Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend | OneFootball

Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend, featuring Wolves’ renaissance, Aston Villa’s midfield metronome, and the lethargic league leaders.

Take a bow, Vitor Pereira

Given the exploits of Liverpool and Nottingham Forest among others this season, it’s unlikely that Vitor Pereira will sneak into the Manager of the Season conversation. However, the 58-year-old deserves his flowers.

Wolves’ win at Ipswich Town this weekend extended their advantage over the bottom three to 12 points and all but assured Premier League football for another season. It was a third consecutive win for Wolves, with no side in the division having taken more points from their last six games.

Pereira inherited a side mired in the relegation zone in December, but Wolves would be ninth if the season had started from his first game. It’s been a terrific turnaround.

Tielemans should be in Team of the Season selections

Given the standard Youri Tielemans has set this season, it’s begs the question as to why more teams weren’t in for the midfielder when his Leicester contract expired. Aston Villa won the race and, after a season to settle, Tielemans is now the midfield metronome of the side.

The Belgium international lacks natural athleticism, but his speed of thought and technique more than make up for that. He’s started all 31 league games for Villa this season and ranks third in the Premier League for distance covered. It’s his ability on the ball, however, that has shone. He was Villa’s orchestrator-in-chief again this weekend as Unai Emery’s side beat Champions League rivals Nottingham Forest 2-1.

An exquisite pass released Morgan Rogers for the opener, punishing a Forest side that sat deep and allowed the midfielder the time and space to lift his head. He’s quietly been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season.

Jackson proves Maresca judgement right

Nicolas Jackson has divided opinion since his arrival at Chelsea but Enzo Maresca has continued to bang the drum for the Senegal striker. The importance of Jackson is not lost on Maresca and the forward’s lively cameo from the bench this weekend was a case in point. After his introduction, Jackson brought a spark to the Blues that had been sorely lacking in his absence. Though a breakthrough failed to arrive in the goalless draw with Brentford, his performance was day and night in comparison to Christopher Nkunku.

The Frenchman has real quality but lacks the stature to play as a centre-forward. Frustrated with his role at Chelsea, an inevitable parting of ways will arrive this summer, if clubs are willing to gamble on a player with a concerning injury record. Jackson, however, has more levels to go and the 23-year-old seems set to play a big part in Chelsea’s rebuild.

Leaders Liverpool look cooked

Liverpool have not looked at the races for several weeks and their dip finally caught up with the Reds in the Premier League this weekend. Distinctly second-best in the first half at Fulham, a three-goal burst from the Cottagers did irreparable damage. The usually dominant duel-winners Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate struggled, while those suggesting that Andy Robertson’s days as a first-team fixture are numbered will be louder in the coming days.

In midfield, Liverpool look gassed. Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szboszlai have started almost every game for the Reds this season and Arne Slot’s lack of rotation has led to burn-out. Slot, clearly, has little trust in his larger squad with midfield alternatives Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo yet to start a Premier League game in 2024/25.

Liverpool’s lead is such that the title already appears all but decided, but the Reds might just limp over the line. This is a side that needs freshening up, both across the run-in and in the summer.

Muniz can be Fulham’s new Mitrovic

Rodrigo Muniz took time to find his feet at Fulham, but the Brazilian should be the main man now. Last season was a breakthrough for Muniz, who scored 10 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions. It was an unexpected emergence after a disappointing loan spell at Middlesbrough a season earlier, but he’s continued to make positive strides at Craven Cottage.

Muniz made it 11 goals for the campaign and counting after scoring in Fulham’s 3-2 win over Liverpool this weekend. His goal was outstanding, with a deft touch to leave Virgil van Dijk for dead before firing past Caoimhín Kelleher.

It was his all-round display, however, that made Muniz look like the long-term successor to former favourite Aleksandar Mitrovic. He bullied the Liverpool backline, winning a game-high 10 duels and drawing three fouls.

Van Dijk and Konate won just 45% of their duels combined, with Van Dijk’s 40% success rate his lowest in a Premier League game for Liverpool when contesting 10 or more. Still just 23, Muniz is a player who still has levels to go. A powerhouse with decent speed and improving finishing, his ceiling has not yet been reached. Fulham will hope his best years are spent in West London.

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Tielemans, Eze, Bassey

See more – Premier League Awards: Fulham on fire, Super Sarabia

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