10 Premier League talking points as Reds rally round Diaz plus VAR nightmare

30 October 2023 , 14:15

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The Premier League table is beginning to take shape after another dramatic weekend in England's top-flight left fans with plenty to ponder.

Leaders Tottenham kicked things off with their 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Friday, with the action culminating in Sunday's one-sided Manchester derby. And over the 10 games there were ample goals and flashpoints to discuss - with a number of managers facing mounting pressure over their position.

And if for whatever reason you were oblivious to the main headlines to emerge from the past 48 hours, then fear not. Here are Mirror Football 's Premier League talking points from another weekend of drama.

1. Liverpool show love for Diaz

Jurgen Klopp is an elite level manager whose Liverpool sides have long epitomised the intensity, desire, and relentlessness that reflects the character of the manager.

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Diogo Jota celebrates with a Luis Diaz shirt (Getty Images)

And yet, Klopp has always possessed another quality that often goes unheralded, namely a compassion for his players and recognising when certain issues outweigh the significance of football. And it's a trait that has undoubtedly harboured unity and togetherness within his squad at Anfield.

And that togetherness was again apparent on Sunday, amid the harrowing news that the father of Luis Diaz remains missing after his parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia. Starting in his place, Diogo Jota opened the scoring and immediately ran to the bench and held aloft a Diaz shirt to show support.

In response to the heartfelt gesture, Diaz later conveyed his appreciation for his teammate's support on social media. This is a Liverpool squad on the charge in the Premier League - and it's a squad that's bonded.

2. Nketiah stakes his claim

Ok, so a hat-trick in a 5-0 home win over rock-bottom Sheffield United doesn't instantly cement Eddie Nketiah as the long-term solution to Arsenal's perceived lack of a clinical striker.

Eddie Nketiah earned himself the match ball against Sheffield United (Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock)

But amid growing murmurs that Gabriel Jesus - for all his industry and creativity - lacks the finishing power to fire the Gunners to the title, Nketiah has catapulted himself into the frame. And with his Brazilian colleague currently ruled out with injury, the 24-year-old will now have further opportunities to present a case for a regular starting berth.

Saturday yielded an afternoon to remember for the England international, but the true test starts now. If Nketiah can continue his scoring streak in the weeks to come, both domestically and in the Champions League, then Arteta's hand could well be forced.

3. Blades blunted by a win for their rivals

Paul Heckingbottom is under pressure (Salvio Calabrese/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)

As is Saturday wasn't bad enough for Paul Heckingbottom, matters were compounded by Sheffield Wednesday beating Rotherham in the Championship on Sunday.

Of course, a first league win of the campaign for the Owls has zero effect on Sheffield United's standing in the Premier League. But it exacerbated a humiliating 24 hours for the Blades, as it left them as the only one of the 92 football league clubs without a win this season.

It's a statistic that will do little to appease fans, with rumours gathering pace that Heckingbottom is fighting for his future. There appears to be an understanding that the team is newly promoted and still only five points from safety, but surely the manager can't last much longer if a win does not materialise.

4. Ten Hag brought back down to earth

Erik ten Hag looking dejected after the Manchester derby (Getty Images)

The Sheffield version weren't the only United to be hammered on the weekend amid a toothless display.

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Erik ten Hag's team went into the Manchester derby on the back of three narrow wins over Brentford, Sheffield United, and Copenhagen. But any notion that those results signified something of a turnaround following their mediocre start was ruthlessly exposed by Pep Guardiola's side.

Yes, of late the Red Devils have displayed a level of resilience to get over the line in tight contests, and Andre Onana is beginning to show flashes of the form that secured him a move to Old Trafford. But Sunday exposed a brutal truth - the gap between United and the Premier League's best is a huge one.

5. Haaland hitting and missing

Erling Haaland scored twice at Old Trafford (PA)

He scored 52 goals en route to a treble-winning season in his first year at Manchester City and is already on 13 this time around - so how on earth can you say Erling Haaland is off the boil?

