After an action packed weekend of Premier League football, EconSport picks out the major talking points from Match day 12
Good but not good enough. City's win over United laid bare the clear daylight between Guardiola’s team and Mourinho’s. (Manchester City 3 vs 1 Manchester United )
Goals (Manchester City: David Silva 12', Sergio Aguero 48', Ilkay Gundogan 86'. Manchester United : Anthony Martial 58')
It wasn’t a trouncing or a walloping, but it showed the clear daylight between these two teams, where they are at right now in their development under two coaches different in philosophy and style, but similar in the task given to them upon arrival on these shores; taking their team to the next level. The picks of many, as challengers for the title in the seasons ahead, but just one side look the part, have looked like it in recent seasons. The other fighting to hang on to the coattails of their rival.. As referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle on Manchester City 3-1 win over neighbours Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium, under the watchful eyes of Sir Alex Ferguson in the Stands, the result itself wasn’t the most telling point, rather it was the gulf in quality, verve, energy, coherence, tactical pattern of play, the gulf in the League table.
Stat: According to Opta, There were 44 passes in the build-up for Ilkay Gündogan's goal v Manchester United - the most before a goal in the Premier League since Juan Mata scored for Man Utd against Southampton in September 2015 (45)
Pep Guardiola’s side, top of the table, lie 12 points ahead of their neighbours after only 12 games this season. City were once referred to as the noisy neighbours, they so coveted what United were, now they are making all the right noises. Mourinho’s United can barely mutter a response. The Abu Dhabi backed Citizens have outspent United and indeed any other Premier League team since Guardiola took over in the summer of 2016. But clearly visible are the developmental strides being made on and off the pitch, each step further emphasizing how far behind their neighbours in Red are. City’s players share their manager’s plan and vision, they know what is expected of them in every passage of play. Even the seasoned and experienced Pros are being made to see football through a prism they have never experienced. It’s a refreshingly new experience. The enthusiasm and verve in their play is like watching kids on a playground. That joy and excitement.
Stat: This is the first time since the 1977/1978 season that United are having a negative goal difference (-1) after 12 games. Blunt in attack, feeble in defence.
The imprints of Guardiola’s ideas are clearly visible in this City side two seasons after he assumed the mantle of making City a European heavyweight. A stark contrast to happenings in the other half of Manchester. While the result is by no means a disaster, considering the impressive results Mourinho’s men have put together in recent weeks, the limp showing in defeat emphasised the big wide gap between two teams who many expected would go toe to toe in the title race. United tried to compete, but City’s efforts proved way too much for them. As the men in blue tossed the ball around in a 44 pass move in the build up to the third goal, Red shirts chased around in hope, rather than any real believe they could even get close to their opponents, not to talk of laying a glove They were being toiled with. Back in April, United roared from two goals down to win a dramatic derby 3-2. But then while they had Paul Pogba (who has had the most passes and shots this season for the Red Devils with 700 and 36 respectively, while scoring 3 goals and as many assists) –unavailable through injury- and Alexis Sanchez leading the charge from midfield, here they had Ander Herrera, a top player on his day , looking confused at his role, and Fellaini ramshackled by Fernandinho. An early opener from David Silva was doubled by Sergio Aguero, who would have been surprised his near post shot beat a goalie of De Gea’s quality. Martial’s penalty after Ederson’s clumsy challenge on substitute Romelu Lukaku sparked hope of a comeback, but football sometimes is basic; to score goals you need the ball. United couldn’t get any of it. After Pep Guardiola brought on Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane in place of Riyad Mahrez and Sergio Aguero after United’s goal, it became a passing exhibition. City leisurely, nonchalantly, but purposefully passed the ball around their tired looking opponents. That 40 pass goal the killer blow to Mourinho’s men who looked crestfallen. Heading into the International break, it will offer Mourinho and United ample time to reflect on where his team are at the moment. City look like their dish is almost ready, United meanwhile are still shopping for condiments in the market.
Vital wins for Newcastle United and Cardiff City.
Newcastle United 2 vs 1 AFC Bournemouth
Cardiff City 2 vs 1 Brighton & Hove Albion
The International break would surely have come at an inappropriate time for Rafa Benitez and Neil Warnock, whose sides, Newcastle United and Cardiff City secured crucial victories in their bid to beat the drop. Wins bring confidence, togetherness, and belief in the manager’s method, and that momentum is key. You find a new spring in your step. The fans get back on side once again, and create a boisterous atmosphere on matchdays , which can sometimes knock opponents off their stride. A Salomon Rondon double was enough to secure back to back wins for Newcastle United who climbed up to 14th on the Premier League table. There was a huge scare among the home fans who had to endure some nervy final moments, not least when Bournemouth winger Jordan Ibe found himself in on goal with just over 15 minutes left to play but skied his shot over the bar, to a mighty waive of relief in the stands. But Newcasle ultimately held on for a victory which their performance duly merited. South Korean midfielder Ki Sung Yeung was vital in midfield, while Kenedy (assisting the second goal with great wing play) and Matt Richie caused all sorts of problems on the wings , with pace and trickery on the counter attack, supporting the front two of Ayoze Perz and Rondon, who had a very good performance, if not his best so far this season.
