‘Didn’t see it coming’: Spurs shock flips survival script; why Utd circus could finally end — Talking Pts

The script has been flipped at both ends of the Premier League table with north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham picked up vital wins.

The Gunners and Spurs now hold the upper hand in their respective title and relegation battles, but both have been cautioned about getting ahead of themselves with more twists and turned tipped to come.

Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

Old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool met at Old Trafford with the hosts completing their remarkable turnaround under interim boss Michael Carrick.

The former United skipper’s future remains unclear, however, despite receiving his strongest endorsement yet.

While defeat led to major concerns about the future for Liverpool as the reigning champions’ disappointing season nears the finish line.

Scroll down for the biggest talking points from the weekend’s English Premier League action!

‘DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING’: SPURS’ HAMMER BLOW IN RELEGATION FIGHT

Tottenham won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since the opening two matchdays of the season to climb out of the relegation zone.

West Ham’s 3-0 loss at Brentford on Sunday morning Australian time opened the door for Tottenham, and Roberto De Zerbi’s men barged through roughly 24 hours later.

Spurs produced an inspired performance away from home to down Aston Villa 2-1.

Unai Emery opted to make seven changes to the XI that lost 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest on Friday morning Australian time.

With a six-point buffer from sixth-placed Bournemouth and the chance to win a first European trophy in 44 years in front of them, Villa understandably had other priorities.

That did not take away from Tottenham’s performance, however.

They scraped past bottom of the table Wolves in their last outing with a late winner the only goal for the game.

But this time they raced out of the gates with two goals in the first 25 minutes via Conor Gallagher’s strike from outside the box to open his account for the club after crossing from Atletico Madrid and Richarlison’s header.

Spurs’ blistering start did not only catch Villa by surprise.

“That’s a huge result for Spurs. I didn’t see that coming,” former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said on the BBC.

“Villa were poor, but right from the start Spurs absolutely made the most of it with their desire and intensity.

“They were exceptional in how they set up, they were really brave.

“Every time we make a prediction, we get it wrong - but West Ham have got it all to do.

“Spurs have maybe got a bit of momentum and they have set their standard. De Zerbi deserves a lot of credit. None of his players hid and he has given them that confidence.”

READ MORE

PL Wrap — Spurs stunner! Relegation battle takes HUGE twist; Slot rages as Utd controversy erupts

‘Completely gutted’: Hollywood star’s Wrexham’s dream shattered in $250m reality

Whispers — Aussie linked with record $32.5m PL move as Euro clubs circle

The Premier League greatest ever goal scorer Alan Shearer then weighed in by saying: “They won every single tackle, every single second ball and they took the risk out of their game by not playing from the back in certain circumstances.

“You need every single player at it when in desperate trouble and Spurs had that. It has been a terrible weekend for West Ham.”

The Hammers dropped back to 18th where they have languished for much of the season.

They are only one point behind Tottenham, but with league leaders Arsenal coming to the London Stadium next and Spurs playing Leeds at home, the north London club are firmly in the driver’s seat.

West Ham could feel hard done by after their loss to Brentford, however.

VAR was front and centre throughout the contest.

Konstantinos Mavropanos was unfortunate not to be awarded a free-kick as he turned the ball into his own net to give Brentford their first goal.

Moments later the Greek defender thought he had equalised with a thunderous header, but it was ruled outside for a slight offside in the build up.

West Ham fans were also up in arms when the Bees’ Dango Ouattara awarded a penalty, but penalty shouts on Tomas Soucek and Pablo Felipe went unheard.

Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg told Hammers News that the later was a clear blunder by VAR.

“West Ham could and should have had a penalty for a foul on Pablo Felipe inside the penalty box.

“Even though the Brentford defender slips while challenging the ball, he makes a clear contact on his opponent creating a trip which is a foul. If the defender slips while not challenging for the ball and the attacker creates the contact then I can understand why a penalty would not be given.”

West Ham captain Jarred Bowen lamented a day of near misses post-game.

“We had chances, we hit the post twice, we hit the bar and we hit the post again,” Bowen told Sky Sports. “It’s really disappointing. We had good opportunities.

“On another day we would have got the win. We have done a lot of good things.”

Even though Tottenham now have the upper hand and fortune was on their side this weekend, De Zerbi is not getting carried away.

Spurs have not won at home since December with their £1 billion stadium being flooded with unhappy memories.

