Man Utd plagued by consistent inconsistency as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz finally shine for Liverpool

Man Utd plagued by consistent inconsistency

Manchester United must figure out a way to overcome their Jekyll and Hyde complex. Ruben Amorim's side were nowhere near it in the first half at Crystal Palace.

They lacked energy, belief and any ideas as they were under the pump at Selhurt Park. But then a moment of magic from Joshua Zirkzee changed it all.

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Man Utd - Match report & highlights
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Across the season, United's starts have been fairly positive and where United have typically found their joy.

However, they have failed to sustain their early displays. In recent performances, United have been far more effective in the second half; their problem, though, is their slow starts.

The defensive numbers are where the difference is stark. Across United's first 11 games this season, in the first half, they had an expected goals against of 5.71. This changed in the second half where that number nearly doubled to 11.07.

However, in their last two games, at Palace and in defeat to Everton, United have a first-half expected goals against of 1.26, while after the break, this number massively decreases to 0.26.

It's important to note that in both games, United fell behind in the first half, therefore were naturally more attack-minded in the second period.

However, there's a clue in the numbers that Amorim's team are a different side when they go ahead early, like they did eight times in their first 11 league games, compared to when they concede early on.

Perhaps there are signs of complacency in their leads that Amorim has to fix while also finding a way to motivate faster starts.
William Bitibiri

Will Isak goal be a turning point for him and Liverpool?

Liverpool boss Arne Slot agreed it felt "significant", while Alexander Isak said his first Premier League goal will "help" him re-find his top form. It will be interesting in the weeks and months to come to see whether the Swede's strike on Sunday proves to be a turning point.

Certainly in the first half at West Ham it felt as though Isak desperately needed one to go in. He looked a shadow of the player who starred for Newcastle last season, spurning chances and losing possession. But it was an excellent, crisp finish which ended his wait to get off the mark since his £125m move.

• West Ham 0-2 Liverpool - Match report & highlights
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The quality remains. Now, maybe, the confidence is back, too.

After Slot took the bold move to drop Mohamed Salah at the London Stadium, there was also encouragement from the performance of Florian Wirtz. Liverpool's attack created more than enough chances to win this match comfortably.

If Isak can recapture his flow and Slot can find the role to get the most out of Wirtz, then Liverpool will surely put this disastrous run of results behind them. They could look back on this day - and that goal from Isak - as a key moment.
Peter Smith

Caicedo's rashness costs Chelsea

It was clear from early in Chelsea's meeting with Arsenal that Moises Caicedo was fired up. There was a shove on Mikel Merino after he prevented a quick free-kick. He was fortunate not be punished for a shoulder barge into the back of Jurrien Timber.

Caicedo was on the edge, perhaps with his hotly-anticipated midfield battle against Declan Rice in mind, but Chelsea needed cool heads. His overenthusiasm spilled into downright recklessness when he went studs up into Merino's ankle for his red card.

The sending-off left Chelsea in a familiar position. At least they had got some practice in playing with 10 men. But they were the better side before it. A battling point draw might have been a win had it not been for Caicedo's rush of blood to the head.

Caicedo had been outstanding this season. In fact he had arguably been their best player having added goals to his game. But his rashness, in a game when his team-mates needed him, was a reminder that he still has plenty to learn.

Ultimately, the ill-discipline undermined them. And not for the first time this season. Maresca needs to eradicate the issue.
Nick Wright

Odegaard still proves his worth with another cameo

It was a chaotic London derby and it needed calm. On 57 minutes against Chelsea, it arrived for Arsenal in the form of Martin Odegaard.

Within two minutes, Arsenal were level. It was no coincidence.

Arsenal suddenly had a metronome in the middle and the final third, something they lacked in the opening hour or so at Stamford Bridge. Odegaard sat deeper alongside Declan Rice and controlled the play, giving Arsenal a bit more assurance.

He has done it before this season - in another tough circumstance. His cameo display off the bench at Newcastle earned plaudits for winning the game without stealing the show. This was another one of those performances.

