Liverpool present energy in depth as hopeless West Ham assault ought to fear Graham Potter – Premier League hits and misses | Soccer Information

Power in depth key for Liverpool’s title problem

For lengthy intervals, it appeared prefer it wasn’t going to be Liverpool’s day.

Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold did not have their capturing boots because the ball continued to flash huge of the goal. Darwin Nunez – the hero of the hour for Liverpool – planted a free header huge from Andy Robertson’s cross earlier than blasting a horrible effort over the crossbar from 30 yards because it appeared just like the Reds had been heading for a 3rd straight league draw to start out 2025 and extra dropped factors within the race for the Premier League title race.

However Nunez and Liverpool ultimately got here good, and it’s Arne Slot’s skill to have the ability to empty Liverpool’s bench with contemporary attacking choices that may very well be vital of their bid to win a primary title in 5 years.

Liverpool, who had been even with out the injured Diogo Jota, racked up an unimaginable 37 photographs at Brentford – a file for an away aspect within the Premier League – but it surely was their skill to maintain that strain with contemporary legs that ultimately bought them over the road.

It was Nunez who got here to the rescue on this event however Harvey Elliott, who has not had as many minutes as he would have favored this season, additionally performed a key function from the bench with an help for the second.

If Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo do not get you, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott will! And when different sides within the league are combating accidents and depleted squads, that depth may very well be the essential think about Liverpool’s bid to convey the title again to Anfield.
Oliver Yew

Blunt West Ham ship alarming attacking show

West Ham followers may smile on the stat that they’d scored from all three of their photographs on course towards Fulham on Tuesday. However few noticed the humorous aspect of their crew’s attacking play towards Crystal Palace on Saturday.

No photographs on course and subsequent to no menace in any respect within the ultimate third. Mohammed Kudus led the road this time as an alternative of Lucas Paqueta however no matter Graham Potter had deliberate, this was an alarming show.

There have been groans across the floor as Lukasz Fabianski and his centre-backs repeatedly exchanged passes within the first half, with seemingly no intention of going forwards. Palace might be exhausting to interrupt down however at occasions West Ham appeared uninclined to even strive. Higher to maintain possession than assault and danger dropping it?

After all, the absences of Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Michail Antonio have decreased their attacking choices. However West Ham followers count on way more thrust from their groups, no matter who is out there.

It’s nonetheless early days in Potter’s reign and he’ll hope extra coaching floor time will result in extra cohesive performances. However, on this proof, the mentality of the group must shift right into a extra attacking mindset.
Peter Smith

Mateta continues red-hot type in entrance of purpose

Nook flags beware, Jean-Phillipe Mateta is in red-hot type.

His brace towards a dismal West Ham signifies that Crystal Palace’s marksman now has 4 targets in his final three video games. It is a run that began because the flip of the 12 months with these 4 matching his return for the season previous to 2025. After a sluggish begin to the season, he seems to be again to his domineering finest, linking up with Eberechi Eze to burst West Ham’s new supervisor bubble as they linked up for one more purpose.

By organising Mateta once more, Eze has now offered eight Premier League assists for Mateta, with no Palace participant aiding a team-mate extra usually within the competitors’s historical past. The tally matches the earlier file with Michael Olise additionally aiding Eze eight occasions.

Mateta’s type might have dipped in the direction of the beginning of the season, however his general consistency is what’s pleasing Palace boss Oliver Glasner. Talking after the sport he advised the press: “When he gets the ball somewhere around the box and he gets a free finish, then it’s very often a goal. He was the same, but he’s also really hard-working, like all our attackers.

“He at all times wants the gamers round him who can provide him the ball, however then when he will get it in the proper areas, and that is what we’re engaged on day-to-day with the entire crew, then we all know that he has an incredible end.”
William Bitibiri

When Bournemouth click on, it is magical

Justin Kluivert will rightly steal the headlines, his match-winning contribution made all of the extra spectacular by his all-action show. The Dutchman was pleased to run the exhausting yards out of possession, hustling in his defensive half earlier than coming alive when Bournemouth launched their attribute counter-offensive.

