1<\/p>\n
Tottenham in danger after drubbing<\/p>\n
Tottenham weren\u2019t quite as dreadful as they were in losing 4-1 to Arsenal in November, but they were still extremely so, devoid of wit, energy, solidity, creativity, quality, and everything else one would hope to see in a football team. Make no mistake, they are in serious danger of going down and, assessing their fixtures, it is not easy to see where they might win enough points to stay up \u2013 all the more so given the form of West Ham and Nottingham Forest<\/a> who are both playing well. Spurs, on the other hand, haven\u2019t won a league game in 2026 and look like they\u2019ve forgotten how \u2013 partly, it must be said, because of an awful injury list. So, where does Igor Tudor go from here? It may well be that his only option is to pick both Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, get balls into the box, and hope they can make enough of them to save him \u2013 which might not be The Tottenham WayTM, but is a lot better than relegation. Daniel Harris<\/p>\n Match report: Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal<\/a><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s changing of the guard?<\/p>\n Not for the first time this season, Mohamed Salah was largely anonymous in a Liverpool shirt. In fact, while he set up a rare effort on goal for Curtis Jones, it was the Egyptian\u2019s withdrawal that triggered Liverpool\u2019s late show. The 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, Salah\u2019s replacement, finally gave Neco Williams, who muted Salah, something to think about. Would it be over-egging it to suggest it was a sub that represented a changing of the guard? Ngumoha\u2019s cross led to Alexis Mac Allister\u2019s disallowed goal before the Argentinian struck a 97th-minute winner. It was another fine cameo for the Liverpool teenager, who joined from Chelsea at 15, and another sobering afternoon for Salah. \u201cHe has incredible potential, otherwise, at 17, you don\u2019t play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League<\/a>, let alone at Liverpool,\u201d said the Liverpool manager, Arne Slot. \u201cThat tells you how much of a talent he is and we think he is. He is making progress more and more and that\u2019s why you see him playing more and more.\u201d Ben Fisher<\/p>\n Match report: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool<\/a><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Arokodare offers promise despite miss<\/p>\n Rob Edwards was left to rue Tolu Arokodare\u2019s missed penalty against Crystal Palace<\/a> as Wolves went down to Evann Guessand\u2019s late winner. The Nigeria striker scored 20 goals for Genk in Belgium last season but has struggled to settle at Molineux since arriving for \u00a323m. He caused Crystal Palace plenty of problems at Selhurst Park and looks like the kind of striker who could thrive in the Championship if he is still around next season, even if his spot-kick technique needs to be improved. \u201cI\u2019m never going to come out and criticise him for missing a penalty,\u201d said Edwards. \u201cTolu\u2019s our number nine and felt positive over the ball. In that moment, it\u2019s important you don\u2019t change. There can be a number of people who want to take it, but Tolu was designated and wanted to take it at that time.\u201d Ed Aarons<\/p>\n Match report: Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves<\/a><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Sunderland have missed Xhaka<\/p>\n Marco Silva says Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez has a \u201ckiller instinct\u201d and adds that it is something \u201cthat should be enjoyed by everyone, whether they are Fulham fans or not.\u201d Sunderland supporters might disagree with the Portuguese following the Mexican\u2019s two goals \u2013 a header and a penalty \u2013 during their side\u2019s 3-1 defeat. Jim\u00e9nez certainly succeeded in silencing the Stadium of Light where a previously unbeaten Sunderland have now lost their last two Premier League games. With only two wins in their last 12 League fixtures, impending matches against Bournemouth<\/a>, Leeds, Brighton and Newcastle have assumed additional importance for a team who will surely benefit from Granit Xhaka\u2019s return to midfield. \u201cWe won\u2019t give up,\u201d said the ever calm R\u00e9gis Le Bris, whose team have slipped to 12th. \u201cWe\u2019ll find a way to change the situation. We need to find a way to better express our quality with the ball.\u201d Louise Taylor<\/p>\n Match report: Sunderland 1-3 Fulham<\/a><\/p>\n Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez made the difference for Fulham with two goals in the win at Sunderland. Photograph: Richard Lee\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Haaland is more than a goal machine<\/p>\n Erling Haaland did not score but a pinpoint cross that created Nico O\u2019Reilly\u2019s opener was his seventh assist in the Premier League (only Bruno Fernandes has more). Manchester City\u2019s No 9 has also made vital defensive interventions and manager Pep Guardiola is impressed. \u201cThe numbers are unbelievable,\u201d praised the Spaniard. \u201cI\u2019m really pleased. Sometimes I\u2019m a critic of him, but today I said: \u2018guy, without you winning would not be possible.