One photo sums up Man Utd hopes amid big blow; Liverpool ‘like a pub team’ – Talking Pts

Liverpool could have gone eight points cleat at the top of the Premier League ladder had they beaten Arsenal, but the Gunners instead closed the gap to just two points after a 3-1 win over the Reds.

It means the title race is well and truly on, with Manchester City playing tomorrow (Tues. 7am AEDT) against Brentford – and with a second game in hand, they could go top of the league with two wins.

The Reds’ defence was torn apart by ‘schoolboy’ errors that evidenced a lack of intensity compared to Mikel Arteta’s men.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is under a dark cloud after two big losses in the space of a week.

And there’s promising signs for Manchester United as three young stars continued a hot run of form – but they were also struck down by a ‘personal disaster’ as a key player was injured.

Here’s the biggest talking points from the Premier League!

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REDS SLIP UP AFTER ‘PUB TEAM’ DEFENDING

Liverpool’s defence has played a key role in their return to the pointy end of the ladder this season. Entering this round, they had conceded 19 goals in 22 matches – the best defensive record in the league.

But Arsenal – knowing a loss would put them eight points off the Reds – played with much greater intensity than their rivals and ran out 3-1 winners, thanks largely to some horrible defending from Liverpool.

The turning point, and the most egregious error, handed Arsenal a second goal for a 2-1 lead.

Virgil van Dijk failed to head away a long ball and collided with goalkeeper Alisson as the keeper came out to clear, with the ball falling to Gabriel Martinelli to pass it home into an empty net.

Van Dijk was also caught out of position for Arsenal’s opening goal, and probably should have done better for the final strike as well.

“In terms of the intensity from the first whistle to the last whistle from Liverpool, I can’t believe how bad they were,” Manchester United legend Roy Keane said on Sky Sports.

“Credit to Arsenal, they turned up and were at it. But Liverpool defensively, the goals they gave away – it was like a pub team defending.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher added: “[For the Arsenal second goal] van Dijk just has to head it. Don’t let it bounce. We’re talking schoolboy stuff here. We’re talking about players at the top level. This is something you learn at the bottom level of football.”

Ex-Manchester United skipper Gary Neville said: “They’ve been outstanding all season, Alisson and van Dijk, so they’re allowed one. Today, it summed up Liverpool.

“That edge wasn’t there.”

Arsenal have rebounded from a Christmas slump, where they lost to West Ham and Fulham and were dumped from the FA Cup by Liverpool, and have now won three on the trot.

Mikel Arteta said his side were back in the title race – but must find consistency.

“We were ruthless when we had a chance and it feels like a big win,” he said. “At the moment Liverpool are probably the best team in Europe and the levels they have, they are an incredible team.”

“We have come so far and now it is about doing it consistently. Liverpool have done it for six to seven years.

“It gives us momentum and the way we have done it, we are back on it,” said Arteta.

For Liverpool, it is just a second league defeat of the season after a September loss to Spurs, as van Dijk apologised for his error and Jurgen Klopp said the Gunners “deserved the points”.

They also clearly missed the verve and ruthlessness of Mohamed Salah – having not returned from AFCON and a hamstring injury yet – and the hard-running of Darwin Nunez, who could only come off the bench after a niggle of his own.

With Man City looming large, the pressure is well and truly on for the Reds to respond.

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YOUNG GUNS LIFT MOOD AT MAN UTD – BEFORE BIG BLOW

During a difficult second season for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, the emergence of Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo is providing hope of a bright future.

The trio were exceptional as the Red Devils beat West Ham 3-0 to move into sixth.

Hojlund failed to score in his first 14 Premier League games after a £64 million ($124 million AUD) move from Atalanta, but the Dane celebrated his 21st birthday by scoring for the fourth consecutive league game – United’s youngest-ever player to do so.

Garnacho, 19, then struck twice to give United a second consecutive win after 18-year-old Mainoo scored the winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory at Wolves on Thursday.

“A month ago there was a lot of talk about us (Hojlund and Garnacho) not scoring enough goals but we are both young and growing every day,” said Hojlund. “You can see the connection between us.”

