Man City's Attacking Woes at Arsenal and Liverpool's Costly Errors: Premier League Hits and Misses
Man City's attacking woes exposed at Arsenal while Liverpool's defensive errors continue at Brighton Newcastle's lack of squad depth highlighted again Wolves' Hee-Chan Hwang shines as a rising star Title hopes for Liverpool depend on error reduction
Do shot-shy Man City have cause for concern in attack?
The stat was startling. Man City's total of four shots against Arsenal was the fewest by a Pep Guardiola side in over 13 years.
City only mustered one shot on target throughout the entire game, which occurred five minutes in when Josko Gvardiol made an attempt that was cleared off the line by Declan Rice. Although David Raya appeared apprehensive in the Arsenal goal, City posed minimal threat to him. It was an atypical display from City, as they struggled with cohesion and effectiveness in the attacking third.
City supporters would have anticipated better performance with Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Julian Alvarez on the field. The absence of Kevin De Bruyne in a game like this is significant. Additionally, Jack Grealish, who has not fully recovered from his own injury, was unable to provide the desired impact from the bench. Moreover, Rodri's suspension, which hampers City's control and goal-scoring capability, contributes to the argument that City's attacking prowess can improve swiftly in the upcoming weeks. Overall, this situation cannot be considered a crisis.
Newcastle's squad shows its limitations again
Despite playing only eight games, City has been outscored by five teams in the Premier League. Furthermore, Haaland has contributed only one goal in five games. In order to compete with the formidable challengers for their crown, City must rediscover their offensive rhythm, especially with a challenging run of fixtures scheduled consecutively after the international break.Newcastle's inability to find their rhythm after their monumental victory was predictable. However, during Sunday's 2-2 draw against West Ham, the Magpies seemed noticeably fatigued for significant portions of the match. Their pace was woefully insufficient in the first half at the London Stadium, a stark contrast to the jubilation witnessed during their remarkable 4-1 triumph against PSG on Wednesday.
"We weren't performing at our best," confessed Eddie Howe. Finally, there was a glimmer of hope as Alexander Isak, their standout player throughout the match, seized control by scoring two goals in quick succession to give them the lead. Playing becomes simpler when you're in a winning position.
However, Howe's team faces certain restrictions. Although their squad size has increased compared to last season, it is still far from the level of Chelsea's squad in the 2022/2023 season. In the absence of Anthony Gordon or Harvey Barnes, Elliot Anderson started on the left side of the forward line and encountered challenges.
Only one alteration occurred following the PSG victory: Gordon's absence, which highlighted the limited room for rotation in Howe's starting line-up without compromising its quality. Facing a West Ham team experiencing their best beginning to a Premier League season, it's understandable that he would opt to retain his top players on the field.
Hwang taking centre stage for Wolves
Newcastle's weariness resurfaced in the latter stages, resulting in a crucial error that enabled Vladimir Coufal to advance and deliver a pass to Mohammed Kudus... Consequently, West Ham prevented Newcastle from securing a fourth consecutive victory.After delivering the decisive goal against Manchester City in the previous weekend, which halted the champions' flawless beginning to the Premier League season, Hee-Chan Hwang once again showcased his talent for Wolves at Molineux. Aston Villa, the West Midlands rivals, became the latest casualties to fall victim to the player whom Pep Guardiola infamously referred to as "the Korean guy" prior to City's unexpected loss.
Hwang's rise to fame has been undeniable. The 27-year-old has been delivering sensational performances for Wolves, showcasing his exceptional skills. With his distinctive finish, Hwang gave his team the lead against Villa, adding to his impressive tally of six goals in all competitions this season. This is quite a transformation compared to his previous two campaigns, where he only managed to score nine times after joining from RB Leipzig in 2021.
Notably, Hwang has become the first Wolves player to contribute directly to a goal in five consecutive Premier League home games. He has become the shining star for Gary O'Neil's team, and undoubtedly, his performances will play a significant role in determining Wolves' final position in May.
Title challenge only possible if Liverpool cut out errors
Liverpool have revelled in doing things the hard way this season, conceding the opening goal in seven of their 11 games in all competitions.
Klopp's team deserves credit for winning five out of the seven matches, but their ability to bounce back can only get them to a certain extent. Despite being reduced to nine players and falling victim to a notorious VAR error, Liverpool performed exceptionally well to almost secure a draw against Tottenham last week. Nevertheless, they ultimately departed north London without earning any points.
Liverpool appeared to be heading for another comeback victory at Brighton thanks to Mohamed Salah. However, they once again failed to hold onto the lead, conceding a sloppy free-kick and then failing to adequately defend it.
While this season Liverpool seems to be in a stronger position to mount a serious title challenge compared to the previous year, Jurgen Klopp understands that finishing above Manchester City will require eliminating their own avoidable mistakes.
