Liverpool or Arsenal, Saka or Salah, and why Tamworth's advance in the Cup is their most famous run since Butch and Sundance.
Ten thoughts from the weekend...
Liverpool or Arsenal for the title? Liverpool. Nine points is not insurmountable but Arne Slot looks in the mood actually to extend that. I backed Arsenal pre-season but simply couldn’t imagine that Slot would have such an impact on Liverpool. He just seems so in control of games, of press conferences. He’s smiling and decisive, a winning combination. The contract uncertainty of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold has played into Slot’s hands as all three know they have to show game in, game out, how good they are – and all are dedicated pros anyway. Van Dijk was imperious against Manchester City yesterday. So was Salah.
Slot’s use of Ryan Gravenberch as a 6 has been inspired, Curtis Jones has further developed under Slot’s coaching, Cody Gakpo has come to life under his Dutch compatriot and the defence is organised and resilient. Liverpool concede a goal only every 146 minutes in the Premier League. Slot inherited a good squad with good cover (Alisson/Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold/Bradley, Konate/Gomez, Robertson/Tsimikas, Szoboszlai/Jones etc) and has enhanced it with strong coaching and man-management.
Arsenal have Martin Odegaard back, Bukayo Saka flying and there’s 25 rounds of games to go but Liverpool’s nine-point edge, greater strength in depth and the Anfield factor should see them to a 20th title. Arsenal will chase hard but Slot loves control in his teams and he looks in control of this race.
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Tamworth’s most famous run since Butch and Sundance got loose. The Non-Leaguers strode into the third round of the FA Cup following their shootout victory over League One Burton Albion. Not since the Tamworth Two, a pair of pigs who escaped from a lorry en route to an abattoir in 1998, has the name been so celebrated. The pigs swam across the River Avon, holed up in gardens and woods near Malmesbury, and became such headline material that film crews from around the world jetted in to chronicle the four-legged outlaws’ bid for freedom.
Butch and Sundance, as they were inevitably dubbed, were re-captured after a week by a vet who needed a few attempts with tranquiliser darts as their skin was so thick. Daily Mail readers raised funds for the porky pair to avoid the chop and they lived out the rest of their lives peacefully in an animal sanctuary. Let’s hope Tamworth last as long in the Cup.
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Audio boom. It’s good to talk. Argentina’s Facundo Tello, the experienced Fifa referee overseeing Saturday’s Copa Libertadores final, initially waved play on when Atletico Mineiro’s keeper Everson challenged Botafogo’s Luiz Henrique just inside the area. The VAR Mauro Vigliano reviewed the incident, saw it was a penalty and Tello overturned his decision. So far, so straightforward. That’s how VAR should work, catching mistakes. What was eye-opening - or ear-opening - was that Tello then informed the 80,000 fans packed into River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires as to why the decision was changed. Good. Treating fans as adults. Alex Telles, formerly of Manchester United, converted the kick, making it 2-1 to Botafogo as they went on to win (3-1) their first Copa in their 123 years. Tello and Telles tell a story. If Fifa officials in South America can communicate in-game with fans, why can’t Fifa officials like Anthony Taylor, Michael Oliver and company do so in the Premier League? The fans deserve an insight into the “process”.
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Saka or Salah as Footballer of the Year? At the moment, Salah. He’s the more prolific, 11 goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season to Saka’s five goals and 10 assists. Salah made one, scored one in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City yesterday. Arsenal’s 5-2 destruction of West Ham definitely showcased Saka’s many qualities: his corner for Gabriel’s headed goal, his give and go with Martin Odegaard for Leandro Trossard’s tap-in, his movement to win a penalty off Lucas Paqueta for Odegaard’s conversion, and his own low penalty finish. Salah’s capable of conjuring magic on his own while Saka does much of his best work in elegant conjunction with Odegaard. Saka’s form and resilience since missing that Euro 2020 final penalty has been testament to his strength of character. At only 23, his rise will further accelerate and the major individual accolades will come. But, at the moment, Salah is ahead. Any vote would come down on tribal lines but one thing everyone can agree on: the Premier League is fortunate to be graced by two such magnificent players, entertainers and role models.
