By Sam McGuire
So, what’s there to stay up for?
The Mohamed Salah present excursions at Goodison Park
Liverpool are high of the Premier League desk, seven factors away from Chelsea and Arsenal following their entertaining 3-3 draw with Newcastle United on Wednesday night. The Reds have carried out nicely this time period and the group has been pretty strong, with and with out the ball. However the actual distinction maker for Arne Slot’s facet has been Mohamed Salah.
He, once more, received Liverpool out of a pickle towards the Magpies. He assisted Curtis Jones for the leveller, scored the second equaliser for the Reds after which put the away facet forward. The three-time Golden Boot winner has now been concerned in not less than one objective in his final seven Premier League appearances. In 4 of these video games, he’s had not less than two objective involvements.
Salah leads the way in which for objective involvements within the Premier League (21). He’s the highest scorer (13) and solely Bukayo Saka (10) has extra assists than the 32-year-old (eight). It isn’t fairly as easy as saying if you happen to cease Salah, you cease Liverpool. However you aren’t far off it. If he’s nullified, the Reds aren’t anyplace close to as a lot of concern.
Everton aren’t having the perfect marketing campaign however they did romp to a 4-0 win over Wolves on Wednesday. Backed by a house crowd and with windy situations aiding them, they may trigger Liverpool some bother on Saturday afternoon, and with this being the final Derby scheduled on the historic Goodison, you will be positive they’ll be out to do this.
Arsenal’s bogey group
This may be slightly untimely given the pattern dimension isn’t the most important, however Fulham may very well be Arsenal’s bogey group. Marco Silva’s facet went unbeaten towards the Gunners final time period, selecting up a 2-2 draw on the Emirates and recording a 2-1 win over the title hopefuls at Craven Cottage in December 2023.
The 2 groups face off at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Fulham, as soon as once more, have the prospect to dent Arsenal’s title desires. The Cottagers are having a surprisingly good marketing campaign. They’re sixth within the Premier League and discover themselves simply six level off of their guests. For added context right here, they’re only one level behind the Gunners when taking a look at Anticipated Factors this time period, highlighting how nicely Silva’s facet are doing.
Arsenal had a little bit of a tough patch a number of weeks in the past however Martin Ødegaard’s return has sparked a run of victories within the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s facet have gained three on the bounce within the English high flight, scoring 9 objectives and conceding simply two within the course of.
If outcomes go their means, Arsenal may end this weekend simply 4 factors off the summit with momentum on their facet. This match means lots.
Consistency issues
A day conflict on Sunday sees two constant sides face off. Type of.
Spurs are constantly inconsistent. Chelsea are constantly constant.
Tottenham misplaced to Ipswich City earlier than hammering Manchester Metropolis 4-0 on the Etihad. It was alleged to be a springboard for his or her season however they’ve since didn’t win any of their three matches throughout all competitions. They drew with Roma and Fulham earlier than dropping to Bournemouth on Thursday night.
The defeat towards the Cherries leaves them in tenth place within the Premier League. They might end the weekend in thirteenth. This was not what was alleged to occur in Ange Postecoglou’s second season answerable for Spurs. Not when the membership backed him within the switch market this summer time.
Chelsea, in the meantime, are on an unbeaten run of six video games within the Premier League.
The Blues have misplaced simply twice all season – at residence to reigning champions Manchester Metropolis and away at league leaders Liverpool. They’re presently second within the Premier League and have scored essentially the most objectives (31).
Issues are clicking for Enzo Maresca and his facet.
Jobs on the road
West Ham host fellow strugglers Wolves on Monday night time in what’s shaping as much as not solely be a six-pointer, it may additionally spell the top for whichever supervisor loses.
The Hammers gained the 2024 summer time switch window however discover themselves simply six factors exterior of the relegation zone. Their 2-0 win over Newcastle was an outlier.
They drew with Everton and misplaced to a struggling Leicester Metropolis group final trip, although the Hammers did carry out nicely. They’ve a six level hole over their guests heading into this sport. Extending it to 9 probably retains Julen Lopetegui in a job.
Wolves have been in freefall over the previous week. They’ve conceded eight of their final two to deliver a 4 match unbeaten run to an finish. Gary O’Neil’s males misplaced 4-0 to relegation battlers Everton final trip.
Wolves have conceded 36 objectives in 14 Premier League matches this season, their most at this stage of a top-flight marketing campaign since 1964-65. They’ve the worst defensive unit within the English top-flight however they’ve scored 22 objectives although, essentially the most of any group within the backside 10. They do possess the gamers to trigger some harm, it’s simply whether or not or not they will restrict the variety of objectives they do concede.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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