1) Red-letter day for Anfield attackers
Roberto Firmino scoring Liverpool’s seventh and final goal on Sunday was such an apt way to complete their perfect day. Two goals each for Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo pointed to Jürgen Klopp having found his next all-star forward line, and then on came the outgoing legend to cap it all with a neat finish and that trademark smile. Neither of the new men – nor Diogo Jota – is a like-for-like replacement for what Firmino and Sadio Mané once brought to Liverpool but Gakpo’s speed and finishing, plus Núñez’s chaotic element, can still complement Salah. Gakpo arrived at Liverpool in January as a player unfamiliar with playing centrally but Sunday confirmed him as the heir apparent to Firmino. Salah, Liverpool’s new record Premier League goalscorer, was at his brilliant best, a pest to Manchester United even during his team’s difficult first half. He remains a cut above, is near-impossible to stop in full flow and drove Luke Shaw, in particular, to distraction. John Brewin
2) Nelson is latest hero in title saga
When the lesser-spotted Reiss Nelson is belting in a winner with his weaker foot in the final seconds of the game, the signs are this is your year. When Gabriel Jesus was laid low in December it was tempting to write off Arsenal’s title bid, but then Eddie Nketiah stepped up and others chipped in too. When Nketiah’s radar began to falter, the new arrival Leandro Trossard facilitated a recalibration of Mikel Arteta’s attack and helped Arsenal banish the memory of a brief blip. When Trossard departed injured early against Bournemouth, his undercooked deputy, Emile Smith Rowe, lasted only 47 minutes. Nelson was Arteta’s last resort but stepped up in style, immediately setting up Ben White’s equaliser before providing a moment for the ages. Arteta will not be blind to the fact his team cannot keep living on the edge like this with outwardly tougher assignments to come, but it says plenty for the health of his squad that a peripheral figure such as Nelson can come in and click so spectacularly. By hook or by crook, Arsenal are solving every problem. Nick Ames
3) Win papers over cracks for Potter
When Chelsea beat Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in January, their only goal came from a set piece during the second half. In the win against Leeds at home on Saturday, their only goal came from a set piece during the second half. Ultimately Graham Potter is still not out of the woods – although there were some positive signs against Leeds, it was hardly convincing. Chelsea faded after failing to take their chances during a bright opening spell and, even after their individual class told as they broke through against a poor side, they then made some defensive substitutions and almost shipped an equaliser. Perhaps they can push on now and maybe this is the start of a comeback for Potter. Yet he will know that Chelsea will have to be much better at both ends of the pitch when they host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. Nervy home wins against struggling teams do not really prove much. Jacob Steinberg
4) Dyche’s false 9 delivers numbers
No one is suggesting Sean Dyche’s Everton are close to resembling peak Barcelona or Pep Guardiola’s pre-Haaland Manchester City but, in the absence of a proven and recognised centre-forward, perhaps playing with six midfield players is not such a bad shout. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin hamstrung and Neal Maupay short on confidence and goals, Everton played Demarai Gray furthest forward at the City Ground, with Abdoulaye Doucouré and Amadou Onana taking turns to support him. The result was Everton scoring twice in a first half for the first time this season and another 10 shots in total, making it 60 in Dyche’s first six games. They also had double Forest’s expected goals, with Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi looking dangerous from wide areas, but had the manpower in midfield to retain a degree of control despite Forest’s impassioned second-half fightback. Victory escaped them, but the evidence is there to suggest Everton are on an upwards trajectory.