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Good use of VAR. The correct implementation with Fulham’s Tom Cairney. Accidental or not, and Cairney’s not a dirty player, he still raked his right studs down Dejan Kulusevski’s right Achilles. Yellow was rightly upgraded to red after VAR sent ref to monitor to check for serious foul play.
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Official problem. One of the best Southampton fans’ forums, Saints Web, often has measured, informative debate about club issues, but one thread on Russell Martin’s tactics veered alarmingly if briefly into a discussion about tensions in the Middle East. “I know he’s made a few questionable decisions but it seems a bit harsh to blame him for the situation in Gaza,” concluded one fan wryly of the debate. Leaving such serious issues aside, and returning to more prosaic matters, it’s certainly true that Martin’s decisions are invariably closely, often scathingly scrutinised. He’s stubborn, sticking to his tactics and being caught out. But there has to be some sympathy for Martin for Cameron Archer having his effort ruled out. The on-field decision was a disallowed goal for an Adam Armstrong offside and, according to the Premier League Match Centre, “impacting Bart Verbruggen’s ability to play the ball”. Brighton’s keeper certainly didn’t appeal. VAR checked to see if that decision was clearly and obviously wrong and decided it wasn’t. Leaving aside Southampton’s understandable desire to dispute a questionable decision, pausing a fast-moving game for four minutes is just too long. No wonder fans, players and managers are getting even more frustrated with officiating.
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Mary, Queen of Stops. Plenty of criticism has been aimed at Mary Earps, the Lionesses keeper who has spent time on the bench at Paris St-Germain. Being voted 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year was a surprise, and a reflection on the voting process and criteria, but that’s hardly Earps’ fault and doesn’t justify some of the personal attacks on her. She’s been placed under more pressure by the emergence of Hannah Hampton. So there was plenty of spotlight on Earps at Wembley on Saturday. She just focused on her job, and made three important saves to keep a superior USA side at bay. Earps was England’s best player. She deserves more respect.
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Cherries the pick. Bournemouth flooding forward is one of the many thrilling sights in the Premier League, so much pace and skill and inter-passing, Ryan Christie and Evanilson darting here and there, and Milos Kerkez overlapping. Their pressing was ferocious, forcing Wolves into mistakes. Andoni Iraola really knows how to build a team and fill players full of bright ideas and belief.
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A-list Bees. Brentford are at it again, taking a young player in Nathan Collins, investing £23m to bring him from Wolves, appreciating his raw potential. Good coaching (Thomas Frank the alchemist) has seen Collins flourish, doing all the important defensive things and now playing killer passes in build-ups to goals. He took the ball down the right and stepped into midfield with it against Leicester. He’s a leader, too. And probably worth double what Brentford paid for him.
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Howe not why. Why the murmurs of discontent around Eddie Howe? Ridiculous. It wasn’t his fault that his plans against Crystal Palace were disrupted when Alexander Isak got injured again. It wasn’t his fault that poor summer recruitment meant Newcastle have an issue on the right. Howe’s a good manager, who works hard and cares for Newcastle. He and his coaches obviously planned a good routine for the goal: Lewis Hall and Sandro Tonali combining for Anthony Gordon to force the Marc Guehi own goal. He’s a good manager.
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Enjoy the week….
A great summary of VAR’s intervention to deny Southampton a hard earned goal, well put Henry. Great to see some unsung heroes shining at Bournemouth and Brentford under excellent coaches too.
Usual quality Monday points Henry. Plenty of varied points made from across this mostly wonderful game. Newcastle have let Howe down badly this summer. No criticism should aimed at his management. Don’t understand some of the criticism he is getting.
Have a good week.