Stat: Newcastle United have taken 7 points from their last three games, having collected just two points from their previous nine
In defence, Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez eased whatever fears the home fans might have had due to the injury enforced absence of captain, Jamaal Lascelles. Before facing Liverpool on Boxing day, Newcastle have upcoming games against Burnley, West Ham United, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield and Fulham. 10 points from those fixtures should give them some breathing space points in their fight to beat the drop.
Stat: Cardiff City have shipped in the most goals this season after 12 games (25) same as Burnley. Leaky
At the Cardiff City stadium in Wales, Neil Warnock’s side defeated Brighton & Hove Albion, 2-1, to halt a two game losing run, courtesy of a dramatic late winner from defender Sol Bamba, after the home side piled on the pressure late on. Having fallen a goal down, after Lewis Dunks’s opener for the visitors, Callum Patreson brought the home side on level terms , before Bamba snatched three points to send the home fans wild. At the beginning of the campaign, Warnock stressed the importance of the Bluebirds making their home ground a fortress, especially against teams locked in the relegation race. Though they still lie third from bottom, they are just a point behind Newcastle United in 14th. Such is how close it is at the lower ends of the ladder. And the win against Brighton was a massive step upwards.
Salah getting his groove back on (Liverpool 2 vs 0 Fulham )
Goals (Mohammed Salah 41', Xherdhan Shaqiri 53')
The second season is always more scrutinized and sometimes difficult than the first, as Mo Salah has found out this season. On the back of an injury sustained while on international duty at the 2018 World cup in Russia, he came back lacking a bit of that sharpness and deadly touch in front of goal that saw him tear many records last season. A return of three goals in the first eight games of the season was by no means a poor return, but when you raise that bar so high, like Salah did with the heroics of last season, a step down becomes classified as a mini crisis. Credit though goes to manager Jurgen Klopp for always trusting in the Egyptian who took English football by storm last campaign. Against Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, Salah’s goal epitomised what the player brings at his best. Moments after Fulham had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, goalkeeper Allison sprung a counter attack. A throw out wide to Alexander Arnold, who spotted Salah’s run in between the center halves and played him through. Once he got on his bike in a footrace with defender Dennis Odoi , there was only going to be one winner. A calm finish gave Liverpool an half time lead, which was deserved on the balance of play, but Fulham would have felt hard done by having defended resolutely for the first 40 odd minutes of the half. But for Salah, that smile was back on again. He had chances to increase his tally ,but Sergio Rico seemed to be on a personal mission to stop him. Six goals in 12 Premier league appearances is indicative of a player surely finding his scoring boots once again.
Stat: Mohammed Salah has scored 40 goals and 14 asisst in 61 games for liverpool
Arsenal need to find consistency for 90 minutes (Arsenal 1 vs 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers )
Goals (Arsenal : Henrikh Mkhitaryan 86'. Wolverhampton Wanderers : Ivan Cavaleiro 13')
Arsenal are on a ten game unbeaten run in the league, stretching back to their 3-2 loss at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in late August. Amidst that solid run though, a worrying trend is developing. The gunners seem to find their mojo in the second half of games. This was clearly visible at the Emirates against Wolverhampton Wanderers. After a slow start, characterised by unusual sloppiness in possession and looking shaky in defence, the gunners once again recovered in the second half and looked more like the assured and exciting team we know they can be. In an open game, the result could have gone anywhere with the willingness of both sides to go for the win making for a spectacle. Henrikh Mkhitaryan's second half equaliser injected confidence into the gunners play in their quest for a winner, leaving space in behind for Wolves' pacy attackers to exploit on the counter attack. This was even more so with the introduction of Adama Traore from the Wolves bench , by Nuno Santo, to give his side greater attacking verve. Better composure in goal might have seen Traore nick it for side in injuring time after racing through on goal and leaving defender Rob Holding for dead with his searing pace. A point apiece was probably fair on the balance of play. However Unai Emery would certainly seek his side to play more like the swashbuckling second half side from the opening whistle.
In other results, Chelsea played out a goalless draw with a resilient Everton at Stamford Bridge , same scoreline in the emotionally charged game between Leicester City and Burnley at the King Power stadium. Tottenham Hotspur secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace courtesy of J. Foyth's second half strike. It ended all square in the game between Huddersfield and West Ham United. At St. Mary's, Jose Holebas' 82nd minute equaliser saw Watford claim a 1-1 draw away at Southampton in a game headlined by Charlie Austin's wrongly disallowed goal with twenty minutes to play which would have had the Saints two goals up at the time. The draw doing little to ease the pressure on manager Mark Hughes.
Match Day 13 Fixtures
24 Nov: Manchester United vs Crystal Palace
24 Nov : Fulham vs Southampton
24 Nov : Everton vs Cardiff City
24 Nov : Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leicester City
24 Nov : Watford vs Liverpool
24 Nov : West Ham United vs Manchester City
24 Nov: Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea
25 Nov: AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal
25 Nov: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Huddersfield Town
26 Nov : Burnley vs Newcastle United
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