Premier League: Ten things we learned from this weekend’s action – from Liverpool to Paul Pogba

Liverpool extended their lead at the top while it was a potentially decisive weekend of football towards the bottom of the table too with last-gasp wins for struggling sides Fulham and Cardiff

A Roberto Firmino hat-trick helped Liverpool ease past top four contenders Arsenal with a 5-1 win, reminding everyone exactly why they are now favourites for the title.

It was a potentially decisive weekend of football towards the bottom of the table too with last-gasp wins for struggling sides Fulham and Cardiff.

So what did we learn from all the Premier League action?

Liverpool have the look of champions

Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Reds are looking unstoppable and head into 2019 top of the pile, seven points clear of Manchester City, after seeing off Arsenal within an hour.

What was most impressive about Liverpool was their display of mental strength. With half the season complete, no one can possibly doubt the quality they possess with an attacking front three as good as any in the world. However, with most their wins coming in such dominant style, some may still have had questions over their mental toughness – yet Liverpool addressed these concerns this weekend.

They trailed after 11 minutes, which was the first time they had been behind at Anfield since 30 December last year. Instead of heads dropping, Klopp’s men swarmed forwards and within five minutes they found themselves ahead. There’s still a very long way to go, but the mental strength and incredible resilience put on display was worthy of champions in waiting.

Spurs’ title credentials take a big hit

Tottenham missed the opportunity to continue applying pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table after conceding three goals in the second half despite being in front at half-time. The result means Mauricio Pochettino’s side now drop to third in the table. What stood out in Saturday’s game was Tottenham’s lack of energy and creativity in the second half, in which they failed to register even a single shot on target.

Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Christian Eriksen were unable to stamp their authority and Pochettino’s attempt at creating a spark, through bringing on Lucas Moura, made little difference.

Tottenham have some massive fixtures coming up, with games against Chelsea and Manchester United fast approaching and if they are serious about mounting a title challenge – which is all but over – they cannot afford any more costly slip-ups.

Everton leak again

Everton continue to bounce in and out of the top 10 but still find themselves only five points off Manchester Utd and the top six. Yet Saturday’s 1-0 loss away to Brighton further highlighted their defensive weaknesses, with Marco Silva’s side failing to keep a clean sheet in their last seven league games.

Everton’s back four, consisting of Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Kurt Zouma and the goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, allowed Tottenham to run riot a couple of weeks ago, conceding six goals. The week before they let Manchester City put three past them with ease.

Silva possesses some fantastic individual talent but with the January transfer window fast approaching, will we see the club invest in some much-needed defensive additions?

Mitrovic showing his importance for Fulham

With just minutes remaining, it looked like Fulham had thrown away their opportunity to snatch the three points after Aboubakar Kamara missed his controversial penalty, but up stepped their main man Aleksandar Mitrovic to save them late on. The win puts pressure on the sides above them in the table and grants Mitrovic with yet another goal.

So far this season, Fulham have scored 18 goals, eight of which have come from Mitrovic. His importance cannot be overstated as they seek to stay in the league, and Fulham fans will be hoping to see some new attacking faces in the January transfer window, with their team seemingly far too reliant on goals from their lone striker.

Before Saturday, the Serbian attacker hadn’t scored in six consecutive matches, with his side failing to win any of those games. Claudio Ranieri will now be counting on him to rediscover his early-season form.

Cardiff doing enough to defy the odds

With the resources he has at his disposal, it’s fair to say that so far Neil Warnock has done a good job at Cardiff. Saturday’s last-minute winner, thanks to Victor Camarasa, means the Bluebirds sit in 16th place but only four points off the relegation places.

Victor Camarasa celebrates his stunning late strike (Getty Images)

The Welsh side were expected to vastly strengthen over the summer but the players that arrived came up from lower leagues, with Harry Arter the only signing with top-flight experience. As a result, they were quickly tipped by many to go down in last place, but with half the season complete they are showing that they have what it takes to survive.

It is very tight at the bottom with at least six teams battling to pull away from the danger zone. What we learned this weekend is that Cardiff are definitely willing to fight, and have just enough flashes of quality to rack up the points to survive.

Doucoure delivers once more

Abdoulaye Doucoure saved his side from the jaws of defeat against Newcastle on Saturday, helping Watford climb to ninth in the table.

It’s been a great start to the season for the playmaker and his impressive performances in the middle of the park, which have earnt him three goals and five assists, have caught the eye of some of the biggest clubs.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are all said to be tracking the 25-year-old Frenchman as well as Ligue 1 giants PSG. The question is… is he ready to step up a level?

The stats illustrate the influence he has on the whole side, with seven big chances so far this season coming directly from him. The impact he creates and the creativity he possesses should show that he is capable of playing at a higher level and should maybe be given a chance to impress at a bigger club.

Sides like Tottenham and Arsenal with slightly less squad depth in the midfield could definitely welcome a player like Doucoure, who’s capable of scoring goals as well as creating chances for any team.

Chelsea scrape the three points… again

A second half goal from N’Golo Kante helped Chelsea beat Crystal Palace and secure their place in the top four, with five points now separating them and Arsenal. The victory didn’t come easily though with a handful of chances falling Palace’s way late on.

This style of Chelsea victory has become a common one of late, with Maurizio Sarri’s side recently failing to win games comfortably. As they say, a win is a win, but Chelsea are struggling to capitalise when taking the lead unlike league leaders Liverpool who showed exactly how to do it.

Chelsea’s last three victories have all been by one goal and you get the feeling that their luck might eventually run out, with sides often threatening them late on.

Kante scored Chelsea's winner (Getty)

Fernandinho has been sorely missed

Fernandinho made his return on Sunday and helped his side to an important 3-1 win over Southampton, setting City up nicely to face Liverpool on Thursday. The Brazilian’s last appearance came in their 3-1 win over Everton but since his injury the side have drastically lacked creativity and control in midfield, which can only be a result of his unavailability.

In Sunday’s game alone, Fernandinho had a 75% pass success rate, won three aerial duals completed two dribbles.

Despite the recent blip, there seems to be some light at the end of what has been a dark Christmas tunnel with multiple players soon to return. Fernandinho, who has averaged 74 passes per match so far this campaign, is now back and last season’s PFA Premier League Team of the Year midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has also recently returned to fitness after six weeks out.

Wood fighting for a regular spot

New Zealand international Chris Wood contributed to his side’s 2-0 win over an in-form West Ham side with five wins in their last six matches under their belt prior to Sunday’s game.

Wood has failed to start every week for Burnley with direct competition coming from fellow strikers Sam Vokes and Matej Vydra. He has so far failed to recreate the fantastic form he enjoyed during his time at Championship club Leeds Utd with only two Premier League goals to his name this season despite playing in 20 games, either as a starter or sub.

Manager Sean Dyche will be fully aware that if he can find a way to get Wood, who holds a massive aerial threat, firing Burnley’s results will improve, in turn helping them climb the table.

Pogba flourishing since Jose dismissal

It wasn’t the world’s best kept secret that Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho weren’t best of friends during their time spent together at Manchester United. It seemed Mourinho was never able to find a way of bring out the best version of Pogba, which was clear for all to see at the 2018 World Cup in which he led France to victory.

Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over just over a week ago, Pogba has noticeably improved with four goals and three assists in just three games. He looked as confident as ever on Sunday and scored two goals and managed one assist.

United fans will be praying that the Frenchman can keep his form going because he has now contributed towards three wins on the bounce, leaving just eight points between them and a top four spot.