Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend as Mo Salah returned, Enzo Maresca made a cryptic complaint and Man City keep the pressure on Arsenal.

Salah saga has “settled down” but not gone away

The most turbulent week in Mo Salah’s Liverpool career ended with him breaking a Premier League record and helping the team to a comfortable win over Brighton.

The impasse between the Reds’ star player and Arne Slot was bridged on Friday when the pair held talks over his situation after claiming he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club.

The fact Salah was named in the matchday squad and came off the bench after 25 minutes to replace the injured Joe Gomez indicates those talks went well, although it is nonetheless surprising that he was reintroduced after such a public display of disrespect.

Still, the controversy has, in the words of Slot, “settled down” and the speculation over Salah’s future has been quelled, for now at least. On Monday he links up with the Egypt squad ahead of AFCON and we won’t see him back on England’s shores for many weeks.

There’s every chance that he remains unhappy about his current circumstances and will push for a move in January regardless. Or maybe some time away will benefit everyone and he will return more content with his lot, especially if he comes back with a winner’s medal.

Read – Most Premier League goal involvements for one club

Maresca is mad at… something

As one saga came to a close, another one was needlessly created as Enzo Maresca complained of the “worst 48 hours” he has endured at Chelsea, claiming he received “no support” during a rough patch of form.

What made these two days so bad? Who was not lending him support? Well, the Blues boss would not tell us, creating a sense of disquiet and confusion around the club.

When Maresca faced the media again on Monday ahead of his side’s League Cup quarter-final against Cardiff, he refused to elaborate.

No one is quite sure what the problem is, but everyone is aware that there is a problem. It’s questionable at best why Maresca chose that moment – right after a solid 2-0 win over Everton – to make such a statement, but he has only made it worse by not giving specifics. He has created a mini-controversy where there was no need to make one.

Read – Maresca refuses to explain ‘worst 48 hours’ Chelsea rant

Man City will push Arsenal all the way

Just over two weeks ago, Arsenal were in a seemingly uncatchable position. A six-point lead was hardly unassailable, but every team who has been that far ahead at the top of the table after 12 matches has gone on to lift the Premier League trophy.

City were seven points adrift at that stage and in danger of losing sight of the leaders altogether, but they have put together a run of four consecutive wins, the latest of which saw them comfortably beat Crystal Palace away. The Gunners, meanwhile, have been held by Chelsea, beaten Brentford, lost to Aston Villa, and needed two own goals to beat bottom dwellers Wolves this past weekend.

As a result, only two points separate Arsenal and old foes City, while Villa are just a further point behind. The north London outfit have gone from a place of relative comfort to squeaky bum time in just four matches. That is the nature of the Premier League, where you can’t take anything for granted.

Given they have finished each of the past three seasons as runners-up, supporters will be anxiety-ridden until they get over the line. They have the best team in the league, and possibly the world, but Pep Guardiola has never gone two years without winning the title in his career.

Read – Arteta slams ‘unacceptable’ Arsenal defending against Wolves

Calvert-Lewin could save Leeds

After an injury-riddled spell at Everton, Dominic Calvert-Lewin joined Leeds United in the summer with little expectation from onlookers that he would deliver much in the way of actual goals. Daniel Farke demanded extra firepower and the free agent striker just happened to be available.

What appeared to be a marriage of convenience has turned into a fruitful relationship. Calvert-Lewin has found the net four times in the last four games after rescuing a point at Brentford, taking his tally up to five for the season, to reinvigorate the Whites’ campaign. Unbeaten in their last three outings, they are now three points above the dropzone.

The former England international has been atypically clinical of late, but the boost in confidence he has received from this purple patch could be the launch pad for his best season in years. And give Leeds the impetus to survive.

Read – Premier League Team of the Weekend: Ekitike, Rogers, Wilson

Spurs (and Frank) are in deep trouble

Tottenham are only four points outside the top five, but a worrying malaise has gripped the club. Perhaps it’s a long lasting hangover from last year when they finished 17th in the table, but Thomas Frank has not been able to awaken them from the stupor.

A 3-0 hammering by Nottingham Forest condemned them to a sixth league defeat this season. It also continued a worrying trend as they failed to create anything of note in attack. At the other end they bled chances and gifted Forest their opening goal.

Spurs are 11th in the standings, a position they owe largely to a decent run of results at the start of the campaign. But the warning signs were there in their performances and it’s clear they have not improved much on last season.

The festive period does not promise much in the way of cheer; they face tricky encounters with Liverpool and Crystal Palace before taking on Brentford, Sunderland and Bournemouth to start the New Year. Their current form inspires little confidence they can come away from that run with a positive record.

Does the bell toll for Frank?

Read – Thomas Frank admits Forest drubbing ‘a step back’ for Spurs

Read More – Televised FA Cup third-round ties confirmed

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