6) Pardew’s good wishes to Newcastle rub salt in detractors’ wounds
Alan Pardew has been a study in reticence whenever invited to dwell on the subject of his previous employers – to the extent that his assistant manager, Keith Millen, was dispatched to host Crystal Palace’s pre-match press conference before Newcastle United’s visit on Saturday. He is wary of his words being twisted but he opened up a little more after his side’s 5-1 win. Magnanimity was the order of the day but one got the impression that he wishes Newcastle, where he spent four years in charge despite finding himself subjected to a sustained period of supporter revolt, well in their increasingly ambitious aim to escape relegation.
“It looks like they’re going to have to really fight for the rest of the season,” he said after his front four had inflicted a ruthless evisceration on admittedly supine opposition. “They’ve found themselves with lots of points to make up now. But with the crowd and the way it is there, they can reverse that quickly. I think it’s important that the group stays strong. I sometimes felt myself in the position where you need everybody to pull for you [in my time there] and that’s where they are now. Steve [McClaren] understands that as a manager and the staff and players now have to really stick tight, get the barriers up and get themselves a win. I hope they do that next week.” Pardew can afford to be generous: his 11 months back at Palace have surely exceeded his wildest expectations. And while his time at Newcastle can in no way be rewritten as flawless, hearing him speak from such a position of strength must jar awkwardly with those supporters who expended so much energy in seeking his exit from St James’ Park.
7) Returning Henderson gives Klopp a welcome dilemma in midfield
Incident was thin on the ground at Anfield other than the contested penalty award that handed Liverpool a sixth win in seven games and left Garry Monk praying for a break in fortune for Swansea City. Jordan Henderson’s return from a three-month injury lay-off, however, will give Jürgen Klopp an internal debate over the make-up of his midfield in the weeks ahead. The Liverpool captain showed a glimpse of the creativity that was sorely lacking in the game when setting up James Milner for a rare shot on goal late on, and how Klopp will accommodate Henderson will be intriguing. Emre Can took the holding role in the absence of the suspended Lucas Leiva against Swansea and impressed. The Brazilian himself has been revitalised under the new Liverpool manager and has played a pivotal role in Klopp’s positive start. Milner’s industry and movement are also important to how Liverpool operate under the German coach. Something, or rather someone, will have to give. After the series of injuries at the start of his tenure, however, Liverpool’s manager will welcome the dilemma as momentum builds.
8) Evans adapts impressively to left-back role for West Brom
West Bromwich Albion missed the suspended Chris Brunt’s deliveries at Upton Park but were strong at left-back thanks to a fine performance by Jonny Evans, who seemed bothered neither by the foot injury that jeopardised his participation in the match nor by his relative unfamiliarity with the position. He was magnificent at left-back on Sunday. “The kid is a top player,” said Tony Pulis He can play anywhere across the back four and I also think he could play as a holding midfield player. His composure, his touch on the ball and his vision at times is first-class. We wanted to play someone out there who would look after [Victor] Moses and someone who would have a bit of quality on the ball and I thought Jonny was fantastic for us.”
9) Wenger faces more questions about key players’ fitness
Arsène Wenger strode purposefully through the Carrow Road concourse towards his post-match press conference but there would be one final insult. Alex Neil, the Norwich City manager, had got there first and Wenger was told he would have to wait. It is fair to say this went down badly, with the Arsenal manager making the point that he and his players had a flight to catch. After a bit of loitering around, he stalked off, instructing his press officer to come to get him when Neil had finished. Wenger’s tetchiness was down to more than the 1-1 draw representing two points dropped. He had lost Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sánchez to muscle injuries while Santi Cazorla finished as a virtual passenger because of knee trouble. Not one or two but three of his very best players are now likely to be casualties for the busy weeks ahead, certainly Koscielny and Sánchez – both of whom could barely walk. Wenger knew that the questions about his care of Sánchez were coming and, in that respect, he was not disappointed. It is easy to feel the sense of dread about the fitness bulletins over the coming days.
10) Fulop gets a touching tribute
Marton Fulop’s parents were Sunderland’s guests of honour for a game between two of his former clubs. The former Hungary goalkeeper, who died from cancer earlier this month at the age of 32, was the subject of a minute’s applause before kick-off. Earlier there had been a floral tribute – financed by fans – placed outside the ground and a warm, touching piece from Margaret Byrne, Sunderland’s chief executive, in the match programme. Then, in the 32nd minute, came a spontaneous display of appreciation as booming choruses of “Only one Marton Fulop” echoed from all corners of the Stadium of Light. It must have been an extremely difficult afternoon for Fulop’s mother and father but that magnificent ovation must have meant a lot to them.
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