Football: Talking points from the Premier League weekend
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Diogo Jota (above) and Fabinho grabbed the headlines after scoring in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Watford on April 2, 2022.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON (REUTERS) - Here are the key talking points from the Premier League weekend.
1. Thiago hitting top gear
Diogo Jota and Fabinho grabbed the headlines after scoring in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday (April 2) that made it 10 league victories in a row, but manager Jurgen Klopp will be particularly pleased with the form of Thiago Alcantara.
The Spanish playmaker was at his best as he called the shots against Watford and wowed the Anfield crowd with a no-look pass that sliced open the defence, before going close with a volley.
Watching with interest will be Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola - who previously managed Thiago at Bayern Munich - ahead of this weekend's big home clash with Liverpool, which could decide which way the league title is headed.
2. Chelsea hope for a post-blip repeat
Almost a year to the day before Chelsea's shock 4-1 home defeat by Brentford on Saturday, the Blues lost to West Bromwich Albion 5-2 at Stamford Bridge in an equally inexplicable thrashing by one of the league's less glamorous teams.
Last year, that upset proved to be just a blip - a few days later Chelsea beat Porto in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final as they went on to become European Cup winners.
Coach Thomas Tuchel saw no need to make a big drama of the Brentford loss ahead of Real Madrid's visit on Wednesday in the first leg of this year's Champions League last eight.
"We will find out, analyse and then we will digest it because there's no other way," he told reporters. "It's hard to take because it's very unusual for us what happened today..."
3. Phillips return a boost for Leeds and England
The sight of Kalvin Phillips making his return off the bench for Leeds United in their 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday will be a welcome one for manager Jesse Marsch and England boss Gareth Southgate.
Phillips has been missing with injury since the beginning of December and in that time Leeds have suffered without his stability in midfield. Had he stayed fit there is a good chance Marcelo Bielsa would still be manager at Elland Road.
Marsch will hope Phillips gets back up to speed as quickly as he can, while Southgate will also be an interested spectator as thoughts begin to turn to the World Cup in Qatar.
4. United struggle again without Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo's absence through illness left Manchester United seeming neutered up front as they drew 1-1 with Leicester City, looking a shadow of a side they are with him in the team.
Paul Pogba and Fred had to deputise in United's front line but the Reds struggled, with few serious chances and their only goal from a Fred tap-in off a rebound.
Ralf Rangnick's United were electric when a Ronaldo hat-trick fired them to victory over Tottenham Hotspur before the international break but they are a different side without him.
