Explosive Performances by Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold Dominate Premier League Headlines as Man Utd's Road Woes Continue

Rice delivers but more to come from £105m star

"Big matches for big players."

Declan Rice produced a crucial display in an Arsenal jersey, offering fans a promising glimpse into future memorable moments. The midfielder's extraordinary contribution in the latter stages ensured a thrilling 3-1 triumph over Manchester United.

"Magnificent display by Rice," remarked Gunners manager Mikel Arteta. "His role as a defensive midfielder involves asserting control and disrupting the opponent's play. He excelled in that aspect, showcasing dominance. Furthermore, he delivered a moment of brilliance that secured our victory. Possessing such quality and composure is vital, and he exemplified it."

His goal will undoubtedly be the highlight, despite his remarkable performance in midfield. There has been a demand for the England player to score more goals, and Arteta is confident that there is more to come from this talented new addition. "With his remarkable technical skills and his ability to deliver in crucial moments, whether it be a long-range shot with either foot or perfectly timed runs, his goal-scoring potential will be determined by his positioning, but he definitely possesses the talent to achieve that."

Arsenal had eagerly anticipated this moment. As the final whistle blew, "Rice Rice Baby" blared throughout the stadium, and a large crowd of fans eagerly awaited Rice's arrival for his post-match interview with We. When he finally emerged, he was warmly greeted like a hero.

These were the type of games and moments Rice had left West Ham for, and as a £105m midfielder, he surely hoped this was merely the beginning.

I have started life at Arsenal well but I have so much more I can do.

Away day blues holding Ten Hag's Reds back

Keane perceived the team's character and personality as severely flawed when they played outside of their familiar home ground at Old Trafford. Following Arsenal's 10th defeat against Manchester United, Ten Hag promptly stood up for his team, refuting such criticisms. He defended their performance, highlighting the adverse decisions they faced and remained adamant that they were making progress to reverse that record. It all comes down to narrow margins.

However, until Manchester United begins to consistently win against top teams away from home, their potential for success is limited. The pattern is evident, as their losses against Tottenham and Arsenal this season highlight, despite their occasional strong performances. The inability to triumph against strong opponents on their own turf is a crucial attribute that champions must possess, and it presents a significant challenge for Ten Hag to resolve if he aims to attain success.

Playmaking masterclass from Trent

In possession, Aston Villa's opposition players typically hesitate to press the centre-backs and instead focus on obstructing potential passing lanes. However, their strategy backfired during the match at Anfield against Liverpool. The reason being, Liverpool employed a clever tactical adjustment by moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into the central defensive role, which granted him the freedom to survey the entirety of Anfield and effortlessly deliver accurate passes over Villa's high defensive line.

Operating alongside Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Luis Diaz as wide receivers, he skillfully aimed balls into that area, leading to an unstoppable performance by Liverpool, particularly in the first half. Out of his 69 successful passes, he expertly placed twenty beyond Villa's backline, and eight of those resulted in creating scoring opportunities for his teammates inside the Villa box.

Before halftime, Alexander-Arnold orchestrated five chances, contributing an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai's goal. Additionally, it was his well-executed long pass that set Salah free, enabling him to find Nunez, whose shot struck the post and ultimately led to Matty Cash's own goal.

Jurgen Klopp - and Gareth Southgate for that matter - will be hoping the hamstring injury suffered that triggered his substitution isn't too serious.Lewis Jones

Palace thriving under Hodgson

Roy Hodgson got the hairdryer out at half-time.

"I made certain people had to buck up their ideas," he said.

Crystal Palace failed to meet the expectations they had established under Hodgson in the first half against Wolves.

Since Hodgson's return in March, Palace has only been surpassed by Manchester City in terms of average shots per Premier League match, while also facing fewer shots.

With their 76-year-old manager at the helm, they have accumulated an impressive 25 points from 14 games, having suffered a mere three losses. Only Liverpool and City have fared better in terms of losses.

Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze continues to thrive, with Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta finally living up to their promising potential.

It may have seemed like a backward step for Palace to reappoint him, but he appears to be the best man for the job and a perfect short-term solution.David Richardson