Manchester United are in Fergie time again and not enough of Pep Guardiola’s players can meet his demands… six things we learnt this weekend
SunSport's expert ponders over some of the things we learnt from the weekend's action including the return of the 'Old United'
SUNSPORT’S expert ponders six things we learned this weekend . . .
THE OLD UNITED ARE BACK
Manchester United’s win over Middlesbrough was a proper throwback performance, the sort of thing they used to do so often under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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They were behind against the run of play but kept knocking on the door and finally put the chances away at the end.
It’s what we used to see when United were the best team in the land. And they now again have what they haven’t had for two or three years — match-winners in the squad.
In the final stages, they had Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Juan Mata on the pitch and all of them are capable of winning games for you.
So it was no surprise that Martial and Pogba both scored.
If you have players who can turn a game throughout your midfield and attack, you always back yourself to get the goals you need.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Pep Guardiola came to England with a huge reputation and there’s no doubt he is one of the best managers around.
But his biggest problem is that he has not yet got enough players suited to playing the system that he wants to introduce at Manchester City.
If you look at Liverpool and Chelsea, both Jurgen Klopp and Antonio Conte have got players who want to play in their systems.
Pep has his philosophy and identity but I don’t think enough of his players are capable of playing that way for him.
It means this is, without doubt, the toughest job he has ever had.
REDS CAN COPE WITHOUT MANE
Liverpool will miss Sadio Mane while he is away with Senegal for the African Nations Cup.
The forward has been in terrific form all season and made a huge impact at Anfield after his £30million move from Southampton in the summer.
Mane is a big player for Liverpool and they use his pace as an attacking threat, as well as to start the press when the opposition have the ball.
But his absence does not mean Jurgen Klopp’s side will see their title hopes derailed.
I know that Philippe Coutinho gets the plaudits but, for me, their really key player this season has been Adam Lallana — he can do a top job in a number of positions.
It’s no surprise that when he was missing from the Kop’s starting team through injury they dropped points at Southampton and Bournemouth.
Without Mane, Klopp’s side still have plenty of options going forward.
He can bring in Divock Origi or Daniel Sturridge, who have the same sort of pace that Mane has.
And Brazilians Roberto Firmino and Coutinho, as well as England ace Sturridge, can all play left or right.
Klopp has so many players who are comfortable playing across that front line that I do not believe Mane will be a major miss for them.
Lallana can operate either in the front line or, when it’s Origi or Sturridge through the middle, he can be stretching the opposition defence.
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He can make those runs into the space between the two lines, as he did with his goals in the 3-0 win at Middlesbrough last month.
Of course, Mane has been excellent but Liverpool have so much flexibility that they will be able to keep their title drive on track without him.
POTTERS’ WHEELS COME OFF
Stoke’s defeat at Chelsea was the sixth time this season they have conceded three or more and only six teams have let in more than Mark Hughes’ men.
That is a worrying trend, especially for a team that is not the most prolific in front of goal.
The one thing you could always rely on with Stoke was that they would be strong defensively. However, now they are not that at all.
If they want to repeat the feats of recent years and finish in the top ten again, they need to solidify at the back.
PULIS ON THE FRONT FOOT
Tony Pulis is having great success with West Brom.
And he deserves some praise for what he is achieving at The Hawthorns as only eight teams have scored more than them this season.
So it’s time the myth that his teams only defend is put to bed for good.
The two goals they scored in the win at Southampton, from Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu, were terrific strikes and showed what a Pulis side can be about.
We saw that at Crystal Palace, who he turned into a very good counter-attacking side.
When he was at Stoke, it was a little different but he did the job that they needed him to do.
Now, though, it’s obvious that he can get his teams to play another way as well.
SWANS ALL OUT TO SEA
Swansea have conceded three or more goals in ten of their last 14 games. And in five of those matches, the opposition’s second goal has come within 11 minutes of the opener being conceded.
It looks to me like as soon as they concede one, they feel it’s game over and lose any self-belief or discipline.
Paul Clement is coming in as the new manager.
And the old Derby boss will have to get to work quickly in building up their confidence at the back if they are to have any chance of staying up.
Swansea must start believing a match is not necessarily over when they concede.
But at the moment, when it is one followed by a second straight after, there is no way they can get back into matches.
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