5 things we learned from the Premier League

1. Pass master De Bruyne shows his range.

Kevin de Bruyne has spent the season showing the remarkable range of his talents. A right-footed player has demonstrated an ability to score with his left foot and from long distance. A scorer of spectacular goals has provided spectacular passes. Another led to Raheem Sterling’s winner at Newcastle, securing Manchester City’s 18th consecutive league victory.

Yet what was more instructive was the role De Bruyne adopted for much of the match. When Vincent Kompany limped off after 10 minutes, Pep Guardiola showed his attacking intent and eschewed a like-for-like change.

Newcastle v Manchester City – How the match unfolded

On came striker Gabriel Jesus. Fernandinho dropped into defence. De Bruyne, seen very much as an attacking midfielder when he joined, took up the holding role. Because Newcastle defended so deep, he was left free to dictate play, quarterback-style. He did so brilliantly. De Bruyne can be the runner in midfield. Instead, he ran this game.

2. Ibrahimovic’s comeback is going badly.

Go back a few weeks and Zlatan Ibrahimovic was proclaiming that “lions don’t recover like humans.” He had come back from a cruciate ligament injury in under seven months, and at the age of 36. There was something abnormal about that. Advance to the current day and while Ibrahimovic is back, he certainly does not look as good as new. He did score in the EFL Cup defeat to Bristol City but that was a lone highlight.

His first Premier League start since April came on Boxing Day against Tuesday. It lasted 45 minutes before Ibrahimovic was unceremoniously hauled off. He had failed to gel with Romelu Lukaku, and the question if they can be paired on the pitch remains unanswered.

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As he went off, Jesse Lingard came on. An altogether less heralded player, minus the supersized ego and assortment of records and trophies, provided more dynamism and both of Manchester United’s goals to rescue a 2-2 draw against Burnley. Writing Ibrahimovic off can be a dangerous business, but this was not a day to suggest he will be Jose Mourinho’s perfect No. 10 in the second half of the season.

3. Firmino is adding goals to his hard work.

Look at the big six and most had at least one prolific specialist striker, often signed for huge sums: Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata, Alexandre Lacazette, Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Jesus, Ibrahimovic… with Daniel Sturridge now very much a reserve, Liverpool were the exceptions.

They preferred a false nine, in Roberto Firmino, to a genuine one. Two things have meant it has not been a talking point, let alone a problem. One is that Mohamed Salah has been so prolific from the right wing that he is mounting a challenge for the Golden Boot.

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The other is that Firmino has become more productive. A double in the 5-0 win over Swansea took his tally to 16 goals for the season, already his best total for Liverpool and one which puts him on course to reach 30 for the season. He has done that without compromising the selflessness that endears him to Jurgen Klopp who, typically, suggested he does not care how many goals the Brazilian gets. It was Firmino who won the ball back for Philippe Coutinho to score the opener. He has seven assists to add to those 16 goals. He is both scorer and provider.

4. Tottenham’s supporting cast are backing Kane up.

The limelight lingered on Kane at Wembley. No wonder. His second successive hat-trick took his tally in 2017 to a Premier League record of 39 goals. He ended the calendar year with more goals than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. And yet there were other significant elements to Tottenham’s 5-2 win over Southampton.

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Dele Alli, who has had the first slump in form in his time at White Hart Lane this season, ended with a goal and two assists. So did Heung-Min Son, who has been excellent in recent weeks. Christian Eriksen got the assist for Kane’s opener.

When they are at the top of their respective games, they are a creative contingent to rival any, with the possible exception of Manchester City’s, in the division. When they are all together, Tottenham are a more formidable attacking force. Mauricio Pochettino has played 3-4-2-1 at times, often successfully, but Spurs prospered against Saints by going for a 4-2-3-1 formation. It gave them a fearsome front four.

5. Moyes is working his magic on Arnautovic.

David Moyes and Marko Arnautovic can seem West Ham’s odd couple. They seemed utterly mismatched when, before he had even had his managerial bow, the Scot said in public that the club’s record signing had not worked hard enough and would not be picked if he did not run more.

It seemed needlessly provocative. It also appeared to support a theory that Moyes, with his emphasis on industry, was insufficiently flexible to adjust to dealing with flair players.

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After all, since he left Everton, only one – Adnan Januzaj, and even then only at Manchester United and not when they linked up again at Sunderland – has flourished under him. Make that two now. Arnautovic’s brace in the 3-3 draw against Bournemouth took his tally to five goals in six games, a vital winner against Chelsea among them. And a rejuvenated, reinvigorated figure seems to be running as far as anyone else. It feels a triumph of Moyes’ man-management.