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Home  » Sports » Five talking points from the Premier League weekend

Five talking points from the Premier League weekend

December 03, 2018 19:34 IST
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Arsenal and Liverpool grabbed dramatic derby wins on Sunday, with the Londoners coming from behind to win 4-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur while a freak 96th minute winner sealed the Merseyside clash with Everton.

Leaders Manchester City kept up their unbeaten run with a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. Manchester United salvaged a 2-2 draw at Southampton, who sacked manager Mark Hughes on Monday.

Here are five talking points from the weekend's Premier League action:

KLOPP FACES CONSEQUENCES OF CELEBRATION

Divock Origi scores the winning goal for Liverpool past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

IMAGE: Divock Origi scores the winning goal for Liverpool past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Divock Origi's 96th minute winner at Anfield, and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's howler, will live long in the memory but so too will Juergen Klopp's joyful, crazy run onto the pitch.

 

The big Liverpool manager is not a man to hide his emotions and he showed he also keeps in shape after an impressive sprint onto the middle of the field of play to embrace his own surprised goalkeeper Alisson.

Klopp apologised for his actions but he could be in trouble for a breach of the rules. Pure passion or shocking disrespect to Everton? Plenty to argue about there, and Klopp can expect consequences.

"I'm not sure what the FA has to do in a situation like this but I will have to wait," he said. "If I could describe how I felt when the goal went in, then I would have control over it."

ARSENAL MAKE STRONG STATEMENT AGAINST SPURS

Arsenal made a slow start to the season under new coach Unai Emery, losing their opening two matches, but that can be consigned to history after a real statement of intent at the Emirates.

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's brace and strikes from Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira helped the Gunners cancel out goals from Eric Dier and Harry Kane and extend their unbeaten run to 19 games in all competitions.

Fourth-placed Arsenal's newfound resilience has come as a breath of fresh air for supporters who have long been forced to watch their team capitulate under pressure in former boss Arsene Wenger's final months in charge.

The team is on course to achieve their primary target of a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League but another strong display at Manchester United on Wednesday could have fans dreaming bigger.

HUGHES PAYS PRICE FOR SOUTHAMPTON FORM

An improved Southampton show in a 2-2 draw with Manchester United was not enough to save Mark Hughes, as dropped points meant that the club sacked their manager on Monday and began their hunt for a fourth boss in two years.

Hughes' eight-month stint started on a positive note as he helped Southampton avoid the drop last season by finishing 17th. However, a poor start to the new campaign has left the team without a win in 10 games and 18th in the table.

British media reports said former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhuettl, Birmingham City manager Garry Monk, ex-Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa and former Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores were among the contenders to replace Hughes.

The new manager will have time to turn things around, but faces a potentially tough start to life at St Mary's with Southampton facing Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and ManchesterCity this month before visiting Chelsea in January.

HERNANDEZ EVER THE POACHER

West Ham United striker Javier Hernandez has scored 48 Premier League goals in his career, all from inside the box.

His latest, a brace in the 3-0 victory over Newcastle United, reminded manager Manuel Pellegrini and potential suitors of his worth ahead of the January transfer window.

The Mexico international's goals helped West Ham secure only their second victory at Newcastle in 20 years and lifted the London club to 13th in the standings.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid man has made seven of his 10 league appearances this season from the bench, with Marko Arnautovic preferred in the lone striker role.

Andy Carroll's return from injury was expected to further push Hernandez down the pecking order but his timely strikes will have forced a rethink ahead of the busy December period.

TOP MOVE BY WATFORD

Watford fans unfurled banners at Leicester City thanking the club's late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash in October, for "allowing us all to dream."

Moved by the gesture from Watford's supporter group The 1881 Movement, Vichai's son Aiyawatt directed his club to offer free food and drinks to the visiting fans at the King Power Stadium.

"As a thank you from @LCFC vice chairman Aiyawatt (Vichai Son) for our banners, all food and drink are free. Compliments of the Vichai family. Amazing," The 1881 Movement said on Twitter.

British media reported that Watford's fans had raised 2,545 pounds for two banners, surpassing their target of 800 pounds, and promised to donate the surplus funds to the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation.

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Source: REUTERS
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