Reckless Cristian Romero costs Spurs with Michael Carrick cracking it at Man Utd – Premier League hits and misses | Football News

Carrick’s high-stakes audition couldn’t have started better

Manchester United have won four Premier League games in a row for the first time since February 2024 under Erik ten Hag. It’s taken two years, but it seems like Michael Carrick has cracked it. He was true to form post-match, calm and controlled in his exchanges with reporters, emphasising that nothing has been achieved yet. He’s right, tangibly it hasn’t.

But for these long-suffering United fans, the gift of four on the bounce will feel like a lottery win. These are heady times, given what came before. Carrick’s United have already eclipsed last season’s points total with over a third of the season remaining. It’s impossible to overstate the underperformance in the 18 months preceding his appointment, but equally important to highlight the impact since.

Casemiro is in his best form as a United player. Luke Shaw is also rolling back the years. Diogo Dalot looks transformed. And the decision to leave Kobbie Mainoo out in the cold for so long by the previous regime is looking sillier by the week. Combined, the team have scored 10 goals in four under Carrick, and conceded just four. The improvement across the board is as obvious on the eye as it is measured by results.

Man Utd’s decision makers have plenty to ponder if this upturn is here to stay.
Laura Hunter

Difficult irony to Romero’s latest eruption

Cristian Romero as captain is a problem for Thomas Frank, despite him not wanting to admit it. Continually, Romero has proved himself to be unreliable and reckless. And now he’s surely also beginning to lose some of the respect of his team-mates, sent off for the second time this season at the cost of a four-game suspension. He’s the first player to be sent off twice in the Premier League this season.

Some might argue he should not have even started the game at Old Trafford given his midweek rant about the Tottenham squad’s “disgraceful depth”, but Frank backed him. He badly let his manager down. Now he’s lost the moral high ground too.

There is something awfully ironic about a player so troubled by Tottenham’s lack of options that he took to social media to spell out his gripe publicly, who himself is now unavailable to feature for his team until mid-March. Romero has one red card for every 25 games he has played for the club. Those in glass houses should not throw stones – the defender would be wise to remember that.
Laura Hunter

Has Gyokeres found a new role at Arsenal?

Gabriel Jesus’ return from injury has meant one key thing from the perspective of Viktor Gyokeres. He is no longer guaranteed to lead the line for Arsenal.

Given it has been a tough season for the Swede, it may have been easy for him to go into his shell even more. He has been used to averaging a goal a game or better in the last couple of seasons. With 11 goals in 31 appearances for the Gunners, he is well off those levels.

But a noticeable improvement is apparent. The 27-year-old has eight goal involvements in his last eight games. In 2026, he has more goals than any other Premier League player across all competitions.

Yes, some might point to the opposition in some of these. Kairat Almaty should’ve been brushed aside. Leeds and Sunderland are not easy games, but still ones you’d expect Arsenal to win. But amongst that are also goals and assists against Chelsea and Inter Milan too.

Notably, the goal against Inter was similar to his second against the Black Cats. Gyokeres was able to bear down on goal with the opposition pressing. The finishes were different, but the nature was the same. And he was fresher having come off the bench.

Perhaps that’s the key for unlocking the best from Gyokeres towards the back end of the season. With Jesus and Havertz back as options, does Arteta look at Gyokeres as more of an impact player on the bench.

That role would appear to suit his strengths some more. Very rarely do Arsenal play in a way that allows Gyokeres the chance to run in behind and get a march on defenders, since they are usually holding possession in areas high up the pitch.

But, in tight games like against Inter or Sunderland, their resolute defensive structure means they can soak up pressure and then hit teams on the break. With Gyokeres fresh and up top in those moments, there’s no player in that Gunners squad they’d rather have leading the charge.

The strength in depth Arteta has at his disposal is going to be crucial from now until the end of the season. Nine goals from the bench is the highest of any Premier League club and proves just how much quality he has. But just as important as that. is how he utilises it.

