Liverpool storm on, Tottenham stifle Man City as Arsenal stutter again: Seven things we learned this weekend

Liverpool eased to victory at St Mary’s as Bruno Fernandes made his Manchester United bow

1. Fernandes shows early signs of being the gamechanger

It was nearly everything that Manchester United supporters had come to expect from Bruno Fernandes. Their new signing had more shots, more shots on target, played more passes and more passes in the opposition half than any player on the Old Trafford pitch on Saturday. Although the Portugal international fell short of adding either the debut goal or assist that would have beaten Wolves, every now and again his penchant for shooting from range will break down an opponent’s resistance. That is why United have paid a considerable amount of money for his services. He is a match-winner. Mark Critchley

2. Liverpool’s Firmino Complex

Lewis Dunk has scored a goal at Anfield this season. So has Jetro Willems. Lucas Torreira has two, which is two more than Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has delivered goals that proved winners in telling away games, scoring when and where it mattered, but the absurdity in Liverpool’s astonishing season is that - as they close in on an impeccable campaign at Anfield – the closest their centre-forward has scored to their home ground is Turf Moor. Firmino has not been the finisher at Anfield, but he is the facilitator. Maybe he is the definitive Jurgen Klopp player, the falsest of false nines as his Anfield drought goes on. Richard Jolly

3. Mourinho stifles Guardiola’s City

Manchester City: 18 shots, zero goals. Tottenham Hotspur: three shots, two goals.

City: 67 per cent possession, zero points. Spurs: 32 per cent possession, three points.

Of course, another telling statistic would be the home side’s one-man advantage for the remaining half-hour at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, but this had all the hallmarks of a classic Jose Mourinho victory, even if the Portuguese manager denied it after the final whistle.

Steven Bergwijn opened the scoring for Spurs on his debut (Reuters)

4. Chelsea struggling without signings

Since the turn of the year, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have managed just one win from five Premier League games, highlighting their need to take advantage of their reduced transfer ban and sign some players. The Blues still sit fourth in the table, but desperately need someone to share scoring responsibilities with Tammy Abraham, who overperformed in the first half of this season – his first as the spearhead of Chelsea’s attack. Olivier Giroud seemed so close to an exit this window, only to remain at the club and miss out on a spot in Saturday’s squad and Lampard will face a tough time re-embedding the World Cup-winning Frenchman, if he even attempts to do so. Chelsea certainly can’t keep counting on centre-back Antonio Rudiger to bail them out though he managed to at Leicester on Saturday.

5. Arteta’s Arsenal can’t get over the line

Mikel Arteta’s side drew in the Premier League for a fourth consecutive game when they were held by Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday. In fact, it was Arenal’s 13th draw this season – already the most they’ve ever recorded in a 38-game term. While the manager is still ironing out past flaws, his side are still lacking a cutting edge to allow their improvements to be reflected in their results. It was actually Burnley who came closest to winning this weekend, so maybe Arsenal fans can take some solace in the fact this was their first clean sheet of that winless run.

Arsenal have more draws this season than in any of their previous Premier League campaigns (Getty)

6. Sheffield United can win ugly

United’s first season back in the top flight in 12 years has been littered with misconceptions from the casual observer. Many presumed that Chris Wilder and his players would bring with them a brand of physical, long-ball football, but their league position of fifth has been achieved through entertaining, flowing football. That said, away at Palace on Saturday, they were able to eke out a 1-0 win thanks to a shocking Vicente Guaita own goal. United held just 39% possession, made 15 fouls and were forced into 28 clearances at Selhurst Park, but they got the job done.

7. Palace fans not content with their side coasting…

Roy Hodgson’s Palace last won on Boxing Day, and you have to go back to the start of December to find the last time they registered back-to-back wins. Hodgson sides can certainly impress at times, but rarely inspire, and you get the sense that Palace fans are starting to yearn for something more. Similarly to when Hodgson was appointed England manager in 2012, the feeling remains that, despite maintaining a sturdy ship, the 72-year-old is not necessarily the right coach to take the team to the next level. Instead, he is there to tide them over. But until when, and until what?