Premier League: 10 Talking Points From the Weekend’s Action

Newcastle’s Callum Wilson (right) and Alexander Isak have found form at the same time. Photograph: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United/Getty Images
Newcastle’s Callum Wilson (right) and Alexander Isak have found form at the same time. Photograph: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United/Getty Images
TT

Premier League: 10 Talking Points From the Weekend’s Action

Newcastle’s Callum Wilson (right) and Alexander Isak have found form at the same time. Photograph: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United/Getty Images
Newcastle’s Callum Wilson (right) and Alexander Isak have found form at the same time. Photograph: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United/Getty Images

1) Apology small comfort for Brighton

There was no stadium VAR delay on Saturday to check whether Kaoru Mitoma had been fouled by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Why did neither Stuart Attwell nor Stockley Park see it as a penalty? To be generous, perhaps Mitoma hit the ground a little easily but the incident became a lighting rod for Brighton fans to argue that officialdom (rather than failing to close down Harry Kane for Tottenham’s winner) was the reason for defeat. Sixth place might have become fifth. When Howard Webb, on Sunday, apologised to Brighton on behalf of PGMOL, there was vindication but no extra points on offer. “I think it was clear, very clear,” said Roberto De Zerbi, who had enjoyed the benefit of a dressing-room TV replay of the Mitoma incident, already red-carded for the touchline rumble that followed VAR ruling out Danny Welbeck’s goal. Soon enough, Kane seized on Brighton’s lack of concentration. “The smart people can adapt different habits,” admitted De Zerbi, asked about being red-carded for a second time. His excellent team are surely better off with a manager on the sidelines than not, as will be the case for next week’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United. John Brewin

Match report: Tottenham 2-1 Brighton

2) Should Alexander-Arnold move to middle?

“The goals have to come down one side,” said Trent Alexander-Arnold when asked about his role in Arsenal’s second goal. “That’s how football works.” Now, that might satisfy him – elite sportspeople often have a preternatural self-belief that allows them to execute difficult skills under pressure – but the rest of us are seeing a player out of his depth defensively now he no longer has the protection of a midfield able to ensure the ball spends most of its time down the other end. Just as we saw his fallibility against Arsenal, we also saw his brilliance – stepping into midfield, dictating attacks and creating his team’s equaliser. It may be time he moved into the centre permanently, partly because Liverpool have a vacancy there, but mainly because the position is ideal for hiding his weaknesses – a lack of nous, recovery pace and one-on-one ability – and accentuating the passing, vision, and crossing that are his strengths. Daniel Harris

Match report: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

3) Sterling shadow of former self

Raheem Sterling has four goals and two assists to his name this season in 21 matches. The winger struggled to find any form or consistency under Graham Potter but Frank Lampard’s move to a 4-3-3 created a more obvious role for the England international on the right wing against Wolves. He failed to produce any moments of danger, kept quiet by the makeshift left-back Toti. Lampard needs to get the best out of the likes of Sterling if he is to improve Chelsea, who stay stuck in mid-table. “I think he is a fantastic player, he’s been one of the best wingers in the world for a long time,” Lampard said afterwards. “At times, in some people’s opinion, the best.” Despite the ringing endorsement, Sterling has failed to hit the heights that he found at Manchester City since his move to Stamford Bridge but a refresh in the dugout could yet help him. Will Unwin

4) Emery’s quiet Villa revolution

Aston Villa’s incredible progress under Unai Emery has perhaps got a little lost of late. They won at Stamford Bridge in what would prove to be Graham Potter’s last game as Chelsea manager and four days later another away win increased the gloom at Leicester. Villa’s latest victory was inevitably bookended by talk of Steve Cooper’s future at Nottingham Forest. But while their opponents sift through problems, Villa, who were 16th and three points off the bottom when Emery took charge in November, are eyeing Europe after soaring to sixth. “I remember the feeling of being seven points adrift with four games to go,” the Villa captain, John McGinn, said of avoiding relegation on the final day of the 2019-20 season. “That was not a great view, so to be on the complete other side of it is amazing, especially with the relegation race going on this season. It has been an amazing turnaround and hopefully we can keep it going.” Ben Fisher

Match report: Aston Villa 2-0 Nottingham Forest

5) Martial could offset Rashford fears

Anthony Martial staying fit until the end of the season would be a boost to rank alongside Christian Eriksen’s return against Everton following a two-month layoff due to an ankle problem, and Casemiro being available again for domestic football after a four-match suspension. Suddenly, Erik ten Hag has three frontline players to bolster a campaign that takes in nine more Premier League matches, a Europa League quarter-final and FA Cup semi-final as Manchester United bid to seal a top-four berth and add to February’s Carabao Cup triumph. Eleven minutes after entering on Saturday, Martial scored a seventh of the season in his 17th appearance, an impressive ratio considering his injury-disrupted year. With Marcus Rashford limping out of the game and the seriousness of his issue not yet known, the need for Martial to stay fit is further emphasised. Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester United 2-0 Everton