Leeds are also unbeaten in the last six league matches and will be a tricky opponent.

While Chelsea (at Stamford Bridge) and Everton both have European places to play for.

“I am very happy for the performance, we won a great game against a great Aston Villa,” De Zerbi said. “They had to play Thursday, a very important game for them, but this is always very tough playing against (Unai) Emery, against this Villa in this stadium.

“For that I am really pleased, it was a good performance with the ball, without the ball. Without the ball we showed great courage and we showed great qualities.

“I am happy for this type of performance more than three points. We are one point more than West Ham but the most important thing is to play a great game and believe more and more in ourselves and believe in our qualities.

“The crucial thing now is keeping our head of what was the situation before the Wolverhampton game. This is the most important memory to keep in our head.

“In football it is very easy to change, if you lose, you are stupid. If you win, you are a champion. No, you have to find a balance. We have to work this week because Leeds is a very tough game. We have to remember in ourselves what we have done in the past.”

‘YOU WANT TO DIE FOR HIM’: UNITED BOSS’ BIG ENDORSEMENT

Manchester United completed their emphatic turnaround by sealing a Champions League return next season with a 3-2 victory against old rivals Liverpool in a thriller at Old Trafford.

United were 2-0 up after 14 minutes, but Liverpool drew level with two goals shortly after half time.

Kobbie Mainoo was then the hero with a 77th strike proving to be the winner.

The 21-year-old midfielder having that moment in front of his home fans was symbolic in more ways than one.

Last week, the England international committed to United with a new five-year deal, reportedly worth roughly £150,000 per week.

While he has also been a poster boy for a player who has turned their fortunes around under interim manager Michael Carrick after being out of favour under previous boss Ruben Amorim.

Post-game, Mainoo gave Carrick perhaps the best endorsement yet that he should receive the job permanently.

“You want to follow him. You want to fight for him. You want to die for him on the pitch. We showed that today,” Mainoo told Sky Sports of Carrick.

The former United skipper has passed just about every test thrown at him since he stepped in to the role in January.

The Red Devils are third on the table, six points clear of fourth placed Liverpool, having been sixth and in danger of missing the Champions League places when Amorim was sacked.

It has also helped Carrick’s credentials that he has overseen victories at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge, while also winning at home against Manchester City and Liverpool.

Premier League legend Alan Shearer believes Carrick “deserves a chance”, but former United enforcer Roy Keane believes there are still many cracks at Old Trafford.

“You could’ve been critical of United for giving up that goal threat. But even at the back, there still felt like there was some calmness. If anyone was going to win, it would be United,” Keane told Sky Sports.

“United are also lucky that there was no Salah or any of Liverpool’s top strikers on the pitch because they’d have felt up for that.

“We’ve seen the best and worst of United. They scored three goals. But they lost momentum. At half-time you’re thinking you want to see a complete United performance. Not bits and bobs. They gifted the goals. There are worries for United. That’s the bigger picture when competing for the Champions League.”

READ MORE

PL Wrap — ‘Diabolical’ twist in relegation fight as Spurs handed lifeline; Arsenal fire back in title race

‘Pretty special’: Kerr’s record-breaking feat as Chelsea mystery looms Hollywood A-listers and $2m contracts: The power struggle behind Kerr’s blockbuster decision

Keane also addressed rumours that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola will be United’s next manager.

The Spaniard announced last month that he has not signed a new contract with the Cherries after a three-year spell in the south of England, but it remains unknown where he is headed next.

Keane is not so sure that it should be United.

“I’m not sure if he’s done enough yet,” the former United captain told Sky Sports. “I’m sure United are looking at him, his contract is up. But could I see him coming to Man Utd? Probably not.

“It depends on the remit, the remit at Bournemouth is different to Man Utd. At Man Utd they threaten to win titles but [at Bournemouth] it is keep winning matches while you sell players and bring in the revenue.

“There is a different pressure at Bournemouth to Man Utd. Would he be an option? I don’t know. You’ve asked me if I see him coming to Man Utd, maybe not.

“But he has done an amazing job.”

Carrick remains the overwhelming favourite to get the gig, but the man himself is reluctant to discuss it.

“You can still add a few layers in the next couple of weeks, so we’ll begin with that!” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s not about what I like or what I do not like. It’s not in my control. Everything has gone so well, we know the situation and where we are.

“I am happy with where we are at the moment and we still want to get better. Let’s see what happens next.

