Leicester City 4-2 Manchester City: Pep’s square pegs come a cropper against rampant champions

Pep Guardiola’s insistence upon fielding players out of position within a bewildering array of tactical systems that they scarcely understand led to a facile evisceration by Claudio Ranieri’s under-fire champions. Continue reading

Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal: Toothless Wenger selection extends Mou hoodoo

Although Olivier Giroud’s late header earned his Arsenal side a scarcely-merited point, Arsene Wenger’s undue preoccupation with possession – at the expense of penetration – resulted in the Frenchman’s 12th consecutive failure to inflict defeat on José Mourinho. Continue reading

Manchester United 0-0 Burnley: Heaton heroics and first-half conservatism foil ten-man United

Tom Heaton’s heroics, paired with the dismissal of Ander Herrera, limited the impact of Manchester United’s second-half tactical rejig, ensuring that José Mourinho’s side paid for yet another anaemic first-half performance by dropping two points to Sean Dyche’s Burnley. Continue reading

Bournemouth 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Congested Spurs attack plays into Howe’s hands

Mauricio Pochettino’s obsession with controlling the central midfield battle against fellow pressers Bournemouth rendered his attack completely toothless and cost Tottenham Hotspur the opportunity to top the Premier League. Continue reading