Premier League 2017/18: 5 Talking Points from gameweek 15

Arsenal v Manchester United - Premier League
Manchester United overcome Arsenal's challenge with swagger

With the top four sides winning their respective games in the Premier League, the standings did not change much over the weekend.

Manchester City maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the table, with a gritty win over West Ham United, whereas Manchester United remained the leaders of the chasing pack with a resilient away performance against Arsenal, which resulted in a 3-1 win for the Red Devils.

Liverpool and Chelsea eased wins in their respective games, whereas Tottenham Hotspur dropped points yet again. At the other half of the table, a defeat to Stoke City has led Swansea to the brink of the pile, whereas Everton are up to tenth in the table with two consecutive wins in a week.

With the season closing in on it's busiest of periods, let's take a look at the 5 talking points from gameweek 15 of the Premier League:


#5 Paul Clement is on the brink of losing his job

Stoke City v Swansea City - Premier League
Bookmakers' favourite to get the sack next

Taking a lead through Wilfried Bony in the third minute, Swansea City were looking to change their fortunes of late against fellow strugglers, Stoke City at the Bet365 stadium. But the levels of inconsistency and the crumbling under pressure which has ailed the Swans this season returned to the fore soon after.

Their defence made Peter Crouch feel and play like Harry Kane, whereas Xherdan Shaqiri was a notch above the others on the field. The players do not seem to fight for the cause at hand, which has now taken the Welsh side below Crystal Palace in the standings.

There's only one casualty that happens when you're on such a bad run and that is the manager's head.

Paul Clement has lost six of his last seven games with his side's last win coming against Huddersfield Town in October. The former Real Madrid assistant manager seems to have lost the plot, and the club hierarchy is reportedly looking to relieve Clement off his duties, if the Swans do not get all three points in a must-win clash against West Bromwich Albion, next Saturday.

#4 Everton are back on track

Everton v Huddersfield Town - Premier League
Everton have now won their last two league games in style

Six goals in two games. Two clean sheets. Tenth in the table. Crisis? Not at Goodison Park anymore! Sam Allardyce's first game in charge of Everton gave a clear indication of how the Toffees are going to set up under his reign.

With Mason Holgate at centre-back and Ashley Williams starring for them, Everton looked tough to break down for Huddersfield.

At the other end of the field, Wayne Rooney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin carved out two fantastic assists to produce two brilliant goals for the home side. Wayne Rooney is on a great run, Gylfi Sigurdsson is back among the goals, as the Christmas party seems to have come a bit early for the blue half of Merseyside.

But Big Sam and his Everton side need to be on their toes as their next match takes them to Anfield to face a Liverpool side high on confidence, in the Merseyside derby.

#3 David Moyes can sort out the mess at West Ham United

Manchester City v West Ham United - Premier League
David Moyes gives a ray of hope to the Hammers

Learning from the tactics deployed by Southampton and Huddersfield Town - Manchester City's two previous opponents, West Ham United applied a low block against the current leaders. Understandably so, the Hammers were expected to be without the ball for the majority of the game and putting men behind the ball for longer periods.

Playing his team in a 5-4-1 formation, David Moyes' team were in for a shock of a result until the 83rd minute - drawing against arguably the best team in Europe at the moment. West Ham showed determination and a clear intent to fight for their manager and it showed evidently against City.

Pep Guardiola's men snatched out a win just because of the sheer class of their side, with West Ham not being second best in any possible way.

Though Moyes has just one point in the bag from his first four matches, the defensive organization and a threat on the break was there to be seen. With some decent fixtures coming up, West Ham United can finally take charge of the situation and manage to avoid the scrap at the bottom, under the former Manchester United boss.

#2 Jurgen Klopp's rotation policy seems to be paying off

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool - Premier League
Jurgen Klopp has started 19 different players in last three league games

Liverpool broke into the top four with a resounding 5-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. The Reds' attack has been winning plaudits since the last month or so and they were on fire yet again at the Annex.

Last season, a busy December schedule got the better of Jurgen Klopp in the new year and hence, the manager is keen on avoiding the mistakes of the previous campaign.

After making six changes against Stoke in midweek, Klopp made six more for their trip to Brighton. This is keeping Liverpool fresh for a busy December and the results are there for everyone to see. In the last three league games, 19 different Liverpool players have made a start.

Roberto Firmino was rested against Chelsea, whereas Philippe Coutinho was given an off for the trip to Stoke. Sadio Mane started just one of the last two games and was an unused substitute against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The playing minutes of Mohamed Salah are being managed carefully, whereas the fullbacks are also being given enough recovery time. Jurgen Klopp is surely taking some brave calls with his team selection, but with the positive results coming thick and fast, no one's complaining.

#1 Manchester United keep the title race alive

Arsenal v Manchester United - Premier League
Jose Mourinho is the man in Manchester City's way of Premier League glory

Manchester City are playing, arguably, the best brand of football ever seen in this league and ultimately, are leading the rat race by eight points. But, if it wasn't for Jose Mourinho, the title would have already been wrapped and presented to Guardiola in the month of December.

Yes, Manchester United look like the only team capable of coming close to this City side and if possible, overtake them.

Their 3-1 win over Arsenal confirmed this fact with a seal! Going to the Emirates is not an easy task when the Gunners are on a good run. Going 2-0 up in 14 minutes in a big clash is even harder.

United managed that against possibly, every prediction. After Arsenal reduced the deficit to one after a fine goal, United restored the lead through another counter-attacking move.

A lot has been said about Arsenal's brilliant attacking play against Manchester United, with their 33 shots and David De Gea's inhuman 14 saves getting all the headlines. But at the end of the day, it was United who executed their basics right and delivered a clinical, and professional performance.

Coming back to the title race, next week's Manchester derby is now even more important after United's victory against Arsenal. Pep Guardiola can sense that a loss at Old Trafford will mean a way back in for United, for the title he desperately craves.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho will be busy plotting a way to crack this City side and make the race to the crown Guardiola's toughest task till date.

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