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Five things we learned from the Premier League

Harry Kane scored Tottenham’s goal in the 1-1 draw at Southampton, but they needed more from Dele Alli.
Harry Kane scored Tottenham’s goal in the 1-1 draw at Southampton, but they needed more from Dele Alli.
  1. Alli’s struggles leave Tottenham looking reliant on Kane.

There was a moment that, while irrelevant, summed up Dele Alli’s afternoon at St Mary’s. He had been flagged offside and Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy opted not to move but Alli missed the target with his shot. There have been times this season when it has not mattered that Alli has failed to replicate the superb form he showed in each of his first two campaigns at Tottenham. This was not one.

AS IT HAPPENED: Southampton v Tottenham

READ MORE: Kane earns Spurs a point at St Mary’s

READ MORE: 5 talking points from Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at Southampton

Kane has been prolific. Heung-Min Son has chipped in with goals. Christian Eriksen has lent class. But while Kane still scored in the 1-1 draw at Southampton – and almost got his 100th Premier League goal in the last minute – Son was subdued and the ill Eriksen absent. Tottenham could have done with Alli returning to his best. But he had an off day and they looked overly dependent on Kane as they missed the chance to leapfrog Liverpool and take fourth. Instead, when Jurgen Klopp’s team visit Swansea on Monday, they can go five points ahead of Spurs.


2. Aguero shows City did not need Sanchez.

“We are not going to buy another striker,” vowed Pep Guardiola. Had the goalposts not been shifted in the Alexis Sanchez saga, he might already have one but he does not need another striker. Sergio Aguero has long known where the goalposts are. He has shown a geometric precision that means he often finds the corner of the net. A man who might have been displaced by Sanchez scored the Premier League’s first perfect hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Newcastle since, well, Aguero himself got another against Newcastle.

AS IT HAPPENED: Manchester City v Newcastle

READ MORE: Aguero hat-trick sees pacesetters bounce back

READ MORE: Guardiola salutes ‘outstanding’ Manchester City

Playing against a side who defended deep and in numbers, his ability to sniff out an opening was invaluable. Guardiola thought that the Argentinian’s 34th-minute opener was the first time he touched the ball. His movement was superb, though, both in an instant and thereafter. His 11th City hat-trick took his recent return to seven goals in five games. He has ensured that City have not missed Gabriel Jesus when the Brazilian has been out injured. He also restored their winning habit after the defeat at Anfield.

Anthony Martial’s winner at Burnley means he has scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time.
Anthony Martial’s winner at Burnley means he has scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time.

3. Martial delivers the consistency Mourinho wanted.

Not for the first time, the Manchester clubs were in comparable situations. Manchester United could also have been welcoming Sanchez. The man who may have been demoted responded by scoring. The notion that Anthony Martial could lose his place was based more on position than form: the left-wing slot looks Sanchez’s most natural position in this United side, particularly considering Jose Mourinho’s fondness for a target man.

AS IT HAPPENED: Burnley v Manchester United

READ MORE: Martial keeps up winning run for Man Utd

READ MORE: Mourinho frustrated at United failure to ‘kill’ Burnley

READ MORE: Dyche annoyed with Burnley’s ‘big six’ results

Instead Martial is delivering the consistency his manager wanted. His well-taken winner at Burnley meant he has scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time. It was also an important strike in a tight game, just as his New Year’s Day opener at Everton was. The Frenchman was a prolific substitute earlier in the season. Now he has become a potent starter and a man who averages a goal every 121 minutes in the division ought to be hard to omit.

Nacho Monreal scored one goal and set up two more as Arsenal rushed into a 4-0 lead as they beat Crystal Palace.
Nacho Monreal scored one goal and set up two more as Arsenal rushed into a 4-0 lead as they beat Crystal Palace.

4. Monreal helps Arsenal be deadly for a day.

Arsenal’s last two wins have come against Crystal Palace. As their meetings with Roy Hodgson’s side were separated by 23 days, that amounts to a problem. After their wretched start to 2018, however, any victory would have been welcome. One with four goals in the first 22 minutes was especially positive. It also meant a side with a recent habit of losing leads had an insurmountable advantage. It was a reminder that, on their day, Arsenal can still be deadly, even if the surprise executioner was Nacho Monreal, with one goal and two assists.

AS IT HAPPENED: Arsenal v Crystal Palace

READ MORE: Early Arsenal blitz means Sanchez is hardly missed

READ MORE: Three talking points Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace

In the broader scheme of things, it may change little. For much of Arsene Wenger’s reign, Arsenal have halted slumps, becoming damage-limitation experts, but they look unlikely to finish in the top four. Yet at least Alexandre Lacazette ended a nine-game goal drought. Henrikh Mkhitaryan will join a club in a slightly better mood. And while Alex Iwobi got a rare goal, just his second of the season, it should not stop the imminent arrival from replacing the Nigeria international in the side. Not every opponent will be as obliging as an injury-hit, strangely off-colour Crystal Palace and the Armenian’s quality could be required.

A 2-0 defeat to Leicester was Marco Silva’s final game as Watford manager as the former Everton target was sacked on Sunday.
A 2-0 defeat to Leicester was Marco Silva’s final game as Watford manager as the former Everton target was sacked on Sunday.

5. Sacked Silva’s fortunes rise and fall rapidly.

Change can happen quickly in the often surreal world of the Premier League, but few have seen their fortunes rise and fall quite as fast as Marco Silva. Watford reached fourth in October. Everton joined the Hornets in a November squabble for his services. Watford kept him and, in January, sacked him. Instead of banking around £10 million in compensation, they will have to pay Silva off.

READ MORE: Vardy and Mahrez decisive as Puel’s men go seventh

READ MORE: Watford still battling relegation from the top half, insists Silva

READ MORE: Watford sack Marco Silva

As Watford are 10th, that may seem harsh. But they lost seven of nine league games, took five points from a possible 33 and have the second worst defensive record in the division. Had Silva rejected Everton, he may have had more backing from supporters. Instead, the board showed little loyalty to a man many consider disloyal. Watford find themselves looking for an 11th manager in seven years. While Silva left them in the top half, his successor will be charged with avoiding relegation.