Here’s what happened this weekend in the Premier League, in case you missed it…
READ ALL ABOUT IT
• Saturday: Mahrez delivers for Man City, Lloris saves Spurs and more
• Sunday: Rodgers loses in Leicester debut, Liverpool drops points and more
WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
West Ham United 2, Newcastle United 0 || Bournemouth 0, Manchester City 1 || Tottenham 1, Arsenal 1 || Brighton & Hove Albion 1, Huddersfield Town 0 || Burnley 1, Crystal Palace 3 || Manchester United 3, Southampton 2 || Wolves 2, Cardiff City 0 || Watford 2, Leicester City 1 || Fulham 1, Chelsea 2 || Everton 0, Liverpool 0
WHAT STOOD OUT
Liverpool trending in the wrong direction
Top of the table just two months ago and the cusp of going 10 points clear, Liverpool dropped to second place behind Manchester this past weekend after settling for a 0-0 draw with local rivals Everton at Goodison Park.
With nine matches remaining in the season, Man City is now in the driver’s seat, as Liverpool (who no longer has a game in hand) has drawn four of its last six Premier League matches, and have dropped 11 points since New Year’s.
What has to be even more worrisome for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was yet another anxious and hesitant performance by his side on Sunday, highlighted by Mohamed Salah squandering a number of scoring chances.
Liverpool have done brilliantly this season in trying to dethrone a side as dominant as Pep Guardiola’s Man City side. It was always going to be a tough task, but the Reds have held their nerve. They’ve lost their way since the start of 2019, but there’s plenty of football to be played, and more than enough time to overcome City to win the title. Count Liverpool at your peril.
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BEST GOAL
Watch as Andreas Pereira curls in a sensational strike from outside the box to score for Manchester United.
BEST MOMENT
Watch as some great passing by Wolves leads to a goal for Diogo Jota.
BEST MATCH
Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Manchester United managed to pull out a tight win over Southampton in a thrilling game at Old Trafford.
BEST TWEET
Liverpool trolls Everton fans upon its arrival at Goodison Park.
WORTH REPEATING
“We’ve played 25 games in, I think, 93 days. It means every three days and a little bit more, we play one game. So, it’s a physiological issue. We demand to play every three days when the body is not already recovered. And, of course, sometimes the muscles say, ‘Hello, it’s enough.’” – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, after Kevin De Bruyne limped off before halftime with a hamstring injury.
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Romelu Lukaku will garner the headlines thanks to his pair of goals for Manchester United. But spare a thought for Victor Lindelöf, who was magnificent in the air for the Red Devils in helping to thwart Southampton’s attacking efforts.
Victor Lindelöf won 100% of his defensive aerial duels against Southampton
7/7 Aerial Duels Won
He won more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch
(@StatsZone Image) #MUFC pic.twitter.com/CxiKcB22Ab
— Premier League Stat Man (@EPLStatman) March 2, 2019
THE BIG QUESTION
Every week, Sportsnet’s soccer panel will debate The Big Question:
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SIX PACK OF STATS
• Arsenal is the only team yet to record an away clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
• Diogo Jota has been directly involved in nine goals in his last seven games in all competitions at home for Wolves (five goals, four assists).
• Crystal Palace has scored in nine consecutive Premier League matches for the first time ever within a single season.
• West Ham’s Mark Noble has scored 22 penalties in the Premier League since his debut in August 2005. Only Frank Lampard (36), Steven Gerrard (31), Sergio Aguero (24) and Wayne Rooney (23) have scored more in that period.
• Eden Hazard is the third Chelsea player to score 50 goals and tally 50 assists in Premier League, joining Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
• Alisson has kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, the most by a goalkeeper in his debut season since Jose Reina in 2005-06 (20).
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United: Bagged a brace in the Red Devils’ win over Southampton at Old Trafford.
2) Diogo Jota, Wolves: Scored one goal and set up another in a home win over Cardiff City.
3) Troy Deeney, Watford: Scored the opening goal against Leicester, and then set up the winner in the 90th minute.
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