Haaland's struggles in front of goal mirror City's own sputtering form
In many ways, Erling Haaland's recent struggles in front of Manchester City's goal mirror those of the team itself, initially seen as just a blip that both will figure out in no time, and yet we're still waiting for that to happen.
Haaland, like the Premier League champions themselves, quickly emerged from the trap at the start of the season. He scored 10 goals in his first five league games, but when City began to falter, so did the Norway international.
So much so that last season's Premier League top scorer has scored just three goals in his last thirteen games, coinciding with City's own dip in form, while underperforming against his xG in that time with a league-wide total of 5.2 (3). vs. 8.2xG).
Nothing sums up Haaland's woes of late better than the penalty kick failure against Everton with the score 1-1, with Jordan Pickford guessing correctly to keep out his weakly struck effort, incredibly the first time the striker has given a goalkeeper a of his 16 Premier League games saved. spot kicks.
And Pep Guardiola's sputtering title holders want their main man back to his best as soon as possible or their long, barren run could continue into 2025. Rich Morgan
Chelsea still has a lot to learn under Maresca
Enzo Maresca kept pointing to Chelsea's inability to control the game against Fulham as the reason they lost at home to their west London rivals for the first time since 1979. The first fifteen minutes of the second half in particular, he said, cost his team.
There was a moment just before the hour mark, when it was 1-0, which illustrated exactly what Maresca was getting at. Cole Palmer grabbed the ball as Chelsea broke and the Blue Shirts burst forward. Palmer disappointed them by deliberately delaying the game.
The Chelsea voices in the crowd could not hide their dismay. Maresca was the only one to applaud the perceived negative action. These are the moments where he wants to see more of his side. Fulham came looking for transitions, and he wanted to take them away.
Maresca would ideally want his team to take the field as a unit to avoid leaving holes for the opposition to expose. “Before you attack, you have to make passes, passes, passes so that we are together,” the Chelsea boss said. if it comes at the expense of excitement.
Leicester fans grew weary of their former manager's behavior at times last season, despite him leading them to a comfortable promotion as Championship winners. It clearly takes some time to get used to Maresca's philosophy. Not everyone at Chelsea understands it yet.
That may be why he has repeatedly said that Chelsea are not yet ready to challenge for the title. The results are impressive, this is the first defeat in the league since the loss to Liverpool in October, but he knows the team is still learning how to play his way.Zinny Boswell
Impressive Fulham on the rise under Silva
If you had told Fulham supporters at the start of this season that they would be going home on Boxing Day with their side level on points with defending Premier League champions Manchester City, they wouldn't have believed you. But while City have slumped, this is a Fulham team on the rise under Marco Silva. A first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979 is confirmation of this.
Perhaps even more impressive was that this was a historic victory achieved without Emile Smith Rowe or Sander Berge, two of their top performers this season. Harrison Reed was also missing from a thinned midfield, while regular players Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson are also present in the treatment room.
But Fulham have found a way to take points from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham this season and with a formation change here they have dealt neighbors Chelsea a blow. It's a result they will enjoy. But with Silva at the helm and this talented group finding ways to win in different ways, their prospects for 2025 look bright.Peter Smith
Onuachu summarizes the problems with the Southampton striker
Paul Onuachu hit the ball twelve times in West Ham's penalty area. Eight of them were shots, seven of which were headers. Despite all of this accounting for 0.57 expected goals, they all failed to find the net.
In one match, the 6ft 1in forward showed incoming manager Ivan Juric the exact problems he will face at Southampton: a sheer lack of goals.
The Saints have scored just eleven times in the Premier League from seventeen games. More worrying is that they have only scored seven goals from eight home games.
This is a side that has spent a combined £75m on Onuachu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Cameron Archer, Ben Brereton Diaz and Mateus Fernandes over the past 18 months. Between them they have five Premier League goals. So much progress, so little end product.
The intention was much better from Juric's Southampton on Boxing Day. The more direct style provided an attacking impetus that rattled West Ham in the first half, with wing-backs Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters providing so much for Onuachu and Co.