6) Howe has welcome dilemma up front

Eddie Howe has a striker conundrum at Newcastle, and a pleasant problem to have. Having rotated Callum Wilson into the side for the midweek win at West Ham, he brought Alexander Isak back in against Brentford. With Newcastle devoid of any spark in a dreary first-half performance, Howe then summoned Wilson off the bench at half-time in a rare instance of deploying the two front men together. It worked wonders: Wilson assisted Isak’s goal and was unlucky to have his own effort struck off for a handball. So what does the future hold up front for Newcastle? “They are two top-quality players,” said Howe. “Can they play together every week? Probably not tactically, from our perspective. But can they play together in a game like today? Absolutely, yes.” A great dilemma to have, giving Howe a useful Plan C to go with Plans A and B. Ben Bloom

7) Lavia shows off his capability

Pep Guardiola’s post-match beelines for selected opposition players are legendary: in a parallel universe, Nathan Redmond is spurring Manchester City’s bid for the treble rather than settling Istanbul derbies with Besiktas. There was clear logic to his tete-a-tete with Roméo Lavia after the comfortable win at Southampton, though. City let the 19-year-old, who had spent two years at the Etihad, join Saints last summer along with three other youngsters. Guardiola had been tempted to keep him but did not want to deny regular Premier League action. Judging by his public proclamations about Lavia both before and after the match, he may wish to exercise City’s £40m buyback option sharpish. Lavia was the only home player who would have looked comfortable in the visitors’ colours, his industry and vision outstanding particularly in a relatively even first half. Even if Saints stay up, the Belgian will surely be plying his trade elsewhere next season. A more regular discourse with Guardiola cannot be discounted. Nick AmesHarvey Barnes for Leicester against Bournemouth

Match report: Southampton 1-4 Manchester City

8) Foxes in freefall as Marsch plans falter

Leicester are only two points from safety, but a home defeat by Bournemouth – a seventh loss in 10 league games – is relegation form and then some. Leicester have neither momentum nor manager, and talks with preferred candidate Jesse Marsch are on the brink of collapse. Even if appointing Marsch – whose former side, Leeds, improved as soon as he was sacked – made sense, the invertebrate nature of Leicester’s performances reflects a squad that lacks vertebrae. The loss of Kasper Schmeichel, both as goalkeeper and leader, has been inadequately addressed; Jonny Evans and Jamie Vardy are well past their best; Youri Tielemans is frequently injured. So, though James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have gamely done their best to compensate, what remaining hope do Leicester have? Daniel Harris

Match report: Leicester 0-1 Bournemouth

9) Unhappy Hammers edge towards safety

West Ham have scored three goals in their past three games: two were from set-pieces and the other an own goal from Fulham’s Harrison Reed. They have also picked up six points along the way, nudging their way to 1-0 wins over Fulham and Southampton, but those games sandwiched a humiliation at the hands of Newcastle. In other words, West Ham could deal with the winnable games and faltered against a tougher side. That should ensure they stay up, but is that enough after spending around £160m last summer? Supporters clearly think not given the jeers aimed at David Moyes during the win over Fulham. There is a desire for more expansiveness and the feeling that Moyes’s caution holds the team back. Of course, he might argue that results are the most important thing in a relegation battle. The question is whether West Ham should ever have been in one. Jacob Steinberg

Match report: Fulham 0-1 West Ham

10) Leeds pay tribute to Loftus and Speight

There was a minute’s applause before kick off at Elland Road on Sunday. It marked last Wednesday’s 23rd anniversary of the death of two ardent Leeds supporters, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight. Back in April 2000, the pair travelled to Turkey to watch their team play Galatasaray in a Uefa Cup semi final but never returned home. On the eve of the game, they were stabbed to death in Istanbul and their brutal murders continue to cast long shadows in West Yorkshire. Earlier this week the Leeds manager, Javi Gracia, joined senior players including Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford in laying flowers and talking to both men’s families in a special tribute held at Elland Road. “Having learned about the tragedy following my appointment, here my thoughts are with the two families,” said Gracia on Sunday. “Christopher and Kevin will never be forgotten.” Louise Taylor



Verstappen Captures 4th F1 Championship after Mercedes Sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 23, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the 2024 F1 world championship title REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 23, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the 2024 F1 world championship title REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
TT