However such a pulverising defeat – Newcastle have not misplaced by three targets at dwelling since December 2021 – was solely attainable with synchronicity all around the subject. As Andoni Iraola acknowledged post-match, Bournemouth delivered a fantastically ‘full’ efficiency. They made Newcastle look common in each division. Alexander Isak was nameless.

Bournemouth did what only a few groups have, or will, do to Eddie Howe’s aspect at St James’ Park. To have the bravery to go toe-to-toe, constantly trying to find excessive turnovers, with a crew which have gained 9 in a row in all competitions is daring. We’re speaking concerning the Premier League’s most in-form membership.

However Iraola solely is aware of a technique. His transitional model is fascinating to observe when it clicks and Saturday’s show was a stellar instance of every little thing clicking completely.
Laura Hunter

Newcastle’s pursuit of club-record run proves step too far

All good issues should come to an finish – however for Eddie Howe it simply needed to be his previous aspect Bournemouth who ended their nine-game successful run in beautiful model.

The Cherries’ victory means Howe is but to beat his former membership, having now misplaced twice and drawn 4 of the six league video games towards them since he departed.

Howe blamed “fatigue” for the heavy defeat and it did look a step too far for his aspect as they aimed for a club-record tenth straight win in all competitions.

Their vastly disappointing efficiency noticed in-form striker Alexander Isak, who had scored in his earlier eight Premier League appearances, fail to register a shot from open play.

Luckily for Howe and his crew, they now have a full week to recuperate for a much-needed break and restoration after a busy run of video games.

Howe can even be happy that it’s rock-bottom Southampton away subsequent giving the Magpies the right likelihood to get again to successful methods shortly and put this thumping loss behind them.
Declan Olley

Strain constructing on Ruud

These are fraught occasions for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the worst run of outcomes that Leicester Metropolis have endured in over 20 years – and proper at first of his reign. The Foxes weren’t even within the relegation zone when he arrived. On this type, they seem doomed.

His predecessor Steve Cooper was not too fashionable with the supporters on the King Energy Stadium however this was a decrease level than any he needed to endure. There have been a number of chants of sack the board and others geared toward sporting director Jon Rudkin too.

However Van Nistelrooy didn’t escape. The continuing frustration about James Justin’s inclusion is more likely to come to an finish quickly following the signing of Woyo Coulibaly however Jordan Ayew can be a goal for supporters, whereas fan favourites are denied minutes.

Ayew was jeered when Facundo Buonanotte lastly got here on for him, whereas there was anger on the elimination of Bilal El Khannouss. Choosing what followers understand to the ‘incorrect’ crew may not at all times make headlines however the poisonous scenes that observe do are inclined to.

Van Nistelrooy says his gamers must cope with it however the issue is that when issues begin to go incorrect, resilience is missing and issues unravel. They had been in it towards Fulham however there’s a fragility to this crew. Foxes by no means stop. However they do lose seven in a row.
Adam Bate

Europe on the horizon for Fulham?

After easing their means into the fixture on the King Energy, Fulham cruised to victory with out getting out of second gear.

Emile Smith Rowe marked his one centesimal Premier League look in model after nodding dwelling the opener, which was shortly adopted by Adama Traore climbing off the bench to aspect foot his effort expertly – which isn’t usually stated about his model of play – into the underside nook.

Marco Silva’s aspect at all times gave the impression to be answerable for the sport and have now solidified their spot within the race for European soccer after climbing into ninth – simply two factors shy of Aston Villa and Man Metropolis forward of them.

It has been 13 years because the Cottagers final dusted off their passports for a visit spherical Europe however with Raul Jimenez recapturing his best type, Harry Wilson shining off the proper and the duo of Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi flying on the other flank, these desires may change into actuality by the top of the season.
Patrick Rowe