1<\/p>\n
Is support for Parker waning?<\/p>\n
The lack of pressure on Scott Parker this season, despite a collection of desperate performances and an impending relegation, has been mystifying. Plenty at Turf Moor feel a strong sense of loyalty to Parker, especially the chairman, Alan Pace, but support in the stands is dwindling. The lack of backing in the winter transfer window left the squad short of quality and with limited routes out of their current predicament. The Burnley head coach\u2019s Premier League record is miserable and the style of play is devoid of entertainment. At the weekend he had the chance to follow a first league victory in 17 matches at Crystal Palace with FA Cup progress against third-tier Mansfield<\/a>, but instead Burnley were deservedly eliminated. The second-half efforts of the Clarets bordered on embarrassment in a half-full ground and it feels like things cannot continue like this much longer. Will Unwin<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n VAR impact felt in absentia at Villa Park<\/p>\n Beyond a refereeing performance that embraced farce, Villa Park raised deeper questions on the use of video assistants. How tuned in to the protocol have players become? When Tammy Abraham escaped to score Aston Villa\u2019s opener from an offside position, the lack of response from Newcastle\u2019s defenders suggested they were waiting for a VAR saviour. Semi-automated offsides offer close to zero margin for error for players and bail out blind-sided assistant referees. The arcane concept of playing to the whistle is now lost in the brave new world of delayed flags. What was supposed to be a safety net has altered the psyche of how the game is played in elite leagues. No VAR at Villa Park was less a nostalgic trip down officiating\u2019s memory lane than a reveal of how much has changed. A shame that Chris Kavanagh\u2019s performance deflected from a well-executed Newcastle comeback, with Sandro Tonali impressively assuming responsibility in the absence of Bruno Guimar\u00e3es. John Brewin<\/p>\n The officiating became the story at Villa Park instead of Newcastle\u2019s impressive fightback. Photograph: Dan Istitene\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Szoboszlai among the world\u2019s elite<\/p>\n Dominik Szoboszlai reached double figures for the season \u2013 a first for his Liverpool<\/a> career \u2013 with an exceptional goal that sealed Brighton\u2019s fate at Anfield. Mohamed Salah described the midfielder as \u201cone of the best players in the world right now\u201d post-match. High praise indeed. The output is in keeping with Szoboszlai\u2019s status as Liverpool\u2019s outstanding performer this term and is even more impressive considering the variety of positions he has occupied. Arne Slot agreed that Szoboszlai is now among the \u201celite\u201d of world football and backed Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitik\u00e9 to follow the same trajectory at Liverpool next season. \u201cThat is what you get if you sign young players and you give them a bit of time and you let them play a lot,\u201d said Slot, in a pointed reference to some of this season\u2019s problems. Elite footballer means elite wages, however, and the here-and-now for Liverpool is to ensure Szoboszlai does not become the latest big name to approach the end of his contract. The 25-year-old\u2019s deal expires in 2028 but talks on an extension are under way and an early resolution must be a priority. Andy Hunter<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Absence confirms Hermansen\u2019s No 1 status<\/p>\n Jarrod Bowen was the headline absentee from West Ham\u2019s nervy extra-time win at League One strugglers Burton but it was the omission of another player that felt telling. Mads Hermansen, whose West Ham career appeared to be heading in only one direction after a difficult start to the season following his \u00a316.5m move from Leicester, was also not in Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo\u2019s squad. Alphonse Areola was in goal and the 20-year-old Finlay Herrick, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Boreham Wood, was on the bench. Hermansen, who started West Ham\u2019s previous two league games is seemingly back in favour. Until the start of this month Areola was Nuno\u2019s regular No 1. \u201cThat is the decision that we made,\u201d Nuno said. \u201cIt is how we approach the competition normally; the goalkeeper who doesn\u2019t play in the Premier League plays in the cup.\u201d Ben Fisher<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Delap needs goals to become main man<\/p>\n It was a straightforward night for Chelsea<\/a> at Hull on Friday evening, but an intriguing one in the battle to become Liam Rosenior\u2019s frontline striker. Liam Delap was handed an opportunity to lead the line in the FA Cup and it looked as though his night would be defined by an awful moment in the first half, as he blocked a Dillon Phillips clearance, the ball bounced on the line and the forward somehow failed to put the rebound away. Although he failed to score his third Chelsea goal, Delap finished the night with three assists of extremely high quality. With the right service he can offer plenty to Rosenior\u2019s system and is a credible option to lead the line every week, but the question now is whether or not he can add the goals to make him first choice. Aaron Bower<\/p>\n Liam Rosenior embraces Liam Delap as the Chelsea striker leaves the field after laying on three assists against Hull. Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt\/AMA\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n City won\u2019t challenge Rodri punishment<\/p>\n Manchester City will accept whatever the ruling is regarding Rodri\u2019s charge of misconduct by the Football Association for his questioning of Robert Jones\u2019s neutrality after the referee allowed Dominic Solanke\u2019s first goal in City\u2019s 2-2 draw at Tottenham<\/a>. After that match, Rodri said: \u201cI know we won too much and the people don\u2019t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. It\u2019s not fair because we work so hard.\u201d Speaking after his side\u2019s routine win in the FA Cup fourth round, Pep Guardiola said: \u201cAbsolutely we will respect the decision. We accept everything, what the big hierarchies decide.\u201d In May 2023, J\u00fcrgen Klopp received a two-game ban for criticising the referee, Paul Tierney, after Liverpool\u2019s 4-3 win over Tottenham. Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Calvert-Lewin shrugs off jeers<\/p>\n Crowds make atmospheres and, at St Andrew\u2019s, two sets of English football\u2019s most impassioned followings helped frame a cracking FA Cup<\/a> tie. Birmingham proved yet again how they \u201ckeep right on till the end of the road\u201d, equalising in the 89th minute, but it was Leeds who go \u201cmarching on together\u201d after they prevailed on penalties. During the match, home fans did their best to goad the second-half substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin but without notable success. The striker, mooted as a potential back-up to Harry Kane at this summer\u2019s World Cup, grinned in response and did not let it affect his performance, before he scored in the shootout. Indeed, with his 10 Premier League goals this season and an improved fitness record, the Leeds fans\u2019 response of \u201cEngland\u2019s No 9\u201d seemed rather more fitting. Peter Lansley<\/p>\n Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his good form as Leeds squeezed past Birmingham. Photograph: Richard Martin-Roberts\/CameraSport\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Calafiori blow creates chance for creativity<\/p>\n Will the unfortunate loss of Riccardo Calafiori in the warm-up provide Mikel Arteta with a blueprint for a bolder Arsenal<\/a>? Bukayo Saka\u2019s being summoned from the bench meant he joined Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus in an attacking starting XI that blazed to a 4-0 lead inside half an hour. Wigan, in the mire of tumultuous League One season, are not a good avatar for the well-drilled opposition Arteta is faced with week-to-week in the Premier League. But given the Arsenal manager is often criticised for prioritising control over risk, this was a look at what happens when he lets his team off the leash. Saka, Martinelli, Madueke and Jesus were all rewarded for direct runs in behind, with Eze able to show some of the creativity he was signed for. Wolves are next and present a decent opportunity for Arteta to continue his adventurous streak. Tom Bassam<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Reasons to be cheerful for Edwards<\/p>\n