Premier League and Carabao Cup final: 10 talking points from the weekend

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Colossal Van Dijk uses his head

When Liverpool needed a hero, with all their other leaders sidelined through injury, Virgil van Dijk cast himself as the key player in the Carabao Cup final at the decisive moment. Earlier in the match the Dutchman had cut a bewildered figure after being dismissed by a marginal VAR call. The ensuing offside debate against Wataru Endo might have haunted Liverpool on another day, but Jurgen Klopp’s youngsters shone to keep Chelsea at bay as the match entered extra time and they needed Van Dijk to go highest to give the Reds a to leave a mark. dominance. Ultimately, at the time of his winner in the 118th minute, Van Dijk was about the only player on the Wembley pitch who could use his head. Having been a transformative signing for Klopp over six years ago, it feels fitting that the defender plays such a crucial role in this success. Dominic Boot

Ten Hag walks a tightrope

Admitting Manchester United’s naivety will not help Erik ten Hag as he tries to convince Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new regime to keep him as manager. The 52-year-old did this when analyzing Alex Iwobi’s 97th-minute winner for Fulham, which came after Adama Traore was able to run in and pass to the wideman. Ten Hag said: “They had a throw-in and we didn’t take the right positions. Actually, one player has not taken the right position, but then we have to arrange this in the team so that they cannot escape.” Ten Hag probably means Victor Lindelöf, United’s left back. However, there was more. Harry Maguire was hot on the Spaniard’s heels and, like the Dutchman, accepted an indifferent choice. “I was on a booking [to be suspended]the defender said. “Maybe I should have just taken him down, but then you’ll miss next week. That’s easy to say now.” This lack of smarts points to a poorly managed team, which also points to Ten Hag’s uncertain job security. Jamie Jackson

The story continues

Guardiola enjoys grinding it out

Pep Guardiola called his Manchester City players ‘supermen’ after they recorded a second 1-0 win in five days as Phil Foden’s strike earned victory at Bournemouth and the compliments just kept coming. They were unconvincing by City standards, but Guardiola was full of praise. The City manager completed a grueling run of games after comparing last Tuesday’s game against Brentford to a visit to the dentist – without anesthesia. They visit Luton in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday before resuming their Champions League defense in March and facing tests against Arsenal, Brighton and Liverpool, as well as the Manchester derby. The prospect of a back-to-back Treble is there. “An important month,” Guardiola said. “I thought, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen to my players after I win everything. How will they react?’ Oh my God…it’s impossible to get better than they have. Impossible.” Ben Visser

Jorginho steps up to star for Arsenal

Jorginho may not be a headliner, but he is proving his worth to Arsenal. Mikel Arteta brought him into a Premier League starting XI for the sixth time this season and he was excellent in the defeat to Newcastle. It seemed like a conservative move to go for the Brazilian instead of Leandro Trossard, but it was anything but. His cues and wonderful ground coverage helped Arsenal exert overwhelming control, while his beautiful pass to Gabriel Martinelli set up the crucial second goal. “He is a top player,” said Arteta. “Especially if opponents have certain behaviors and attitudes, as I imagine the game to be, he would have a big impact.” Jorginho’s flattery of teammates was also noticeable and in a match that had previously descended into minor chaos, it was easy to understand why Arteta would choose to deploy a sentinel on the pitch. Jorginho was much more than that; Arsenal’s depth in midfield has been questioned, but his experience could put them over the edge. Nick Ames

Branthwaite looks real

Generations of Evertonians have had to get used to flogging the family silver. Francis Jeffers, Wayne Rooney, Joleon Lescott, Ross Barkley and John Stones all left Goodison for richer clubs. It looks like Jarrad Branthwaite will definitely join that list, and his goal and overall performance at Brighton proved to be high-quality marketing. It is not his control and sharp finishing that define his reputation, but demonstrate the innate talent of the rangy 21-year-old. A few late blocks as Brighton pushed for the eventual equalizer were a testament to his discipline; Brighton’s attackers struggled for time and space until Pascal Gross found Lewis Dunk for a late equalizer. “I feel good and confident when I compete,” Branthwaite said, “I know I’m good enough to play at this level.” And so do many admirers among the game’s elite, Manchester United and Real Madrid, to name just two. John Brewin