But in truth, the Norwegian striker will himself know his tally this time around could be considerably more impressive. And Sunday seemed to summarise the contradictory nature of his current form - crucially scoring twice and yet missing two further sitters from point blank range.

Indeed, while few can argue with his numbers, the feeling remains that the 23-year-old is not quite producing the clinical finishing that lit up his maiden season in England. Which in reality, is bad news for the rest because when his conversion rate does improve again, then look out.

6. Kompany getting a free pass?

Vincent Kompany acknowledges the Burnley fans after the team's defeat at Bournemouth

In an era where managers are chopped and changed at will, one man seemingly not under pressure is Vincent Kompany.

The Belgian has been clear that his Burnley side will stick to their footballing philosophy in the Premier League after storming the Championship last season. But while that defiant approach is admirable, it will ultimately prove futile if your side is incapable of getting results in the games that matter.

The Clarets were in control at Bournemouth on Saturday before relinquishing a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1, leaving them 19th with eight defeats in 10 league games. Even the most aesthetically pleasing of his sides must be able to adapt and for all the talk of philosophy, surely Burnley chiefs would sooner embrace another word. Survival.

7. VAR gets it right - eventually!

Burnley's Jay Rodriguez waits on a VAR check (PA)

Mind you, talk of Kompany's position in charge has been secondary to what proved another divisive day in the debate over VAR.

Second-half substitute Jay Rodriguez thought he had salvaged a point for Burnley late on, but his effort was ruled out for the narrowest of offsides after a review which lasted a full five-and-a-half minutes. And after the storm which followed the Luis Diaz debacle when Tottenham played Liverpool, perhaps few can blame those in charge for taking their time to get it right. Which they did.

But yet again, fans were left angered by the time taken and lack of communication. And in a telling show of harmony, both sets of supporters sung together as "this is embarrassing" reverberated around the Vitality Stadium.

8. Testing times for Howe

Eddie Howe applauds Newcastle fans after the draw at Wolves (Getty Images)

The euphoria of Newcastle's momentous 4-1 Champions League win over PSG has long subsided, and now reality is setting in for Eddie Howe.

His team twice led at Wolves on Saturday, but failed to hold onto their lead on both occasions. And in truth, a draw was no less than the hosts deserved against a Newcastle side that looked weary after their midweek European exploits.

Returning to Europe's top table brings ample rewards, but it also beings with it a compact and intense schedule. Indeed, Howe's side go to Manchester United in an EFL Cup tie on Wednesday before the critical visit of Arsenal three days later.

With injuries mounting and Sandro Tonali now suspended for the foreseeable, the depth of Newcastle's squad is about to be tested.

9. Can Calvert-Lewin stay fit?

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his 50th Premier League goal to beat West Ham.

So, here we are again. Dominic Calvert-Lewin underlined his importance to Everton on Sunday with the winning goal at West Ham, taking the Toffees five points clear of the bottom three.

It was his 50th Premier League goal, a tally which would be considerably higher were it not for a string of injuries that limited him to only 34 league appearances in the previous two seasons. It is no exaggeration to argue that the availability of the 26-year-old from now could well decide his team's Premier League fate.

Also, in a season that has thus far yielded little joy for the Everton faithful, the England striker also helped the club pay the perfect tribute to Bill Kenwright. The threat of a points deduction still hangs over the club, but for as long as Calvert-Lewin is fit and firing, Everton should be fine.

10. Chelsea more wasteful than woeful

Yes, calling for a manager at Chelsea to be given a prolonged period of time is likely to yield little rewards.

But for all the mediocrity currently being produced by the Blues, who lie 11th on just 12 points, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. It's just not very clear what they are yet.

Performances and application have improved, even if results have not reflected that. Against Brentford they had 17 shots while the visitors had seven, and it was a lack of clinical ability that cost Mauricio Pochettino's men as opposed to a display of ineptitude.

Of course, asking for fans to stay patient is a little contradictory when you've spent more than £1billion in 18 months in the quest for instant success. But if Todd Boehly can manage to keep his finger off the trigger for long enough, and Pochettino can start supplementing promising build-up play with goals, then Chelsea will come good again.

Fraser Watson

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