Do Liverpool need a clinical no.9?
Liverpool missed a lot of chances in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday as they had 22 shots with only 9 on target. It was a similar case for them against Leeds the week before where they also dropped points like they did at the weekend. This got me asking if Liverpool need to buy a clinical no.9 in the summer?
The chances they missed against both Leeds and Newcastle would've been put away last season because of how clinical they were they in the final third and this year they've been anything but that. Out of their front three, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are the ones who have been performing below their usual standards and Firmino in particular because he hasn't scored enough goals. He does the ugly side of the game well in tracking back and dragging people out of position. But he isn't in the box enough to score the goals which is what you want from a number 9. With no clinical strikers at the club who can play in the no.9 position, the reds may need to go out and get one in the summer so they can be back up there challenging next season.
Can Sheffield United build some momentum to take into the Championship next season?
Sheffield United won their first game since their relegation was confirmed at the weekend by beating Brighton 1-0 at Bramall Lane. With nothing for them to play for other than pride for the rest of the season; Can the Blades build some momentum to take into the Championship next season?
If the Blades are to bounce straight back up next season, a strong end to this season could be their best chance because it will give them something to carry into next season which will hopefully enable them to get off to a good start. Their win over Brighton at the weekend will hopefully give them the confidence to end the season strongly because they have nothing to play for with their relegation confirmed and the players will be able to go out onto the pitch with no pressure on them at all. If that is the case for them between now and the end of the season, they could build some momentum to take into next season.
Have Leeds adapted their game?
Leeds have been the most entertaining team to watch in the Premier League this season by playing on the front foot almost every week which has earned them many plaudits throughout the season. But recently they've against the big teams they've been less expansive by being more solid and organised at the back. This got me asking if they've adapted their game.
Marcelo Bielsa's team were really going for it earlier in the season and especially on the opening day of the season where they gave Liverpool a good game despite losing 4-3. Since losing 6-2 to Man United back in December, they've not been as expansive in the big games as they've taken points off Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool in their more recent games against tougher opposition. They've shown a different side to their game in those matches by being more difficult to beat and well organised which they were in their goalless draw with United at the weekend unlike their game against them before Christmas where they were very expansive. They've adapted their game in their recent games and their next few games could show us how much they've adapted. Especially against the teams who want to attack.
Are West Brom's hopes of a great escape over?
West Brom's wins over Chelsea and Southampton earlier in the month gave them hope of pulling off a great escape because of their performances and the goals they scored in those games. But after losing to Leicester and drawing with Aston Villa in their last two games and the club 9 points from safety with 5 games left; Are their hopes of a great escape over?
The Baggies hopes of survival were pretty much dead in the water before the recent international break and their chances of pulling off a great escape now look very slim because of the games they have coming up. They face Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham in three of their final five games and Sam Allardyce says that his side need at least four more wins to stay up. With the club nine points from safety with a tough fixture schedule till the end of the season, it looks very unlikely that they'll get those four wins to get them out of trouble. With the teams outside the bottom three looking good as safe, the Baggies hopes of pulling off a great escape may well be over.
Is Kelechi Iheanacho now a starter for Leicester?
Kelechi Iheanacho scored yet again as he netted the winner in Leicester's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace by blasting his shot into the top right hand corner. With 12 goals in his last 9 games in all competitions; Is he now a starter for Leicester?
Iheanacho has been in the team since Harvey Barnes got injured at the end of February and he has stepped up in his absence by scoring in almost every game he's played. He's been simply undroppable over the past month because of the amount of goals he's scored which have eased the pressure off talisman Jamie Vardy whom the Foxes have relied a lot on to get their goals. He looks set to remain in the team till the end of the season due to the form he's in and if he can continue scoring goals and stay in the form he's in, he could be a regular starter in the Leicester team.
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