SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 7 hrs 31 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

5 things we learned from the Premier League this weekend

:Headline: 5 things we learned from the Premier League this weekend: ID:342517: from db_amp
Everton moved into the top six.

Chelsea lose for the first time, Manchester United disappoint at home again and a rebuilding job at Craven Cottage takes shape.

Press Association Sport looks at five talking points from the weekend.

Chelsea can be beaten

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has "problems to solve" (John Walton/PA).

It has taken until the final weekend of November but cracks have started to appear in Chelsea's armour. It was not Tottenham's inflicting of a first defeat of the season per se but the manner of it which prompted manager Maurizio Sarri to label it a "disaster". The Italian spoke of knowing he had "a lot of problems to solve" but his players' performances had papered over those cracks until now with David Luiz and Jorginho, in particular, the main culprits at Wembley. Sarri will hope slipping to fourth, with Arsenal just a point behind, will focus the minds.

Ranieri rediscovers his magic touch

Claudio Ranieri, the man who masterminded Leicester's miraculous title win, returned to the Premier League 21 months after being sacked by the Foxes to revitalise a flagging Fulham. After seven successive defeats the Italian came in for his first match and immediately oversaw a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Southampton. They remain bottom of the table but are only four points behind 13th-placed West Ham. Crucially he also got Alexsandar Mitrovic back on the goal trail after a seven-match drought and if he can maintain that it will be pivotal to their survival. Next up, Ranieri's former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Salah warming up for winter

Marco Silva's Toffees have finally joined the top-six party. It has been some time since they have been able to say that after fluctuating spells under Roberto Martinez (11th twice), Ronald Koeman (seventh) and Sam Allardyce (eight). Four wins and a draw in their last six matches have seen them overtake Manchester United as the closest challengers to Arsenal. With a fully-fit squad to choose from they are arguably at their strongest for some time and with Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring regularly and four clean sheets in seven league matches, Silva has built a strong base. The test will be to push on from there with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham waiting in December.

Mourinho's moans have negative effect

Friday: Quotes emerge from Jose Mourinho suggesting the likes of Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford are "without character". Saturday: A team which included three of that quartet at some point are held to a dull goalless draw by a Crystal Palace side without a league win in 10 weeks. As they say in America, 'Go figure'. Mourinho has spent most of the season complaining about his players. Is it really any wonder his team are seventh in the table, with as many home wins as on the road (three) and, almost unheard of, a zero goal difference for matches at Old Trafford?

amp_article__342517 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-25 21:15:54:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 03:24:04 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Jose Mourinho

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .