'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Liverpool make light work of Brentford in absence of Salah and Mane
Jurgen Klopp was wary that AFCON was going to deliver a serious disadvantage to his side in the Premier League. The Reds could be happy with their performance against Brentford in what was their first league game played without the African absentees.
It was a positive result after some disappointing ones as the Reds had last won in the Premier League on 17th December. Liverpool know that without Mohamed Salah they can be perceived as less dangerous but Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all stepped up.
Klopp would be particularly happy to see that Fabinho has scored three goals in his last three games. Goals from midfield could prove very crucial for the Reds while both Salah and Mane are away. Thanks to their 3-0 win they are now one point ahead of Chelsea with one game in hand.
As far as chasing Manchester City is concerned, they are still eleven points behind the reigning champions.
#4 Arsenal face heat after postponement of north London derby
Tottenham Hotspur were left fuming after Premier League authorities decided to accept Arsenal's late proposal to postpone the north London derby. The proposal was made with just 48 hours remaining before kick-off and the decision was announced even later.
The Gunners were missing players due to injuries, AFCON and having sanctioned a couple of loan deals. However, it is being argued that their was notably only two players who were out due to COVID. Spurs were shocked that such a proposal was even entertained and felt that the guidelines were now being tested to their limit, and unfairly so.
Many pundits and journalists were left unhappy with this and argued that Arsenal were trying to bend the rules their way. Gary Neville tweeted against the postponement and said that the Premier League should stop entertaining such requests now and most games should be allowed to go forward.
Micah Richards advocated in favor of Arsenal and said that any other Premier League club in a strong position would have done the same. It is surely a gray area that the Gunners seem to have benefitted from, but Tottenham's frustration is understood given they could have faced a weaker Arsenal side.
A future date will now be decided for the fixture. Arsenal are currently placed fifth in the table with 35 points and Spurs are sixth with 33.
#5 Rafa Benitez's tormenting tenure at Everton finally comes to a halt
The writing was on the wall and this was inevitable. Just seven months into his three-year contract at Everton, Rafa Benitez has been relieved of his duties with the Toffies sitting 15th in the Premier League. They are only five points above the relegation zone and there is great pressure on the hierarchy in terms of the next manager.
Benitez has managed only one win in his last 11 Premier League matches and his pragmatic approach has not yielded any results. The 2-1 defeat at Norwich City was the final nail in the coffin. It was really shocking to see that even the worst team in the division beat Everton quite easily.
His connections with Liverpool made it difficult to establish a bond with supporters at Goodinson Park and this miserable run only created more difficulties. The fans had been protesting for a few weeks and on Saturday we even saw a fan run onto the pitch in a solo protest.
Wayne Rooney and Roberto Martinez are two big names who are being called the favorites to take up the Everton job. The club's hierarchy must make this decision with absolute care as they can't afford the fans turning against them anymore.
