Premier League Round-Up: Leicester City starting to look doomed

Surprise of the weekend… Leicester City roll over again

After getting absolutely plastered by Manchester United last weekend, this was the chance for Leicester City to show that they are not a rabble. This is the same team that stuck with one another throughout a relegation scrap and then a league trouble. This is the team that found themselves, without fuss, into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

[Sorry Leicester set unwanted English top-flight record]

[Ranieri highlights two problems with Leicester’s miserable season]

And yet this is also the team that has simply forgotten how to defend. A team that has forgotten to be imaginative in front of goal and forgotten how to kick defenders to the point of distraction. This is a team that appears to have utterly lost not hope, but interest. That they have fallen back down the league is no surprise, but that they have done so meekly is.

Best goal of the weekend… Robbie Brady

Burnley did well to bring in Robbie Brady over the transfer window. At Hull City and Norwich City, he was clearly too good for the Championship, and more than an adequate presence for the Premier League. For Ireland, he offered quality from set pieces and was a reliable presence, in midfield or defence. He is versatile, quick, and able.

[Burnley fan saves young child from wayward shot in Turf Moor draw]

Burnley had to spend £13 million to sign him, but given the likelihood that he would adapt quickly and that he is young enough to sell on should he improve further, it seems like a clever signing. He has already earned them one point, with an excellent free kick against Chelsea. There will be times that Burnley struggle to keep hold of the ball against better sides, like they did on Sunday. There will be times that they are outplayed by even mediocre sides, but players like Brady will give them the chance to score from almost nothing.

[Courtois happy to escape Turf Moor with a draw]

A disappointing weekend for… Mauricio Pochettino

To their credit, Spurs have given up their ‘lads, it’s Spurs’ identity for most of the season. There are still elements of that same mental weakness, such as whenever they play Manchester United or when they crumbled against Chelsea last season. And as much as Mauricio Pochettino has improved them again this season, while adding to his squad, there are traces of frailty. Their performances in the Champions League were pitiful, losing to teams they would usually beat in England.

[A look at the relegation battle: Who’s going down?]

And there is also the fact that against the top sides, Spurs have just one victory in their last 16 matches away to the top six. This is not just a Spurs problem, now it is a Pochettino problem. Pochettino has established Spurs as Champions League contenders, and they are a fraction off being title challengers, too. Pochettino deserves praise for getting Spurs to this point – few would have imagined it possible. But, he will regard his time as something of a failure if he cannot take the talent of Dele Alli and Harry Kane, match it to defensive solidity, and go on further.

The defeat to Liverpool is irritating for them, because it was so slapdash. They weren’t overrun by the excellence of Jurgen Klopp’s side. Liverpool were much improved, but they weren’t back to their best. At least that would have provided some excuse. No, this was about Spurs letting Liverpool win. It can’t go on for another season.

Playing for a move to Real Madrid… Juan Mata

It wouldn’t have seemed likely, but Juan Mata left Jose Mourinho and endured David Moyes, then Louis van Gaal, and still managed to become a better player in the process. He has moved on again, this time as Mourinho decided that he should be retained.

Mata hasn’t always started, but he has played 31 games for United this season, and scored nine goals. His performance in front of goal has highlighted just how wasteful Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial and others have been. But it isn’t just his goalscoring that has proved essential to United. While far from perfect, he has offered help on both wings and played through the middle. He has allowed Wayne Rooney to be phased out without a hiccup. He has featured as a captain, and he has made the difference in tight games.

Mata’s style has not changed, as such, it has merely become more efficient in Mourinho’s absence, and then again in his presence. He could be stronger and quicker, but he contributes more than anyone else does in this current side. Mata opened the scoring – again – for United, this time against Watford. He has talked about making a return to Spain when he finally wins the league with his current side – now he would not look out of place with Real Madrid, or even Barcelona.

Most important goal of the weekend… Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane is back to show how lacking other strikers are in the Premier League. He has pace, technique, and the awareness of when and how to make his runs. He cuts across defenders, he goes down when a foul is on offer, and he has the strength to stay upright when a chance of a goal is better than taking a free kick.

As mentioned, Liverpool weren’t especially impressive against Spurs, but they didn’t have to be. Spurs were a rabble in their defence, and weren’t able to summon the resilience to make a proper attempt to pull Liverpool back. Lucas Leiva had an unusually good game, which aided their defence, but the main positive was Mane. He demonstrated the advantage of being ruthless when chances are given to you, and the rest of the team then demonstrated just how much easier it is to defend when that is all you need to do to claim three points.