LIVERPOOL WERE MOSTLY able to compensate for their leaking defence last season due to Luis Suarez’s 31 league goals, but with the Uruguayan gone, the spotlight is shining on their error-prone back division even more. They made QPR’s Bobby Zamora look like Didier Drogba in his prime, and the veteran striker caused havoc between Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren all day.
Set-pieces are still a massive issue for Liverpool, and the ease with which Eduardo Vargas got a run on Jordan Henderson for QPR’s second equaliser will worry Brendan Rodgers. They may have just about eked out a 3-2 win, but Real Madrid come to Anfield on Wednesday, and it could be reminiscent of Brazil vs Germany at the last World Cup unless Liverpool tighten up at the back.
Manchester City too strong for error-prone Tottenham
In a manner not dissimilar to neighbours Arsenal, Tottenham have a reputation for crumbling against top Premier League opposition.
Last season, in home and away matches against Manchester City and Liverpool alone, they suffered aggregate losses of 11-1 and 9-0.
Yesterday against City, their dismal form continued, as Spurs showed why they are considered as a soft touch in the big games.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked a shambles at the back at the best of times, with Federico Fazio, Erik Lamela and Younes Kaboul all conceding needless penalties. Tottenham were deservedly well beaten as a consequence, with four-goal hero Sergio Aguero the main beneficiary of their multiple inadequacies.
Advertisement
Take a bow, Michael Oliver!
https://vine.co/v/Ob1hqleM6OY
For a long time, footballer watchers have voiced their frustration at referees’ ostensible allergy to awarding penalties during corners whereby systematic jersey-tugging takes places in the box.
Stoke fans and players of course, were both perplexed and infuriated, but their ire should surely have been directed towards defender Ryan Shawcross — the true culprit, who was foolish enough to risk getting away with the infringement.
The Potters ultimately weren’t made to pay for this incident however, as a perfectly placed header from substitute Jon Walters ensured they claimed all three points at the Britannia Stadium today.
Welbeck, who has five goals in seven appearances since joining Arsenal from Manchester United, is one of the few bright spots amid a generally disconcerting outlook.
The North London side only have one win in their last seven games, and are now sweating on a Jack Wilshere injury, after the midfielder went off with a knee injury, ahead of an important Champions League clash away to Anderlecht on Wednesday.
Moreover, with their squad currently suffering a number of injuries, their lack of strength in depth was highlighted, with Nacho Monreal selected at centre-back and teenager Hector Bellerin making his first start at right-back. Their bench, similarly, featured low-profile players, such as Joel Campbell, Damián Martínez, Francis Coquelin and Semi Ajayi.
Not many modern sides could claim to have the talent to match the Gunners back then, but Arsene Wenger’s men would have done well to have maintained this run of form against the current Chelsea side.
Jose Mourinho’s men were at far from their vintage best away to Crystal Palace yesterday, yet they still managed to beat Neil Warnock’s side 2-1 without the services of injured star man Diego Costa.
However, their other maestro, Cesc Fabregas, compensated for Costa’s absence with an influential display, which was capped off with a fine goal. The Spaniard has therefore now been involved in eight goals from eight games since joining Chelsea in the summer.
Nevertheless, the Stamford Bridge outfit’s collective strength is just as strong when compared with their individual brilliance, as the fact that 10 different players have already scored for Chelsea since the start of the campaign illustrates.
5 talking points from this weekend's Premier League action
Will Liverpool’s defence ever improve?
LIVERPOOL WERE MOSTLY able to compensate for their leaking defence last season due to Luis Suarez’s 31 league goals, but with the Uruguayan gone, the spotlight is shining on their error-prone back division even more. They made QPR’s Bobby Zamora look like Didier Drogba in his prime, and the veteran striker caused havoc between Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren all day.
Set-pieces are still a massive issue for Liverpool, and the ease with which Eduardo Vargas got a run on Jordan Henderson for QPR’s second equaliser will worry Brendan Rodgers. They may have just about eked out a 3-2 win, but Real Madrid come to Anfield on Wednesday, and it could be reminiscent of Brazil vs Germany at the last World Cup unless Liverpool tighten up at the back.
Manchester City too strong for error-prone Tottenham
In a manner not dissimilar to neighbours Arsenal, Tottenham have a reputation for crumbling against top Premier League opposition.
Last season, in home and away matches against Manchester City and Liverpool alone, they suffered aggregate losses of 11-1 and 9-0.
Yesterday against City, their dismal form continued, as Spurs showed why they are considered as a soft touch in the big games.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked a shambles at the back at the best of times, with Federico Fazio, Erik Lamela and Younes Kaboul all conceding needless penalties. Tottenham were deservedly well beaten as a consequence, with four-goal hero Sergio Aguero the main beneficiary of their multiple inadequacies.
Take a bow, Michael Oliver!
https://vine.co/v/Ob1hqleM6OY
For a long time, footballer watchers have voiced their frustration at referees’ ostensible allergy to awarding penalties during corners whereby systematic jersey-tugging takes places in the box.
Yet today, referee Michael Oliver bravely bucked this trend, during Stoke’s encounter with Swansea earlier.
Stoke fans and players of course, were both perplexed and infuriated, but their ire should surely have been directed towards defender Ryan Shawcross — the true culprit, who was foolish enough to risk getting away with the infringement.
The Potters ultimately weren’t made to pay for this incident however, as a perfectly placed header from substitute Jon Walters ensured they claimed all three points at the Britannia Stadium today.
Worrying times for Arsenal
Only a last-minute Danny Welbeck goal against Hull yesterday prevented the Gunners from equalling their worst start to a league season since Arsene Wenger took charge in 1996.
Welbeck, who has five goals in seven appearances since joining Arsenal from Manchester United, is one of the few bright spots amid a generally disconcerting outlook.
The North London side only have one win in their last seven games, and are now sweating on a Jack Wilshere injury, after the midfielder went off with a knee injury, ahead of an important Champions League clash away to Anderlecht on Wednesday.
Moreover, with their squad currently suffering a number of injuries, their lack of strength in depth was highlighted, with Nacho Monreal selected at centre-back and teenager Hector Bellerin making his first start at right-back. Their bench, similarly, featured low-profile players, such as Joel Campbell, Damián Martínez, Francis Coquelin and Semi Ajayi.
Chelsea continue imperious form
Earlier in the week, The Guardian published extracts from a new book commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the campaign that saw the legendary Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ team go the entire season unbeaten.
Not many modern sides could claim to have the talent to match the Gunners back then, but Arsene Wenger’s men would have done well to have maintained this run of form against the current Chelsea side.
Jose Mourinho’s men were at far from their vintage best away to Crystal Palace yesterday, yet they still managed to beat Neil Warnock’s side 2-1 without the services of injured star man Diego Costa.
However, their other maestro, Cesc Fabregas, compensated for Costa’s absence with an influential display, which was capped off with a fine goal. The Spaniard has therefore now been involved in eight goals from eight games since joining Chelsea in the summer.
Nevertheless, the Stamford Bridge outfit’s collective strength is just as strong when compared with their individual brilliance, as the fact that 10 different players have already scored for Chelsea since the start of the campaign illustrates.
Roy Keane-Saipan debacle sparked by Iran pull-out – Niall Quinn>
‘I can’t understand why the FAI aren’t listening to the best footballers in the world’>
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Analysis Barclays Premier League Talking Points Liverpool Manchester City Queens Park Rangers Tottenham Hotspur