Would Gyokeres have been dreaming of coming to the Emirates to be a player to come off the bench? Of course not. However, that may be where he is most effective from now up until the season’s end.
Callum Bishop

Luck running out for ‘uninspiring’ Villa

Defying expected goals has been a common theme for Aston Villa this season but it looks like their luck is beginning to run out.

Morgan Rogers’ well-taken goal was against the run of play and the promise they showed in the early stages of this game quickly faded.

A tally of just 0.44 xG highlights the lack of cutting edge, intent and quality in the final third which plagued this performance.

If it wasn’t for Emiliano Martinez and the seven saves he made, Villa would have walked away empty-handed.

A nine-point gap to Arsenal at the top of the table has quickly opened and dreams of competing for the title have shifted to fears over the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United closing in behind them.

They still hold an eight-point gap on Liverpool in sixth but if they continue to play like this, that will reduce and their hopes of securing Champions League football will follow suit.

In both the defeat to Brentford and the draw to Bournemouth, Villa have been dull and uninspiring. Injuries have plagued the squad, but there is no time for excuses; Villa need to find their spark again.
Patrick Rowe

Semenyo’s replacement Rayan shining already

One goal, one assist – Rayan’s already lighting up the Premier League after just two appearances.

The 19-year-old Brazilian is seen as Antoine Semenyo’s long-term replacement after signing for Bournemouth in a £30.3m deal from Vasco da Gama during the January transfer window.

The winger came on to provide an assist in the 2-0 victory at Wolves last weekend and was then handed his first start against Aston Villa, hitting the crossbar with a header in the first half before netting the equaliser in the second.

Rayan’s size instantly makes him stand out. He is not as lightweight as his compatriot Estevao at Chelsea and is more of a direct runner like Semenyo. That’s how he scored what should be the first of many for Bournemouth, driving past Lucas Digne into the area before finishing.

He will have little issue in adapting to the physicality of the Premier League, winning eight of his 13 duels against Villa and under Andoni Iraola, he can be moulded into the club’s next hot property.
David Richardson

Summerville can write himself into West Ham folklore

West Ham love a talisman. A maverick-type individual who doesn’t necessarily bend or sway in the same direction of the team but will always deliver.

From Carlos Tevez to Dimitri Payet, an individual who captures the hearts and minds of Hammers is West Ham heritage.

Crysencio Summerville could be another talisman on a long line of individual stars at West Ham as he continues drive West Ham’s survival bid.

His fifth straight goal in as many matches at Burnley was a crucial one. For many obvious reasons, as it set the tone for the Hammers’ eventual victory.

However, on a personal note, it marks the “coming of a Hammer” for Summerville, who hadn’t scored all season before his current run.

While his talent has never been questioned since making the move from Leeds in 2024, his consistency due to injury has hindered his overall impact.

There’s no time like the present for Summerville to continue to leave his mark, with West Ham in need of someone to guide them into Premier League safety.
William Bitibiri

Palmer magic hat-trick provides much-needed confidence boost

In a season marred by injury and frustration, doubts about Cole Palmer were just starting to creep into mainstream football conversation.

Before Saturday’s win at Wolves, Palmer had just four goals this season, with only two Premier League goals from open play since January 2025, and looked a player bereft of confidence in a disappointing substitute appearance against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

How about a hat-trick to silence the doubters?

With this triple, Palmer became the first player in Premier League history to score three hat-tricks in the first half of a match, while his four hat-tricks overall are the most of any Chelsea player in Premier League history.

But it was the manner of his three goals which will mean so much to the Chelsea star. He took his two penalties with his quintessential coolness – and smashing in his hat-trick goal from open play three minutes after his second displayed the confident Palmer Chelsea fans had grown so used to seeing in the last two seasons.

“In terms of Cole, we know what a world-class player he is,” said new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, who lauded his hat-trick hero throughout his post-match press conference.

“He’s played a lot of football for the last year, not much rest, but when he’s at his best, he’s unstoppable.”

