants extra time to get to his conditioning again to its finest after being withdrawn by Pochettino after 71 minutes however its clear he is supplied a direct affect and given Chelsea again their edge in assault.  

Discipline and inconsistency might price Spurs high 4

For Spurs this season, it looks like two steps ahead, three steps again.

Ange Postecoglou’s aspect went from shedding three in a row in November to profitable three in a row in December – earlier than struggling a dangerous 4-2 loss to Brighton.

But the defeat and inconsistent kind solely served to focus on a number of the identical obvious points that maintain arising for Tottenham of their defeats this season. A glance by way of the Brighton objectives exhibits two unbelievable strikes and two penalties – however what can’t be excused is the sick self-discipline that resulted within the two spot kicks. 

Kulusevski was rightly punished for making a gift of a useless penalty after some shirt-pulling, whereas Giovani Lo Celso confirmed whole carelessness to slip from behind. 

We’ve already seen Spurs choose up 4 crimson playing cards this season whereas there have been a handful of suspensions too. On high of sloppy defending and unfortunate accidents, Spurs’ season is being dismantled by poor self-discipline resulting in penalties and suspensions and it may very well be the distinction between a top-seven end and a top-four end.

Toothless Arsenal are in dire want of a brand new striker

Thirty photographs heading in the right direction, no objectives. Mikel Arteta may have been pulling his hair out after watching his aspect dominate West Ham however do little with the ball after their shock 2-0 loss that dealt a hammer blow to their title hopes. 

The Spaniard could not cover his disappointment with the group’s blunted assault pressure on the Emirates on Thursday night time as his gamers did not act on his scribbled notes to assault West Ham’s ‘sizzling zone’. 

The entrance three of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli did not threaten David Moyes’ aspect sufficient – with the previous hitting the submit as Arsenal’s struggles in entrance of purpose have been laid naked. 

A transfer for Ivan Toney has been mooted within the media and the Brentford striker will surely increase Arsenal’s numbers as they appear to overhaul Liverpool within the battle for the Premier League title. 

Guardiola is true to be involved over City’s leaky backline 

Josko Gvardiol’s rollicking by Pep Guardiola spoke a thousand phrases. 

Getting an earful after a 3-1 defeat is normally unparalleled after a 3-1 victory however the Man City coach couldn’t have been comfortable after initially going 1-0 down in opposition to Everton because it continued their woeful run of seven straight video games with out a clear sheet – stretching again to late October after they beat Man United 3-0. 

While City collected their fifth trophy of the calendar 12 months on the Club World Cup this month, they’ve hardly been the identical slick outfit from final season and defensively the Premier League champions have left loads to be desired.

Their final sport earlier than heading off to Saudi was a 2-2 draw at house to Crystal Palace by which they went 2-0 up earlier than a late collapse – and earlier within the month City had additionally twice led in opposition to Spurs till they capitulated in a 3-3 draw.

After additionally failing to maintain a clear sheet in following video games in opposition to Villa and even struggling Luton, Guardiola shall be involved about City’s lapses in focus on the again.

Their 21 objectives conceded this season is considerably greater than their title rivals Liverpool – who’ve solely let in 16 – whereas second-placed Arsenal have let in 18. Getting his aspect right into a extra stable defensive form shall be a precedence for Guardiola – who is aware of that scoring objectives is not a fear, even with out Erling Haaland.

West Ham have solely received higher since Declan Rice left 

The Hammers will need to have loved their well-known win over Arsenal that little bit extra after beating the group that took their star participant from final season for £105m – earlier than watching him concede a last-minute penalty too.

While Said Benrahma missed the ensuing spot kick, West Ham followers nonetheless loved taunting their former participant by chanting ‘Declan, Declan Rice’.

There’s little question the England star has been sensible since becoming a member of Arsenal, West Ham’s switch enterprise has been sensible sufficient that they have not missed him. 

Edson Alvarez has been very good for the Hammers, slotting into Rice’s previous position alongside final night time’s goalscorer Tomas Soucek – whereas James Ward-Prowse and Muhammad Kudus have additionally been unbelievable additions. 

Moyes’ males at the moment are 4 factors off fourth and may begin dreaming of an incredible finish to the marketing campaign.