EPL Review: Liverpool rise to challenge, Arsenal step on rake

Following each weekend of Premier League motion, theScore examines a very powerful developments and largest speaking factors to emerge from the slate of matches. Under, we dissect Matchweek 8 of the 2024-25 season.

Liverpool go 1st large take a look at 💪

Honest or not, Liverpool’s early-season success got here with a serious asterisk within the eyes of most. Previous to Sunday’s conflict with Chelsea, the Reds had one of the forgiving schedules within the league; Liverpool did not face any of the present prime 9 of their first seven video games.

Sunday, then, would supply a extra correct illustration of Liverpool’s credibility as a title menace. Think about the take a look at handed. The menace is actual.

Led by Curtis Jones, an unlikely hero, and Mohamed Salah, the almost certainly protagonist, Liverpool held off a Chelsea facet that hadn’t misplaced a sport since August, retaining prime spot within the Premier League with a 2-1 win. It wasn’t all easy crusing – Chelsea had extra of the ball and took extra pictures – however Arne Slot’s males dug in when mandatory and created simply sufficient to remain unbeaten.

“The higher the groups you face, the extra you have to combat,” Slot informed reporters after the match. “It helps for those who play in opposition to a Chelsea, it’s a large sport and everybody feels it. We felt it and the followers felt it as a result of they have been there for us at present. We confirmed up, that was a very powerful factor.”

They should preserve exhibiting up. Liverpool play Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Manchester Metropolis, and Tottenham earlier than the calendar 12 months ends.

In the event that they’re nonetheless main the pack after that run, the caveats shall be no extra.

Fast free-kicks 📝

Did Wolves get jobbed?

In a phrase, no. Merciless as Wolverhampton’s last-second 2-1 loss to Manchester Metropolis was after Gary O’Neil’s staff battled so valiantly for 95 minutes, John Stones’ controversial header was appropriately awarded upon a VAR evaluation. The aim was initially known as off on the sphere as a result of Bernardo Silva was adjudged to be interfering with goalkeeper Jose Sa and, thus, offside. However the Portuguese midfielder crucially disengaged with the netminder after a slight bump earlier than Stones’ effort – which is taken into account a unique section of play and, due to this fact, not a part of the offside dialog – and moved out of the road of sight when the header itself was directed towards the aim.

Wolves, and Manchester Metropolis’s title rivals, will understandably be fuming, particularly contemplating the timing of this sequence, however, in the end, this was the right name. If something, a transparent push within the again by Matheus Nunes moments earlier, which allowed Metropolis to regain possession and cost again up the sphere to earn the nook kicks that finally created their aim, was the true uncalled infraction that punished Wolves.

West Ham implode

Tottenham Hotspur deserve credit score for pouring it on within the second half of Saturday’s 4-1 win over West Ham United, particularly contemplating the lows they hit of their final match previous to the worldwide break. However let’s not get it twisted: This was an implosion by the Hammers on a number of fronts. Trailing 2-1 and nonetheless very a lot within the match, under-fire supervisor Julen Lopetegui wished to make a triple substitution to attempt to flip the tide. As an alternative, Spurs scored twice in 5 minutes amid confusion on the touchline, together with a comical personal aim that was credited to Alphonse Areola, successfully ending the match.

West Ham did not make their desired adjustments till after the onslaught. Clearly, it was too late by that time. Mohammed Kudus, West Ham’s most credible attacking menace, capped the collapse with a useless pink card within the closing minutes. Sack watch may be very a lot on for Lopetegui as West Ham proceed to toil with out an identifiable type or substance to their play.

Ten Hag continues to deflect

Erik ten Hag at all times tries to offer himself an out. There’s at all times an excuse. The Manchester United supervisor’s newest diatribe in opposition to the world stemmed from Matthijs de Ligt’s head harm throughout Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brentford. The Dutchman, bleeding profusely from his head after a nasty conflict, was pressured to go away the pitch a number of instances. On one such event, after the referee instructed him to depart for therapy, Brentford used their short-term man benefit to attain from a nook kick. Ten Hag, fuming within the second, known as the state of affairs an “injustice” after the match. There was no “injustice.” The referee, by rule, should ship any participant with blood on their particular person or gear off the sphere.

Ten Hag can definitely twist the narrative, you must give him that. The one sin right here was his personal. De Ligt, by way of no fault of his personal, was a legal responsibility as a result of he needed to go away the sphere a number of instances. Ten Hag had multiple alternative to substitute him and guarantee his staff had 11 males on the sphere for the whole thing of the half. He did not. That is bordering on teaching malpractice. It is largely moot as a result of United turned the sport round within the second half, nevertheless it continues to be clear he isn’t the correct particular person to carry Manchester United again to the highest.

Arsenal authors of their very own demise

Declan Rice mentioned it greatest after Arsenal’s third pink card of the season value them dearly in an eventual 2-0 loss to Bournemouth. “Naive” and “foolish” errors are threatening to derail a possible title-winning marketing campaign. The Gunners are definitely ok to finish their title drought, however they should cease taking pictures themselves within the foot to make {that a} actuality. Mikel Arteta’s staff has already picked up extra pink playing cards within the opening eight video games of the marketing campaign than within the earlier two Premier League seasons mixed.

The normally unimpeachable William Saliba was at fault Saturday, hauling down Evanilson as he was going to latch onto a free ball and head clear by way of on aim. Leandro Trossard deserves equal blame, although, as his ludicrous backward go went astray, crusing over everybody, and giving the Bournemouth striker an opportunity to race ahead earlier than Saliba grabbed maintain of him. Crucially, the disastrous sequence has a extra long-lasting influence than simply Saturday’s loss, as Saliba will miss subsequent weekend’s sport in opposition to Liverpool following the primary pink card of his senior membership profession.

Star performer 🌟

Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

Curtis Jones is loving life beneath Arne Slot proper now.

The 23-year-old midfielder, beginning in his second consecutive Premier League match after spending the early a part of the season as a second-string possibility off the bench, was one of the best participant on the pitch in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea. Jones gained the penalty to arrange Mohamed Salah’s opener after which scored the winner himself within the second half, ghosting behind the static Chelsea center-backs with a sneaky run and conserving his composure from in tight to ship the important thing aim at Anfield.

Beginning in an ostensibly deeper midfield place, Jones was popping up all around the pitch, as evidenced by his decisive tally, and he did somewhat little bit of all the things for Slot and his staff. Along with profitable a penalty and discovering the web, he gained six duels, had 4 touches contained in the Chelsea penalty space, made three tackles, and created two scoring possibilities.

Liverpool’s midfield, as soon as seen as a legal responsibility, instantly has critical depth.

Greatest XI 😎

(Courtesy: FotMob)

Spotlight of the weekend 🎥

Mix Bruno Fernandes’ deft flick and Rasmus Hojlund’s delicate end, and also you get an beautiful Manchester United aim.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

When will Manchester Metropolis lose a Premier League sport?

Social media second 📱

There was a sure irony about Arsenal, the Premier League’s set-piece kings, being undone by a intelligent Bournemouth set-piece routine. That wasn’t misplaced on the Cherries’ social media staff.

The place we stand 👀

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