Then things we learned from the Premier League weekend
Casemiro’s red raises questions over ref Andre Marriner, Arsenal give hint of their route to the title and Chelsea break a FIVE-MONTH streak: 10 things we learned from the Premier League weekend
- Arsenal’s comfortable win at Fulham echoed their Premier League season so far
- Bournemouth beat Liverpool 1-0 but the relegation race will still go to the wire
- And Casemiro’s red card raised more questions about consistency in refereeing
While the entire country was busy discussing the lack of football shows on our screens and even airwaves after Gary Lineker’s Match of the Day axe, there were plenty of talking points on the pitch itself.
It was a great week for some; Arsenal keeping up their run at the top of the table with a confident win over Fulham, while Manchester City kept pace with them by beating Crystal Palace – and struggling Bournemouth pulled off a shock by seeing off resurgent Liverpool.
For others it was a weekend to forget. Had Match of the Day not been reduced to a 20-minute highlights episode, pundits would have had a field day discussing Liverpool’s woes after they continued their dreadful away record at Bournemouth – and Casemiro’s controversial red card would have been scrutinised too following Manchester United’s draw at Southampton.
With an exciting race to the Champions League places on our hands, and a nine-way bun-fight to decide who will be relegated at the end of May, there’s plenty to delve into from this weekend’s Premier League action.
Sportsmail takes a look at ten things we learned from an eventful weekend of action.
QUESTIONS OVER MARRINER AFTER CASEMIRO VAR DEBACLE
If there’s one theme that has remained consistent this season – it’s the inconsistency of VAR decisions.
Casemiro’s red card during Man United’s 0-0 draw with Southampton may not necessarily have drawn criticism on its own, but in context, the straight red card has raised more questions about the state of the Premier League.
As VAR for the match at Old Trafford, Andre Marriner played a critical role in Casemiro’s dismissal less than 24 hours after he was criticised for missing calls in Leicester’s match with Chelsea.
Ricardo Pereira was not even booked for the Foxes after committing a dangerous tackle on Joao Felix at the King Power Stadium, but after Anthony Taylor initially was shown a yellow for his studs-up tackle on Carlos Alcaraz, Marriner advised his colleague to upgrade the colour to red.
While many agree Marriner was right to overule Taylor, the inconsistency of decisions made by VAR has led to huge frustrations among fans and pundits.
We’ve already had furore over incorrect offside lines being drawn by Lee Mason and John Brooks this season – and after being told VAR was more than 98 per cent accurate, this latest inconsistency will hardly whet anyone’s appetite for the technology.
Casemiro was given his second red card of the season after Andre Marriner intervened as the VAR official
But it came after he failed to book Ricardo Pereira for a dangerous challenge against Chelsea, leading to complaints over VAR’s inconstency
ARSENAL’S WIN OVER FULHAM IS A NOD TO THEIR TITLE ROUTE
It was a vital win for Arsenal against Fulham – especially after Manchester City’s win against Crystal Palace the day before, but maybe the nature of Sunday’s victory is a nod to their overall campaign.
Arsenal got out of the blocks really quickly, did the important hard graft early on, and just had to make sure they didn’t do anything stupid to let it slip in the latter stages. It feels much like their season so far.
The Gunners raced into a three goal lead at the break at Craven Cottage, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard all on target, and in truth Fulham fans will accept that it could have been worse.
After the Gunners overwhelmed the hosts in the first 45 minutes, they eased off the gas in the second half but their utter dominance and control summed up how the Gunners have taken control of this title race.
More performances like this from Mikel Arteta’s men can only mean their first title triumph since 2004 becomes inevitable, no matter how many games Man City win from now until the summer.
Arsenal’s first-half performance against Fulham echoed the way they have started the season
It was a critical three points for Mikel Arteta’s men in their search for the Premier League title
NEWCASTLE REDISCOVER THEIR TOUCH
The Magpies were flying at the beginning of the season, but found February and March much tougher months to weather.
Two draws at the beginning of last month were followed by defeats to Liverpool and then Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
If their heads were low, and maybe dipped further after the 2-0 defeat to Man City last weekend, they might have been grateful to finally get a win under their belts.
Eddie Howe would not have liked the way they conceded in the 70th minute to substitute Hwang Hee-Chan, but he would have been impressed by the way Newcastle got their noses back in front nine minutes later through Miguel Almiron.
It may just settle their nerves, with a winnable trip to Nottingham Forest on Friday ahead of the international break, and these three points could be critical in their hunt for European football next term.
They still have two games in hand over fourth-placed Tottenham, and if they win those then an unthinkable Champions League spot would be theirs for the taking.
Miguel Almiron’s winner in the 79th minute kept Newcastle’s fans happy amid turbulent month
STUTTERING TOTTENHAM COULD CHASE DOWN MAN UNITED
Life is not rosy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The fans were not impressed by their lack of fight when they were dismally dispatched from the Champions League. There’s no chance of silverware, and Antonio Conte’s spell in charge might be over at the end of the season. It may also instigate other player departures.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s time felt like it had truly arrived. There was significant praise for Erik ten Hag, and his side got their mitts on the Carabao Cup trophy. They were being tipped, potentially, to seize the league title from Arsenal, amid an audacious bid for four trophies.
So of course, the world is going to mess with these perspectives. Spurs winning 3-1 at home to Forest, coupled with Man United’s scoreless draw with Southampton, means Tottenham can go above the Red Devils next weekend if THEY can beat the Saints.
Suddenly all the dour opinions of Conte’s side could be changed very quickly if they can take third place from Man United.
