Man City’s Erling Haaland misfires again while Chelsea still learning Enzo Maresca’s ways – Premier League hits and misses

Haaland’s struggles in front of goal mirror City’s own spluttering form

In many ways, Erling Haaland’s recent struggles in front of goal for Manchester City mirror those of the team themselves, initially thought of as merely a blip both will come out of in no time and yet we are still waiting for that to happen.

Haaland, like the Premier League champions themselves, came out of the traps fast to start the season, scoring 10 times in his first five league games, but as City began to wobble, so too did the Norway international.

So much so, in fact, that last season’s Premier League top scorer has only netted three goals in his last 13 matches, coinciding with City’s own downturn in form, while underperforming his xG by a league-wide total of 5.2 in that time (3 vs 8.2 xG).

Nothing better sums up Haaland’s woes of late than his penalty failure against Everton with the scoreline 1-1 as Jordan Pickford guessed correctly to keep out his weakly struck effort, incredibly the first time the forward has seen a goalkeeper save one of his 16 Premier League spot kicks.

And Pep Guardiola’s spluttering title holders need their main man back to his best as soon as possible, otherwise their long barren run may carry on into 2025.
Rich Morgan

Chelsea have a lot to learn under Maresca

Enzo Maresca kept referring to Chelsea’s failure to manage the game against Fulham as the reason for losing at home against their west London rivals for the first time since 1979. The first 15 minutes of the second half particularly, he said, cost his side.

There was a moment just before the hour, when it was 1-0, which illustrated exactly what Maresca was getting at. Cole Palmer picked up the ball with Chelsea breaking and blue shirts bursting forward. Palmer disappointed them by deliberately slowing the game down.

Chelsea voices in the crowd could not disguise their upset. Maresca was alone in applauding the perceived negative action. These are the moments he wants to see more of from his side. Fulham came looking for transitions, and he wanted to take that away.

Maresca ideally would like his team to move up the pitch as a unit to avoid leaving holes for the opposition to expose – “Before you attack, you need to make passes, passes, passes so we are together,” the Chelsea boss said – even if it’s at the expense of excitement.

Leicester fans sometimes became weary with the ways of their former manager last season despite him leading them to a comfortable promotion as Championship winners. Maresca’s philosophy clearly takes some time to adjust to. Not everyone at Chelsea gets it yet.

That’s perhaps why he has repeatedly said Chelsea aren’t ready to challenge for the title yet. Results have been impressive, this being their first defeat in the league since losing at Liverpool in October, but he knows that the team are still learning how to play his way.
Zinny Boswell

Impressive Fulham on the rise under Silva

At the start of this season, had you told Fulham supporters they’d be heading home on Boxing Day with their side level on points with defending Premier League champions Manchester City, they would not have believed you. But while City have slumped, this is a Fulham team on the up under Marco Silva. A first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 is validation of that.

Perhaps even more impressively, this was a historic win achieved without Emile Smith Rowe or Sander Berge, two of their top performers this term. Harrison Reed was also missing from a depleted midfield, while regulars Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson are in the treatment room, too.

But Fulham have found a way to take points off Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham this term and, with a change in formation here, they have dealt a blow to neighbours Chelsea. It’s a result they will revel in. But with Silva at the helm and this talented group finding ways to win in different ways, their prospects for 2025 are looking bright.
Peter Smith

Onuachu sums up Southampton’s striker woes

Paul Onuachu touched the ball 12 times in the West Ham penalty box. Eight were shots, seven of them were headers. Despite all of that accounting to 0.57 of Expected Goals, all of them failed to find the net.

In one game, the 6ft 7in striker showed incoming manager Ivan Juric the exact uphill struggles he faces at Southampton – a sheer lack of goals.

The Saints have scored just 11 times in the Premier League from 17 games. More worryingly, they have just seven goals from eight home games.

This is a side who has spent a combined £75m on Onuachu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Cameron Archer, Ben Brereton Diaz and Mateus Fernandes in the last 18 months – they have five Premier League goals between them. So many forwards, so little end product.

The intent was much better from Juric’s Southampton on Boxing Day. The more direct style brought an attacking verve that rattled West Ham in the first half, while wing-backs Yukinari Sugawara and Kyle Walker-Peters provided so much for Onuachu and Co.

