Chelsea’s youth fail to seize opportunity, Claudio Ranieri deserves Leicester plaudits and the manner of Bournemouth’s thrashing raises concerns
1) Premier League is now the priority for settled Arsenal
Arsène Wenger spoke before this game about the importance of rotation but when it became apparent that he named undoubtedly his strongest team it was only natural to wonder if he is no longer putting much emphasis on the Champions League. The Premier League is very much the priority, regardless of what happens against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Wenger said he might make “one or maybe two” changes for it and it is difficult to think of one that would strengthen the team that toiled for some time against Watford only to move up a gear when their hosts tired. Wenger is the one manager from the four clubs capable of sustaining a genuine title challenge who is certain of his best starting XI. José Mourinho has no idea of his best team, Louis van Gaal is still toying with certain areas and Manuel Pellegrini has such riches to choose from when it comes to his attacking midfield three there are still questions over which combination works best. Wenger’s side pick themsleves but, if another injury crisis was to strike, do they have sufficient depth?
2) Jones and Smalling illustrate merits of out-and-out defenders
Manchester United found the finest form under Louis van Gaal in the spring when they saw off Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City with a forceful, physical central-defensive partnership of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. Finally, it seemed, the future had arrived. Prospects signed by Sir Alex Ferguson were developing into dominant defenders who were establishing an alliance that would last for years. Then United spent part of the summer pursuing Sergio Ramos, Jones went down with thrombosis and Van Gaal decided to reinvent Daley Blind as a centre-back, a quixotic choice which showed his obsessive interest in balance – his fellow Dutchman is left-footed – and his wish to use a high-class passer at the back. If Blind’s physical limitations seemed to offer an opportunity to many a strong striker, Romelu Lukaku met his match at Goodison Park when Jones and Smalling were reunited. The Belgian had bullied Liverpool in Everton’s previous game but there was no repeat. The English duo brought levels of resilience and reliability that can be lacking when the more fragile Blind is playing. It may not be part of Van Gaal’s much-mentioned philosophy to field two out-and-out stoppers who are comparatively limited in possession but it makes sense on such occasions. He should stick with them for Sunday’s derby especially as Manchester City’s striker Wilfried Bony, like Lukaku, has the power and pace to trouble a lightweight centre-back.
3) Chelsea’s youth show why Mourinho hesitates to trust them
José Mourinho’s desire to shake things up by introducing some of the younger talents at his disposal showed in his starting XI against Aston Villa. Kurt Zouma, 20, is trusted to play regularly at the moment. Starts for the 19-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the 21-year-old Baba Rahman seemed a little more experimental, with both given a first Premier League start of the campaign. But the experience for them was not overwhelmingly positive. Loftus-Cheek was positioned as the No10-style playmaker and looked powerful and alert going forward without being decisive. It must have been disappointing to be withdrawn at half-time as Mourinho reshuffled, moving Cesc Fàbregas forward into more creative territory and tightening the midfield by pairing Nemanja Matic with Ramires. As for Rahman, his erratic positioning was a concern and underlined why Mourinho was reluctant to put him straight in the team while Branislav Ivanovic was struggling. All may well have glowing long-term futures at Chelsea but the present represents a learning curve.
4) Ranieri deserves the plaudits as Leicester roar back at Southampton
Claudio Ranieri continues to bamboozle. When the former Greece manager was appointed in the summer he wore a startled expression, holding up a Leicester shirt at his unveiling like a bemused lottery winner grappling a supersized cheque. But behind the Italian’s affable nature and the intonation of that playful accent lies a steely pragmatism.
Against Norwich Ranieri made the bold call to leave arguably his best player this season, Riyad Mahrez, on the bench and his replacement, Jeffrey Schlupp, scored what proved to be the winner. Mahrez, struggling for fitness, was again overlooked against Southampton after his international exploits but after a turgid first half from Leicester Ranieri wasted no time in bringing on the Algerian alongside Nathan Dyer. The substitutes provided an assist each for Jamie Vardy as the Foxes fought back to claim a 2-2 draw. It was nothing less than Leicester deserved, the visitors having 18 second-half shots to Southampton’s four. Ranieri admitted Mahrez was angry to be left out of the starting XI at both Norwich and Southampton but it was excellent man-management, keeping even his best players hungry. Leicester’s manager has quickly and intimately learned the strengths and weaknesses of his squad; while Vardy may have claimed the headlines Ranieri’s ability to make big calls at crucial moments has contributed just as much to Leicester’s fifth place in the table. Bravo, Claudio.
5) Sakho shines at the start of Liverpool’s new era
Defender
Mamadou Sakho
- Appearances
- 4
- Shots blocked
- 3
- Clearances
- 23
Shortly after the final whistle blew at White Hart Lane on Saturday Liverpool’s travelling supporters could be heard chanting a name. That was perhaps to be expected at the end of Jürgen Klopp’s first match as manager, yet it was not the German they were hailing. “Sakho! Sakho!” was the call and Mamadou Sakho was clearly appreciative of the gesture on an afternoon when he yet again impressed. The French centre-back may look ungainly but, as anyone who has regularly watched him since his arrival at Anfield in September 2013 will testify, he is a calming, classy performer and it remains one of the mysteries of Brendan Rodgers’ time at Liverpool that the 25-year-old was never an automatic selection. He is certainly better than Martin Skrtel and has never looked as haphazard as Dejan Lovren. One theory is that Sakho was a signing forced on Rodgers by other members of Liverpool’s much-discussed transfer committee and therefore the Northern Irishman’s decision to under-use him was based on political rather than football reasons. Whatever the case, there is little doubt the former Paris Saint-Germain player – who became the youngest captain of his hometown club at 17 – has the pace, positional sense and aerial ability to make it at Liverpool. He was their standout player on Saturday, with a well-timed block to deny Dele Alli in the first half catching the eye. Injuries have been a problem for Sakho but, all being well, he should start every game now and be allowed to prove he can be a long-term fixture in the new manager’s defence.
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