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Opinion
This is what stood out from the weekend’s Premier League action.
Bournemouth capitulate following Ake injury
Facts and figures
The 3-0 scoreline was reflective of Liverpool’s dominance of the game and it could have been worse as far as the margin was concerned. Liverpool had 74 per cent of possession and nine shots on target to Bournemouth’s none.
Points of difference
There was a clear difference in class between the two teams, although the game did change notably after Nathan Ake had to be substituted off due to injury. He is probably Bournemouth’s most important player.
Who made their team better?
Nathan Ake brilliantly tackled Mohamed Salah to prevent Liverpool from breaking the deadlock. Salah provided an assist with a clever back heal. That was pivotal as it was a freakish pass that led to a goal and gave Liverpool a two-goal cushion. He deservedly scored himself to make the score 3-0 in Liverpool’s favour.
Trials and tribulations
The first 20 minutes were largely uneventful from a front third perspective for both teams. An injury to Nathan Ake when the score was nil-all changed the whole complexion of the game. Ake is one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
James Milner had a good shot go just wide. Nathan Ake appeared to injure a hamstring following an outstanding tackle that prevented Mohamed Salah from scoring. Shortly afterwards Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain broke the deadlock, which gave Liverpool a one-goal advantage. Liverpool also had their own injury worries with Dejan Lovren forced to be substituted off due to injury in the 40th minute.
(AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
In what proved to be a tough afternoon for Bournemouth, Callum Wilson looked to have suffered a hamstring injury, which meant that Bournemouth’s two best players were both forced off with injury.
One-way traffic
Facts and figures
Incredibly, Burnley had more possession than Tottenham, but they had just one shot on target from seven shots. Tottenham scored five goals from their seven shots on target. There was a clear difference in talent and perhaps even attacking intent as Burnley weren’t at the races.
Points of difference
Son Heung-min made the score 3-0 in favour of Tottenham Hotspur with some exquisite dribbling and a clinical finish. Harry Kane scored a couple of exquisite goals.
Burnley appeared to be unprepared or out of their depth as they were smashed five goals to nil. They gifted Tottenham chances to score. Burnley simply didn’t turn up.
Who made their team better?
It’s a no-brainer that Harry Kane made Tottenham Hotspur a better team with a long-range goal early in the game.
Trials and tribulations
Although there wasn’t much that Burnley could have done to prevent Harry Kane from opening the scoring, they would be disappointed to concede a goal early on. Following that they conceded a second goal in the first ten minutes via Lucas Moura.
Moussa Sissoko could have made the score 3-0 shortly after, but he hit the post. Then Burnley hit the bar with a header from Matthew Lowton. Jay Rodriguez missed a chance to score Burnley’s first goal of the game.
It was difficult to judge whether Tottenham were good or Burnley were bad. The 5-0 scoreline was probably a reflection of the difference in quality between the two teams on paper.
A derby win for United as City appear overawed
Facts and figures
Manchester City may have dominated possession with 71.9 per cent, but they were 2-0 down by the 29th minute and it could have been more. Manchester United finished the game with a total of seven shots on target to Manchester City’s five. Therefore, Manchester United were more efficient in the final third and deserved their 2-1 win.
Points of difference
It appeared as if Manchester United were the team in the top three and not Manchester City. City were outplayed for the majority of the game. Anthony Martial finished clinically to make the score 2-0 in Manchester United’s favour in the first half. Victor Lindelof made a quality tackle to deny Kevin De Bruyne from scoring an almost certain goal in the second half. Rodri had a shot from distance brilliantly saved by David de Gea.
Who made their team better?
Ederson made some crucial saves early in the game. Marcus Rashford took an outstanding penalty to make the score 1-0. Rashford showed character to score from the penalty spot in what was a cauldron-like atmosphere.
Trials and tribulations
Daniel James squandered a good opportunity to open the scoring early in the game. The moment appeared too much for him. In a derby, the atmosphere was electric and the pressure was high.
Manchester United were awarded a penalty near the midway point of the first half due to a foul by Bernardo Silva. The foul was incurred on Marcus Rashford as Silva appeared to impede Rashford’s run and control of the ball.
Rashford failed to make the score 2-0 with what was a fairly elementary shot for a player of his standard. Shortly after that Rashford hit the bar, which was unlucky, so he could have had a hat trick within the space of a few minutes. Instead he had just a solitary goal to his name.
Nicolas Otamendi gave Manchester City some life late in the game with a superb header that reduced the deficit to one goal.
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