But unless Southampton find their scoring touch, they won't be disappearing from the bottom of the table any time soon. Sam Blitz
Centurion Bowen again made the difference for Hammers
So often Jarrod Bowen is the man who makes the difference for West Ham.
His last three goals for the club were match winners. After his penalty effectively ended Erik ten Hag's spell as Manchester United boss, it was his trademark finish in the recent win over Wolves that brought Gary O'Neil closer to the Wolves trapdoor.
On Boxing Day, Ivan Juric's first game in charge of Southampton resulted in defeat thanks to Bowen's predatory instincts.
The 28-year-old was in the right place to head home for his 48th Premier League goal after Niclas Fullkrug's strike, putting him outright second in West Ham's top scorers in the Premier League, with only Michail Antonio now more scored (68). It was also his 100th league goal in the top four of English football.
“It was extremely important to win,” Bowen said afterwards. “This is our fourth unbeaten match but it was crucial to win again. The ambition of this club is to qualify for Europe every year so it was not on the cards today but we still have some catching up to do.” to fetch.”
This was a dogged victory made impressive by the way Julen Lopetegui had to deal with injuries to Lukasz Fabianski and Max Kilman in the first half against a Southampton side desperate to impress their new manager. And when you have Bowen by your side, there's always the stardust that turns one point into three. Ben Grounds
The midfield leads Newcastle at the top of the table
There is no more ruthless, energetic and stylish midfield trio in the Premier League than Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali as they play with the roar of the St James' Park faithful behind them.
Yes, I would include the Liverpool trio in that debate.
This Toon trio is dynamite and showed the Reds in that hurricane-like 3-3 draw with Arne Slot's team a few weeks ago. They are the foundation of all the good that Newcastle does. When they function, the team functions. It explains why recent form under Eddie Howe has soared as these three are back to their best. Villa were completely outclassed and outclassed in that part of the pitch, even before the red card.
Newcastle is fifth. And we're doing well. Lewis Jones
From bad to worse for Tottenham
“It was his ankle and he said he couldn't continue. We'll have to see,” Postecoglou said after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the defeat to Forest.
After the brief injury update, outlining how “disappointing” it was to walk away from the City Ground empty-handed, Postecoglou was nowhere to be seen in the press room.
It took just 150 seconds for the Tottenham boss to leave the building and it was clear to see he was reluctant to answer many questions.
An injury to the only recognized centre-back left in the matchday squad, a red card for Spence, who had shown promise in the last three games, and his side were still in the bottom half.
The situation for Tottenham is getting bleaker by the day and the upcoming match against Wolves, which is only three days away, feels like a must-win game.Patrick Rowe
Manberg Murillo helps Forest to victory
Forest secured all three points and a clean sheet to tie the score against Tottenham, but this would not have been possible without Murillo.
As Postecoglou rightly pointed out, his side had a threat in the final third but ultimately failed to capitalize on it. And that's because of Forest's man mountain at the back.
His final figures amounted to nine turnovers, three blocked shots, three tackles and five duels won.
If there was room, he closed it. If there was a ball to be won, there would be no competition.
The home crowd serenaded him throughout the match. He's a fan favorite and it's easy to see why. The partnership with Nikola Milenkovic is the foundation on which this historic season for the club is built.Patrick Rowe
Huijsen shines again in Bournemouth's defense
Dean Huijsen seizes his opportunity at the heart of Bournemouth's defense and is fast becoming one of the Premier League's best young defenders.
The 19-year-old centre-back, who signed for Bournemouth this summer on a six-year deal from Juventus, has shone after starting in the last five league matches, scoring twice and helping to keep three clean sheets.
Huijsen passed the test of Crystal Palace's versatile frontline: the power of Jean-Philippe Mateta coupled with the pace and guile of Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze.
He won the most duels of all players, the most tackles and had the highest completion percentage. Huijsen's only mistake was a cynical foul on Sarr, which resulted in a yellow card. Bournemouth has a gem: David Richardson
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