Damien Kayat looks back at an action-packed weekend of European football which saw Liverpool demolish Man United at Anfield, Lazio give Napoli their second loss of the season and more!
Liverpool Hammer United
I don’t think any Scouser could have possibly envisaged Sunday going any better. United arrived at Anfield with a bit of that old-school Cantona swagger in their step.
They just won their first trophy of the Ten Hag era and still retained a semblance of hope for a late-season title push. United fan channels were already bemoaning the death of the Klopp era.
Well, their title push is well and truly over following a calamitous 7-0 defeat to Klopp’s Reds. And I think Ten Hag has to shoulder some of the blame here. Sure, Liverpool haven’t been at their electrifying best this season.
But they are still one of the most psychotic pressing sides in world football. I honestly didn’t see the point of persevering with Weghorst in that number 10 role (he has now scored 1 goal in 13 games for the Red Devils).
I think we also witnessed a side that just completely ran out energy: this was United’s 11th game in 31 days. Casemiro and Fernandes looked like pale imitations of themselves and Liverpool ran United ragged.
Mo Salah took Luke Shaw back to school while Cody Gakpo just drifted nonchalantly into space time and time again. Klopp’s Liverpool may indeed be a dying dynasty. But it’s not going down without a fight.
Liverpool vs Manchester United | All Goals#LIVMUNpic.twitter.com/PcyN9bGKhL
— Berita Sepakbola Dunia (@gilabola_ina) March 6, 2023
Arsenal stage remarkable comeback
The Gunners hosted relegation-threatened Bournemouth in what was surely an opportunity for them to flex their muscles. Arsenal fans must have feared the worst after they conceded the 2nd fastest goal in Premier League history.
And they trailed by two goals with just an hour to play, throwing their unlikely title push into momentary disarray. But Arteta’s side once again pulled off a Houdini escape act, making it 2-2 only for Reiss Nelson to score an improbable 97th minute winner.
This is the sort of rousing cinematic style comeback that has become almost commonplace for Arteta. Still, it was a bit disturbing that they were in that position in what was arguably their easiest game of the season. City ran out 2-0 winners in a fairly drab encounter against Newcastle.
What has happened to the upstart Geordie billionaires? They can’t buy a win and are hanging onto their Champions League dream by their fingernails. City were largely in first gear, with Phil Foden putting in yet another mesmeric display for the Citizens.
One gets the impression that the talismanic playmaker is going to prove crucial should City stand any chance of defending their title.
Mikel Arteta reacting to the Reiss Nelson goal 😂
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 4, 2023
The cameraman never stood a chance the way The Emirates was bouncing 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/WlfI2m567l
Bundesliga looks like two-horse race
This year’s Bundesliga seems destined to be yet another battle between arch-rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Die Roten only lead the Blacks and Yellows by goal difference following their rather pedestrian 2-1 win at Stuttgart. Granted, Julian Nagelsmann’s side obviously have a huge Champions League 2nd leg tie against PSG to keep them occupied.
De Ligt and Choupo-Moting scored the goals while Thomas Muller once again proved a revelation in that number ten role. Borussia Dortmund came through 2-1 winners in their heavyweight clash against RB Leipzig.
Edin Terzic’s side were required to toil in what was hardly a vintage display of Dortmund-ball. But goals from Marco Reus and Emre Can helped them edge out a slightly underwhelming Leipzig.
Napoli and Arsenal aside, Dortmund actually look like one of the form teams currently operating in European football. This was their 10th consecutive win in all competitions and they really look primed to potentially challenge the monopoly of Bayern Munich.
This race for the Bundesliga title 🤩👏 pic.twitter.com/0dsrSbIU74
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 4, 2023
Napoli procession stunned
Napoli were uncharacteristically insipid at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, relegated to only their 2nd loss of the season at the hands of Lazio.
And how fitting it was that former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri was the man to mastermind it. It should all prove pretty academic for Luciano Spalletti’s when it comes to securing the Scudetto.
Lautaro Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan helped Inter ease to a 2-0 win against Leece while Ac Milan slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina. But the result of the weekend has to go to Roma. Jose Mourinho’s men have been an absolute enigma this season.
But he has somehow kept them within striking distance of that all-important top four finish. This is partially due to Napoli’s unprecedented dominance. Gianluca Mancini’s rocket was the only goal of the match as Roma ground out the win in undiluted Mourinho fashion.
Lazio hand Napoli their first home loss in Serie A this season 😲 pic.twitter.com/DA4ukalDqn
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 3, 2023
Barcelona extend La Liga lead to nine points
Despite all their European pedigree, Real Madrid just can’t shake Barcelona on the domestic front. Their defeat to FC Barcelona in the 1st leg of their Copa Del Rey semi-final was a dreary affair.
The Blaugranes were able to take down Los Blancos without the services of the injured Pedri, Dembelle and Lewandowski. And Real followed that up with an equally uninspired 0-0 draw at Betis. Karim Benzema missed a few sitters and Real really had Courtois to thank for sparing their blushes.
This means that Barcelona now have a nine-point lead atop of La Liga. Xavi’s men were hardly inspirational against Valencia, grinding out a 1-0 win at the Nou Camp.
They were down to ten men for the final half-hour; Araujo took down Hugo Duro when he was bearing down on goal (all of which actually stemmed from a shocking defensive header from Jules Kounde).
Barcelona look on course for domestic glory while Ancelotti’s men seem content with saving their finest work for those balmy European nights.
Real Madrid drop more points and Barcelona open up a NINE point gap 😱 pic.twitter.com/202nPiCmGC
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 5, 2023
Player of the Week – Mo Salah
Egyptian King Mo Salah has been one of those routinely scapegoated for Liverpool’s poor season. Sure, he hasn’t been banging them in every game.
But he is still far and away Liverpool’s most potent attacking weapon. And he broke Liverpool’s all-time Premier League goal-scoring record this weekend, eclipsing the 128 goals scored by God himself: Robbie Fowler.
I think Salah’s role in the side has changed with the departure of Sadio Mane and the arrivals of Nunez and Gakpo. He seems more self-effacing, hugging the touchline and linking brilliantly. He is still their top scorer this season and will prove hugely influential in their attempt to make top four.
Mo Salah's 129th goal made him Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League 👑 pic.twitter.com/icX2ObAtyj
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 5, 2023
