EPL Review: Postecoglou's very 'Spursy' Spurs, Saka incredible again

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 7 of the 2024-25 season.

Ange provides to undesirable status 🤦

The time period “Spursiness” appears drained and overplayed – possibly even a little bit lazy. However then Tottenham Hotspur do one thing like Sunday’s capitulation at Brighton & Hove Albion, one thing that we have seen from them time and time once more, that reinforces the merciless, calamitous status that stalks the membership.

It is the tendency to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. It is the behavior of serving their supporters probably the most mouth-watering dessert earlier than dousing it with wealthy beef gravy in entrance of their very eyes. “It is the historical past of Tottenham,” to borrow Giorgio Chiellini’s notorious summation when Juventus dumped them from the Champions League courtesy of two quick-fire objectives in March 2018.

The primary half could not have gone significantly better for Tottenham. Their defensive position was extraordinarily excessive, leaving Brighton gamers in offside positions once they have been barely over the midway line and limiting area for the hosts to work in. And in that tight space, Spurs gamers swarmed Brighton. Future Udogie squeezed Georginio Rutter off the ball earlier than Brennan Johnson’s opener.

Johnson, Dominic Solanke, and Dejan Kulusevski have been all harmful, and James Maddison – the scorer of the second objective – gave the impression to be within the temper to orchestrate a one-sided victory for Spurs.

It did not work out that manner. Brighton have been barely stricter with their form and attacked a little bit faster, however there weren’t huge adjustments to how the Seagulls operated. They merely wished it extra. There have been two failures to chop out the cross that Yankuba Minteh buried. Spurs’ protection lacked aggression when Rutter bumped his manner by means of to equalize. And Future Udogie, who had an terrible second half, was weak when Rutter battled for room to cross whereas Cristian Romero’s sleepwalking granted Danny Welbeck the straightforward process of heading previous Guglielmo Vicario.

In 18 second-half minutes, Brighton flipped a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 benefit and by no means appeared like dropping it thereafter.

“What we mentioned at halftime was, ‘It is not about ways, it is about combating,'” Rutter informed Sky Sports activities post-match, in keeping with BBC Sport.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham are arguably the “Spursiest” facet we have seen for a while. His overambitious ways and dedication so as to add to a lead reasonably than defend it units up situations the place his workforce can collapse spectacularly, with gamers out of place or making guffaw-inducing errors on the ball. Nonetheless, this defeat was each “Spursy” and unforgivably complacent, and that displays terribly on the supervisor.

“Perhaps we simply thought we might roll on the market and play properly once more, and that is not the way it works, and we paid for it,” Postecoglou informed the BBC’s Match of the Day in regards to the second-half show.

“We have conceded earlier than, however it’s the way you react, and our response wasn’t what it must be. It is a dangerous day for us, and when it is a dangerous day the duty falls at my ft.”

Fast free-kicks 📝

Sanchez deserves plaudits in breathtaking sport

Chelsea’s squad-building below co-owner Todd Boehly feels distasteful – an ostentatious but frenzied purchasing spree made worse by how shortly gamers are discarded. And Robert Sanchez might’ve simply fallen sufferer to Chelsea’s ruthlessness, becoming a member of Raheem Sterling and others on the scrapheap after a shaky first season. As an alternative, he is a key a part of Chelsea this time period. Sanchez has began all seven league matches, and the workforce’s much-needed continuity is underlined by the back-four comprising Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella in 5 of these video games. Sanchez justified Enzo Maresca’s choice to make him an important a part of the Blues’ basis in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest; Chelsea ought to’ve gained, however distinctive stops close to the tip to disclaim Nico Williams and Jota Silva saved a degree for his facet. It seems that Maresca is making sense of the muddle at Stamford Bridge.

Bowen makes his level

Jarrod Bowen led West Ham United to a thumping 4-1 win over Ipswich City to alleviate strain on supervisor Julen Lopetegui. Bowen was dropped from the newest England squad after one help over his earlier 4 top-flight appearances wasn’t sufficient to encourage Lee Carsley to pick out him, however he responded by having a hand in three of West Ham’s objectives on Saturday. He is an exciting participant to observe, darting straight at opponents, daring them to problem or proceed to step off, earlier than trying formidable passes and booming vicious pictures on objective. Or, within the case of his strike towards Ipswich, producing a satisfyingly exact, curling shot that skips into the underside nook. “I by no means want any further motivation to carry out, and the England information was simply a type of issues, however you both let this stuff eat you up otherwise you go and present what you are about,” Bowen mentioned.

