Premier League: Seven things we learnt this weekend - Chelsea start celebrations early and Manchester United outsmarted by Everton

Rodgers needs to be wary at Liverpool, Palace stop playing after survival assured and Newcastle have Alan Pardew to thank

Mario Balotelli, James McArthur, John Terry, Alan Pardew, Hugo Lloris and Louis van Gaal (Getty Images)

FORGET WHAT MOURINHO SAYS, CHELSEA KNOW THEY HAVE WON THE TITLE

Jose Mourinho emerged from Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal claiming the Blues still need five points before they can be crowned Premier League champions, and that until then they have nothing to celebrate. Tell that to the players.

When the final whistle went, Branislav Ivanovic erupted in celebration with a fist pump towards the Chelsea dug-out, while John Terry and Gary Cahill were leaping for joy in scenes more jovial than those seen at Stamford Bridge earlier this season when Chelsea won 2-0.

It’s clear that despite what is being said, Chelsea know they’ve got the title in the bag – and rightly so – but this complacency could just cost them against a relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday night.

 

MARTINEZ OVERCOMES DISAPPOITING SEASON TO OUTSMART VAN GAAL

By all counts Everton’s season has been a very poor one. Having splashed out on record transfer Romelu Lukaku last summer, the Toffees were nearly dragged into the relegation battle earlier this season, though a run of four wins in five games has aided their cause. Despite the run, a resurgent Manchester United should have had more than enough to see them off at Goodison Park, but they were turned over in an incredible result that dents United’s hopes of finishing second.

David De Gea during Manchester United's defeat to Everton (GETTY IMAGES)

Goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas secured a smash-and-grab 3-0 victory in which Roberto Martinez deployed the perfect counter-attacking game. His opposite number, Louis van Gaal, failed to adapt to this, and United paid the full price as a result.

RODGERS COULD YET BE REPLACD IF RESULTS DON’T PICK UP

Heading into the weekend, only Arsenal had taken more points in 2015 than Liverpool, yet the good-time feeling at Anfield has long deserted. Steven Gerrard has announced his departure at the end of the season, Raheem Sterling is refusing to commit his future and Daniel Sturridge may miss the remainder of the season, so the last thing that Rodgers will want to have seen is defeat in the FA Cup semi-final and a lacklustre draw with West Brom.

Mario Balotelli and Garath McAuley battle for possession (Getty Images)

Mario Balotelli, the £16m summer signing, was given a rare start against the Baggies, and promptly hauled off in the second half having failed to have made any impact whatsoever. Liverpool had 22 shots during the match, yet failed to convert any of them and now find themselves seven points behind fourth-placed United with a game in hand. With Jürgen Klopp is on the market, Rodgers needs results – and fast.

WHAT LEICESTER ARE ACHIEVING IS NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE

Nigel Pearson claimed all season that his side just needed a little bit of luck to go with their good performances, and a run of four consecutive wins – including Saturday’s crucial 1-0 win over Burnley – has shown exactly that. Had Matty Taylor converted his penalty for the Clarets, it could have been a very different story for Leicester, but as it was they broke down the other end of the Turf Moor pitch and Jamie Vardy struck home the winner to give them 12 points from 12.

Leicester celebrate Jamie Vardy's winner against Burnley (Getty Images)

With five games remaining and the Foxes sitting on 31 points, just two more wins might be enough to keep them safe and who’d have thought that was possible during the 13-games winless run earlier in the season. With matches against a dreadful Newcastle side and relegation rivals Sunderland and QPR, you’d now back them to survive the drop.

SAINTS AND SPURS LACK CUTTING EDGE WHICH HAS ELIMINATED THEM FROM TOP FOUR CONTENTION

The 2-2 draw on Mauricio Pochettino’s return to Southampton was entertaining in its own right, with Tottenham unable to stop Graziano Pelle from scoring and Saints unable to hold onto a lead. Yet when it came down to it, this is a game that both clubs should have been winning if they want to be considered realistic challengers for European football.

Erik Lamela celebrates getting Spurs level (Getty Images)

The problem is that with the clubs above them holding such significant financial firepower and squads that are already filled to the rafters with talented players, breaking into the top four is going to be a hugely difficult task in its own right. Failing to win these games simply an option, which then begs the question of how much further can Saints and Spurs go?

PREMIER LEAGUE SAFETY HAS SEEN PALACE LOSE THEIR HUNGER

Alan Pardew arrived at Selhurst Park, Crystal palace reeled off eight wins in 12 league games and another season of Premier League football was secured. Job done, right? Not quite, given that their Premier League safety has been quickly forgotten in the 2-0 defeats to West Brom nine days ago and against Hull this weekend.

Dame N'Doye scores for Hull (Getty Images)

After such a promising run of results which saw Glenn Murray at his disruptive best and wingers Yannick Bolasie and Wilfired Zaha taking on all-comers that challenged them, Palace had become quite an attractive team to watch. With games against Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool to come, it may be some time before they taste victory once again.

BELIEVE IS OR NOT BUT NEWCASTLE ARE INDEBTED TO PARDEW

Had Newcastle not stacked up 26 points before Alan Pardew began talks with Crystal Palace, they would be in much worse trouble than they are now. Since Pardew departed and John Carver took over in January this year, Newcastle have won just twice in the league and taken a measly nine points from a possible 45.

Former Newcastle manager Pardew on the sidelines for Palace

The 3-2 defeat to Swansea

at the weekend not only hands the Magpies their seventh straight loss, but sees them stranded on 35 points and yet to guarantee the Premier League survival. Oh how they miss Pardew, and who’d though we’d ever say that.