With eight wins in their last 10 games, Chelsea are a team on the up – and a fully-fit, confident Palmer will only increase opponents’ fears of an already formidable side.
Noah Langford

Wolves regret opening up after ‘ludicrous’ errors

Rob Edwards had seen his side go a whole month without scoring a Premier League goal so perhaps the Wolves boss could be forgiven going with such an attacking line-up for the visit of Chelsea. It was a 4-2-3-1 with Angel Gomes as a deep-lying playmaker.

“We wanted to be really positive, we wanted to be brave, press higher, and then we wanted to try and have more of an attacking threat on the pitch. Removing a defender and putting a more attacking player on it, simply speaking that was the thinking.”

He abandoned the plan when 3-0 down inside the first half. The penalties conceded by Matt Doherty and Yerson Mosquera were labelled “ludicrous mistakes” by Edwards. His side threatened to capitulate in the minutes that followed before going to a back five.

The issues were as much mental as tactical but it was a chastening reminder for Edwards of the fragility – just one of the reasons why Wolves are rooted to the bottom of the table. Dealing with these battle scars is just part of the challenge he faces now.
Adam Bate

If Howe can’t fix Newcastle slump, it could get ugly

The boos that rang around St James’ Park were angry and pointed. Newcastle fans expect better than this.

Eddie Howe was keen to accept that – but also provide mitigating circumstances. Five injured players are out in Joelinton, Fabian Schar, Tino Livarmento, Lewis Miley and Anthony Gordon. There is also a hectic fixture list which is not holding up, while simple mistakes are being punished.

The excuses have been there all season for Newcastle. A lack of attacking fluency could go date back to Alexander Isak’s transfer saga – that set the club back in their pre-season preparations. Newcastle now don’t know who their No 9 is out of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, perhaps Isak’s transfer drama is finally catching up with them.

But there are also circumstances that Howe can control. Newcastle have conceded 15 goals in their last five games – even though defence is an area the club actually strengthened in last summer.

Everything that made Howe’s Newcastle hard to beat is drifting away. And that tough fixture list, it’s hotting up. Up next are four testing away games in Spurs, Aston Villa, Qarabag and Man City. If Howe can’t find a solution to this slump, this could get ugly.
Sam Blitz

Moyes is not stupid – Everton can qualify for Europe

Everton manager David Moyes was not sure whether to talk up his side’s European prospects or play them down after their late come-from-behind win at Fulham, and instead ended up doing both!

“Hugely important (win) and I think it probably keeps us away from the big R word at the bottom of the league, that’s for sure,” he initially said after the game without a hint of sarcasm, before revealing his true feelings.

“I don’t want to come in here and say we’re trying to avoid relegation. I don’t want to do that because Everton have had too much bad news and bad publicity, so I’d rather come in here and say we’re having a go at Europe.

“You might laugh at me in a few weeks’ time and say, ‘How stupid was I’, but I’d rather be positive.”

However, with the Toffees now in a tightly congested pack hot on the tails of sixth-placed Liverpool, Moyes and his players really can dare to dream of a first European appearance for nine seasons and why not, given their impressive form since the Scot returned to manage the club last January.

In fact, Everton rank sixth for points won in that time, so do not be shocked if that is where they finish come May.
Richard Morgan

Home advantage helps Leeds launch themselves away from danger

Elland Road. Under the lights. It’s a formidable challenge for any Premier League side and the home advantage Leeds garner in these matches was plain to see on a wet, windy and wildly successful night for Daniel Farke’s side. They’ve won all five of their evening kick-offs here this season now.

The playing surface wasn’t ideal for either side – Farke suggested it was more suitable for sheep than footballers – but Leeds’ high-intensity play, fuelled by the energy of their supporters, left Forest stuck in the mud.

Across the pitch, Leeds players were excellent, from Karl Darlow’s saves and James Justin’s chance creation to Iliev Gruev’s box-to-box excellence and the goal-scoring of Jayden Bogle, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Their nine-point advantage on the drop zone was trimmed to six by Saturday’s win for West Ham but that made this impressive thumping of Forest all the more important. A tricky run of fixtures is coming up but with points on the board and taking the confidence from this display, Farke’s side should be optimistic of winning this Premier League survival battle.
Peter Smith