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1
Newcastle’s relentless press results in crucial win
Among several excellent individual performances, it was Newcastle’s collective endeavour that was most impressive against Manchester United, the home side’s press rarely giving their opponents a chance to settle on the ball. As a result the visitors kept coughing it up in dangerous positions, and this was where the game was won. None of the home side’s goals involved them crossing the halfway line, and the amount of time they spent in possession in the buildup to each of them was, in order of them being scored, eight seconds (with four players touching the ball), nine seconds (also four players), five seconds (one player) and three seconds (two players). More than a fifth of their total ball recoveries, 12 of them in all, took place in their attacking third, four of which led to goals; the equivalent figures for the visitors were two, and 4.3%. Simon Burnton
2
Amass in difficult introduction on full debut
If their defeat in Newcastle is to be remembered at all at Old Trafford (and most will hope it isn’t) it will probably be as another notable marker in the continued emergence of Harry Amass. The 18-year-old’s league debut against Leicester last month was hailed on United’s social media as “a special moment for the academy graduate” (a bit rum, given that he spent seven years in someone else’s academy – Watford’s – and just one and a bit in their own) and he officially becomes the 253rd player to emerge from their youth system and start a league game. This, though, was a difficult introduction, against high-quality opponents and in a wildly underperforming team. He is likely to regret his decision to go to ground in the moments before Newcastle’s second goal: he slid harmlessly into touch as the ball was whipped behind him by Jacob Murphy, through approximately the space he would have occupied had he stayed on his feet, for Harvey Barnes to score. After a busy first half, in the second Amass attempted neither any passes nor any tackles, and made no interceptions, in the 10 minutes before he was taken off. SB
3
Potter facing pressure despite mid-season entry
Judge him when he has a pre-season. Judge him when he doesn’t have the injuries West Ham have had this season. Judge him when he’s been able to bring in his own signings. Judge him when he’s been able to dispel the fug of negativity left by Julen Lopetegui. There are many reasons not to get too worked up about Graham Potter’s first three months as West Ham manager. But equally he has won just three of 13 games in all competitions. They’ve slipped to fourth-bottom in the league and he’s averaging 1.00 points per game, which is 0.15 per game less than Lopetegui did this season. With six games to go, the gap to third-bottom is 14, so relegation is not a threat and, with two of the sides below them plus Tottenham still to come, there are opportunities to improve that record. But unless there is a dramatic improvement over the next month, Potter will start next season under significant pressure. Andy Hunter
4
Pereira has Wolves aiming higher
First the points, then the pints. Vítor Pereira has enjoyed mingling with Wolves supporters in local watering holes and his mantra is working, even if another encouraging performance was lost in Tottenham’s malaise. Pereira could be forgiven for thinking towards next season given Wolves are 14 points above the relegation zone but asked whether his team are safe, his response was telling. “If I start to speak about being safe, I’m not ambitious, I don’t show my ambition,” he said. “I didn’t come to the Premier League just to work to avoid relegation.” Pereira, who replaced Gary O’Neil in December, has won half of his 16 league matches in charge and on Sunday will take a team brimming with belief to Manchester United. January signings Marshall Munetsi and Emmanuel Agbadou again impressed against Spurs, while Jørgen Strand Larsen, the focal point they long craved, has five goals in his past four appearances. Wolves fans will wonder where Pereira can take them. Ben Fisher
5
Sancho needs to show consistency
It is probably too soon to suggest that Jadon Sancho has turned a corner. The winger has been disappointing since Christmas and it remains to be seen if Chelsea decide to sign him on a permanent basis. Sancho’s loan deal contains an obligation to buy but there is also an option for Chelsea to pay a financial penalty and send him back to Manchester United. What to do? Sancho has shown some encouraging flashes in his past two appearances. He picked up two assists against Legia Warsaw last week and scored a stunning equaliser after coming off the bench during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich. The level of the opposition has to be taken into account, though. Sancho’s goals have come against Ipswich, Southampton and Tottenham this season. He has to produce on a more consistent basis. Chelsea need him to be even more decisive if they are to qualify for the Champions League. Jacob Steinberg
