Danny Higginbotham: West Ham must not isolate Andy Carroll, Arsenal more than match against anyone and Manchester United boosted by return of Paul Pogba
SunSport analyst discusses five talking points from the weekend, including Liverpool's deadly attack and Crystal Palace's resurgence under Roy Hodgson
DAVID MOYES will now realise what a massive job he has after yesterday’s loss to Watford.
And West Ham’s biggest problem is the amount of goals they are shipping.
But the new manager has to be so careful that, in sorting out the defence, he doesn’t forget the attack and leave Andy Carroll isolated.
The striker is excellent at holding up the ball and bringing his team-mates into play. But he can’t hold it up forever.
He needs quick support or he will lose it and drop deeper and deeper in an attempt to win the ball back.
That will cause nothing but frustration.
And there were flashes of it yesterday.
Also, it means West Ham have no way of stretching the opposition and doing them damage.
LIVERPOOL
OVER recent weeks, Liverpool have found a way to get the Fab Four — Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho into the
same team — while still staying strong defensively.
This has been due to playing two holding midfielders and keeping that box in the centre of the pitch, which adds security and stability.
LATEST WEST HAM NEWS
On Saturday, it was Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum doing that role.
This has led to an improvement in terms of being caught on the counter-attack by the ‘smaller’ teams.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Adam Lallana is fit. Will Jurgen Klopp then make it a Fab Five?
There is a way but he’d have to tweak the system he’s playing now.
ARSENAL
THE GUNNERS showed on Saturday that, on their day, they are a match for anyone.
They can always create chances and score given the talent they’ve got in their ranks.
They have won all six league games at home this season, scoring 15 and conceding four.
Their issue, though, is away from home.
Only three teams this season have fewer points on the road and only three teams have conceded more away goals.
That is why people question their mentality. Until they sort this side of their game out, then people always will.
CRYSTAL PALACE
AFTER failing to score in their first seven League matches, Palace have now scored six in their last five games.
They have Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend linking up well and Ruben Loftus-Cheek providing support from midfield.
But they haven’t kept a clean sheet yet this season. So Roy Hodgson needs to get the balance right and I’d back him to do that and keep Palace up — despite their horrible current position.
He is a clever manager and knows how to set a team up.
MANCHESTER UNITED
PAUL POGBA has been a huge loss for Man United over recent weeks when the goals have dried up and the performances lost that early-season sparkle.
Yes, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial stretch the game with their electric pace. But opposition teams have been sitting deep, not giving them space in behind.
Now if they try that, United have Pogba driving into that midfield area and causing havoc with his passing and shooting from distance.
It gives United an added dimension sides struggle to cope with.