\u2019 I prefer him to not defend but he helps us, and after his teammates hug and celebrate with him and say they\u2019re grateful. So Erling has been outstanding today.\u201d Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n Match report: Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United<\/a><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Who will be Kane\u2019s deputy?<\/p>\n If Thomas Tuchel is wondering whether he will take a second No 9 to the World Cup to act as Harry Kane\u2019s understudy, then he certainly had an eye on Villa Park on Saturday. Ollie Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin started the match, slugging it out to show who could be more effective as a lone striker for England, should Kane be unavailable. The Aston Villa<\/a> man struggled against Leeds\u2019 defence and was unable to make the most of chances created. Calvert-Lewin was sharper, using his physicality and smart runs to cause problems, seemingly having the greater confidence of the two. Neither scored but one Englishman did, with Tammy Abraham coming off the bench to force a late equaliser for Villa. After years away from the Premier League, he will want to remind everyone of qualities. Abraham has thrown his hat into the ring for a plane ticket to America but Calvert-Lewin currently looks the best bet. Will Unwin<\/p>\n Match report: Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United<\/a><\/p>\n Tammy Abraham has thrown his hat into the ring for a place in England\u2019s World Cup squad. Photograph: Paul Childs\/Action Images\/Reuters<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Eze keeps defenders guessing<\/p>\n Watching his team this season, it\u2019s often looked like Mikel Arteta simply has no clue what to do with Eberechi Eze, a maverick improvisor who can\u2019t be pinned down to a profile or position \u2013 or, in other words, he is the exact opposite of what this Arsenal<\/a> side represent. But perhaps the disappointments of the last few weeks have forced Arteta\u2019s hand, and he is finally ready to trust a player who, though far from perfect, brings the imagination and variety so painfully missing in his absence. Opponents fear Eze \u2013 in a way they do not Leandro Trossard, Martin \u00d8degaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke \u2013 because he can drive forward with the ball through the middle of the pitch and, unlike his rivals for selection, he is also able to play the game at his own tempo, delving into a deep bag of feints and tricks to produce moments that surprise defenders. It is time for Arteta to forsake his natural caution and let his one true artist work. Daniel Harris<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Chelsea press self-destruct button<\/p>\n Poor discipline is costing Chelsea. Against Burnley, Wesley Fofana\u2019s crunching challenge on James Ward-Prowse was a second yellow-card offence and the Blues duly dropped two points. There was a case for a straight red but it still added up to an eighth dismissal of the season for Chelsea. Only West Ham, with nine in 2015-16, have collected more over a Premier League campaign, and there are still 11 games to play. A prolific collection of yellow cards also places Chelsea rock bottom in the fair-play standings. Ill-discipline extends to concentration, and an unmarked Zian Flemming headed in Burnley\u2019s equaliser, meaning Chelsea have now dropped 17 points from winning positions at Stamford Bridge. A second successive home draw to follow the 2-2 draw against Leeds<\/a> exasperated Liam Rosenior. \u201cI will never, ever speak about what\u2019s happened before me,\u201d he said, referring to an issue inherited from Enzo Maresca. \u201cWhat has happened with me is we have set fire to four points from two home games.\u201d John Brewin<\/p>\n Match report: Chelsea 1-1 Burnley<\/a><\/p>\n Zian Flemming\u2019s goal extended Chelsea\u2019s habit of dropping points from winning positions at home. Photograph: Ben Whitley\/PA<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n West Ham finally show a bit of grit<\/p>\n A failure to put away even one of their 20 shots in the goalless draw with Bournemouth left West Ham ruing a missed opportunity but the Londoners had a collective desire and unity evident in recent weeks that had been sorely lacking. \u201cWe have to fight our way out of it,\u201d Jarrod Bowen said of the Hammers\u2019 survival fight. \u201cNot talking about quality, talking about characters and people that will grab each other by the scruff of the neck when we need to. That\u2019s a pleasing thing in the changing room when you can look around and say: \u2018He\u2019s got my back and I\u2019ve got his.\u2019\u201d Andoni Iraola admitted his Bournemouth side could not cope with West Ham\u2019s intensity from kick-off. The hosts are finally playing like a team fighting for their Premier League lives and two clean sheets in three games tells a story, as does just one defeat in six league games. Things are about to get tougher, though, with Liverpool<\/a>, Man City and Aston Villa among their next four games. A lack of quality may ultimately cost West Ham, but character no longer should. Ben Bloom<\/p>\n Match report: West Ham 0-0 Bournemouth<\/a><\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n H\u00fcrzeler should be given time<\/p>\n