6
Arteta in Partey politics before Real test
Managers do not like the leaking of team news. Just look at how Ange Postecoglou feels at Tottenham about the mole in his camp. But Mikel Arteta takes things to another level. The Arsenal manager said he withdrew Thomas Partey against Brentford because the midfielder had “felt something” – but he steadfastly refused to say what it was. Would Partey be OK for Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday? Arteta did not know. At around the same time, Partey spoke to reporters in the mixed zone. His right foot was slightly bandaged but there was no sign of a limp nor any questions about the problem. Suffice to say he is expected to be fine. Madrid will not be guessing about Gabriel Martinelli, who came through what he described as a potentially leg-breaking challenge from Christian Nørgaard unscathed. “He accepted my apology and shook my hand,” Nørgaard said. David Hytner
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7
Guardiola coy on City’s summer plan
Pep Guardiola said Ilkay Gündogan’s 12-month extension option is yet to be triggered. “What is going to happen I don’t know,” said the manager, who also could not confirm how many additional players Manchester City would pursue this summer. “The most important thing from my point of view, as I said to the club, is which players are reliable. You cannot perform if you are injured. The players we have, they can play every three days, four days, or they cannot. Then we build a squad for next season.” A left-back is a priority. “Obviously. Nico [O’Reilly] is helping us but he is not a left-back. I played with Alex Zinchenko at left-back, Fabian Delph. We have found solutions.” Guardiola also explained why Ederson came off after 71 minutes against Crystal Palace. “He had [previously] a few muscular problems. When he passed to Gündogan he had the same feeling.” Jamie Jackson
8
Hürzeler refuses to slam Dunk for error
Fabian Hürzeler defended Lewis Dunk after the Brighton captain was partly responsible for Stephy Mavididi’s strike that finally ended Leicester’s eight-match goal drought. “I will never point Lewis out and say he’s the reason why we are not winning the game,” said Hürzeler. “That’s a fact, he’s my skipper, he’s a legend for the club and therefore he will try everything to bounce back, like the whole team.” But there is no hiding from the fact that Dunk looks a shadow of his former self at the moment as the 33-year-old struggled to keep up with Leicester’s attackers. Adam Webster’s injury and the suspension of Jan Paul van Hecke meant the midfielder Carlos Baleba filled in alongside Dunk on Saturday. It will be intriguing to see whether Hürzeler sticks with his skipper for next week’s game against Brentford or hands the January signing Eiran Cashin a first start instead. Ed Aarons
9
Edu top of the tree at new-look Forest
Not much actually happened on the pitch at the City Ground until Abdoulaye Doucouré’s 94th-minute winner for Everton. Nuno Espírito Santo admitted there were “no positives” on a dismal day for Forest. The most interesting thing to come out of the afternoon for the Tricky Trees was the fact Edu was in attendance. The former Arsenal sporting director is expected to join Evangelos Marinakis’s multi-club network that also includes Olympiakos and Rio Ave, and Edu could spearhead a plan to add a Brazilian side to the operation. For years Forest struggled to create a professional setup at the top of the club. Adding Edu to a department that includes the recruitment gurus George Syrianos and Ross Wilson shows the ambition is growing to run a successful club with a clear long-term strategy. Whether Forest qualify for the Champions League or not, the foundations will be stronger for years to come. Will Unwin
10
Villa pool of talent is now deeper
The fact Aston Villa are having trouble deciding who takes their penalties is, in itself, a sign of their new-found attacking depth. Marco Asensio hasn’t done much wrong since arriving on loan from PSG in January, but his two penalty misses at Southampton have left Unai Emery with a problem, after the manager admitted his fellow countryman had been Villa’s first choice from the spot. “We have our penalty shooters,” said Emery after the win at Southampton. “The first one is Marcus Rashford, the second is Marco Asensio, the third is Youri Tielemans, John McGinn or Ollie Watkins.” It seems a long time ago that much was being made of Emery’s decision to bench Watkins in favour of Jhon Durán earlier in the campaign. Despite Durán’s departure, Emery now has Watkins, Rashford, Asensio, Morgan Rogers, Donyell Malen, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey to pick from. Dominic Booth
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