Manchester United has shown little improvement under Ruben Amorim, with the team looking toothless in attack and lacking leadership. They have lost four of their last five league games and are currently 14th in the table. Amorim has admitted he doesn't know how long it will take to turn things around, and the team's form has been reminiscent of the struggles under Erik ten Hag.
Vitor Pereira has had a strong start at Wolves, securing two victories and two clean sheets in his first two games. This is a significant improvement, as the team had only managed one clean sheet in the league prior to his arrival. Pereira's early success highlights the potential within the squad and contrasts with the struggles under his predecessor, Gary O'Neill.
Manchester City has struggled to find leaders on the pitch, with key players like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva failing to take control of games. The team has only won one of their last 13 matches, and there are signs of a blame culture emerging within the squad. Haaland, in particular, looks like he needs a rest, but City lacks adequate backup for him.
Everton has shown resilience under Sean Dyche, securing draws against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City in a challenging run of fixtures. This has helped the team feel more confident despite their precarious position in the league. Dyche's ability to instill resilience and character in the squad has been key to their improved performances.
Pedro Neto was criticized for his play-acting during Chelsea's match against Fulham. After a failed challenge, he went down clutching his face and rolled around for several minutes, even looking up to check if the referee had awarded a free kick. His theatrics were widely condemned as disgraceful and embarrassing.
Nani Mudueke was left out of Chelsea's squad against Fulham, and coach Enzo Maresca did not provide details about his absence. This has led to speculation that Mudueke's exclusion is due to poor application in training, as similar situations have occurred earlier in the season. Maresca has handled the situation quietly, leaving the door open for Mudueke to earn his place back.
John Duran was sent off for a stamp on Fabian Schär during Newcastle's match against Aston Villa. The incident was deemed reckless and intentional, with VAR confirming the red card. Duran's frustration over not being allowed to take a free kick earlier in the game may have contributed to his loss of composure.
Nottingham Forest has been surprisingly successful under Nuno Espírito Santo, currently sitting third in the Premier League. They have won games with less than 30% possession, relying on a strong defensive pairing of Murillo and Milenkovic. The team's balance and patience have earned the respect of their fans, who are happy with the counter-attacking style of play.
Welcome to part two of the 'It's All Kicking Off!' Christmas special!
Ian and Chris kick us off by focusing on Manchester United's struggles under Ruben Amorim, analysing the lack of progress they've made, whereas Wolves continued their resurgence under Vitor Perreira.
The pair look at Erling Haaland's form, Manchester City's areas of concern and the lack of leaders Pep Guardiola has at his disposal.
They also touch on Everton's resilience, Liverpool's dominance, and Chelsea's disappointing performance against Fulham (Pedro Neto, if you're listening, you may want to skip the section where Ian suggests what your play-acting punishment should be)
The discussion also highlights the surprising success of Nottingham Forest after another great City Ground win.
Presenters: Ian Ladyman and Chris Sutton
Producer: Henry Williams
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