But unless Southampton find their scoring touch, they won’t be getting off the bottom of the table any time soon.
Sam Blitz

Centurion Bowen the difference again for Hammers

So often, Jarrod Bowen is the man to make the difference for West Ham.

His last three goals for the club have been match-winners. After his penalty effectively ended Erik ten Hag’s spell as Manchester United boss, it was his trademark finish in the recent victory over Wolves which pushed Gary O’Neil closer to the Wolves trap door.

On Boxing Day, Ivan Juric’s first game in charge of Southampton resulted in defeat thanks to Bowen’s predatory instincts.

The 28-year-old was in the right spot to prod home from Niclas Fullkrug’s flick-on for his 48th Premier League goal, taking him outright second in West Ham’s leading Premier League scorers, with only Michail Antonio now scoring more (68). It was also his 100th league goal in English football’s top four tiers.

“It was massively important to win,” Bowen said afterwards. “This is our fourth game unbeaten but it was vital to win again. The ambition of this club is to qualify for Europe every year so it was not at stake today but we’ve got some catching up to do.”

This was a dogged victory made impressive by how Julen Lopetegui had to absorb first-half injuries to Lukasz Fabianski and Max Kilman against a Southampton side desperate to impress their new manager. And whenever you have Bowen in your side, there is always the stardust to turn one point into three.
Ben Grounds

Midfield are leading Newcastle up the table

There isn’t a more relentless, energetic and classy midfield three in the Premier League than Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali when they play with the roar of the St James’ Park faithful behind them.

Yes, I’d include the Liverpool trio in that debate.

This Toon trio are dynamite and showed the Reds that a few weeks back in that hurricane-like 3-3 draw with Arne Slot’s team. They are the bedrock of everything good Newcastle do. When they function, the team functions. It explains why the recent form under Eddie Howe has rocketed as these three are back to their pulsating best. Villa were completely outrun and outclassed in that area of the pitch, even before the red card.

Newcastle are up to fifth. And are moving along nicely.
Lewis Jones

Bad to worse for Tottenham

“It was his ankle and he said he could not continue. We will have to see,” said Postecoglou after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the loss to Forest.

After the short injury update and outlining how “disappointing” it was to walk away from the City Ground empty handed, Postecoglou was nowhere to be seen in the press room.

It took just 150 seconds for the Tottenham boss to exit the building and it was clear to see he was not keen on answering many questions.

An injury to the only recognised centre-back left in the match-day squad, a red card for Spence who had shown promise across the last three outings and his side still dwelling in the bottom half.

The situation for Tottenham is growing bleaker by the day and the upcoming fixture against Wolves, which is just three days away, feels like a must-win game.
Patrick Rowe

Man mountain Murillo helps Forest to victory

Forest secured all three points and the clean sheet to go alongside it against Tottenham – but they could not have done it without Murillo.

As Postecoglou rightly pointed out, his side possessed a threat in the final third but ultimately could not capitalise on it. And that is because of Forest’s man mountain at the back.

His final figures came in at nine clearances, three blocked shots, three tackles and five duels won.

When there was space, he would close it. When there was a ball to be won, there was no contest.

The home crowd serenaded him throughout the entirety of the game. He is a fan favourite and it is clear to see why, the partnership forming with Nikola Milenkovic is the foundation that this historic season for the club is being built upon.
Patrick Rowe

Huijsen shines again in Bournemouth defence

Dean Huijsen is seizing his chance at the heart of the Bournemouth defence and fast becoming one of the Premier League’s top young defenders.

The 19-year-old centre-back, who signed for Bournemouth on a six-year deal from Juventus in the summer, has shone having started in the last five league matches, scoring twice and helping keep three clean sheets.

Huijsen stood up to the test of Crystal Palace’s versatile frontline – the strength of Jean-Philippe Mateta coupled with the pace and trickery of Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze.

He won the most duels of any player, the most tackles and had the highest pass completion rate. Huijsen’s only mistake was a cynical foul on Sarr that earned a yellow card. Bournemouth have a gem.
David Richardson