With the Premier League title seemingly settled, Wolves’ 2-1 victory over Southampton further dimmed the survival hopes of the bottom three.
The season’s focus has now shifted to teams battling for European qualification spots. Only ten points separate Chelsea in fourth from Crystal Palace in tenth, with Palace holding a game in hand over several teams above them.
There are likely to be five Champions League spots available, with teams as low as eighth or ninth potentially securing a spot in European competition. This sets up an exciting conclusion, especially given the erratic form of those vying for these positions.
Despite the drama of the European race, the story of the week unfolded at Wembley. Newcastle United captured their first major honor in decades, defeating Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle’s win feels like a fairy tale for one of England’s biggest clubs, ending a streak of five lost finals. Their previous setbacks included consecutive FA Cup final defeats at the century’s end. However, given Newcastle’s ownership ties to a controversial regime, this victory is less of a Cinderella tale.
While Newcastle celebrated its historic triumph, the bigger story may be about the losers rather than the winners. Months ago, Liverpool appeared unstoppable, dominating the Premier League and excelling in the Champions League. Yet successive defeats to PSG and Newcastle ended what could have been a three-trophy season.
We shouldn’t overlook Arnie Slott’s remarkable achievement of leading Liverpool to the title in his first year. Still, the slim league lead and inconsistent rivals make many fans see winning only the league as anticlimactic.
Post-Christmas struggles and potential departures of key players—Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold—have created uncertainty about Liverpool’s long-term future.
Is Tiki-Taka Dead?
This weekend, there were two live matches: a lively Manchester City vs. Brighton draw and a dull Fulham vs. Tottenham game. Both matches, especially Fulham vs. Spurs, lacked creativity and penetration in the final third.
Notable exceptions included Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku, whose dynamic left-wing runs showcased a perfect mix of power and skill. Fulham’s Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz, despite limited minutes, caused more disruption than all other attacking players combined.
Both Doku and Muniz recalled the 1990s’ old-school attacking style. Doku stayed wide on the left, consistently challenging the right back without cutting inside or resetting with backward passes. Muniz added pace and physicality for Fulham, acting as an old-fashioned target man.
His strength helped him dominate the Spurs’ defense and position himself in the box to score the opening goal. Watching direct, fast, and decisive football was refreshing in an era dominated by passing from the back and high pressing.
While it may lack Tiki-Taka’s technical finesse, it is undeniably entertaining. Hopefully, more managers will feel inspired to innovate by revisiting these classic attacking principles.
Yep, we have one too
