Premier League hits and misses: Luke Shaw is Man Utd’s most improved player | Football News

Shaw progress clear to see

Even within the weeks earlier than Luke Shaw’s hamstring damage in November, he was United’s greatest defender.

His man-of-the-match efficiency at Anfield summed up his development this season: dominant and consistently harrying Mohamed Salah at one finish – in line with Graeme Souness, he dealt with the Egyptian higher than any defender he is seen – and creating greater than some other United participant on the different.

His passing accuracy within the opposition half (81 per cent) was highest within the Manchester United facet, and he received extra fouls and made extra key passes than any of his team-mates.

Alex Telles’ arrival could have little doubt created much-needed competitors, and Shaw appears to be like to have reacted with a string of constant performances.

To some, Shaw was the epitome of post-Fergie Manchester United – an costly flop. However regardless of this being his seventh season at Outdated Trafford, he’s barely at his peak at 25.

As we all know, the trendy full-back should assault and defend in equal measure. There may be room for enchancment in his supply, however Shaw appears to be like to have his energy again, and is changing into the poster boy for this improved Manchester United.
Gerard Model

Liverpool in touch, even at lowest ebb

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Liverpool have issues. However for that purpose, they need to be glad with their level towards Manchester United.

For all the problems rising at Anfield – no purpose in three video games, the full-backs’ drop in type, a scarcity of depth in midfield, no recognised centre-backs – they don’t seem to be struggling in a factors sense, relative to the remainder of the Premier League.

In earlier seasons, this drop would have them out of the title race. Their tally of 34 factors after 18 video games would have them 10 factors off the lead in 2018/19, 18 factors off in 2017/18 and 12 factors off in 2016/17. Because it stands, they’re three off, and with Joel Matip to return, a constructive chain response ought to begin.

Defence hasn’t essentially been their situation. The personnel jigsaw brought on by a scarcity of centre-backs most positively has. In filling in on the again, Liverpool have misplaced a lot of their midfield would possibly.

When Matip returns – Jurgen Klopp says he ought to be prepared within the coming days – Fabinho and/or Jordan Henderson will return to midfield, which means the entrance three ought to have extra to feast off. There isn’t a doubt Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have misplaced a level of depth and chunk, however it’s equally true that service hasn’t been the identical.

This might be Liverpool’s lowest ebb in a couple of years – the final time they went 4 and not using a win within the Premier League was early 2017, however Jurgen Klopp will probably be optimistic that even with that, they’re nicely in contact.
Gerard Model

Stones is the comeback kid

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John Stones is having a greater comeback than Craig David. Not too way back, he was the Manchester Metropolis outcast. Errors adopted him round, he barely began and was linked with strikes away from The Etihad.

However, as Stones instructed Sky Sports activities after the 4-0 win towards Crystal Palace, he is gone again to fundamentals and checked out himself, his recreation and has labored extremely laborious to place himself again into Pep Guardiola’s good graces. In actual fact, Stones and Ruben Dias have began collectively in 10 video games in all competitions this season, conceding solely as soon as.

Stones helped to maintain one other clear sheet on Sunday in his day job as a centre-back nevertheless it was his attacking contributions that grabbed the headlines. Defenders are recognized for his or her talents within the air, nevertheless it was the Sergio Aguero-esque poachers purpose for his second that was essentially the most spectacular. The objectives represented his first Premier League strikes for Man Metropolis and his first double within the league.

Sky Sports activities pundit Micah Richards mentioned on Tremendous Sunday: “I believe John Stones is taking part in among the greatest soccer of his life. I believe he must be within the subsequent England squad as a result of the shape that he is exhibiting is what we anticipated a few years in the past.

“All of us mentioned he may very well be among the finest defenders on the earth and if he retains this type up, there is no purpose why he cannot be.”

Graeme Souness added: “In the event you get a little bit of paper and write down a listing of belongings you’d need from a participant who’s a prime centre-half and he ticks each field. One of many issues lacking for me, and it’s a huge factor, was resolution making at essential occasions. He appears to be alert from the primary to the final minute now. He is come again from the lifeless and he’s a superb participant.”

Simply to spherical issues off, Stones additionally had the very best variety of profitable passes – 112 of his 117 made it at a fee of 95.7 per cent – and likewise led the way in which for touches (120). At 26, Stones is lastly assembly these weighty expectations. Lengthy could his renaissance proceed.
Charlotte Marsh

Tanguy’s touch of magic inspires Spurs

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For 3 second-half minutes, the nerves have been rankling for Tottenham.

Having dropped a league-high 10 factors from profitable positions this season, the sight of David McGoldrick halving the two-goal lead Spurs had earned so emphatically within the first half via Serge Aurier and Harry Kane threatened to put the foundations for an additional expensive Spurs collapse.

The Blades regarded to have gotten an insipid first 45 minutes out of their system and appeared to have reached basecamp from which their quest for a 3rd consecutive win on all competitions might start.

However earlier than they even had the possibility to check the resolve of a stuttering Spurs facet, the sport was whisked emphatically out of attain by a second of brilliance from Tanguy Ndombele.

Having regarded like his days at Spurs have been numbered when Jose Mourinho first arrived, the 24-year-old Frenchman’s revival has come to typify the upturn Spurs have made underneath the Portuguese’s watch, and his purpose in South Yorkshire was the crowning second of his private transformation.

Working away from purpose, surrounded by two Sheffield United defenders, Ndombele hooked an outrageous lob over Aaron Ramsdale to revive Spurs’ two-goal cushion with a strike that was as sensational because it was audacious.

Mourinho labelled the second “genius” and, given the trajectory of Ndombele presently, Spurs may very well be handled to many extra performances of this type earlier than the season is up.
Jack Wilkinson