Luiz plays the lead role for Emery

Another home game for Aston Villa, another goal for Douglas Luiz. A double in the first half even. Luiz, nominally a midfielder, has scored nine Premier League goals this season, all of which have come at Villa Park. Recently, following Boubacar Kamara’s cruciate ligament injury, Luiz’s importance has increased, and Unai Emery holds him to the highest standards: “He lost the first two balls in the second half and I said to him: ‘Please Douglas, you are a key figure.” player for us to keep the confidence while playing our style,’” Emery said. “He took control of the match with his skills and gave us confidence.” Luiz praised his manager effusively: “He lifted me up; it’s the truth. He tells me every day that you have to defend, and if you go, you have to score.” Luiz follows these instructions to the letter. Sam Dalling

Callow Chelsea shows a lack of nous

In the end it was Jurgen Klopp’s children versus Todd Boehly’s signings. Finally, this was an opportunity for Chelsea to justify – to some extent – ​​the £1 billion transfer spend under Todd Boehly, to put a piece of silverware in the cabinet for the first time after Abramovich and to signal progress. While Klopp was forced to use new signings Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns, Pochettino was able to call on Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku for a combined cost of £140 million. But as they faced increasingly tough weather against greenish opponents, the shortcomings of the Blues themselves – their lack of trophy-winning nous, their weak mentality – were exposed. There is inexperience in terms of age and then there is immaturity in football; Chelsea showed the latter at Wembley. “Billion pounds of bottle work,” was the phrase Gary Neville used in his commentary. It was hard to argue otherwise. D.B

Ayew adds shine to Glasner’s debut

For years, Jordan Ayew was one of the most frustrating players in the world, blessed with immense talent but seemingly doomed to always being sidelined or choosing the wrong option. For example, what would have happened if he had arranged for Asamoah to play Gyan? respond when Ghana led 2-1 against Germany at the 2014 World Cup? However, he is now 32 and has become one of Crystal Palace’s most reliable performers in recent seasons, hard-working and, in a more withdrawn role, increasingly effective. He seemed to relish the freedom afforded him by Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1, laying on Chris Richards’ opener with a clever cross to the back post before tapping in the second himself, arriving unnoticed to counter to complete. That’s now four goals and six assists this season – already the most goals he has ever scored in a season. Jonathan Wilson

Neto is shining, but could be next for exit

During the summer, Wolves sold Portuguese players Rúben Neves and Matheus Nunes to balance the books and collect more than £100 million in fees. It remains impressive how well the club has done by relying on cheaper replacements and those already in the building to step up. The next Portuguese international to bring Wolves a healthy profit will undoubtedly be Pedro Neto. The winger was the most dynamic player on the pitch against Sheffield United, effortlessly floating through the red and white shirts to create chances. He will be disappointed not to have added his nine assists and two goals to the league’s most porous side. Neto has been linked with a number of clubs higher up the league and will inevitably demand a large fee, something Gary O’Neil hopes to reinvest. Will win

The ruthless competition takes its toll

Besides goals, goals, goals, one of the themes of this Premier League season has been injuries, injuries and, well, more injuries. They can be used as an excuse for poor results – see Manchester United and Chelsea – or a team can buckle down and unite under difficult circumstances, as top teams often do. Liverpool certainly did that in the Carabao Cup final, after Ryan Gravenberch left on a stretcher. It was Erik ten Hag who hinted at the reason for the huge number of top-flight injuries this season when explaining Rasmus Højlund’s recent muscle soreness. “It is a risk with high-intensity training,” said the United manager. Jurgen Klopp said earlier in December that management is “not about coaching anymore, it’s just recovery and then meetings”. Clubs are falling victim to the Premier League’s greatest assets: its speed and ruthlessness. D.B