Premier League - Insurgents falter
One of the most pleasing things about football is to see an unfancied team do well. It happens on a surprisingly regular basis in the supposedly stratified Premier League. Leicester set the standard with a freakish title win in 2015/16. But quite often teams that have only just scraped out of the Championship will challenge the top 4, at least for a season or two.
Sheffield United have been this season’s surprise package. Second best to Norwich in the Championship last time, they have left the Canaries for dead in the Premier League. If they are remembered for nothing else this season, it will be for the concept of overlapping centre backs. Either because this unlikely tactical novelty, where the Blades’ ball playing centre halves push up onto the wings on attack, dies out, or because it somehow finds its way into mainstream tactical orthodoxy.
Sheffield United’s run has been about systems. They have not had a prolific goal scorer, in fact it has often been frustrating to watch their hard working and enterprising attacking midfielders labour in front of goal. But the team’s overall coherence and common belief has propelled them into contention for the top four.
It finally came unstuck at Burnley. They built pressure but were unable to create much. Burnley had the better chances with some fast counter attacks. In the end a 1-1 draw has probably ended Sheffield United’s faint hopes of champions league qualification.
It was a bad round for the insurgents. For the past two seasons Wolves have also followed the template. With a compact passing style and ruthless counter attacking, they have beaten a number of big teams, most notably Man City at the Etihad. Against Arsenal, the tantalising Traore made chances for himself and teammates upfront. His cross for Jota was a bit unfortunate not to earn a penalty when the Wolves striker was nudged in the back.
Arsenal showed general stability and control in midfield, and two moments of class upfront. Saka’s intuitive finish from a deflected cross gave them the lead, and then Lacazette burst in front of his marker and slid the ball back in off the post. Arsenal’s revival is probably too late for their own top 4 hopes, but it has possibly put paid to Wolves’.
City take a symbolic scalp
Liverpool went to City hoping to emphasise their dominance. Instead they were thrashed 4-0. The opening 20 minutes gave little indication it would turn out like this. Liverpool came out confidently and had the better of the early attacks, and one had to remind oneself how rare it was to see City on the back foot at home. On 19 minutes a stinging Salah shot from outside the box only troubled the post. And that was as close as Liverpool got. It was City’s turn to play with champion-esque swagger. Gradually turning the run of play and ruthlessly punishing a ragged defence. Kevin de Bruyne was back to his best, the combination of his vision and quick feet, releasing his team mates into decisive attacking positions. Unlike Liverpool, City were clinical in front of goal.
But 3 days later the season’s narrative has resumed. Early on City conceded yet another sloppy goal, this time to Southampton, and couldn’t buy one themselves. Meanwhile Liverpool eventually overran Aston Villa, a Curtis Davis goal raising hopes that the Reds’ youth production line will roll on for next season.
