EPL Review: Man United's patience rewarded in crisis derby

Following each weekend of Premier League motion, theScore examines an important developments and largest speaking factors to emerge from the slate of matches. Beneath, we dissect Matchweek 16 of the 2024-25 season.

Man United let Metropolis beat themselves

Manchester United may’ve sensed blood within the water and tried their hardest to embarrass their already wounded rivals. Manchester Metropolis entered Sunday’s derby with only one win in 10 matches throughout all competitions and appeared there for the taking.

As a substitute of making an attempt laborious to make Metropolis look dangerous, United waited for them to do one thing silly sufficient to lose the sport. Metropolis have misplaced their heads so many occasions over the previous few weeks. Self-sabotage has develop into their factor.

Maybe that is why United boss Ruben Amorim appeared joyful sufficient to depart Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho at house. Perhaps he knew he did not want quite a lot of firepower. It was price sending a message right here to maintain requirements excessive.

United weren’t spectacular Sunday. It felt at occasions like they had been enjoying with the hand brake on. Rasmus Hojlund made numerous penetrating runs that might’ve floored Metropolis’s defenders. His teammates simply did not appear snug sufficient to launch him into house. United most popular to maintain issues underneath management. They performed extra high-percentage passes and broke up the sport when Metropolis started to realize a foothold. Amad Diallo, the 22-year-old winger who has benefited probably the most from Amorim’s arrival, was harmful sufficient on his personal to maintain Metropolis on their toes.

Metropolis did not look assured both. How may they be? They’d saved solely two clear sheets of their earlier 14 Premier League matches. Metropolis retreated as the competition wore on and defended with as many as six males on the again. They did not file a single shot on track within the second half. Erling Haaland had simply two touches within the penalty space all sport.

Pep Guardiola’s aspect was making an attempt to nurse the 1-0 lead. When does it nurse something?

Diallo caught Metropolis simply as they had been doubting themselves, drawing a penalty off of Matheus Nunes’ feeble back-pass and hopeless sort out earlier than splitting the protection for the winner. Diallo profited off the nervousness on the Etihad with the form of incisive play Amorim has unlocked in his quick time there.

United performed the odds completely. Particular person errors have value Metropolis dearly over the previous few weeks and had been at all times more likely to rear their ugly head once more Sunday. Typically, the perfect factor you are able to do is let your opponent beat itself.

“It is not about luck,” Metropolis midfielder Bernardo Silva informed Sky Sports activities. “It is the choices you make. Immediately, within the final minutes, we performed like Beneath-15s, and we paid the worth.”

Fast free-kicks 📝

Jota’s return boosts Liverpool

Beneath regular circumstances, a 2-2 draw in opposition to Fulham at Anfield could be seen as two factors dropped by Liverpool. However context is vital. The Reds performed Saturday’s frenetic match with 10 males for over 70 minutes after Andy Robertson’s early purple card, they usually fought again twice to earn some extent. Diogo Jota, again from damage for his first match in practically two months, got here off the bench to attain a beautiful late equalizer. The Portuguese ahead’s return is big for Arne Slot. Mohamed Salah has 22 Premier League purpose involvements this season, however no different Liverpool participant has reached double figures. In some unspecified time in the future, the Egyptian will want some assist. Jota, who has extra targets off the bench than any participant within the league since he joined the Merseyside outfit in 2020, provides Slot a real secondary scoring risk, particularly as Darwin Nunez continues to misfire in entrance of purpose. Whether or not Jota can keep match sufficient to assist maintain Liverpool’s title push is one other matter.

Gunners want extra firepower

Regardless of Mikel Arteta’s options on the contrary, Arsenal ought to make investments throughout the January switch window to make sure their title bid would not fizzle out. The north London aspect hasn’t scored a purpose from open play in three Premier League matches, and Arteta’s lack of attacking options off the bench was laid naked in Saturday’s uninteresting goalless draw with Everton. His “tactical” resolution to substitute captain and chief playmaker Martin Odegaard backfired, partially as a result of his choices are restricted. Ethan Nwaneri is immensely gifted and appears like a future star, however he is nonetheless solely 17. Gabriel Jesus, who additionally got here on, hasn’t scored a league purpose since January, whereas Leandro Trossard hasn’t been the identical impression substitute as he was in earlier years. Odegaard and Bukayo Saka can carry the assault, however some assist could be welcome for days like Saturday when issues aren’t fairly clicking.

Newcastle’s set-piece prowess

Who wants Nicolas Jover? Arsenal stay the Premier League’s set-piece kings, however Newcastle have clearly been engaged on dead-ball conditions on the coaching floor. It paid dividends in Saturday’s 4-0 hammering of Leicester Metropolis, because the Magpies scored a pair of targets by means of set-piece routines that had been clearly rehearsed. Leicester did not precisely make it troublesome for them – there is a purpose why the Foxes have conceded the second-most targets within the league – however the tallies had been a transparent signal of progress for a Newcastle aspect that went into the match with simply three targets from set items, one of many worst returns within the division. Saturday’s targets, along with a equally well-worked marker in final month’s draw in opposition to Crystal Palace, are indicators of progress and value monitoring. The teaching employees can be delighted.

O’Neil loses management of Wolves

Issues change shortly within the Premier League. Gary O’Neil and his employees signed four-year contract extensions in August, with the Wolves brass seemingly assured he may construct on final season’s 14th-place end. As a substitute, issues devolved quickly within the different path. Wolves have received simply two league matches this marketing campaign, and Saturday’s crushing late loss to fellow relegation battlers Ipswich City was the final straw, ensuing within the 41-year-old bench boss being fired. Outcomes had been solely a part of the problem. O’Neil had clearly misplaced the power to deal with the spiraling scenario, as every of the workforce’s final two defeats had been adopted by on-pitch meltdowns from gamers. In predictable style, Wolves are reportedly eyeing a Portuguese tactician, Vitor Pereira, to step in and elevate the workforce out of the relegation zone. Restoring self-discipline would be the first process for whoever is available in for this rescue mission.

Star performer 🌟

Amad Diallo (Manchester United)

Why has it taken so lengthy for somebody to belief Diallo? United boss Ruben Amorim instantly recognized the right-winger as one of many membership’s most fascinating gamers, making an attempt him out on the wing-back place earlier than restoring him to his pure attacking function this week.

Diallo’s unimaginable run of kind culminated in a match-winning effort in opposition to Manchester Metropolis on Sunday. He was probably the most harmful participant in a match low on particular person high quality. He routinely made runs behind Metropolis’s protection, compelled the penalty that leveled the match, and scored the winner within the ninetieth minute.

There is not any manner Diallo would’ve developed underneath Erik ten Hag. He not often accomplished a full 90 minutes and by no means had a major run of matches underneath the Dutch coach. Ruud van Nistelrooy appeared to note one thing in Diallo as soon as he took over as interim supervisor, and Amorim constructed on Van Nistelrooy’s discovery, discovering utility in his breathless work price. Diallo is keen to play anyplace, and maybe that is as a result of he appreciates how troublesome it’s to get enjoying time at a membership like United. Being despatched on mortgage to Rangers and Sunderland can definitely humble a participant.

Greatest XI 😎

(Supply: FotMob)

Spotlight of the weekend 🎥

We’re not going to let Aston Villa’s loss in opposition to Nottingham Forest distract us from this otherworldly one-handed save by Emiliano Martinez.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Lengthen the person’s contract already, Liverpool.

Social media second 📱

Sean Dyche walked so Mikel Arteta may run.

The place we stand 👀

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