Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the heart of a Tottenham side top of the Premier League as Arsenal fail to fire in the North London derby and Jurgen Klopp enjoys a Kop reunion after Liverpool rout...
Monday 7 December 2020 09:17, UK
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg must be one of the first names on the teamsheet for Jose Mourinho right now. The Spurs midfielder encapsulates just what the manager wants from his team - and against Arsenal on Sunday his commitment and class were key elements in another north London derby triumph.
Hojbjerg covered the most ground of any Spurs player - no surprise given he was thundering a shot at Bernd Leno or driving a dribble into the Arsenal box one moment and then back making interceptions or clearing from inside his own area the next.
With the ball at his feet Hojbjerg was precise - no Spurs starter topped his 79.5 per cent passing accuracy. Without it he was relentless in his pressing and energy.
If this Spurs side are a blend of the brilliant, high-speed attacking movements of Kane and Son, and the backs-to-the-walls defence marshalled by Toby Alderweireld, Hojbjerg is the engine room in between making it all work together so impressively.
Peter Smith
Arsenal had 70 per cent of the ball against Tottenham. They were camped in their rivals' half for most of the derby. Yet they failed to fashion any real clear-cut chance. Arsenal's inability in attack right now is alarming - and so costly.
Against Tottenham there were 44 crosses lobbed in towards forwards who have no history of being strong in the air. Alexandre Lacazette was deployed behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, yet the latter looked just as isolated as he has been since his shift to centre forward.
The calls for Mesut Ozil might have started out as tongue-in-cheek but it is now almost ridiculous Arsenal have him sat at home and unavailable when their current alternatives can't find the decisive pass.
There have been just two goals in their last seven Premier League games and only one of those was from open play. Jose Mourinho knew there was no threat and was happy sit back. Mikel Arteta's team simply have no fear factor with their toothless attack right now.
Peter Smith
Anfield doesn't need much encouragement when it comes to special nights!
However, despite only 2,000 lucky fans being inside the ground, it was another of those special occasions as Liverpool emphatically swept aside Wolves to move back level on points with Spurs.
"Wasn't it the perfect night?" Jurgen Klopp said after the game. "Imagine 10 months ago people would have told us we would have a game and 2,000 people would turn up. When we came out, we all had goosebumps. I had no idea how it would feel. It was perfect. The game, the atmosphere, it was so nice. I had goosebumps. They started 'You'll Never Walk Alone' - really nice. I never knew it could feel that good. The noise, what the people did, they were on their toes you could see and feel and smell. They had waited so long for it."
From the moment You'll Never Walk Alone rang round Anfield for the first time since before the Reds were crowned Premier League champions in July, you could sense something in the air.
And, after a big win, it all ended in familiar fashion with Klopp punching the air in celebration with the returning Liverpool fans.
Liverpool haven't needed much help at Anfield in recent months - they have won now won 31 of their last 32 home league games (D1), scoring 93 goals while conceding just 25 in this time.
They are unbeaten at home in 65 league games and with the fans back, they will take some stopping.
Oliver Yew
It was a sensational return to the Crystal Palace XI for Zaha, who certainly had some energy to burn off after two weeks in self-isolation. It is also no surprise that Crystal Palace won after going two games without their talisman, who is really starting to click with Eberechi Eze up front.
Zaha flashed the warning signs early on, and claimed an assist for the opening goal which was poked home by Darnell Furlong. There was then his own two strikes in the second half - the first was wonderfully taken and the second demonstrated why you need to be in the right place at the right time as he tapped home after some sensational work from Eze.
It appears that Zaha is finding his form this season too, having now scored seven goals in nine Premier League games. His previous seven goals came over a period of 49 appearances, with a much-needed purple patch clearly emerging for the winger as Crystal Palace aim to build on last season.
After the game, manager Roy Hodgson told Sky Sports: "I thought he was really, really good. I apologised for not giving him the chance to get his hat-trick, which he was a little bit disappointed with, but I'm pleased he's disappointed with that. I would have been less pleased if he said he wanted to come off so I'm pleased he wanted the hat-trick.
"He scored two very good goals and was assisted on his second goal by some amazing play from Eze, who I thought had his best game in a Palace shirt for us so far."
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and Zaha certainly showed how valuable he is for Crystal Palace after a few weeks out. Every transfer window, the club's biggest task is to keep hold of Zaha and if he keeps playing as he did on Sunday, that could be even harder than ever come January.
Charlotte Marsh
Relegating a team in December is of course very premature. There are points to play for. Miracles can happen.
However, if you were writing a narrative to define what a relegation season looks like, then your first port of call would be to watch Sheffield United.
Fresh from somehow failing to score at West Brom and creating an expected goal figure of 3.34 in the 1-0 defeat, the Blades slipped to another defeat this time at the hands of Jamie Vardy. The xG figure was nowhere near the same but the heartbreak levels were.
Chris Wilder's side have made the worst ever start to a Premier League season and remain rooted to the bottom of the table with only one point from 11 matches. Even someone of Wilder's ilk is going to struggle to turn this one around.
The sight of Sheffield Wednesday fan Jamie Vardy wheeling away celebrating a last-minute winner at Bramall Lane will have intensified the misery for all concerned with the club watching from home. He'd hardly a kick for the previous 89 minutes - apart from smashing an effort against a post - but was ready for action when Maddison, who took advantage of a basic error from John Fleck, slotted him through on goal.
"There's no one to blame but ourselves," said Wilder. It was hard to argue.
Lewis Jones