Ten Hag said: “I have said it before in the last couple of months, the future for Manchester United is very bright.

“The goals today showed young players with high potential … Every game they are growing and improving and adapting to a higher level.

“When they enjoy their football the confidence comes and you can see the belief is growing.”

After the second goal against the Hammers, the trio celebrated by sitting together on the advertising hoardings behind the goal, the photo summing up the strong potential in this side.

“The picture covered a lot, I think, of the three youngsters celebrating together,” said the United manager.

“It’s not about one player, it’s about a team. That’s what I have seen today. It looked like a team: 11 defending, 11 attacking. The celebration I liked it. It is showing we do it together.”

While the trio have hit strong form, there are still lingering concerns over Marcus Rashford, who started the match after missing their FA Cup win at Newport County last week, having pulled a sickie earlier in the week after a night partying in Belfast.

The club’s highest-paid player – having been handed a new five-year contract after career-best 30-goal season – has scored just five goals in 22 league matches this season and there are concerns about his dedication.

While the young guns are providing the goals right now, if United want to overhaul the six-point gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa and qualify for the Champions League, they’ll hope that Rashford rediscovers his form of last year.

But an even bigger issue could have struck in their win over West Ham, with Lisandro Martinez appearing to suffer a serious knee injury.

Having only just returned from a foot injury that has limited him to a mere handful of appearances this season, the World Cup winning Argentinian has added plenty of leadership to their back line.

United have won three and drawn one of the four games since his return on January 14.

Ten Hag said: “I can’t say (how bad) but it doesn’t look good. There is a bad concern.

“We have to wait for a few days for the diagnosis. We do everything to get the right diagnosis and see what is the damage.

“He is very sad, very disappointed. We all feel really with him. First of all, it is a personal disaster when it is really bad, but also for the team it is really bad because he definitely brings us a lot.”

For a young team growing in confidence, an injury to a veteran player who provides plenty of spirit and energy could prove a major setback to their top four hopes.

CLOCK TICKING FOR POCHETTINO AFTER 45-YEAR FIRST

Chelsea have bet the house on long-term projects in the transfer market, but time may soon be running out for Mauricio Pochettino as the club’s American owners have their patience tested by another woeful season.

Graham Potter was sacked after just seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge last season despite being sold on a long-term project by Todd Boehly’s consortium when he left Brighton.

Chelsea have splurged over £1 billion on players over the past two years, though bought no players in the January transfer window as they desperately tried to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

But for all their spending since Boehly’s arrival, Chelsea have gone backwards on the field as Wolves’ first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 saw them leapfrog the Blues into 10th.

Wolves’ 4-2 win came just days after Liverpool defeated the Blues 4-1 – making it a week from hell for Chelsea and Pochettino.

His side was booed off at full-time, having led through Cole Palmer’s 10th goal in 20 appearances before crumbling to another bruising defeat.

Pochettino apologised for the loss, saying: “When we scored the game was for us. Then when we concede we start to feel nervous and we didn’t manage well the stress.

“It was difficult to manage the team, the stress. We had chances for 2-2 but then we conceded the third. So disappointed, apologise to the fans and thanks to those who stayed and supported the team until the end. We are sorry and we are disappointed.”

Chelsea finished last season with a worst-ever tally of 44 points and a negative goal difference. Currently 11th, and a whopping 15 points off the top four and therefore Champions League qualification, the season is quickly slipping away.

The only positive on the horizon is the League Cup final against Liverpool at the end of the month – and the chance for Pochettino to claim his first piece of English silverware.

Before then is an FA Cup replay against high-flying Aston Villa on Wednesday (local time).

“Of course the disappointment is massive,” added Pochettino. “We started to play with a nervousness, made rash decisions, we need to reset and be ready for the FA Cup on Wednesday against Aston Villa.

“It is normal that we are not matching the history of the club …

“We need to show more and the circumstances are difficult. We were good until Liverpool but after Liverpool and Wolves it is like everything is going wrong.”

Pochettino knows his job is under increasing threat. Upsetting fourth-placed Villa on Wednesday could solidify his position – or else the club hierarchy could look for a fresh manager to inspire a rebound in the league cup final.