5 talking points from the weekend’s Premier League action

Klopp’s men ended Man City’s unbeaten run

Manchester City may still be 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, but their dream of being the next ‘Invincibles’ has been crushed by Liverpool.

That’s one of five major weekend talking points the Coral News Team are looking back over…

Rampant Reds expose City’s weaknesses

Despite chalking up 20 victories and two draws ahead of their trip to Anfield, Man City’s dream of an unbeaten Prem campaign is well and truly over, after a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool.

While many sides have looked nervy and overly-cautious against Pep Guardiola’s stellar side, the Reds played their usual swashbuckling football. And it paid dividends – with the Citizens torn apart by an immense attacking display.

The game was tied at 1-1 after 58 minutes, but 10 minutes later the Reds were 4-1 up. Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mohamed Salah were the outstanding performers, with each producing a goal and an assist.

But while the hosts were terrific coming forward, City made it easy for them after the break. An Ederson howler gifted Salah his goal, while John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi looked shaky at centre-back.

If the Sky Blues want to come good on their status as 11/4 favourites to Win the Champions League, they need to rectify those issues very soon. As for the Reds’ domestic form, they could be the value in Premier League: Betting without Man City at 2/1.

Hodgson’s solid Eagles continuing to rise

Over the course of the last six Premier League games, Crystal Palace are sixth in the form table, having picked up 11 points. In fact, the Eagles have now lost just once in 12 Prem games, following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Burnley.

That’s an impressive achievement for any side. But for a team who began the season with seven successive losses – failing to score in the process – it’s quite incredible.

Roy Hodgson deserves huge credit for the turnaround since his arrival in mid-September.

The 70-year-old has found a 4-4-2 system which suits his side, tightened up a previously leaky backline – and brought the best out of the mercurial Wilfried Zaha. The capital club’s relegation worries look to be a thing of the past.

Will away day woes spell relegation for Seagulls?

Brighton & Hove Albion’s travelling fans have had very little to cheer about of late. Chris Hughton’s men have taken a single point from their last six away games, without scoring a single goal.

To top it off, Saturday’s defeat to West Bromwich Albion was the Baggies’ first league win in 21 games.

The main problem appears to be a lack of creativity in the final third. Over the course of their last three away games, the East Sussex club have managed just five shots on target.

Now just four points above the drop zone, another striker has to be on Hughton’s shopping list if they’re to beat relegation.

Hammers frontline revitalised under Moyes

After difficult spells at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, David Moyes appears to have rediscovered his touch at West Ham United.

Before the Scot’s arrival, Hammers fans had seen one striker after another disappoint at London Stadium. But the experienced gaffer is currently bringing the best out of Marco Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini.

Saturday’s 4-1 victory at Huddersfield Town was perhaps the clearest example of that. A well-worked, direct move created a goal for the Austrian at the beginning of the second half, to put the Irons 2-1 ahead.

Following 10 Prem games without a goal after his summer move from Stoke City, he’s now scored six in eight under Moyes. As for Lanzini, he produced a pair of clinical finishes which showed his restored confidence.

Spurs’ top-four push receives another boost

Tottenham Hotspur produced the weekend’s biggest victory, putting four goals past visiting Everton without reply. And that result leaves Spurs just three points outside the top four – and lifts them to third-highest scorers in the division.

The irrepressible Harry Kane netted two of those four goals. But a goal apiece and a couple of impressive displays from Son Heung-Min and Christian Eriksen also helped the Lilywhites breeze to victory.

While Chelsea are starting to stutter and Arsenal are in freefall, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are becoming a highly-effective, no-nonsense outfit. Tottenham to Finish in the Top 4 looks to be good value at 10/11.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing