1. United, once again, far from convincing at either end
United were caught cold by Stoke but responded to take a share of the spoils Lynne Cameron
Lynne Cameron
ANOTHER GAME, ANOTHER centre-back pairing for Manchester United. With Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling starting at Stoke together for the first time this season, it brought the number of combinations Louis van Gaal has fielded in defence to 25 in the Premier League this term.
And, it showed at the Potteries. While the Britannia Stadium is never the easiest place to go, United’s rearguard was disjointed from the first minute – evidenced by Ryan Shawcross’ goal.
Evans, in particular, came in for criticism for a shaky display during which he was bullied by Mame Biram Diouf. Injuries haven’t helped but there are no clear indications that United’s defensive issues are being addressed.
With the January transfer window open, van Gaal will be desperate to bolster his ranks with an experienced operator but, in truth, there aren’t many on the market. From the outset today, the visitors were vulnerable and never ready gained a semblance of control.
Afterwards, van Gaal admitted his side weren’t good enough and while they’ve extended their unbeaten run to 10 games, they continue to fall further behind the top two. The midfield axis of Carrick-Rooney-Mata is encouraging and they’ve showed a real understanding over the festive period but Robin van Persie is still a million miles away from top form and was a passenger for much of the game.
Van Gaal insists there is much much more to come from his team in 2015 and there have been signs of improvement but nothing for the United fans to get too excited about.
2. Leicester and Burnley are far from dead and buried
The Foxes earned an unlikely draw at Anfield Peter Byrne
Peter Byrne
Many had already written Leicester and Burnley off after they both endured difficult starts to life back in the top-flight but there is hope yet for the promoted sides.
Leicester remain rooted to the foot of the table and have just three wins from 20 games but they’re beginning to regain the exuberance and confidence that underpinned their lively start to the campaign.
Since beating Man United, Nigel Pearson’s side had embarked on a miserable run but the hard-earned 1-0 win at Hull on Sunday was followed up by a morale-boosting and extraordinary comeback at Anfield today.
The visitors looked dead and buried after two first-half penalties put Liverpool in control but the Foxes showed a level of character not previously seen this season to fight back and stun the Kop.
While they remain four points from safety, it gives Leicester some much-needed momentum, something which Burnley now have in abundance. The Clarets came from 2-0 down at Eastlands last time out and showed similar tenacity to earn a point at St. James’ Park today, coming from behind on three occasions.
Advertisement
It’s only a start for both, however, and they’ll need to show a lot more fighting spirit to claw themselves to safety. But, it’s a great way to start 2015.
3. Lampard shows all his worth
Super Frank Barrington Coombs
Barrington Coombs
Twelve hours after extending his contract at Man City until the end of the season, Frank Lampard, at 36-years-old, showed all his worth as he came off the bench to score the winner against Sunderland.
When the midfielder signed for City before the campaign started, a couple of eyebrows were raised as many observers questioned how much game time he would get. His impact has been remarkable, however.
Not only has he scored seven Premier League goals but with Yaya Toure heading off to the African Cup of Nations shortly, Lampard will be a vital cog in City’s wheel.
For a second successive game, City threw away a 2-0 lead but Lampard spared the home sides’ blushes with a neat finish. It was a crucial three points for Manuel Pellegrini’s side as they move level on points with Chelsea at the summit.
Despite playing with no strikers for the entire festive period, the defending champions have managed to grind out the results and this Lampard winner comes just a couple of weeks after he did the same at Leicester.
It remains a possibility that Lampard could inspire City, in the second-half of the campaign, to pip his former employers to the title. Now, there’s a thought.
4. New Year, same old Arsenal
It wasn't a good start to 2015 for Arsenal AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Every year Arsenal do just enough to finish inside the top four but with this season’s race for European football proving to be the most competitive in quite some time, the Gunners won’t want to lose too much ground on those above them.
Few would have predicted Southampton’s lofty position at this stage of the campaign but with today’s 2-0 win, the Saints have opened up a three point lead over Arsene Wenger’s side. With four, maybe five, sides jostling for just two spots – assuming Chelsea and Man City finish as one, two or vice versa – then Arsenal will want to start hitting their straps sooner rather than later.
The defeat at St Mary’s was typical of Arsenal’s perennial tendency to blow-up away from home. The ignominious defeat to Stoke before Christmas had a section of fans calling for Wenger’s head and today the murmurings of discontent surfaced again as a series of blunders from Wojciech Szczesny gave the hosts three vital points.
