Premier League: Gameweek 23 talking points

• This weekend’s Premier League schedule has several major matches, including a title-race matchup between Arsenal and Liverpool in North London.
• We look at major talking points before the Premier League weekend.

This weekend’s Premier League schedule has several major matches, including a title-race matchup between Arsenal and Liverpool in North London.

We look at major talking points before the Premier League weekend.

Brighton’s poor form

Luton scored the first goal after just three minutes of play against Brighton. Photo/ Supersport

Brighton lost 4-0 against Luton on Tuesday, as they put on their worst display of the Roberto De Zerbi tenure. The Italian head coach of the Seagulls is still being connected to jobs at Barcelona and Liverpool, but if he wants to stay in the picture with elite teams, his performance needs to improve.

In seven Premier League games, Brighton has only managed one victory, and they have already lost three straight games without scoring. The Seagulls’ offensive output has decreased in advance of their matchup with Crystal Palace this weekend.

Brighton’s creative spark has diminished due to the loss of Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Ansu Fati, Julio Enciso, and Solly March; nevertheless, wastefulness has also played a role. Since January 1, no team has underperformed more in terms of Expected Goals (zero goals from an xG of 4.54) than this one.

In eight Premier League games, Evan Ferguson has failed to score, and Joao Pedro, despite his recent accolades, has only scored three goals in the league this year through open play.

Rasmus Hojlund on fire

Rasmus Holjund. Photo/Planet Football

This season at Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund has had more of a baptism of fire than most. After just one season and nine goals in a top-tier European league, he signed a £72 million contract. With no veteran center-forward of stability at Old Trafford, the focus was on the summer signing.

Hojlund failed to establish himself in the league, but he made an impression during the Champions League group stage. On his fifteenth appearance, he scored his first Premier League goal; nevertheless, since then, he has shown a discernible improvement.

Hojlund, who also scored in the FA Cup victory at Newport Country, made it three straight Premier League outings with a goal when he bundled a close-range goal against Wolves in midweek.

In his previous five games, he has contributed to six goals, and he seems to have a strong rapport with Marcus Rashford. Ten Hag will be thrilled to see his striker starting to show signs of progress after witnessing his club struggle to score goals all season.

Will Arsenal be able to handle Jota?

The Arsenal supporters are tired of seeing Diogo Jota.

The attacker, who has been a consistent pain in the Gunners’ side in previous seasons, will want to build on his impressive record this weekend at the Emirates.

Jota has eight goals in 14 career games versus the North Londoners, although he has only scored five goals in his five prior outings for Liverpool against Arsenal across all competitions. The Portugal international, who has led Liverpool’s attack in Mohamed Salah’s absence with five goals in five games, is coming to Arsenal this weekend in excellent form.

Liverpool leads the Premier League standings going into their match against Arsenal, with a five-point margin over the Gunners in third place. Another victory at the Emirates would be extremely important for the Reds’ chances of winning the championship, both mathematically and mentally, after they triumphed at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round last month.

Brentford look to upset the Champions

During the club’s treble-winning season the previous year, Manchester City swept practically everyone in their path, although Brentford presented challenges for Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team.

The Bees defeated the triple champions 2-1 at the Etihad and 1-0 at home to become just the fifth team to accomplish a league double over Guardiola’s City squad. They were the only team to do so the previous season.

The latter of those victories came in a deadlock on the final day that saw City officially declared the winners, but Guardiola is well aware of the threat Brentford, and especially Ivan Toney, provide to his team.

Everton need to keep fighting

Everton winger Lewis Dobbin celebrates after scoring the winner against Chelsea in the Premier League. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

Midweek saw Everton fall into the relegation zone as Luton overcame Brighton to go ahead of Sean Dyche’s team. The 10-point punishment for Profit and Sustainability violations has the Toffees deep in trouble; following their four-game winning streak, they were winless for a while.

Everton have not won in five games after losing to Spurs, Man City, and Wolves in the previous games and drawing goallessly to Fulham and Aston Villa. Only the top three teams have allowed fewer goals than Everton this season, despite those back-to-back clean sheets maintaining a great defensive record.

Jordan Pickford is the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets (8), and the Toffees need to keep things tight at the back to survive this season considering the dearth of goals in the squad.