Talking Points of the Weekend

Phil Foden is back to his best

Phil Foden hasn't been at his brilliant best since he returned from World Cup duty with his form leading him to being dropped from the City team. But now he appears to be back to his best after 4 goals from his last 3 games in all competitions. City won all those games and Foden was crucial in all of them.

His place in the City team appeared to be lost during his absence as Jack Grealish was playing well on that left hand side which is where Foden has played a lot of his football for City. Grealish appeared to make that position his own with the performances he was putting in.

Foden's absence from the team appeared to do him good as he gave him the chance to have a look at himself and see what he needed to do to win his place back. He clearly worked hard in training during his absence from the team as his performances have been much improved since his return to the side.

He's gliding past opponents in the same way he has done throughout his career and is getting in the right positions to score goals and create chances for his teammates. He's got his confidence back by doing these things alongside playing well overall and he'll hopefully keep up the form he's currently in now that he's back to playing at his best and with a confidence.

Do Newcastle need a striker?

The goals have dried up for Newcastle in recent weeks with just 3 scored since the turn of the year. They had a number of good chances against Man City on Saturday but couldn't take them and it's been the case for them for their last few games. So do they need to buy a striker this summer?

If they end up missing out on a top four finish this season they might need to because their lack of a goal scorer could well cost them. They also have ambitions to play Champions League football and for them to get there they need may that centre forward who can guarantee them at least 15 goals a season.

They do however have two very good strikers at the club in Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. But both aren't in the best of form at the minute. Wilson has struggled to regain the form he was in before the World Cup which lead him to going to the tournament itself with England. Isak meanwhile is still adjusting to a new league and working his way back to full fitness after a long spell on the side-lines now long after arriving from Real Sociedad in the summer. Both players are proven goal scorers on their day and especially when they're both fit. They may be struggling for form at the moment but they're still capable of scoring a handful of goals at this level.

Are Crystal Palace in a relegation battle?

9 games without a win and 5 points above the relegation zone with some tough fixtures coming up. Crystal Palace could soon find themselves in the relegation mix if their form doesn't improve and the teams below pick up points. So are the Eagles in a relegation battle?

Patrick Vieira's side are the only team yet to win a game in 2023 with their record currently standing at 4 defeats and 5 draws. Their performances in some of those games have been ok but they just weren't able to get themselves over the line. They've scored just 4 times since the turn of the year and their currently goal tally of 21 for the season is the 5th lowest in the league.

Goals have been their main problem this season and their lack of them is why they haven't won since the turn of the year. They have got Wilfried Zaha back from injury which is a massive boost and he'll hopefully give them what they've been lacking during his absence. But other than him Palace have no consistent goal threat. They're lacking an out and out no.9 who can regularly score goals and have done for a number of years. There is an argument for them missing Conor Gallagher as he got 8 goals during his loan spell last season. But Palace are still lacking that forward who can consistently score goals.

They have a tough run of games coming up with Man City, Brighton and Arsenal in their next three before games in April against teams who are in the relegation battle. They could find themselves in the relegation picture if they don't win any of their next three games and if the teams below them pick up points during that time.

Can thumping win over United be the result that kick starts Liverpool's season?

Liverpool looked like their old selves in their 7-0 win over Man United on Sunday which was a result that nobody saw coming. Their pressing was back to what it has been over the years, they broke away at the same pace and intensity they used to break at and their front line looked more cohesive than it has been all season.

Now can this result be the one that kick starts their season?

The reds have struggled for consistency for much of the season as they haven't been able to build on crucial results and go on a run of form to build some momentum. The result at the weekend will hopefully give them confidence but whether they can follow it over the next few weeks remains to be seen given how inconistent they've been this season.

They have however started to find some form having picked up 4 wins from their last 5 games which have put them right back in the mix for a top four finish. They looked completely out it a couple of months ago but their recent results and other sides dropping points have put them right back in it. Some people think that they can finish there as they have a game in hand. But they need to win their other games as well as their game in hand if they're to finish there at the end of the season.

Their front line has looked disjointed for much of the season but the three they played against United in Salah, Nunez and Gakpo looked like a trio who knew each other. They've all played together for the last few games which has helped as it's given them all an understanding of each other. It has taken time for all of them to gel together but their performances at the weekend with give them and the team a lot of confidence. They now need to keep this up if they're to end the season strongly.