With Spurs’ win over Chelsea, Arsenal now slip to sixth. Next-up for the Gunners? Mark Hughes’ Stoke.
5. Everton’s sink deeper into the mire
Everton's festive woes continued Ryan Browne
Ryan Browne
At what point to the Goodison Park hierarchy feel enough is enough? After finishing 5th last term, the Toffees have endured a miserable season and a 2-0 defeat at struggling Hull on Thursday was their fourth straight reversal.
They currently lie in 13th place with just 21 points from 20 games and although their good Europa League form has been encouraging, they continue to flounder domestically.
Roberto Martinez’s side are not only leaking goals but firing blanks at the other end with the players that inspired them to such a stellar campaign last term now unable to make an impression.
Injuries haven’t helped but it must be confounding for the Goodison faithful as they watch their side, who performed so admirably in 2013/14, now struggle to dispatch the league’s bottom sides.
It was always going to be difficult for Martinez to replicate the highs of last year given many felt they overachieved but not many would have envisaged such a reversal in form and fortune.
Things don’t get much easier, either. Following the weekend’s FA Cup tie at West Ham, Man City visit Merseyside. It would be the perfect fixture to kick-start their faltering season but, boy, do they need a spark.
6. Chelsea Kaned at the Lane
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Where did that come from? It was only the third time Chelsea conceded five goals in a Premier League match. Before today, Chelsea had only conceded three goals in their previous eight league outings. It was the first time Chelsea leaked four goals in the Premier League under Jose Mourinho.
After the draw at Southampton and Mourinho’s resulting rant, there are a couple of signs that the once invincible Blues are becoming a little unstuck. The 5-3 defeat at White Hart Lane was so un-Chelsea like. They were cut apart at will by Spurs as their defence was left horribly exposed.
It is only their second defeat of the season but the manner in which they submerged to their London neighbours could be hugely significant. Now, their lead is no more and the visit of Man City to Stamford Bridge in a couple of weeks has taken on an added significance.
While this could be a defining juncture in Chelsea’s season, it was the result Mauricio Pochettino desperately craved to truly endear himself to the White Hart Lane faithful.
Harry Kane is already a fans favourite. He has now scored 16 goals in all competitions this term and only Sergio Aguero has more. Kane has developed into one of the league’s most exciting young strikers and now Spurs sit just two points outside the top four.
Goals, upsets and comebacks - 6 talking points from Thursday's Premier League action
1. United, once again, far from convincing at either end
ANOTHER GAME, ANOTHER centre-back pairing for Manchester United. With Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling starting at Stoke together for the first time this season, it brought the number of combinations Louis van Gaal has fielded in defence to 25 in the Premier League this term.
And, it showed at the Potteries. While the Britannia Stadium is never the easiest place to go, United’s rearguard was disjointed from the first minute – evidenced by Ryan Shawcross’ goal.
Evans, in particular, came in for criticism for a shaky display during which he was bullied by Mame Biram Diouf. Injuries haven’t helped but there are no clear indications that United’s defensive issues are being addressed.
With the January transfer window open, van Gaal will be desperate to bolster his ranks with an experienced operator but, in truth, there aren’t many on the market. From the outset today, the visitors were vulnerable and never ready gained a semblance of control.
Afterwards, van Gaal admitted his side weren’t good enough and while they’ve extended their unbeaten run to 10 games, they continue to fall further behind the top two. The midfield axis of Carrick-Rooney-Mata is encouraging and they’ve showed a real understanding over the festive period but Robin van Persie is still a million miles away from top form and was a passenger for much of the game.
Van Gaal insists there is much much more to come from his team in 2015 and there have been signs of improvement but nothing for the United fans to get too excited about.
2. Leicester and Burnley are far from dead and buried
Many had already written Leicester and Burnley off after they both endured difficult starts to life back in the top-flight but there is hope yet for the promoted sides.
Leicester remain rooted to the foot of the table and have just three wins from 20 games but they’re beginning to regain the exuberance and confidence that underpinned their lively start to the campaign.
Since beating Man United, Nigel Pearson’s side had embarked on a miserable run but the hard-earned 1-0 win at Hull on Sunday was followed up by a morale-boosting and extraordinary comeback at Anfield today.
The visitors looked dead and buried after two first-half penalties put Liverpool in control but the Foxes showed a level of character not previously seen this season to fight back and stun the Kop.
While they remain four points from safety, it gives Leicester some much-needed momentum, something which Burnley now have in abundance. The Clarets came from 2-0 down at Eastlands last time out and showed similar tenacity to earn a point at St. James’ Park today, coming from behind on three occasions.
