Hits and misses: Mood turns on Arne Slot, Jeremy Doku shines but are Man Utd ready for European demands? | Football News

Mood has turned on Slot at Anfield

Liverpool fans are famed for their loyal support so this was a strange afternoon to be at Anfield and witness such discontent. There was agitation from midway through the first half as Chelsea began to take control of the ball and the Liverpool pressing was absent.

It is tempting to think – as Ryan Gravenberch did when speaking afterwards – that this was unhelpful. But those same supporters might well argue they could see that the sluggishness was going to be punished, as it soon was through Chelsea’s equaliser.

It briefly boiled over in the second half, particularly when the popular youngster Rio Ngumoha was withdrawn in favour of Alexander Isak. Slot would probably not regard it as a contentious call but it indicates how the mood has soured with supporters.

There were more boos at full-time. Slot and those above him will just want this season to end with Liverpool safely in the Champions League and looking ahead to continuing their rebuild next term. But is that realistic if this fan feeling carries into the new season?

Liverpool are not improving and nothing Slot is doing suggests that he has the answers to longstanding issues. Chelsea exploited the open spaces in the right-back zone throughout the game. The crowd could see it but it continued to remain a problem.

Limping through to the summer seems to be the plan but when the Dutchman hints at another season of transition ahead that only exacerbates the feelings of frustration. The longer that he remains in position, the less that the Liverpool support like what they see.
Adam Bate

Some signs of life for Chelsea

Only Burnley have conceded more goals inside the first 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than Chelsea. When they went behind early at Anfield, they were staring a seventh straight Premier League defeat in the face. This time, they came back.

Calum McFarlane will be encouraged by that, at least. The interim head coach was also particularly pleased to name Levi Colwill in the starting line-up and see the defender handle the rigours of a return to Premier League action. “I thought he was exceptional.”

Colwill had not started a game all season so his display was a welcome boost, although there were others. “I thought there was a lot of good performances,” said McFarlane. But picking up just the one point means they still lost ground in the race for Europe.

Bournemouth won so Chelsea are now six points adrift of sixth spot and appear unlikely to capitalise on the possibility of Champions League qualification dropping that deep down the table. Even Brighton, four points ahead in seventh, will take some catching.

For Chelsea, the Europa League is hardly enough but they might need to win the FA Cup final to get it. They will be clear underdogs against Manchester City at Wembley. But at least their showing against Liverpool hinted at the faint possibility of raising their game.
Adam Bate

Doku picks right time to go to the next level

The three-goal margin of victory made Manchester City’s afternoon against Brentford look straightforward but it took a moment of brilliance from Jeremy Doku, another one, to break a tense game open. The 23-year-old has hit form at the right time.

Doku’s goal was almost a carbon copy of the two he scored against Everton, curled into the far corner of the net with his right foot from the left-hand side of the box. Aaron Hickey pre-empted it by back-peddling to the goal-line but still couldn’t prevent it.

As well as being remarkably similar in their execution, all three of his goals in the last five days have been crucial, either putting Manchester City in the lead or, in the case of his 97th-minute strike at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, drawing them level.

Pep Guardiola expressed his delight after his latest heroics. “He looks like the final product,” he told Sky Sports. Doku has always had “incredible” dribbling ability, he added, but he now appears to have taken the crucial step of adding goals to his game too.

While the flow from City’s other supporting forwards has dried up – Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki have scored two Premier League goals between them since the start of March – Doku is delivering when it matters most. City’s title bid is alive thanks to him.
Nick Wright

Andrews shows tactical acumen to bamboozle Pep – for a bit

The scoreline flattered Manchester City. As Keith Andrews said: “I don’t think the scoreline should fool anyone into thinking it was an absolute rout.”

For long parts of that game, Brentford gave City a proper scare. After an hour, the Etihad was nervous – due to Brentford’s excellent fighting spirit.

Andrews deserves a lot of praise for this – as his tactical set-up even set the great Pep Guardiola into a frenzy.

