After another enthralling weekend of Premier League goals and drama, Alex Keble looks at the key talking points and tactical lessons, including:
- How Gvardiol punished Fulham's formation
- Anderson making up for lost time at Newcastle
- Pochettino masterminds strong Chelsea finish
- Relegation looming for Luton
- Free-scoring Palace flying under Glasner
- Future still looks bright for Arsenal
- Spurs' key role in title and top-four race
- Everton's defensive resilience impresses again
- Frank's bold attacking approach pays off
Silva’s lopsided formation exposed by Gvardiol
Josko Gvardiol’s fifth goal in his last seven matches was the pivotal moment in a Manchester City victory at Craven Cottage that exposed the flaw of Marco Silva’s unconventional and lopsided 5-4-1 formation.
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Bobby De Cordova-Reid was the right wing-back in a flat back five but Alex Iwobi, the furthest to the right of the midfield four, actually played as a third central midfielder, leaving De Cordova-Reid to run the whole right side.
It was a very unusual move from Silva - and frankly it didn’t really work. Man City were able to attack down their left fairly easily through Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden, but most significantly, the asymmetrical formation led directly to their first goal.
Caught between two roles, Cordova-Reid pressed at the wrong moment, beginning a chain reaction of players sprinting out of position that opened the space for Gvardiol and De Bruyne to play a one-two and create the opening.
Had Silva not emptied out that side of the pitch, this wouldn’t have happened.
Perhaps realising this, Fulham moved to a more conventional and assertive 4-2-3-1 in the second half - but the damage had already been done.
Anderson is finally making his mark in delayed breakthrough year
Last summer excitement was building around Elliot Anderson as the 21-year-old academy graduate impressed in Newcastle United's pre-season friendlies and looked set to enjoy a breakthrough year.
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But Eddie Howe was slow to introduce him into the first team and then a back injury suffered in October kept Anderson out for four months.
A frustrating year is ending on a high. An injury to Joe Willock has led to Anderson starting four of Newcastle's last five matches, and in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, his smart pass inside the penalty area assisted Sean Longstaff’s equaliser.
It was Anderson’s first goal contribution since he set up Anthony Gordon for Newcastle's fifth goal in September's 8-0 win at Sheffield United - and his first at St James' Park.
Anderson also completed more dribbles, with six, and key passes (three) than anyone else, excelling in a wide position that effectively gave Newcastle two left-wingers.
His interaction with Gordon on that side led directly to the equaliser; an unusual but effective tactical tweak from Howe that got the best out of his young playmaker.
Pochettino’s substitutions swing the game in Chelsea’s favour
Chelsea were already in good form – but Mauricio Pochettino really needed this.
His smart substitutions turned the game around at the City Ground. Pochettino brought on Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku after 58 minutes, which seemed to shift momentum in Chelsea’s favour, only for Forest to take the lead through Callum Hudson-Odoi.
But then on came Raheem Sterling and within seven minutes he had scored Chelsea's equaliser, before Reece James - another substitute - crossed for Nicolas Jackson’s winner shortly after.
It was one of those days where every tactical change instantly - and obviously - came off.
It hasn’t been an easy first year for Pochettino, but things are coming together just in time.
Chelsea are now likely to finish above Manchester United and qualify for Europe, and if they do, this comeback win could be seen by supporters as a crucial moment for the club and the manager’s future.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
38 | +15 | 68 |
| 5 |
Spurs
TOT
|
38 | +13 | 66 |
| 6 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
38 | +14 | 63 |
| 7 |
Newcastle
NEW
|
38 | +23 | 60 |
| 8 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
38 | -1 | 60 |
Relegation looming for Luton as promoted clubs detach from the rest
Luton Town need a win, Burnley to beat Nottingham Forest, and a 12-goal swing if they are to make up the three-point gap on 17th-placed Forest and avoid relegation.
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For so much of this season it felt as though Luton were the most competitive of the three promoted clubs; the plucky team hardest to beat and most likely to scrap their way to safety.
But in the end they have fallen short - and have accrued a points tally that really isn’t worthy of staying up, collecting only five points from their last 18 Premier League matches following multiple defensive injuries in 2024.
The promoted clubs have really struggled. Their collective points tally of 66 means that they cannot reach the previous Premier League record low of 76 points among the three relegated clubs.
Only once before - when Barnsley, Crystal Palace, and Bolton Wanderers were relegated in 1997/98 – have the three promoted clubs made an immediate return to the Championship.
Palace show no signs of slowing down under Glasner
Yet another win for Palace. Yet another free-scoring performance from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze, who all got on the score sheet at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Palace supporters will wonder what might have been had Oliver Glasner joined the club a couple of months earlier.
