SPORTS
5 Things We Learned From The EPL This Weekend
Another weekend of Premier League action has come and gone. With now just eight games left to play. There was, yet again more drama to be had this weekend as the top and bottom really starts to shape up.
Liverpool stayed just one point behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League as Arsenal ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s unbeaten run as Manchester United interim boss.
Here’s a look at five things we learned from this weekend’s fixtures.
Adam Lallana’ can be Liverpool’s joker in the title race
Liverpool have added another option to their armoury with the return of the England playmaker as they seek to keep up the pressure on Man City.
Lallana over the course of the last eight games can help bring another dimension to Liverpool’s play. While his contributions on the ball were clever and creative at times against Burnley, it was when becoming the first line of the press that Lallana did his best work.
No player regained possession more for Liverpool during Lallana’s time on the field nor made more tackles and it was his brave interception off a Burnley clearance which helped put Sadio Mane in for the crucial second goal.
Rafa Benitez’s tactics are proving successful
Arsenal show spirit to end United’s hot streak
United’s resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been remarkable and United will have come to North London, walking on air after their heroics in Paris last Wednesday.
However, Arsenal were once again in impressive form when one of their top six rivals came knocking on their door. They will no doubt want to play with more control in the future, as they yielded an awful lot of possession and chances to United, but a spirited and determined 2-0 win will rank up there as one of Emery’s best results so far.
They sit in fourth, with just eight to play and look good value for a top four spot as things currently stand.
Kane conundrum for Spurs continues
Harry Kane made it four goals in five games since returning from injury, but Tottenham continue to stutter despite the presence of their top striker, losing 2-1 at Southampton on Saturday.
Tottenham’s wobble is a conundrum Mauricio Pochettino must solve as he fights to keep his side in the top four.
Pochettino’s men won all four league games that Kane missed but they have been beaten in three of the five matches in all competitions following his return, with only one victory.
With 24 goals to his name this season and now 200 in his glittering career, nobody could challenge the 2018 World Cup top scorer’s value to Tottenham.
Yet Kane did miss several chances to increase Tottenham’s lead after his clinical first-half finish at St Mary’s and some believe the north Londoners have played a slower, more predictable style since he returned.
Sterling rediscovers City’s spark
Manchester City had scored just once from open play in 345 minutes after a lacklustre first-half against Watford on Saturday ended goalless.
However, Raheem Sterling put that right by scoring a hat-trick inside the first 14 minutes of the second half to ensure City, who won 3-1, ended the weekend on top.
There was plenty of controversy over the England international’s opener, with even Pep Guardiola admitting it should have been ruled out for offside.
Yet Sterling showed a predatory instinct often missing from his game before Guardiola’s arrival at the Etihad for his second and third to take his tally for the campaign to an impressive 18.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (30) recorded his fourth triple-double of the season, contributing 11 points, 12 rebounds, and a season-high 13 assists.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard (34) scored 25 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a decisive 128-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
Antetokounmpo’s exceptional passing, including 10 assists in the first half alone, ignited the Bucks’ offence and propelled them to victory, snapping a two-game losing streak.
The Bucks had recently faced a challenging period, losing four of their last five games, all against teams with losing records.
However, they convincingly overcame the struggling 8-28 Raptors, despite the absence of Khris Middleton due to an ankle injury.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers praised Antetokounmpo’s playmaking abilities, stating, “Giannis’ passing set the whole tone for our team.”
“When your best player does that, it becomes contagious and the ball just moved,” Rivers said.
Bloody good passing from Giannis.
13 AST | 12 REB | 11 PTS pic.twitter.com/6LGIFIIK6h
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 7, 2025
The only downside for the Bucks was a cut Antetokounmpo suffered on his right little finger when he hit the rim on a block attempt late in the first half.
Rivers said it required stitches to stop the bleeding, but Antetokounmpo wanted to stay in a game in which he and Lillard were both able to rest the entire fourth quarter anyway.
Zach LaVine led the Chicago Bulls to a thrilling 114-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Chicago, scoring 35 points while also contributing 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Bulls staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 19-point deficit in the third quarter.
Coby White played a crucial role in the victory, scoring 23 points. He drove for a go-ahead layup and followed it up with a powerful dunk, giving the Bulls a 113-110 lead with 15.9 seconds remaining. LaVine then sealed the win with a free throw.
The Bulls successfully countered another impressive performance from San Antonio’s star rookie, Victor Wembanyama. He recorded 23 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and an astonishing eight blocked shots.
DRIVE HOME SAFELY. BULLS WIN. pic.twitter.com/KSEoyyzCVs
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 7, 2025
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham orchestrated a remarkable comeback for the Pistons.
They scored 32 points and dished out nine assists as they overcame an early 22-point deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-115.
Tim Hardaway Jr. ignited the Pistons’ fourth-quarter surge, scoring 11 of his 26 points during the final period. He drained back-to-back three-pointers, giving the Pistons a 109-106 lead with less than three minutes remaining.
The Trail Blazers mounted a late challenge, twice narrowing the deficit to just one point. Anfernee Simons’ three-pointer with 12 seconds left brought the score to 117-115.
However, Malik Beasley sealed the Pistons’ fourth consecutive win by making one of two free throws and securing a crucial steal.
Sealed the dub the Detroit way
pic.twitter.com/kGkHkHX1o5
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 7, 2025
The Phoenix Suns snapped a four-game losing streak with a 109-99 victory over the short-handed Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia.
Coach Mike Budenholzer’s decision to shake up the starting lineup by moving Bradley Beal to the bench proved successful. Beal ignited the Suns’ offence, scoring 25 points, with 20 of those coming in the second half.
The Suns trailed by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and entered halftime with a four-point deficit. However, their bench outscored the 76ers’ reserves by a significant margin, 54-7.
Good night, Suns fans!
pic.twitter.com/U1TBskDLYf
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 7, 2025
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points and 10 assists. And Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds. The 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Kyle Lowry due to injuries.
In New York, the injury-ravaged Orlando Magic upset the struggling Knicks 103-94.
Cole Anthony led the Magic with 24 points, while Wendell Carter Jr. provided a significant spark off the bench, scoring 19 points. The Magic remain without their top four scorers: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Moritz Wagner.
Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 24 points for the Knicks. The Knicks suffered their third consecutive loss after a nine-game winning streak.
In Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. dominated. He scored 35 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a 119-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks, missing key players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, dropped their fifth straight game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves snapped their three-game losing streak with a thrilling 108-106 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Anthony Edwards fuelled the comeback, scoring 37 points for the Timberwolves.
For more sports updates, check here.
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