On a day when Arsenal's depth was tested - and in a week where Eberechi Eze has taken some of the headlines - Odegaard proved a timely reminder of his worth. Getting him up to fitness will add something to Arsenal's play, when some may start to doubt them after this draw.
Sam Blitz

Have Palace seen the last of Sarr until next year?

Ismaila Sarr has been, by far and away, one of Crystal Palace's standout players since he arrived at the club from Marseille in August 2024. The numbers speak for themselves: 66 appearances, 20 goals, 10 assists.

But he may well have played his last game of the year for Oliver Glasner's side.

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The Senegal forward went down under a challenge from Luke Shaw inside the first four minutes at Selhurst Park and made a motion with his hand as if to suggest he had twisted his ankle. He lasted just over half an hour more, before being replaced by Eddie Nketiah.

Asked about Sarr's condition in his post-match press conference, Glasner said: "The ankle is quite swollen, so I think he will miss a few games, maybe the whole time until he goes to AFCON."

Senegal start their AFCON campaign on December 23, when they face Botswana in Tangier, Morocco. If Pape Thiaw's side make it as far as the final, Sarr would not return to domestic action until late January or early February.

Glasner has already made it clear Palace must strengthen in January, with an attacker at the top of his shopping list - and now it appears to be even more imperative than before.
Dan Long

Villa's long-range heroics

With 10 wins from 12 in all competitions, Aston Villa have shrugged off their early season travails to change the mood at Villa Park, clambering their way up into the Champions League places with a tense 1-0 win over winless Wolves.

Astonishingly, Boubacar Kamara's goal was the ninth so far this Premier League season that Villa have scored from outside the penalty box. That is more than any other team in the competition and more goals than Wolves have managed in total. Can it continue?

• Aston Villa 1-0 Wolves - Match report & highlights
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Expected-goals aficionados will say not. If it were a renowned Youri Tielemans rocket that is one thing but Kamara's second-ever Premier League goal? With his weaker left foot? Villa are not creating many chances but they are somehow scoring enough to win.

Villa's expected-goals total this season is only 0.02 greater than Wolves, according to Opta, with Unai Emery's side ranking 17th for expected goals. But their efficiency, coupled with the occasional big moment from Emiliano Martinez, has propelled them up the table.
Adam Bate

De Cuyper shines for Brighton as Forest badly miss Murillo

Last season, Brighton were humiliated at Nottingham Forest after they lost 7-0 at the City Ground in February.

Nearly 10 months on, the Seagulls got revenge for that embarrassment with a brilliant win that shows they are serious contenders for a European spot this season.

• Nott'm Forest 0-2 Brighton - Match report & highlights
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Key to the victory was Maxim De Cuyper - a player who did not experience that thrashing in the East Midlands last season - as Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler deployed the summer signing to great effect in a new position on the left wing.

From there, the Belgium international raided up the left and helped Brighton attempt nine shots in the opening 20 minutes of the match - their most ever in that period of a Premier League match.

And it was De Cuyper who deservedly made the breakthrough to cap off a fine first-half display. The 24-year-old was then awarded the man of the match as he created the most chances (4) and attempted the most crosses (4) of any Seagulls player.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards about his positional change, he said: "When I was younger, I played there a lot, so it was a bit weird in the beginning to play there again, but I'm happy there."

Meanwhile, much has changed at Forest since that 7-0 victory over Brighton, with a new manager, European football and a potential relegation scrap on their hands. But one of the key differences 10 months on was the absence of Murillo.

The Forest defender missed Sunday's game through injury, and his unavailability was keenly felt.

His replacement, Morato, had a shaky game that culminated in a mistake for Brighton's second.

Forest boss Sean Dyche, therefore, will be hoping Murillo's injury clears up ahead of a crunch relegation six-pointer at bottom-side winless Wolves on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports. Declan Olley

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Man Utd plagued by consistent inconsistency as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz finally shine for Liverpool