Despite the dire feeling around Antonio Conte’s Spurs, they could go ahead of Man United
BRIGHTON’S EUROPEAN DREAM IS IN THEIR HANDS
If Brighton win their three games in hand, they would move to 48 points, level with fourth-placed Tottenham – and they have a better goal difference than the North London side.
While the Champions League always felt like a pipedream for the Seagulls, they have a chance of securing some form of European football next season – an excellent way to crown Roberto De Zerbi’s brilliant first campaign.
A 2-2 draw at struggling Leeds United is not a bad result, all things considered, but they might be disappointed they twice let the lead slip – and those points could make all the difference.
As will the games in hand, beginning on Wednesday night when they host Crystal Palace in a grudge match that was initially postponed because of train strikes, and then brought forward 24 hours because of similar problems. Brighton know they cannot afford to let this opportunity slip from their grasp.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton could move into the top four by winning their games in hand
CHELSEA BREAK UNWANTED FIVE-MONTH STREAK
Chelsea are not quite the side they once were in recent seasons – there’s new owners, a new manager and plenty of new players.
Their fortunes on the pitch are pretty alien to all concerned with Chelsea too – with their back-to-back wins, including this weekend’s 3-1 win over Leicester, ending an awful run of one victory this calendar year.
As the Blues struggle to adapt with their army of new signings, their goalscoring has also taken a hit.
They’ve failed to score in several key clashes – including in recent defeats to Tottenham (2-0), Dortmund (1-0) and Man City (4-0 and 1-0) and a draw against Liverpool (0-0).
They needed two to see off Dortmund in midweek, and got them. Potter’s men used that momentum to travel up to Leicester City where they scored three for the first time since October 8. That’s so long ago, Liz Truss was still Prime Minister.
Graham Potter has been under huge scrutiny this season but he will certainly sleep a bit sounder know the wheels might finally be turning – even if it’s just a fraction.
Chelsea scored three goals in a match for the first time since October against Leicester City
LIVERPOOL’S AWAY WOES CONTINUE
While Bournemouth’s win was critical for matters at the bottom of the table (more on that in a minute), it highlighted Liverpool’s poor travelling record domestically.
Liverpool’s home record is the third-best of everyone this season, dropping just nine points from 13 fixtures, and losing just once at Anfield to Leeds in October. Their superiority was highlighted with their 7-0 thumping of Man United this month.
However, on the road, Klopp’s side have just 12 points from 13 games, including seven defeats. It is also the first time they have failed to win away from home at any of the three promoted clubs since the 2010-11 season, when they finished sixth.
Things finally looked to be on the up for Liverpool after their epic win over United racked up a run of four wins in five to breathe life into their top four hopes.
But as has been the story of their season, it’s two steps forward and three back. Liverpool must find a way to transform their away form soon. Next up it’s a trip to the Bernabeu, and then Jurgen Klopp’s men are heading to Man City and Chelsea back to back.
On this current evidence, you really fear for them and their aspirations of being a Champions League side next season.
Liverpool suffered their seventh away defeat of the season as their season stuttered again
RELEGATION DOGFIGHT WILL GO TO THE WIRE
Bournemouth’s win in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday saw them jump out of the bottom three, and given the Cherries have been tipped for relegation from the off, it was a much-needed boost.
They finished Sunday, however, back in the drop zone, after Said Benrahma’s point secured West Ham a point at home in the David Cameron derby. Their opponents, 11th-placed Aston Villa, are probably the lowest side guaranteed Premier League football next season.
Between Crystal Palace in 12th, and Southampton at the bottom of the pack, there are just five points. Almost all of those have played 26 games, with the exceptions of Wolves and Everton who have played a game more. Leicester lost, while others around them drew or won matches.
With each game, the drop zone, and those in immediate danger above them, will change and change again. It’s what makes the Premier League so exciting, and nine names look to be chasing safety for the forseeable future.
While Bournemouth’s win briefly took them out of the bottom three before Sunday’s results, while Leicester’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea meant they lost ground on other teams around them
FOREST’S TRAVELLING TROUBLES COULD SEND THEM DOWN
There looked like there might be life for Forest – even after their woeful start to the season that saw boss Steve Cooper strongly tipped for the sack.
Even after making more than 30 signings this season that would struggle to adapt even in the most successful of teams.
You can’t help thinking, then, that they’re shooting themselves in the foot at present as their bid for survival took another blow after their 3-1 defeat at Tottenham.
The newly-promoted side have won just once away from home all season and have scored the fewest goals on the road with four.
Stats also show how Cooper’s team are one of the slowest starters in the league. They’ve failed to score a first half goal in 18 or their 26 Premier League games this season, with only Everton having a worst record.
Much like Liverpool, Forest’s away day blues have cost them – but if they can’t find a remedy then they could be sent straight back down to the Championship.
Liverpool do not have another domestic game until April when they play Manchester City
PREMIER LEAGUE STILL TRAILS LALIGA FOR RED CARDS AFTER CASEMIRO’S SECOND STRAIGHT DISMISSAL
When Casemiro left Real Madrid to bolster Manchester United’s campaign, it might have been seen as a smart move. He’d been sent off twice for the LaLiga giants, and Spanish referees have been known to be quick to dismiss players.
LaLiga’s total red card tally for the season passed 100 this weekend, and the Premier League is trailing far behind that number. Leicester’s Wout Faes was number 22 on Saturday, and Casemiro was number 23 – having also been sent off last month.
It compounds Manchester United’s problems domestically. As he picked up a second red card of the sdeason, it means he’ll miss four domestic fixtures, and while one of those is in the FA Cup against Fulham, there’s still three league games where he won’t feature.
In the opening eight days of April, ten Hag’s side will have to travel to Newcastle, and then host Brentford and Everton, without the 31-year-old Brazilian.
Source: Read Full Article