The Premier League returned this weekend and it did not disappoint. Here are the Winners and Losers from Matchweek 13. Bet on the Premier League here.
WINNERS
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho returned to the Premier League with a bang over the weekend when his new team Tottenham Hotspur won 3-2 against West Ham at the London Stadium. It was far from the perfect Spurs performance but they won their first away league game since January. Although they almost blew their 3-0 lead at the end, it was a win they needed and deserved against a lacklustre West Ham side.
Norwich
Just when you thought that Norwich City are sinking deep in the abyss, they produce an astonishing comeback. After losing six of their last seven games, the Canaries registered a rare 2-0 win against Everton away from home. The win puts Daniel Farke’s side three points behind West Ham and four behind Everton. They still sit in the relegation zone but that might be the impetus they need to kick-start a season that has been poor.
Wolves
After their first six games of the season, Wolves were 19th in the table and winless. They were taking part in the Europa League qualification, something which took a toll on them. After the 5-2 mauling against Chelsea, they have not lost in their next seven matches since. They’re now fifth in the table and only Liverpool have lost fewer league games this season than Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
LOSERS
Vulnerable managers – Emery, Silva, Pellegrini, Solskjaer
Arsenal are in shambles right now and manager Unai Emery is close to getting the sack. On Saturday against Southampton, the Gunners were bad. The Saints had had 21 shots and managed more shots on target than Arsenal. Since the beginning of April, Arsenal have now failed to beat Crystal Palace (twice), Brighton, Wolves and Southampton at the Emirates. That’s how bleak things are. How long will he keep his job?
Marco Silva’s Everton hit a new low on Saturday when Norwich a team that had lost six of their last seven games beat them 2-0. His job is hanging by the slimmest of threads. Two wins from their last nine league games has seen the Toffees drop to 15th place in the table – and just four points above the relegation zone.
Mauricio Pellegrini is closer to the sack. His team West Ham, who have not won since beating Manchester United in September, have picked up only two points from the last 21 available in the Premier League. The loss of Lukasz Fabianski has been deeply felt and his replacement, Roberto, is out of his depth. The Hammers are in the relegation scrap and the earlier the Chilean realises the better.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’ Manchester United were woeful for 70 minutes against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Ten minutes of magic allowed them to come back from 2-0 down to 3-2. They conceded a poor goal in the 90th minute to draw 3-3. A point can’t cover the disaster they are and Solskjaer dodged a bullet there. With a paper-thin squad, we should expect more of these wretched performances.
Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce’s return to Villa Park ended in defeat as Newcastle were beaten 2-0 by his former team, Aston Villa. It was Bruce’s first time back at Villa Park since being fired by Villa in October 2018, a day after a fan threw the cabbage at him on the touchline.
Watford
Watford lost another home match against Burnley over the weekend, a result which took them back to the bottom of the table. They face fellow relegation candidates Southampton next weekend in a six-pointer. If they lose, Quique Sanchez Flores might not last too long.
Home teams
Home teams underperformed this weekend. Of the ten matches played from Saturday through to Monday, only Manchester City and Aston Villa won at home. Sheffield United saw their 2-0 lead collapse in spectacular fashion in the last 20 minutes but were able to snatch a point, while Arsenal also registered a last-minute equaliser.