Silva’s sensational Fulham refresh

It is simple to overlook that Fulham misplaced their most vital participant in the summertime. However the tactical response to Joao Palhinha’s departure to Bayern Munich – the next defensive position and the entire midfield working to stifle the opposition – has labored tremendously. Merely put, eighth-placed Fulham are at the moment one of many best-coached groups within the Premier League. At first, it appeared Marco Silva’s method at Manchester Metropolis was easy: Punt a fast ball to Adama Traore. There’s nothing mistaken with that – Traore ought to’ve scored no less than two objectives, and he was the match-winner when Wolverhampton Wanderers adopted an identical coverage on the Etihad Stadium in October 2019 – however Silva’s workforce has extra strings to its bow than that. The Cottagers have been optimistic in possession, with one transfer highlighting the resurgence of Raul Jimenez – considered one of many particular person success tales below Silva – when the Mexican executed a fantastic help for Andreas Pereira. The three-2 defeat felt harsh on Fulham.

Liverpool should cowl for Alisson once more

Liverpool’s goalkeeping state of affairs after Alisson’s newest damage may very well be a serious inconvenience for Arne Slot. The Reds have navigated enforced spells on the sidelines for Alisson prior to now, however with gifted backup Caoimhin Kelleher additionally injured, it is as much as Vitezslav Jaros – who’d by no means performed greater than the fourth tier in England earlier than Saturday’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace – to fill the void with matches towards Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, and Brighton & Hove Albion on the horizon. For probably the most half, Liverpool deputized properly for Alisson throughout Jurgen Klopp’s reign, usually counting on Kelleher and Adrian, and the way in which Jaros got here off the bench within the closing levels at Selhurst Park to thwart Eberechi Eze’s shot and declare the ball earlier than Jean-Philippe Mateta will enhance hopes that this pattern can proceed.

Star performer 🌟

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Do not let Bukayo Saka’s boyish seems idiot you: He is considered one of Arsenal’s battle-hardened leaders. He is virtually single-handedly ensured Martin Odegaard’s absence hasn’t been damaging to date, changing into the one Premier League participant over the previous decade to create seven or extra probabilities and try seven or extra pictures in two separate matches, in keeping with Statman Dave.

And he is completed it in back-to-back outings: throughout final weekend’s 4-2 dismissal of Leicester Metropolis and Saturday’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton.

Saka had his work lower out towards the Saints. With midfielder Thomas Partey overlaying at right-back behind him, there have been few overlapping decoy runs to purchase him area towards the 2 or three Southampton gamers who have been usually accosting him. It wasn’t to matter, although, as he was his regular persistent self and carried Arsenal by means of once they fell 1-0 behind. He intercepted a move earlier than sliding a ball by means of for Kai Havertz to attain, and he lower inside earlier than delivering an ideal deep cross for Gabriel Martinelli’s tap-in. He then topped one more wonderful show when he preyed on a defender’s heavy contact with a scientific first-time end.

Odegaard’s significance to Mikel Arteta’s facet is big, however Saka and William Saliba stands out as the solely Arsenal gamers who’re really irreplaceable.

Greatest XI 😎

(Courtesy: FotMob)

Spotlight of the weekend 🎥

Jimenez is enjoying with extra physicality than at any level since he fractured his cranium in November 2020, however his resplendent backheel to arrange Pereira was each supple and refined.

Stat of the weekend 🔢

Manchester United might give Erik ten Hag on a regular basis he needs, and his “course of” would nonetheless be hobbling – presumably ahead however most certainly backward – when the earth ceases to rotate. Season No. 3, £600 million spent, and Manchester United are nowhere close to the place they need to be, registering their lowest factors tally after seven matches because the 1989-90 First Division season.

Social media second 📱

This child could also be a Crystal Palace fan, however that fan-baiting is straight from the Jamie Vardy celebration playbook.

The place we stand 👀

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