Sarri is nearing the end at Chelsea, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander Arnold shone for Liverpool while Leicester and Rodgers seem like an appropriate suit
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- Mon 1 Apr 2019 08.20 BST
- Last modified on Tue 2 Apr 2019 12.Fifty-six BST
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Clockwise from pinnacle left: Maurizio Sarri, Andrew Robertson, Paul Pogba, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Brendan Rodgers. Clockwise from pinnacle left: Maurizio Sarri, Andrew Robertson, Paul Pogba, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Brendan Rodgers. Composite: Getty Images, Action Images
1) Manchester United hold to show their forward alternatives
With Ole Gunnar Solskjær suggesting that Paul Pogba might also perform deeper at instances and Luke Shaw playing like a left‑again-cum-libero in opposition to Watford, this primary win because the everlasting supervisor shows his brave new world will keep functioning a brightness of approach. Solskjær needs to harness Pogba’s all-spherical capacity to give greater control of the ball as United is normally a counter-attack unit. This became how Shaw opened up Javi Gracia’s surprising crew with an imposing Matthias Sammer-like skip that put Marcus Rashford in to open the scoring. Before then, United had been poor as they had been after the spoil until Anthony Martial’s strike proved the winner regardless of Abdoulaye Doucouré’s past due end. The goals from Rashford and Martial took them to ten in the league to join Romelu Lukaku and Pogba in double digits: this has no longer took place for the reason that 1995‑96 season when Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, and Andrew Cole did the same. Jamie Jackson
2) Sarri does now not have lengthy left at Chelsea
This is uncharted territory for Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea. Managers have persevered spells of dissent from those within the stands, and open rebellion – as a whole lot as dreadful effects at the pitch – ended up doing for André Villas-Boas and Luiz Felipe Scolari. But no head coach has persisted in the sort of widespread mutiny as Maurizio Sarri. His group might also have won at the Cardiff City Stadium, leaning on a linesman’s oversight to spark their comeback, to keep away from the 5th defeat in six away games. However, there are very few symptoms of progress in their play. It is impressive they may be nonetheless so close to the top 4. Had they lost this suit, Sarri’s function would clearly be untenable. As it’s far, he limps on into the midweek assembly with Brighton, and every slack display will initiate greater mutiny. It is tough to peer the Sarri mission extending right into a second season. Even wins as dramatic as this do not anything to guard his destiny. Dominic Fifield
3) Liverpool defenders make a case for top man or woman prizes
The Fiver: the Guardian’s tackle the sector of football. Read greater Awards season techniques, and the Liverpool full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander‑Arnold should be on the shortlists, even if defenders no longer win the person gongs. The ultimate defender to win the Professional Footballers’ Association prize became John Terry in 2005. For the Football Writers’ Association award, it was Steve Nicol in 1989. He might have been stuck unawares by the quick free-kick that installation Lucas Moura’s equalizer, but Robertson had echoed fellow Scot and Liverpool predecessor Nicol in supplying the pass from which Roberto Firmino scored. His forays down the left triggered issues for Kieran Trippier, Spurs’ right-back, inside the first 1/2; however, the pair’s attacking features tempt Jürgen Klopp to subject a midfield protection blanket trio Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Georginio Wijlnaldum in key furnishings. On this occasion, Liverpool surrendered manage of midfield and nearly the title race. John Brewin
4) Manchester City at full-energy for decisive April video games
Fulham has been ideal warring parties for a side getting ready to play 8 games in a month. Manchester City no longer should extend themselves against Scott Parker’s team, and it pleased Pep Guardiola that Kevin De Bruyne turned into capable of strolling via his first begin since 2 March. De Bruyne’s season has been disrupted using injuries; however, the midfielder’s go back from a hamstring problem has come at a good time for Guardiola, who additionally had the essential Fernandinho available for the primary time since the Carabao Cup final on 24 February. City’s squad is calling robust – Leroy Sané did now not make it off the bench at Craven Cottage – and that must serve them properly as they chase the quadruple, with the FA Cup semi-very last towards Brighton on Saturday and the looming triple-header in opposition to Tottenham bound to stretch them. They will desire to preserve more power once they host Cardiff on Wednesday. Jacob Steinberg