If they beat Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on Sunday, Palace will equal their record Premier League points tally of 49, and possibly end the season within 10 points of the European places.
Only Arsenal (10 wins, 31 pts), Man City (9 wins, 29 pts), and Chelsea (6 wins, 22 pts) have won more matches and points than Palace (6 wins, 21 pts) since Glasner took over in late February, so it’s not unreasonable to think an extra couple of months in charge and they could have been pushing for Europe.
Then again, any earlier and he would not have had Olise and Eze fit together. Eze scored his 24th Premier League goal for Place at the weekend - eight of which, or a whopping 33 per cent, have been assisted by Olise.
Olise's assist for Eze's goal v Wolves
Olise assist 🤝
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 11, 2024
Ebs as cool as you like 🤝 pic.twitter.com/tpjvua6Auc
Arsenal’s future looks very bright no matter how Sunday goes
This was not the demolition that many people feared. In fact, towards the end of an oddly subdued 90 minutes at Old Trafford, when a thunderstorm cracked open the sky, there was a lingering sense that Manchester United might snatch something.
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But Mikel Arteta’s side, though hampered by United’s defensive formation, did enough to keep the pressure on Man City and ensure that the title race goes to the final day.
That is itself a huge achievement for Arsenal. A year on from their collapse in the spring, Arsenal have gone the distance and have already won 86 points, more than in any year since their last title in 2003/04.
Man City may be considered favourites to win the league, but even if that happens, Arsenal fans should not be disheartened. There is evidence to suggest they will get their hands on the trophy at some point under Arteta.
Spurs comeback keeps top-four race – and title race - alive
Tottenham Hotspur's comeback win on Saturday typified theirs and Burnley’s seasons. Only one side have rescued more points from losing positions than Spurs (25), and only one team have dropped more points from winning positions than the Clarets (27).
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That statistic will hurt Vincent Kompany, who will look back on Burnley’s year in the top flight and wonder what could have been. Their recent revival – losing only one of eight matches through March and April - was too little, too late.
Burnley just couldn’t hold onto their leads often enough to compete.
For neutrals, this was the right result. Spurs’ victory means the top-four race could still be on the line when Man City travel to north London on Tuesday, which would ensure the home side are motivated to get a point.
Had Spurs dropped points, Villa would almost be guaranteed fourth, presumably making Tuesday’s match more of a dead rubber for Spurs.
Burnley's relegation was confirmed, but thanks to Spurs' win both the title and the fourth UEFA Champions League spot will likely go to the final day.
Classic Dyche win highlights the superb job he’s done
A year of turmoil for Everton has required a steady pair of hands at the helm.
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Sean Dyche has been exactly the right man at the right time - and he has turned Everton into a proper Dyche team.
They have won five consecutive Premier League home matches without conceding and have also kept a clean sheet in 85 per cent of their Premier League wins this season (11/13).
Each of their last 14 league victories at Goodison Park have been to nil.
And you can’t get more Dyche than grinding out a 1-0 win against the leakiest defence in Premier League history.
Sheffield United now officially have that record after conceding their 101st goal of the campaign on Saturday.
With Spurs on the final day, it’s also likely they will remain on just 19 points, which would be the joint-third lowest-ever tally in the competition.
For different reasons, and in very different moods this May, both Everton and Sheff Utd will want to put 2023/24 behind them.
Lethal Wissa-Mbuemo combination rewards Frank’s attacking subs
It’s easy to be bold when there’s nothing left to play for, but nevertheless credit to Thomas Frank for making the attacking changes to Brentford that gave us a frantic and exciting final five minutes at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
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For 85 minutes it looked like this was going to end 0-0: the deadest of dead rubbers.
But the final 30 minutes had been entertaining thanks to Frank’s decision to bring Yoane Wissa on for Keane Lewis-Potter and play all three of his strikers at once.
Bryan Mbeumo, moved to the right, excelled on the break and although Ivan Toney’s dry spell continued, he was a distracting presence that helped the Mbeumo-Wissa partnership flourish again.
Mbeumo's opener v AFC Bournemouth
Back to front 🤤
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 12, 2024
This angle of Bryan's opener at Bournemouth 🤌 pic.twitter.com/9hNoy0aXkY
They assisted each other’s goals as Brentford became only the third team outside the current top five to win at AFC Bournemouth this season and continue a revival that puts a whole different spin on 2023/24.
For a long time relegation looked a possibility, but three wins from five matches have taken Brentford to 39 points, seven short of their 2021/22 tally in the Bees' impressive debut Premier League season.
