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Talking points from the Premier League weekend

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Diogo Jota (above) and Fabinho grabbed the headlines after scoring in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Watford on April 2, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

Here are the key talking points from the Premier League weekend.

1. Thiago hitting top gear

Diogo Jota and Fabinho grabbed the headlines after scoring in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday (April 2) that made it 10 league victories in a row, but manager Jurgen Klopp will be particularly pleased with the form of Thiago Alcantara.

The Spanish playmaker was at his best as he called the shots against Watford and wowed the Anfield crowd with a no-look pass that sliced open the defence, before going close with a volley.

Watching with interest will be Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola – who previously managed Thiago at Bayern Munich – ahead of this weekend’s big home clash with Liverpool, which could decide which way the league title is headed.

2. Chelsea hope for a post-blip repeat

Almost a year to the day before Chelsea’s shock 4-1 home defeat by Brentford on Saturday, the Blues lost to West Bromwich Albion 5-2 at Stamford Bridge in an equally inexplicable thrashing by one of the league’s less glamorous teams.

Last year, that upset proved to be just a blip – a few days later Chelsea beat Porto in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final as they went on to become European Cup winners.

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Coach Thomas Tuchel saw no need to make a big drama of the Brentford loss ahead of Real Madrid’s visit on Wednesday in the first leg of this year’s Champions League last eight.

“We will find out, analyse and then we will digest it because there’s no other way,” he told reporters. “It’s hard to take because it’s very unusual for us what happened today…”

3. Phillips return a boost for Leeds and England

The sight of Kalvin Phillips making his return off the bench for Leeds United in their 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday will be a welcome one for manager Jesse Marsch and England boss Gareth Southgate.

Phillips has been missing with injury since the beginning of December and in that time Leeds have suffered without his stability in midfield. Had he stayed fit there is a good chance Marcelo Bielsa would still be manager at Elland Road.

Marsch will hope Phillips gets back up to speed as quickly as he can, while Southgate will also be an interested spectator as thoughts begin to turn to the World Cup in Qatar.

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4. United struggle again without Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence through illness left Manchester United seeming neutered up front as they drew 1-1 with Leicester City, looking a shadow of a side they are with him in the team.

Paul Pogba and Fred had to deputise in United’s front line but the Reds struggled, with few serious chances and their only goal from a Fred tap-in off a rebound.

Ralf Rangnick’s United were electric when a Ronaldo hat-trick fired them to victory over Tottenham Hotspur before the international break but they are a different side without him.

-Reuters

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl 

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Premier League - Manchester United v Aston Villa - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 25, 2025 Manchester United's Harry Maguire reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn/File Photo 

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence ​by a Greek court over a 2020 ‌incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.

In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted ​bribery and violence against public employees after ​his arrest in a brawl in which ⁠two police officers were assaulted.

Maguire, who was detained ​for two days following the incident and denied ​any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full ​retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on ​multiple charges.

In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing ‌nullified ⁠Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.

Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest ​and attempted ​bribery. The ⁠32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. ​His legal team will appeal against ​the ⁠guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.

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Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences ⁠related ​to the incident and received ​suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.

-Reuters

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Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

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 Arsenal's David Raya celebrates after Jurrien Timber scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.

Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.

Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

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Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy 

Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.

But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.

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Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.

-Reuters

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Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

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 Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - March 1, 2026 Manchester United's Matheus Cunha in action with Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz REUTERS/Phil Noble

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.

Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.

The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.

“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”

Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.

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The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.

United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.

The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.

Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.

United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.

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Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”

Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”

For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.

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