“At this moment in time, it’s not something I am thinking about.”

‘BLOWN UP IN THEIR FACE’: LIVERPOOL GREAT RAISES RED FLAGS

On the flip side, it was a disappointing day out for Liverpool.

Reds manager Arne Slot was fuming with VAR after what appeared to be a handball by Benjamin Sesko in the lead up to the Slovenian scoring United’s second goal.

But Liverpool great Jamie Carragher believes the Dutch manager has bigger issues to worry about.

The Reds have now lost 11 games in the league and 19 in all competitions - their most in a season this century.

After starting the campaign with five straight wins after winning the title last season, the decline has been drastic.

Liverpool spent big in the summer, but have been unable to find the right formula with a new-look squad.

Carragher is worried that they may not find the solution anytime soon.

“Am I worried about where Liverpool are going? Yeah, I am,” Carragher said.

“I think it will be really interesting who Liverpool buy in the summer, what the profile of player will be. Going for just good players hasn’t worked, it’s blown up in their face. There’s a lack of physicality.

“We’re in a situation now where we look at the teams who are looking for a manager: Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea.

“Those three clubs we just mentioned sacked their managers midway through the season. They ended up with [Alvaro] Arbeloa whose never managed before, [Michael] Carrick who had been at Middlesbrough and young [Liam] Rosenior which it was too big a jump.

“Maybe those big managers aren’t around at the moment, those figures aren’t available. Xabi Alonso is the one that’s making Liverpool fans think: ‘We don’t want to miss out on him’.

“We can’t be a club who continue for the next five or 10 years saying, ‘Oh, we want Jurgen Klopp football’.

“The fella is a genius. He does football better than anybody. So whatever manager is going to come in, he’s going to play his football.

“The worry is not that there’s no identity. That is the identity.

“So it’s on the manager’s shoulders. And I go back to last year when Liverpool didn’t sign anybody, but the one player he wanted was Martin Zubimendi again, another technical footballer.

“I’m not saying that doesn’t work. The most successful team in the Premier League over the last 10 years have been a technical football team, but we’re going away from what Jurgen Klopp was, because this manager wants that.

“This is where he’s taken this team. And that’s the worry for me, is this actually going to go more of the other way?

“Or are we thinking Liverpool needs to go back to last season? Or is Arne Slot thinking, ‘No, we actually need more technical footballers?’”

‘ARSENAL ARE FAVOURITES’: GUNNERS FLIP TITLE SCRIPT

Sitting six points clear on top with two games in hand, suddenly Arsenal have turned the pressure onto Manchester City in the title race.

The Gunners passed their most recent test at home with a commanding 3-0 win against Fulham.

After City went ahead with victory at the already relegated Burnley, Arsenal have responded strongly by seeing off Newcastle and Fulham at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s side are now in the driver’s seat as City head to Everton on Tuesday morning Australian time.

Former England, Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes Arsenal are now best-placed to end their 22-year title drought.

“This Man City team can blow teams away, but what Arsenal have done is flipped the pressure. Anything can still happen, but I think Arsenal are favourites,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports.

“For Man City, the Bournemouth fixture is going to be Andoni Iraola’s last home game so there’s going to be a celebration there and Bournemouth will want to put on a bit of a show,” he added.

“Everton away against a David Moyes side is always going to be difficult, and Brentford are going for Europe.

“If it goes to goal difference, I look at the games Arsenal have got as a big advantage. There’s a game that really shouts at me and it’s Burnley at home.

“If we work on the basis that both teams are perfect and win their remaining games, if Arsenal can’t beat Burnley 3-0 or 4-0 and get their goal difference up... That’s a big opportunity.”

With City have six games to play - five in the league as well as the FA Cup final against Chelsea - former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes Pep Guardiola’s men will need to produce something extraordinary to win the league.

“If Arsenal win their next three Premier League matches, Man City will have to pull up trees,” he said.

“With the FA Cup final, they will always be playing catch up between now and the end of the season - unless they win big against Everton and Brentford, and they can swing it around where Arsenal are playing catch-up and the goal difference becomes a lot.

“Otherwise, they’re always going to be chasing their tail and it takes its toll in the end - knowing you’ve just got to win this game just to stay on the tails.

“The easiest game they’ve got to come is against Aston Villa. They will already be in the top five, that’s cemented. They could have played in the Europa League final on the Wednesday before.

“That could be their goal difference game.”

Click here to read article