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Read Alan Shearer on "knackered" Man City's problems
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Man U must take appetite and aggression to Arsenal
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Palace have gone from glory to disaster
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Newcastle and Villa are taking on establishment
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So many things are wrong with Man City
For a club of Manchester City's standard performances have been embarrassing in the last few weeks. With what they've got and who they've got, it was surprising to see them schooled by Manchester United last Saturday.
From start to finish, United were the better team by a mile. They wanted it more, showed more energy, more aggression. It felt as if it meant more to United. When you consider how poor United have been this season and the turmoil they've been through, it was a bad day for City.
I know City have injuries, which is one of the reasons they've gone into the market for Antoione Semenyo and Marc Guéhi, but even without those injured players, they should be giving more. That really hasn't been acceptable. I guess Pep's been raging.
I know it's not an excuse of the pitch or anything else, but you can't go into any standard of football and just expect it to happen without rolling your sleeves up. To go to a team that's never won a Champions League game before and be beaten, in the manner City were at Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, was not acceptable.
We've just never seen City be turned over with such ease. Maybe in one game they've been poor, but as I've always said, you've got the right of reply as a player to win a game quickly afterwards. They had that chance, but it was actually even worse than the one on Saturday at Old Trafford.
It's not right. There are so many things wrong defensively. I know they've got injuries, but they still should be better. My only thought is that players are knackered. Erling Haaland played against Exeter when they scored 10, he started that game, which is remarkable.
There's definitely something missing. I expect Pep's scratching his head. It's just not acceptable for him to see City beaten with the ease in their last two games.
There's been a lot of talk about the future of the manager, but Pep will choose his time, he's earned the right.
I sympathise with Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish's foot injury is a big disappointment. I saw Thomas Tuchel talking to Jack Grealish outside the dressing room at Villa Park last Sunday. It was probably unlikely Jack was going to the World Cup because of who is ahead of him now in the England squad, but clearly he's suffered a bad injury. I hate it.
I know it's part and parcel of the game, but having been there with injuries, it's just horrible for any footballer. I sympathise with anyone who has one.
Palace must be careful with Mateta
What's happened at Crystal Palace is unbelievable. I was saying recently Palace are a bloody good team. They had Dean Henderson, Daniel Muñoz, Marc Guéhi, Adam Wharton, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philipe Mateta - so many good players. Of course, Olise and Eze were sold, and you can understand that, but the last two weeks have been an absolute disaster for Palace.
It's obviously been boiling behind the scenes. The manager said he informed them back in October that he wanted to leave, but then he comes out and claims he's been abandoned because they're selling his captain.
Glasner will always be remembered for delivering the FA Cup and Community Shield, but it's amazing how quickly you go from riding high to disaster. Now the centre-forward is asking to leave because the club lacks ambition.
They have to be careful because Mateta has 18 months left on his contract, and what message does this send to Wharton, Muñoz, and the other talented players? It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next six months. They aren't in danger of relegation, but in terms of who wants to be there next season, they have to be careful.
If they had kept that team together, they could have challenged. Now the fans are looking at who can come in as manager and wondering if the players are going to want to leave as well.
Man U were crying out for Carrick's tweaks
I was hugely impressed by Michael Carrick's Manchester United. It couldn't have gone any better against Manchester City. He'd been in the club three days and made little tweaks to the system. Penny for the thoughts of Rúben Amorim watching that performance. It was like someone flipped a switch. The energy and aggression United showed were incredible.
That has to be the norm now. You need a little luck, getting Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo back just in time, and Dalot not getting sent off, but the performance level was key.
There's no doubt Bruno Fernandes is a talented player. Best in the world might be going a bit far, but as a '10', he's been brilliant for United. You wonder where they would have been without him.
Carrick made big calls, leaving Matheus Cunha out, then bringing him on, bringing Harry Maguire back in, and going to a back four. Everyone has been crying out for that.
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Man Utd are in top 4 race
United have got Arsenal this weekend, which is a shift from City, but that shouldn't faze them. United have always had big results in big games, but they lacked the big performance. Last week was both.
Whether they can go to Arsenal and win is a different matter, but if they show the same appetite, they'll be fine. Even two draws against City and Arsenal would have been good, but now they've got three points in the bank.
Liverpool must build on win over Marseille
For Liverpool in the Champions League, maybe there's a bit more energy and excitement. Not many thought they could go to Marseille and be as dominant as they were. The free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai was so clever.
It may be too early to say if Liverpool are a cup side. They were impressive in midweek, but not against Barnsley in the FA Cup. Liverpool are unbeaten in 13, but before Wednesday night their form felt a bit underwhelming. They set a standard against Marseille and, like Manchester United, they have to carry that on.
I can't remember a season like it. Only Arsenal have been consistent. Chelsea, City, Newcastle, none have hit the heights of previous years. Even in the Champions League, it's so tight.
There are five Premier League teams in the top eight of the table, so everyone is desperate to finish there to avoid the extra games going into next week's final round.
Newcastle are giving Champions League a good go
St James' Park is key for Newcastle and Arsenal, City, and Liverpool will all tell you it's a tough place to go. Currently sitting in the Champions League top eight with one game to go is brilliant despite the iffy away form.
They made PSV look like amateurs, and PSV are miles ahead in the Eredivisie. They couldn't handle the intensity.
PSG next week away is a massive game. I'm going to that one. I keep remembering two years ago when Newcastle got done by that ridiculous handball decision in Paris. PSG were beaten by Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, so you never know, but our away form has to improve massively if we're going to win.
Newcastle would welcome an addition or two in this window. Defensively they need help, Dan Burn is coming back, which helps. Maybe they need players up top to ease the load, but that's easier said than done. You have to bring people in who improve the squad, instead of paying for the sake of it.
In an ideal world, they'd like at least one in this January, but who that will be, I haven't a clue. A centre forward wouldn't go amiss.
I'm sure City would like Tino Livramento; he's a really talented player, as is Lewis Hall, who will probably be England's left-back. It would take a huge amount of money, but don't spoil my day!
There's only one winner in Howe v Emery
You wouldn't swap Eddie for anyone given the job he's done, taking Newcastle from a relegation fight to their first trophy in 50 years. But Unai Emery is doing an unbelievable job at Villa.
The only thing missing there is a trophy, but having them in Champions League spots regularly is incredible. They've both dislodged the big boys, which the establishment clearly doesn't like.