Premier League talking points: Liverpool must block out noise and Haaland hits his stride again

We look at five talking points from the past weekend as the English top flight pauses for League Cup and FA Cup action

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, centre, separates teammate Diogo Jota and Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte during a heated match at Anfield that finished 2-2. AFP

Liverpool began the New Year where they ended 2024 – with a six-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

That is despite being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United on Sunday. Arne Slot's side led until the dying minutes, meaning they failed to extend their lead after closest challengers Arsenal and Chelsea were also held to draws, by Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace respectively.

Manchester City looked to have put an end to their horror run that saw them win just two of the previous 14 games by hammering West Ham United 4-1 for their second consecutive victory.

At the other end of the table, Southampton's dismal return to the top flight continued as they shipped five goals for the second time this season in defeat to Brentford to remain marooned at the bottom of the table.

We look at five talking points from the past weekend as the Premier League pauses for League Cup and FA Cup action in the week to come.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot shakes hands with Trent Alexander-Arnold, far right, after the right-back was substituted against Manchester United. Reuters

Will transfer rumours derail Liverpool?

Trent Alexander-Arnold endured a game to forget as Liverpool were held to a draw at Anfield by bitter rivals Manchester United.

The defender was at fault for United's first goal, nonchalantly sticking out a foot as Bruno Fernandes ghosted inside before supplying a pass for Lisandro Martinez to fire home.

Nearly 60 per cent of United's attacks came down Alexander-Arnold's right channel in the first half, with Ruben Amorim obviously identifying a weakness in Liverpool's backline to be exploited.

Reds boss Arne Slot was quick to defend his player after the match, playing down the suggestion that rumours of an approach from Real Madrid had affected Alexander-Arnold's performance.

It's forgivable for Alexander-Arnold to have had an off day, and a draw against United is hardly the worst result despite their previous wretched form.

But with Alexander-Arnold's contract situation mirroring that of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk – all three are entering the final six months of their contracts at Anfield – it is also logical to ask whether the outside distraction will soon take a toll on the runaway leaders.

Haaland hitting his stride again

It says something about Erling Haaland's phenomenal start to the season that the Manchester City striker recently went four league games without a goal – and only one in his previous four before that – and yet still sits second in the scoring charts with 16.

Having hit a barren run, the Norway international now has three in his last two matches. City backed up last week's win at Leicester with a big victory over West Ham, with Haaland bagging a brace at the Etihad Stadium.

City might still be far from their best – a sentiment manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged after the match – but a return to winning ways is always a welcome tonic.

And with his main man seemingly firing again, Guardiola must instil the belief that has carried City to four successive Premier League triumphs.

Retaining the title seems beyond them this season, trailing Liverpool as they do by 12 points having played a game more. But with the Reds still fighting on four fronts – Slot's men face Tottenham in the first of two semi-final legs of the League Cup on Wednesday, plus the FA Cup and Uefa Champions League commitments – City must claw back as much ground as possible and hope Liverpool misfire at some point and be ready to pounce.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left frustrated after only drawing with Brighton. Reuters

Will Arsenal pay for lack of top striker?

Just when it appeared as though Arsenal could put real pressure on Liverpool they stumbled at Brighton, drawing 1-1 – the ninth game in which they have dropped points this season.

Only Liverpool and Tottenham have scored more than the Gunners' tally of 39 Premier League goals but their top scorer is Kai Havertz, with just seven.

Liverpool's Egyptian forward Salah leads the way with 18 and Manchester City's Norwegian centre-forward Haaland has 16.

Arsenal huffed and puffed against Brighton, mustering just nine shots, with only three on target.

In mitigation, Havertz was missing with an illness and captain Martin Odegaard was only fit enough for a place on the bench while Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's most dangerous attacker, is a long-term absentee.

Mikel Arteta, whose team have finished as runners-up over the past two seasons, may be forced to act in the January transfer window if he is to give his side the edge they need.

Postecoglou left fuming

Beleaguered Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was left fuming as visitors Newcastle United came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over his depleted squad.

Anthony Gordon cancelled out Dominic Solanke’s fourth-minute opener, but only after Lucas Bergvall’s attempted pass had come back off Joelinton’s arm, before Alexander Isak’s 12th goal in as many league games secured the Magpies a sixth successive victory in all competitions.

Postecoglou said: “I’m just really, really angry. Angriest I think I have ever been in my career.”

He added: “I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I’ll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that.”

And while the Australian may have good reason to gripe at the officials and the injuries that have decimated his squad, what can't be ignored is the North London's club alarming downwards spiral.

Defeat – the fifth in the last seven league games – dropped Spurs to 12th place and 12 points off the top four. Postecoglou rightly pointed out the performances of 18-year-olds Archie Gray and Bergvall for praise, but unless results improve, the Australian may find his days at the club numbered.

Are Southampton the worst Premier League team ever?

The Saints, promoted last season after a single campaign in the Championship, have mustered a mere six points from 20 games.

That is one point fewer than Derby County – statistically the worst team in Premier League history – managed at the same stage during the 2007/08 season. They went on to win 11 points in total.

Southampton, who replaced manager Russell Martin with Croatian Ivan Juric last month, have just one win this season but have lost 16 times, with a minus 32 goal difference.

Juric has fared little better than his predecessor, losing all three games. On Saturday, Southampton's sorry season sank to a new low as they crashed to a 5-0 defeat at home to Brentford.

A dispirited Juric said it was an "awful" game, adding: "There has just been two weeks but I expected more, that I could do more with the team."

Southampton are almost certainly doomed but can they find the energy to at least surpass Derby's mark?