Premier League Weekend Review: Tottenham's Struggles, Liverpool's Teen Star, and Chelsea's Discipline Issues

Tottenham weren’t quite as dreadful as they were in losing 4-1 to Arsenal in November, but they were still extremely so, devoid of wit, energy, solidity, creativity, quality, and everything else one would hope to see in a football team. Make no mistake, they are in serious danger of going down and, assessing their fixtures, it is not easy to see where they might win enough points to stay up – all the more so given the form of West Ham and Nottingham Forest who are both playing well. Spurs, on the other hand, haven’t won a league game in 2026 and look like they’ve forgotten how – partly, it must be said, because of an awful injury list. So, where does Igor Tudor go from here? It may well be that his only option is to pick both Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, get balls into the box, and hope they can make enough of them to save him – which might not be The Tottenham WayTM, but is a lot better than relegation.

Not for the first time this season, Mohamed Salah was largely anonymous in a Liverpool shirt. In fact, while he set up a rare effort on goal for Curtis Jones, it was the Egyptian’s withdrawal that triggered Liverpool’s late show. The 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, Salah’s replacement, finally gave Neco Williams, who muted Salah, something to think about. Would it be over-egging it to suggest it was a sub that represented a changing of the guard? Ngumoha’s cross led to Alexis Mac Allister’s disallowed goal before the Argentinian struck a 97th-minute winner. It was another fine cameo for the Liverpool teenager, who joined from Chelsea at 15, and another sobering afternoon for Salah. “He has incredible potential, otherwise, at 17, you don’t play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League, let alone at Liverpool,” said the Liverpool manager, Arne Slot. “That tells you how much of a talent he is and we think he is. He is making progress more and more and that’s why you see him playing more and more.”

Rob Edwards was left to rue Tolu Arokodare’s missed penalty against Crystal Palace as Wolves went down to Evann Guessand’s late winner. The Nigeria striker scored 20 goals for Genk in Belgium last season but has struggled to settle at Molineux since arriving for £23m. He caused Crystal Palace plenty of problems at Selhurst Park and looks like the kind of striker who could thrive in the Championship if he is still around next season, even if his spot-kick technique needs to be improved. “I’m never going to come out and criticise him for missing a penalty,” said Edwards. “Tolu’s our number nine and felt positive over the ball. In that moment, it’s important you don’t change. There can be a number of people who want to take it, but Tolu was designated and wanted to take it at that time.”

Marco Silva says Raúl Jiménez has a “killer instinct” and adds that it is something “that should be enjoyed by everyone, whether they are Fulham fans or not.” Sunderland supporters might disagree with the Portuguese following the Mexican’s two goals – a header and a penalty – during their side’s 3-1 defeat. Jiménez certainly succeeded in silencing the Stadium of Light where a previously unbeaten Sunderland have now lost their last two Premier League games. With only two wins in their last 12 League fixtures, impending matches against Bournemouth, Leeds, Brighton and Newcastle have assumed additional importance for a team who will surely benefit from Granit Xhaka’s return to midfield. “We won’t give up,” said the ever calm Régis Le Bris, whose team have slipped to 12th. “We’ll find a way to change the situation. We need to find a way to better express our quality with the ball.”

Erling Haaland did not score but a pinpoint cross that created Nico O’Reilly’s opener was his seventh assist in the Premier League (only Bruno Fernandes has more). Manchester City’s No 9 has also made vital defensive interventions and manager Pep Guardiola is impressed. “The numbers are unbelievable,” praised the Spaniard. “I’m really pleased. Sometimes I’m a critic of him, but today I said: ‘guy, without you winning would not be possible.’ I prefer him to not defend but he helps us, and after his teammates hug and celebrate with him and say they’re grateful. So Erling has been outstanding today.”

If Thomas Tuchel is wondering whether he will take a second No 9 to the World Cup to act as Harry Kane’s understudy, then he certainly had an eye on Villa Park on Saturday. Ollie Watkins and Dominic Calvert-Lewin started the match, slugging it out to show who could be more effective as a lone striker for England, should Kane be unavailable. The Aston Villa man struggled against Leeds’ defence and was unable to make the most of chances created. Calvert-Lewin was sharper, using his physicality and smart runs to cause problems, seemingly having the greater confidence of the two. Neither scored but one Englishman did, with Tammy Abraham coming off the bench to force a late equaliser for Villa. After years away from the Premier League, he will want to remind everyone of qualities. Abraham has thrown his hat into the ring for a plane ticket to America but Calvert-Lewin currently looks the best bet.

Watching his team this season, it’s often looked like Mikel Arteta simply has no clue what to do with Eberechi Eze, a maverick improvisor who can’t be pinned down to a profile or position – or, in other words, he is the exact opposite of what this Arsenal side represent. But perhaps the disappointments of the last few weeks have forced Arteta’s hand, and he is finally ready to trust a player who, though far from perfect, brings the imagination and variety so painfully missing in his absence. Opponents fear Eze – in a way they do not Leandro Trossard, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke – because he can drive forward with the ball through the middle of the pitch and, unlike his rivals for selection, he is also able to play the game at his own tempo, delving into a deep bag of feints and tricks to produce moments that surprise defenders. It is time for Arteta to forsake his natural caution and let his one true artist work.

Poor discipline is costing Chelsea. Against Burnley, Wesley Fofana’s crunching challenge on James Ward-Prowse was a second yellow-card offence and the Blues duly dropped two points. There was a case for a straight red but it still added up to an eighth dismissal of the season for Chelsea. Only West Ham, with nine in 2015-16, have collected more over a Premier League campaign, and there are still 11 games to play. A prolific collection of yellow cards also places Chelsea rock bottom in the fair-play standings. Ill-discipline extends to concentration, and an unmarked Zian Flemming headed in Burnley’s equaliser, meaning Chelsea have now dropped 17 points from winning positions at Stamford Bridge. A second successive home draw to follow the 2-2 draw against Leeds exasperated Liam Rosenior. “I will never, ever speak about what’s happened before me,” he said, referring to an issue inherited from Enzo Maresca. “What has happened with me is we have set fire to four points from two home games.”

A failure to put away even one of their 20 shots in the goalless draw with Bournemouth left West Ham ruing a missed opportunity but the Londoners had a collective desire and unity evident in recent weeks that had been sorely lacking. “We have to fight our way out of it,” Jarrod Bowen said of the Hammers’ survival fight. “Not talking about quality, talking about characters and people that will grab each other by the scruff of the neck when we need to. That’s a pleasing thing in the changing room when you can look around and say: ‘He’s got my back and I’ve got his.’” Andoni Iraola admitted his Bournemouth side could not cope with West Ham’s intensity from kick-off. The hosts are finally playing like a team fighting for their Premier League lives and two clean sheets in three games tells a story, as does just one defeat in six league games. Things are about to get tougher, though, with Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa among their next four games. A lack of quality may ultimately cost West Ham, but character no longer should.

After six league games without a win – a period that also featured a comprehensive FA Cup defeat to Liverpool – Fabian Hürzeler badly needed the win Brighton brought back from Brentford. Football being football, it is no surprise that the 32-year-old is under pressure. For those older than Hürzeler that are judging the German, it is useful to reflect on how little we knew at that point in our lives, especially as the majority of us did or don’t work in an environment as intense and pressurised as managing in the Premier League. Learning the job while also learning about himself and in charge of a squad that include members that are older than him, Hürzeler has adapted his game-model to the constantly evolving requirements of a ludicrously competitive division. This is a fiendishly difficult activity – and progress is rarely linear – and Hürzeler has shown more than enough to be given time to develop and grow.