It’s only a start for both, however, and they’ll need to show a lot more fighting spirit to claw themselves to safety. But, it’s a great way to start 2015.
3. Lampard shows all his worth
Twelve hours after extending his contract at Man City until the end of the season, Frank Lampard, at 36-years-old, showed all his worth as he came off the bench to score the winner against Sunderland.
When the midfielder signed for City before the campaign started, a couple of eyebrows were raised as many observers questioned how much game time he would get. His impact has been remarkable, however.
Not only has he scored seven Premier League goals but with Yaya Toure heading off to the African Cup of Nations shortly, Lampard will be a vital cog in City’s wheel.
For a second successive game, City threw away a 2-0 lead but Lampard spared the home sides’ blushes with a neat finish. It was a crucial three points for Manuel Pellegrini’s side as they move level on points with Chelsea at the summit.
Despite playing with no strikers for the entire festive period, the defending champions have managed to grind out the results and this Lampard winner comes just a couple of weeks after he did the same at Leicester.
It remains a possibility that Lampard could inspire City, in the second-half of the campaign, to pip his former employers to the title. Now, there’s a thought.
4. New Year, same old Arsenal
Every year Arsenal do just enough to finish inside the top four but with this season’s race for European football proving to be the most competitive in quite some time, the Gunners won’t want to lose too much ground on those above them.
Few would have predicted Southampton’s lofty position at this stage of the campaign but with today’s 2-0 win, the Saints have opened up a three point lead over Arsene Wenger’s side. With four, maybe five, sides jostling for just two spots – assuming Chelsea and Man City finish as one, two or vice versa – then Arsenal will want to start hitting their straps sooner rather than later.
The defeat at St Mary’s was typical of Arsenal’s perennial tendency to blow-up away from home. The ignominious defeat to Stoke before Christmas had a section of fans calling for Wenger’s head and today the murmurings of discontent surfaced again as a series of blunders from Wojciech Szczesny gave the hosts three vital points.
With Spurs’ win over Chelsea, Arsenal now slip to sixth. Next-up for the Gunners? Mark Hughes’ Stoke.
5. Everton’s sink deeper into the mire
At what point to the Goodison Park hierarchy feel enough is enough? After finishing 5th last term, the Toffees have endured a miserable season and a 2-0 defeat at struggling Hull on Thursday was their fourth straight reversal.
They currently lie in 13th place with just 21 points from 20 games and although their good Europa League form has been encouraging, they continue to flounder domestically.
Roberto Martinez’s side are not only leaking goals but firing blanks at the other end with the players that inspired them to such a stellar campaign last term now unable to make an impression.
Injuries haven’t helped but it must be confounding for the Goodison faithful as they watch their side, who performed so admirably in 2013/14, now struggle to dispatch the league’s bottom sides.
It was always going to be difficult for Martinez to replicate the highs of last year given many felt they overachieved but not many would have envisaged such a reversal in form and fortune.
Things don’t get much easier, either. Following the weekend’s FA Cup tie at West Ham, Man City visit Merseyside. It would be the perfect fixture to kick-start their faltering season but, boy, do they need a spark.
6. Chelsea Kaned at the Lane
Where did that come from? It was only the third time Chelsea conceded five goals in a Premier League match. Before today, Chelsea had only conceded three goals in their previous eight league outings. It was the first time Chelsea leaked four goals in the Premier League under Jose Mourinho.
After the draw at Southampton and Mourinho’s resulting rant, there are a couple of signs that the once invincible Blues are becoming a little unstuck. The 5-3 defeat at White Hart Lane was so un-Chelsea like. They were cut apart at will by Spurs as their defence was left horribly exposed.
It is only their second defeat of the season but the manner in which they submerged to their London neighbours could be hugely significant. Now, their lead is no more and the visit of Man City to Stamford Bridge in a couple of weeks has taken on an added significance.
While this could be a defining juncture in Chelsea’s season, it was the result Mauricio Pochettino desperately craved to truly endear himself to the White Hart Lane faithful.
Harry Kane is already a fans favourite. He has now scored 16 goals in all competitions this term and only Sergio Aguero has more. Kane has developed into one of the league’s most exciting young strikers and now Spurs sit just two points outside the top four.
- Originally published 19.50
Managerless Newcastle stunned by dogged Burnley as Pardew watches Palace draw at Villa
New Year, same old Arsenal as Szczesny blunders cost Gunners at St Mary’s
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Analysis Barclays Premier League Talking Points