Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Five things we learned from the Premier League, as Liverpool return to their ‘perch’ and Graham Potter comes under fire at West Ham.

Liverpool back ‘on their perch’

In 2002, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson memorably said his ambition was to knock ‘Liverpool right off their ******* perch.

Ferguson had won seven league titles at that stage, having overseen Manchester United’s replacement of Liverpool as the league’s leading force. Seven years later, United won their 18th title to draw level with Liverpool as England’s most successful side, before moving two in front with successes in 2011 and 2013. The latter was Ferguson’s final season in charge and Manchester United have not won the title since.

Liverpool ended a 30-year drought with title success under Jurgen Klopp in 2019/20, before matching Manchester United this Sunday. Arne Slot’s side thrashed Spurs 5-1 at Anfield, crowning the Reds Premier League champions for 2024/25.

Liverpool now boast the joint-highest number of league titles and unmatched hauls of six Champions Leagues (among English clubs) and League Cups (10). No English side has won more major trophies than the Merseysiders, who are now firmly back on their perch as the country’s most successful side. The challenge for Slot and his squad is to stay there. Liverpool have not won back-to-back titles since 1983 and 1984.

Sessegnon thriving amid home comforts

Since leaving Fulham as a highly-rated teenager, Ryan Sessegnon’s career has failed to reach the heights expected. Sessegnon appeared an England international in waiting after firing Fulham to promotion as a teenager, earning the Championship Player of the Season award in 2017/18 before a £25m move to Tottenham a year later.

The cross-capital switch did not work out as hoped as Sessegnon failed to establish across five years in North London. He returned to Fulham on a free transfer last summer and after a period of getting up to speed has broken in Marco Silva’s plans.

Sessegnon’s late winner against Southampton this weekend made it four goals and two assists in his last eight appearances. It’s an impressive return from the 24-year-old, who has featured at full-back and further forward. He’s earned the trust of Marco Silva and appears to be enjoying his football again. A return to home comforts has brought the best out in him.

Wolves want to follow Forest blueprint

Given achievements higher up the table, Vitor Pereira is unlikely to claim any Manager of the Season accolades but the Wolves boss should at least be on the shortlist.

Pereira’s side are up to 13th in the table after beating Leicester City 3-0 at Molineux this weekend, a sixth straight Premier League win. Wolves have won six successive top-flight games for the first time in 55 years and have climbed above clubs including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the table.

Wolves were 19th at the time of his arrival in December, having won just twice all season. Since then, only Liverpool (13) and Newcastle (12) have won more matches in the Premier League than Wolves (10).

Full-back Nelson Semedo believes the club can use this momentum as a springboard for next season. He called on the club to use Nottingham Forest as inspiration, with Forest having risen from relegation contenders to Champions League hopefuls this season.

“Nottingham are doing really well and are one of the examples, fighting for the Champions League places. Why can’t we do that as well?” Semedo said.

Will Leeds and Burnley be able to bridge the growing gap?

For the second straight season, all three promoted teams have gone straight back down. For the second straight season, none have put up much of a fight.

Concern is high around the growing gap between the Premier League and Championship, with the financial power of the former making England’s top flight an increasingly closed shop.

This season’s relegated trio are on course for the lowest combined points total ever, while it’s the first time in Premier League history that all three relegations have been confirmed with as many as four games to go.

Leeds and Burnley have confirmed their place in the Premier League next season after promotion, with a play-off winner still to join them. Both will be well aware of the challenge facing them to consolidate. It’s never been greater.

Will West Ham make another huge call?

West Ham are fortunate that the aforementioned relegated trio have been so bad this season. The Hammers have been truly terrible this season, failing to reach 40 points with four games of the campaign to go.

Julen Lopetegui arrived last summer but was quickly shown the door before Graham Potter took the reins in January. There has been no uplift, with Potter winning just three (20%) of his games in charge. West Ham are seven without a win and 17th in the table, on course for the club’s lowest league finish since relegation in 2010/11.

Potter’s post-game frustration after a late defeat to former club Brighton was evident, while the unrest among the fanbase is increasing. Managers need time and advocating change is not something to be encouraged, but has there been any evidence of improvement from West Ham?

Read – Premier League Team of the Weekend – Cunha, Chalobah, Tonali

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