The Premier League offered another exciting weekend, and the title race is still up for grabs.
1. Quansah Could Lead Liverpool’s Defence For Years
This was a phenomenal Liverpool performance, and the quality and consistency of the players defending was extraordinary. It is almost insulting to the collective to single out any individual for credit and Jarell Quansah was certainly not seeking any when he told Sky after the game that he “didn’t have the perfect game but I’m striving to be good”.
There was one obvious mistake from him when he surrendered the ball to Julián Álvarez in the 57th minute.
A couple of highlights: controlling Erling Haaland’s run in the 35th minute and dancing through a few challenges in the 80th before sending in a low shot that was palmed away.
Quansah has played 24 times this season, enough to feel part of the group. But before this game, his Premier League starts had come against Luton, Burnley, Crystal Palace, and Wolves.
For him to produce such an assured display in a game of this importance is testament to his character and another demonstration of Jürgen Klopp’s almost peerless man-management.
2. Guardiola vs De Bruyne Clash Again
Kevin De Bruyne was unhappy about being substituted during the game against Liverpool. After the game, Pep Guardiola said: “I like it if he’s upset … he’ll have a chance next game to prove how wrong I was.”
Last May, De Bruyne had repeatedly told him to “shut up” during Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. Guardiola spoke about how much he enjoyed being challenged by the Belgian. “I love it when we shout at each other,” he said. “I like this energy. It’s not the first time – you don’t see, but he shouts at me in training.
After that, he becomes the best.” Such demonstrations of frustration in football are often assumed to be signs of disrespect.
But for Guardiola to sit next to a senior player mid-game, to treat his opinion with respect, seems a much more grown-up response – and another demonstration of his own, almost peerless man-management.
3. Brentford Must Improve To Avoid Relegation Battle
On the one hand, Brentford are on a desperate run: 11 defeats in their last 14 league games. When their fans started booing Thomas Frank during last week’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea, the sense from outsiders seemed to be one of surprise.
Frank has achieved great things with the club but no fanbase has infinite patience. On the other hand, that run has coincided with a clutch of injuries to key players.
The return of Ivan Toney from suspension hasn’t quite kickstarted a revival, that is at least in part down to the fixtures. Since he came back in the win over Nottingham Forest, Brentford have played Manchester City twice, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Arsenal.
They’ve lost all of them, but only Liverpool won comfortably. As the fixture list becomes a little kinder, the question over the remaining 10 games of the season is whether they have enough to stem the tide.