Verstappen Captures 4th F1 Championship after Mercedes Sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 23, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the 2024 F1 world championship title REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Formula One F1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - November 23, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the 2024 F1 world championship title REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship on Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. Verstappen needed only to finish higher than Norris to win the title, which he did with two races remaining on the season.
He ended the race up 63 points over Norris with two events remaining this season.
“Max Verstappen you are a four-time world champion," team principal Christian Horner said on the radio. "That is a phenomenal, phenomenal achievement. You can be incredibly proud of yourself as we are."
Verstappen, only the sixth driver in F1 history to win at least four titles, sounded unusually emotional on the radio.
“Oh My God, what a season. Four times. Thank you, thank you guys,” he said. “We gave it all.”
The race was won, meanwhile, by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. Hamilton came from 10th on the grid — two weeks after a demoralizing race in Brazil — to capture his podium finish.
The duo crossed the finish line under a checkered flag waved by actor Sylvester Stallone.
Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third for Ferrari as the constructor championship remains a tight battle between leader McLaren and Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, his teammate, was fourth. Red Bull had won the title that pays roughly $150 million in prize money the last two seasons but has slipped to third in the standings.
But that championship battle appears headed to next month's season finale in Abu Dhabi. McLaren has a 24-point lead over Ferrari headed into this weekend's race in Qatar after Norris and Oscar Piastri finished sixth and seventh in Las Vegas.
“Max deserved to win it. He drove a better season than I did, he deserved it more than anyone else,” Norris said. “Max just doesn't have a weakness. When he's got the best car, he dominates and when he's not got the best car, he's still just there always.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, made easy work of Norris after a season where the McLaren driver pushed him harder than he'd been challenged since Verstappen's first title in 2021.
“To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought would be possible,” Verstappen told actor Terry Crews, who moderated the podium news conference held in front of the Bellagio's famed fountains.
“It was a very challenging season and I had to be calm. I think this season taught me a lot of lessons and we handled it well as a team, so that of course makes it a very special and beautiful season.”
Verstappen, who is 27, won 19 races last year. He opened this season on a tear but a long winless streak from June until Brazil two weeks ago has him with only eight wins, his fewest since 2020.
Verstappen asked at the Bellagio what time it was, noting he was in Las Vegas and “I'm very thirsty.” He had a champagne celebration awaiting him.
Race-winner Russell, meanwhile, said he’d be skipping his scheduled flight home to celebrate the victory with actor Crews. He also twice had to sit down on the podium to wipe champagne out of his eyes.
Verstappen was cruising in third with about 20 laps remaining and not overly pushing when Red Bull urged Verstappen to be patient over the team radio.
“Max, just don't lose sight of our aim today, yeah?” he was told.
Verstappen wasn't interested in receiving any instructions.
“Yeah, yeah. I'm doing my race,” he replied.
When he later saw the Ferrari drivers behind him, he asked for instructions because of the constructor championship implications.
"Do you want me to try to keep them behind or what?" Verstappen asked of Sainz and Leclerc.
"I think you should, yeah," Red Bull told Verstappen.
He couldn't hold them off but it made no difference as his season was dominant enough to match former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel as four-time champions for the organization.
This was the second year of the race after last year's debut was a bit of a disaster in that locals were livid for months over ongoing construction, as well as traffic detours and delays, the inability to access many local businesses, outrageous price gouging by the tourism industry as well as LVGP ticketing, and then a loose valve cover that nearly destroyed Sainz's Ferrari minutes into the first practice.
It caused an hours-long delay for repairs, fans were kicked out of the circuit, and F1 ran practice until 4 a.m. — when it legally had to reopen the streets to the public.
This year has been far less hectic, in part because all of the infrastructure headaches were a year ago, but also that last year's race was spectacular. Despite all its speed bumps, the actual running of the race was one of the best of the F1 season.
Russell started on the pole ahead of Sainz, who wanted redemption after the valve-cover fiasco last year. He had to serve a penalty because his car was damaged in the incident.
“I was hoping Vegas had something to offer me after last year, but I will take a podium," Sainz said. "I was looking at every manhole, avoiding them this time.”
The race is the final stop in the United States for F1, which has exploded in American popularity the last five years. The trio of races in Miami; Austin, Texas; and Las Vegas are more than any other country.
After the race completion, F1 next week is expected to announce it will expand the grid to 11 teams to make room for an American team backed by General Motors' Cadillac brand. The team was initially started by Michael Andretti, who could not receive approval from F1 on his expansion application.
Andretti has since turned over his ownership stake to Indiana-businessman Dan Towriss and Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They would run the Cadillac F1 team that would likely join the grid in 2026.
The announcement of the American team did not come during the weekend to not derail from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is the showpiece of the Liberty Media portfolio.
The race drew 306,000 fans over three days.