EPL 2024: Premier League talking points, analysis, Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham, tactics, Rasmus Hojlund goals … – Fox Sports
Tottenham continued to make things harder for themselves with defensive issues, while a previously-maligned striker is finally showing his worth despite his team’s struggle for consistency.
The title race also took a major twist, but is one of the leading contenders set to fall behind the pace?
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at all of the big moments from the weekend’s Premier League action in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!
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MORE COVERAGE
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‘I’m not a magician’: Ange’s frustration as Spurs cop big top-four blow
‘WORRYING’ TREND PAPERS OVER SPURS CRACKS
For the fourth time in their last five games, Tottenham gave themselves a mountain to climb after conceding the first goal.
But, unlike the other three encounters, Ange Postecoglou’s troops simply could not overcome the deficit and escape with at least a point, as Joao Gomes’ 63rd-minute strike helped Wolves seal a 2-1 victory.
The defeat was Tottenham’s first since a 4-2 loss away to Brighton on December 28 and also squeezed them out of the top four after Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Fulham, but it was one that had supposedly been coming.
After all, Postecoglou’s side had failed to keep a clean sheet since a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on December 15.
Even then, a look at the expected goals (xG) from that contest hints Forest were perhaps unlucky not to find the back of the net, accruing an xG of 1.71 to Tottenham’s 1.61, per Understat.
Prior to that, Tottenham’s last clean sheet was on October 23 in a victory over Fulham by the same scoreline.
As The Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke noted, Tottenham’s recent run had perhaps papered over the cracks that had slowly begun to emerge.
“If you look at the bigger picture, rather than just this game or even the last three home games, it becomes more worrying for Spurs,” Pitt-Brooke wrote.
“There is a trend that has lasted for longer than the past few weeks. For months, Spurs have looked like a team not performing as well as they could.
“A team unable to dominate opponents over the whole game, conceding too many chances, often relying on individual quality at both ends of the pitch to get them over the line.”
Granted, there have been mitigating circumstances that can explain Tottenham’s demise at various stages, none more so than a lengthy injury list.
Postecoglou was again unable to start his full strength team against Wolves as Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro, his first choice at left and right back respectively, were unavailable through injury.
But he was able to start his best midfield trio of James Maddison, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr as well as a front three of Heung-Min Son, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski.
The Aussie boss reiterated he is “not a magician” and most, if not all are aware his project at Tottenham is in its infancy.
However, with no European football or domestic cup competitions to stress over, Postecoglou has the rare chance to focus solely on the Premier League, something a number of Tottenham’s rivals do not.
Tottenham’s next game is against Crystal Palace on March 3, gifting Postecoglou two weeks to get his squad fully fit and concoct a plan that doesn’t leave his team so defensively exposed.
21YO ENTERS ELITE GROUP BUT UNITED REMAIN FRAIL
Who would’ve thought that after firing blanks for 14 consecutive Premier League games Rasmus Hojlund would find himself in the company of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona?
Hojlund’s double against Luton Town not only steered Manchester United to victory, but it also meant the Dane had scored in six consecutive league games — something only Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy and Cantona had achieved prior.
Additionally, Hojlund became the youngest in Premier League history to achieve the feat at just 21 years and 14 days, eclipsing Newcastle’s Joe Willock who did it aged 21 years and 272 days.
Hojlund, who moved to Old Trafford from Atalanta in the summer for a staggering £64 million ($AUD123 million), now has seven goals in his last seven league games, a run that has coincided with the Red Devils winning five and drawing six in that same span.
However, a deeper look at United’s performances not just against Luton but across the entire season paints a slightly different, less rosy picture.
Per football author Josh Williams, the Red Devils have faced a whopping 20 shots in a league game eight times this season.
Williams gave an alarming comparison: since Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool in 2015, they have faced 20 shots twice … throughout his entire tenure.
It points to a rather chaotic team that isn’t quite riding its luck, but is shipping a staggering amount of chances and should be grateful their rivals aren’t able to capitalise on the opportunities.
A similar tale followed against Luton, a team assembled for less than £10 million.
After Hatters skipper Carlton Morris pulled one back for the hosts at Kenilworth Road, it was all Luton.
Remarkably, United held on for the three points, marking a fourth consecutive league win that inches them closer towards the top four.
But, as The Times’ Henry Winter pointed out, it was far from convincing.
“United were a mess, leaders such as Casemiro and Maguire giving no direction,” Winter wrote.
“Heaven knows what the watching Harry Styles thought.”
Winter added: “Another win, but hardly convincing.”
DEVASTATING TITLE IMPLICATIONS IN REDS’ CRUEL INJURY CURSE
Last year felt like the closest title run in some time as Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way before the former simply ran out of gas, physically and mentally.
However, Liverpool have returned to the title race picture after last year’s struggles and are the league leaders with 57 points, two ahead of Arsenal (2nd) and four ahead of City (3rd), albeit with a game in hand.
Liverpool and Arsenal made major statements of intent on the weekend with a 4-1 win over Brentford and a 5-0 victory over Burnley respectively.
As for City, they needed an 83rd-minute equaliser from Rodri to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea.
With 13 games left this season, it’s shaping up to be one wild sprint to the finish.
However, of the three teams, it looks like Liverpool are the weakest of the bunch.
In the win over Brentford, Jurgen Klopp was forced to watch Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones all exit the game early with an injury.
Jones and Nunez were largely precautionary but Jota, who has been a vital component to Liverpool’s attack, appears set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
A day before the trip to Brentford, Klopp revealed superstar goalkeeper Alisson was out with injury and did not specify a return date.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai also missed the Brentford clash with a knee and thigh injury respectively, with Klopp claiming both are likely to return after the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on February 26.
Injuries to several key players would be an awfully cruel reason for Liverpool to fade out of the title race, especially in Klopp’s last season at Anfield.
But if City prove to be an inevitable force and Arsenal continue to score goals for fun — they’ve scored 21 goals in their last five league games for an average of 4.2 goals per game — Liverpool simply might not be able to keep up.
