The Premier League weekend just concluded and here is a look at the winners and losers.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp was keen to play down expectations after their latest win against Arsenal. The win ensured that they moved to 54 points, some seven points ahead of Manchester City who reclaimed second spot during the weekend. The hosts went behind at Anfield for the first time in a year but equalised shortly afterwards, before taking the lead three minutes after conceding. Klopp’s men did not panic after going down early but they continued with their controlled aggression and were out of sight by half-time. This will be a good motivation for them as they head into their next fixture away to Manchester City.
Wolves
Wolves seem to have gotten over the period that threatened to plunge them into the bottom half of the table and their win away to Spurs is proof of that. Their ability to upset the best teams in the Premier League bodes particularly well for their ambitions of breaking into that clique. The win ensured that they moved back to seventh as they try to squeeze themselves among the top six.
Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri has definitely improved Fulham since taking charge and whereas they are still not out of the woods, there are signs of improvement. He inherited a team that was not capable of defending and he seems to have done some work to rectify that. They won at home against Huddersfield whilst keeping a clean sheet in the process. The fact that they missed a late penalty but still managed to win will go a long way in building the team confidence.
Losers
Arsenal’s defence
Arsenal’s defensive woes were exposed by a flawless Liverpool side following their 5-1 loss at Anfield. There have been positives at Arsenal under Unai Emery, but he continues to be plagued by the defensive problems that troubled his predecessor Arsene Wenger’s final seasons as manager. Rebuilding a completely new defence will take time and money, and Emery needs both. So far the Gunners have conceded 30 goals after 20 games – more than ever before in the Premier League.
Huddersfield
Huddersfield suffered their 14th defeat of the season on Saturday against Fulham to condemn them to the bottom of the table. Their main concern has been the lack of firepower going forward as this continues to cost them week in week out. They have now lost seven straight matches and you suspect that if they take fewer than three points against Burnley and Cardiff in their next two league games, that might be the end of their Premier League fairytale.
Tottenham title credentials
Tottenham’s winning run came to a halt at home against Wolves as their Premier League title ambitions were dented. Spurs had won their previous four matches in all competitions, including high scoring victories against Everton and Bournemouth. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s men were unable to hold their advantage, and a jaded second-half display was punished in the final 20 minutes as Willy Boly, Raul Jimenez and Helder Costa all scored for the away side.