Manchester United can win the title, Arsenal show their mettle at Stoke, Jonjo Shelvey fits the bill for Newcastle
Seven things we learned: The difference between David De Gea and Simon Mignolet is the reason why United seem more likely to at least qualify for the Champions League, Leicester's confidence lets them down at Villa Park, Sunderland can stay up - so long as they continue to focus on beating the sides around them
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Van Gaal is right, United can win the title
As Louis van Gaal, the Manchester United manager, stumbles from one crisis to another at Old Trafford, his beleaguered side have been enjoying somewhat of a transformation.
Seven points from nine since the 0-0 draw with Chelsea at the turn of the New Year, a match many thought was destined to be the Dutchman’s last, has thrust the Red Devils back into contention.
The dour possession-obsessed style, before Sunday’s smash-and-grab victory at Anfield at least, has been scrapped for a more ad-hoc, counter-attacking approach.
It is no coincidence that this phenomenon has coincided with the revival of Wayne Rooney, following the England captain’s supposed slide into mediocrity.
On a weekend which saw Arsenal and Leicester City drop points, the picture currently looks brighter for Van Gaal. Mission impossible suddenly seems infinitely probable.
“Today is very important because our competitors have lost points,” said the 64-year-old. “The gap is seven points. We can overcome that so that's what I'm thinking about.”
Red Devils’ Merseyside stranglehold is in safe hands
Given the choice between paying to watch United’s often joyless football or Jürgen Klopp’s frenetic, madcap Liverpool, most neutrals would select the latter.
Yet it is their old foes, who so love to remind them of their Premier League title draught, who seem most likely to climb into the Champions League qualification spots at the expense of either Arsenal, Leicester, Manchester City or Tottenham.
The reason was as clear as day as embattled Anfield regulars trudged down into the concourses on Sunday afternoon, humbled for the fourth time in a row by United.
David De Gea, who some Real Madrid fans even have printed on the backs of their shirts at the Santiago Bernabéu, yet again delivered a match-winning display.
The Spaniard knows the drill. In these uncertain times he is most likely to face more shots on goal than his opposite number. Simon Mignolet, much maligned for the Reds this term, ultimately blinked first as De Gea held firm yet again.
Arsenal walk the walk at the Britannia
Arsene Wenger, the Gunners manager, has talked the talk often this year. This could be the season his side step up and win the title, he says.
It’s been just shy of 12 seasons since the Frenchman held the Premier League trophy aloft at Highbury. Two FA Cup triumphs may appease some supporters for now.
But the third-round starting line-ups of Spurs and Leicester, both with their eyes on loftier goals, confirmed the competition’s status as a mere diversion from what really matters.
Stoke served up their usual blend of tenacious endeavour and tireless industry at the Britannia this weekend - alongside the more recent sprinkle of stardust.
While hardly a vintage display from his side, Wenger knew the stalemate in the Potteries represented progress at full-time. His words were not spin, as they are often liable to be.
“It was an old-fashioned Stoke battle. They made the game very physical, the crowd were up for it, the players were up for it,” he said.
“They went for a very direct game and we had to show physical response, solidarity, fighting spirit, togetherness - which is what we did.”
Leicester’s swagger lets them down
As Riyad Mahrez stepped up to take his penalty at Villa Park, moments after Shinji Okazaki’s typically bundled-in opener had given them the lead, something was amiss.
Leicester have previously showed the focus and drive of a hawk in the throes of stalking its prey. But the Algerian’s casual spot-kick, combined with the hands-on-hips attitude of his team-mates on the edge of the area was something new.
It’s understandable, at least, as the Foxes must feel invincible at the moment. Every set-back is responded to with a resounding statement of intent. Two points from nine – against Liverpool, City and Bournemouth – were put right by the 1-0 success at Spurs.
Had Mahrez been able to bury his first-half penalty at Aston Villa, Remi Garde’s men would surely have crept back into their shells and accepted a 15th League defeat of the season. Leicester would have been two points clear on Monday morning.
It wasn’t to be, though, as Rudy Gestede’s arrowed equaliser earned the Villains a deserved point. Claudio Ranieri, the Foxes boss, refused to be drawn on criticism on his side and instead upped the ante.
The Italian said: “We achieved 39 points from the first half of the season and we want to improve. Our next target is 40 more points from the second half. I know it is very difficult and ambitious but why not?”
City affirm their dominance
There’s a simple reason why Manuel Pellegrini’s side continue to lead the betting to win the title this year – irrespective of form or recent performances.
Simply put, Manchester City appear to have the strongest side, pound-for-pound, in the top-flight this season. That’s why their stuttering form is so invariably frustrating.
Goalless draws with Leicester and Everton have stunted an otherwise impressive Christmas period for the Chilean, characterised by their emphatic late comeback at Watford.
While the 4-0 dismantling of Crystal Palace at the Etihad this weekend owed more to the abysmal showing of Alan Pardew’s men, City duly took advantage and romped their way back into the title race.
Now just a solitary point between Messrs Wenger and Ranieri, Pellegrini completes a trio which proves how important a senior manager can be when it comes to challenging at the top.
With Sergio Agüero back to his best and David Silva dancing his way around even the sternest of defences again, put your money on City to brush off the cobwebs in 2016.
McClaren gets his man in Jonjo
Something felt different at full-time at St James’ Park, following the 2-1 win against West Ham, as Steve McClaren trundled into the press room and prepared for questions from the media.
The former England and Derby County boss, peculiarly, had a smile on his face - one put there by the exploits of Jonjo Shelvey. The Magpies have been crying out for a player of Shelvey’s quality for what must feel like millennia in that corner of the country.
Back in the summer, as Newcastle parted with upwards of £50m on new talent, McClaren was somewhat reserved when discussing the deals in public.
While it was just guesswork, some assumed the 54-year-old had little say in the decision to take Aleksandar Mitrović, Georginio Wijnaldum and Chancel Mbemba to the Toon. Even the most cynical of fans, though, can’t say the same about Shelvey.
“The board have done very well to secure his (Shelvey) services,” a delighted McClaren said. “We didn’t think it was possible, but I’m delighted that he’s signed. He’s always impressed me.
“We played against them [Swansea] early in the season and he caught the eye that day, and we’ve watched him a lot since. We said in the summer that that was the type of midfield player that we wanted.”
Two steps back for Big Sam
It was always going to be a tough, bordering on miserable, trip to the capital for Sunderland.
Things had started to look up for Sam Allardyce’s Black Cats after two consecutive victories, against Villa and Swansea, put them on the cusp of safety. Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane soon ripped that dangling carrot from under their noses at the Lane.
It’s a cliché stamped into football folklore but these are not the sort of matches which will decide Sunderland’s fate. The six points pocketed previously show why Allardyce has every chance of keeping his ramshackle side up.
Patrick van Aanholt put them ahead before the break. It took just two minutes, however, for their defence to gape wide enough to let the Spurs onslaught begin in earnest.
The Sunderland boss said: “If we came in at half-time 1-0 up we could have built on that. It was a really sloppy thing to do. We ran out of legs in the end.”
Bournemouth are up next at the Stadium of Light before clashes with City, Liverpool and United. Calling next weekend’s clash a must-win may seem premature but, on 18 points, there's a long way to go if they're to reach the coveted 40-point safety line.
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