Thomas Woods reflects on Saturday’s Premier League matches and offers his thoughts on some of the biggest talking points.
Pedro getting a second chance
Pedro was in a situation at Barcelona where there were constant doubts of just how good he was.
He scored 99 goals in 321 games for the Spanish giants but he was also part of a team that contained Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Surely chances fell into his lap and he just had to finish them.
Last season’s move to Chelsea seemed to back up the theory that he would not amount to much away from Barca. A bright start, particularly on debut against West Bromwich Albion when he scored one and set up another in a 3-2 win at The Hawthorns, soon turned into mediocrity as Chelsea’s season descended into chaos.
But manager Antonio Conte has found a role for Pedro and, and as with fellow wide man Victor Moses, the Spain international is repaying the Italian’s faith.
Chelsea suddenly have plenty of attacking options and Pedro is one. He’s not flashy but has technique in abundance and the pace to terrorise defenders, as Manchester United discovered to their detriment after 30 seconds during the 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro is a player who, given the right conditions and support, can be very effective.
Those conditions are the 3-4-3 formation, the support of Eden Hazard and the freedom to make runs in behind the opposition back four.
It worked well on Saturday with his stunning goal just before half-time sparking the comeback in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
• Greg Lea from Stamford Bridge: Tottenham again come undone at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea cement title credentials
Llorente could be Swansea’s new Michu
Spanish striker Fernando Llorente came off the bench to great effect in Swansea City’s spectacular 5-4 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
It’s a result that could turn the Welsh side’s season and it may prompt manager Bob Bradley to have a re-think about his starting XI.
Bradley has been playing Gylfi Sigurdsson in a false nine position in a 4-3-3 formation, which is a fine idea in getting your best attacking player in the most prominent goalscoring positions.
Llorente is a very different player — 6ft 4ins tall, great in the air, and a huge physical presence. He’s also decent with his feet too and, at his peak, was banging goals in for Athletic Bilbao and being linked with big-money moves all around Europe.
In the end, a switch to Juventus was not a huge success but his quality hasn’t gone away. Swansea just need to get it out of him.
It seems obvious, but regular starts and a team playing to his strengths will only see Llorente improve. If he starts firing regularly he will be a handful for the best defences.
Swansea were inspired by a fine Spanish signing in goalscoring midfielder Michu four seasons ago and Llorente has the potential to have the same impact.
• PL results and round-up: Chelsea end Tottenham's unbeaten start, Swansea prevail in nine-goal thriller
Coutinho injury a nightmare for Liverpool
As well as Liverpool have performed this season, Philippe Coutinho is the one player whose mere presence on the pitch takes the team to another level and transforms them from top four hopefuls to title contenders.
The Brazilian was taken off on a stretcher during Saturday’s win 2-0 win over Sunderland and looks likely to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
This might be a knee-jerk reaction but here goes: Liverpool’s title challenge is over.
With such competition at the top of the table, there is a fine line separating Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool — the four main contenders.
Major injuries to Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez would probably derail title challenges from their respective sides too.
Liverpool don’t have a player to replace Coutinho and this injury is going to be the difference between a top-four finish and winning the title.
• Richard Jolly at Anfield: Joy and despair for Liverpool as victory over Sunderland is marred by serious Coutinho injury
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