The decision to play Aaron Hickey as a midfielder threw everyone off guard, as was the call to put Yehor Yarmoliuk at right wing in a 4-4-2 formation – with the Ukrainian following Nico O’Reily’s dangerous runs everywhere he went.

During the first half, Guardiola was forced into a 10-player tactical huddle, which showed the power of Andrews’ tactical acumen. This was the latest example why Andrews should be a frontrunner for manager of the season.
Sam Blitz

Are Man Utd ready for demands of Europe?

If Manchester United are serious about returning to the elite level of English and European football next season, this squad needs major surgery – not just cosmetic tweaks.

United have only played 40 matches this season. No European football. Early exits from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. A relatively light schedule by the standards expected at Old Trafford.

And yet a lack of intensity and a shortage of quality options are already apparent.

Because next season they could easily be facing another 55 to 60-game campaign. That is an extra 15 to 20 matches of high-pressure football.

Right now, the squad does not look equipped to cope with that jump. The Sunderland stalemate exposed too many uncomfortable truths.

Mason Mount, deployed centrally in the absence of Casemiro, struggled badly with the physical and tactical demands of the role. Sunderland’s midfield ran beyond him too often and bypassed him too easily. There was effort, certainly, but very little control.

Then there was Joshua Zirkzee, who never looked capable of changing the match. His movement lacked sharpness and there was little conviction in the penalty area. United had territory in spells but almost no menace. They need an upgrade there in the summer.

Qualifying for Europe is one thing. Competing in Europe is an entirely different challenge.
Lewis Jones

Bournemouth have ‘soul’ despite Iraola exit

It is a testament to Bournemouth and Andoni Iraola that the head coach could announce his departure and for their season to keep getting better.

Bournemouth have won three of four matches to extend their unbeaten run to a remarkable 16 league games since Iraola said that he would leave the club this summer.

“I felt actually that we’ve used it in a positive way,” said Iraola after their latest victory at Fulham. “Everyone is clear.”

Iraola insists he won’t regret the decision that “was not easy to take” even if Bournemouth end up in the Champions League. A place in a European competition is the least they deserve after defying the odds following a host of high-profile player departures this summer.

And even with Iraola heading for the exit, it was clear at Fulham that everyone at Bournemouth is committed to the cause.

“The second half was about the soul of the team,” said Iraola. “Because it’s 10 against 10, spaces everywhere, one against one, duels, tired legs, at the end you need the soul when you are running out of energy.”

Bournemouth may be preparing for life after Iraola, but their spirit suggests the foundations are there for the club to keep moving forward without him.
David Richardson

Brighton soaring towards Europe

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Brighton are dreaming of European football for just the second time in the club’s history.

The Seagulls’ lightning start in their 3-0 home win over already-relegated Wolves showed their focus and determination to take advantage of a wide-open European qualification race.

Key in the surge towards Europe has been Jack Hinshelwood. A third goal in as many matches saw him maintain his strong form from the No 10 position.

Another shining light in the win was Maxim De Cuyper, whom Soccer Saturday’s Michael Dawson labelled a “breath of fresh air” for Brighton on his first start since February.

Given a start at right-back in place of the injured Mats Wieffer, the Belgium international took the opportunity with both hands.

De Cuyper became just the third player to assist two goals in the opening five minutes of a Premier League match after Andrey Arshavin (for Arsenal in February 2011) and Islam Slimani (for Leicester in December 2016).

The 25-year-old’s Champions League experience at Club Brugge may well come in handy with Brighton in the mix to qualify for Europe’s top club competition.

With the Seagulls in this form, they will fancy their chances of finishing sixth, which could be enough for Champions League qualification, as they go to a likely already-safe Leeds next Sunday, live on Sky Sports, before a final-day home game against Manchester United, who have little to play for.

And with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler committing his future to Brighton earlier this week amid interest from Bayer Leverkusen, these are exciting times down on the south coast.
Declan Olley