Manchester United’s over-reliance on Casemiro exposed as Spurs’ miserable home run continues – Premier League hits and misses | Premier League Soccer News

Over-reliance on Casemiro highlights the need for reinforcements in midfield

Casemiro is 33 years old and in the final year of his contract with Manchester United, and while it’s fair to admit that his glory days are behind him, he remains a vital cog in manager Ruben Amorim’s midfield.

Of the 20 goals United have conceded this season, five have come when Casemiro has been on the pitch. The other 15 goals they shipped came without him. That pattern was evident in United’s 2-2 draw with Spurs.

Casemiro was sent off with less than 20 minutes remaining and United took the lead in the first half thanks to Brian Mbeumo’s header. The Spurs then scored twice late in the game when he left the field.

Casemiro’s influence on United is undeniable, but Amorim’s over-reliance on the Brazil international further reflects the club’s need to find a suitable successor in midfield. United made it a priority to sign a new midfielder in the summer, but those plans may need to be accelerated.
William Bitibili

Spurs’ poor performance at home continues

Tottenham’s home form is simply not good enough for a team aiming to qualify for next season’s Champions League. In the 2025 Premier League, no team in history will have fewer home points than this one.

That run continued under manager Thomas Frank, with their only league win of the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium coming against promoted side Burnley on the opening weekend.

That fact looked certain to change when Richarlison slotted in Wilson Odbert’s cross in the first minute of stoppage time to make it 2-1 against Man United.

However, Matthijs de Ligt scored the equalizer in the 96th minute, extending the Spurs’ record of unbeaten home runs in this tournament to five.

Despite these struggles and a rash of injuries, with 10 players missing, Spurs remain third in the table. In order for Spurs to become favorites for the championship, it is extremely important to sort out the competition at home.
Ginny Boswell

The pressure was on the forwards and Arsenal’s defense was finally broken.

Good things don’t last forever and in Arsenal’s case, their clean sheet ended at the Stadium of Light.

812 minutes after their last goal conceded, Dan Ballard proved it is indeed possible to beat David Raya, reminding the Premier League that the Gunners are not invincible.

That doesn’t mean Mikel Arteta’s side will be conceding goals left, right or centre, but it does mean they will need to be more clinical at the other end.

Arteta will point out that he lacked some attacking options. Victor Gokeres was joined on the sideline by Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke, but the Gunners still created 17 chances.

Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard may have scored, but they also squandered good chances. William Saliba may not be the type of player to hit the net, but when he looks back on today’s game, he will think he might see his name on the scoresheet.

If we had gotten one more clean sheet, it wouldn’t have mattered in the grand scheme of things. But it ends up costing you more.

There is no doubting Saka’s quality. Trossard is underrated. Merino is a viable option as a number 9. The strain will continue to be on the other players until they get back to fitness, and if more nights like this start to affect their title chances, their performances will be called into question.
Callum Bishop

Sunderland have proven they can make anyone play their way.

You will have noticed that Sunderland were at the bottom of the Premier League table which many predicted at the start of the season. But results like this prove exactly why they’re not even close to falling.

Indeed, the Black Cats were at the mercy of Arsenal in the second half, with Arsenal looking like they were going to score on almost every attack. But the beginning was a completely different story.

Regis Le Bris’ team put in a great performance in the first 45 minutes. And it wasn’t by playing the prettiest football. It was by forcing their opponents to play the game the way they wanted.

The resolute nature of Sunderland’s rearguard performance began to frustrate the Gunners and by the time they conceded a goal, they simply played into the hands of the hosts. Stupid free kick, rushed decision in the final third. True, after the break they calmed down, but Sunderland rattled them.

The fact that they were able to achieve this against a side who would have been nine points clear at the top of the Premier League if they had won speaks volumes about what the newly-promoted side have been able to do. Tonight and throughout the season so far.

When people say there are no easy games in the Premier League, Sunderland are proof they will continue to pay attention.
Callum Bishop

Are Chelsea real candidates to win the Premier League?

There were boos at halftime and a standing ovation at the final whistle. There was a huge change in atmosphere at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea finally collapsed and tore apart Wolves.

Chelsea supporters also celebrated before kick-off, watching on TV screens inside the stadium as Arsenal were beaten by Sunderland. These two results leave Chelsea second in the Premier League title race, just six points behind the Gunners.

Are the world champions current Premier League contenders?

Draw a big circle around Chelsea vs. Arsenal, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on November 30th.

That could be the day Chelsea establish real momentum. Or a day when their flaws are highlighted.

Very quickly, this team becomes very polished and full of potential. Others seem stuck and lacking ideas. Cole Palmer’s return to fitness should at least contribute to the quality of the final third, but the number nine remains a challenge with Liam Delap and Mark Giu currently off the pace.

After the third international holiday of the season, the harsh and decisive winter months begin. Chelsea are in a good position, as they were at this stage last season. Will they be able to run for the crown?
peter smith

The doomed wolf needs a miracle

Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neill said the club needed a “reset”. It will take a miracle to stay in the Premier League.

All top teams with 2 points or less at this stage will be relegated. Man City (2) in 1995/96, Sunderland (2) in 2016/17, Sheffield United (1) in 2020/21 (1) and 2023/24, and Norwich (2) in 2021/22.

The last time Wolves failed to win their opening 11 games was in 1983, when they were relegated from the top flight. It is almost impossible to prevent something like this from happening again.

Rob Edwards will have to consider very carefully whether it is worth leaving high-altitude Middlesbrough for a team that can overtake him along the way.

Wolves sold their best player in the summer and with striker Jorgen Strand Larsen struggling for service and form, there is no fate in sight. There will be not only a long winter, but a long season.
david richardson

Soucek introduces the atmosphere of Whack-A-Mole

Tomas Soucek will still be scoring goals for West Ham in the Premier League 20 years from now. probably.

Watching him at West Ham always reminds me of the classic 1990s game of Whack-A-Mole. Just when he disappears from the first team’s eyes and seems like he’s been hit so hard on the head that he can’t get back on his feet, he suddenly appears and makes a huge contribution to the club.

Acting as an emergency striker for the final 15 minutes of this crucial clash against Burnley, his role provided the spark the Hammers lacked as the game progressed. His feet may not move as fast as they once did, but his game intelligence and the annoyance factor he brings is certainly still there.

“Every time Soucek played against me, he was a nightmare,” manager Nuno Espirito Santo said. In the last 44 minutes on the pitch as a striker, the Czech batsman scored two goals and played a major role in the additional goal. I can’t hold him back.
lewis jones

Toffees take control as Fulham squander chances

Everton’s midfield set the tone from the first whistle, with Idrissa Gana Gueye driving the team forward and capping off a dominant first half with the opening goal. His energy and control allowed the Toffees to dictate the tempo and keep Fulham contained for long periods.

Michael Keane’s late header sealed the point and reflected Everton’s growing confidence under manager David Moyes. The defender looked confident at the back and dangerous at set-pieces, producing one of his most complete performances of the season.

For Everton, it felt like a statement of control and composure, and a reminder that they are growing under Moyes.

But Fulham will be frustrated. They improved after the break, with Josh King and Rodrigo Muniz forcing saves from Jordan Pickford, but a lack of quality in the final third proved their downside once again as pressure mounted near the bottom.
Sam Cohen