Updated at 21.01
1. Mixed day for referees
Despite the recent introduction of goal-line technology, it’s no surprise that poor refereeing decisions remain prominent in football.
There was certainly more than one today, with Wes Brown inexplicably sent off for this challenge, while in the Merseyside Derby, the referee showed a substantial degree of leniency to both sides at various points.
That said, the officials at Goodison Park also deserve praise for the way in which they allowed the game to flow for much of this afternoon’s match.
Far too many recent games have been killed stone dead by whistle-happy referees, hence today’s Everton-Liverpool clash was a refreshing anomaly.
2. Is Frank Lampard England’s most underappreciated star?
Not for the first time, Frank Lampard came back to haunt his old club, scoring twice as Chelsea beat West Ham 3-0 today.
The player, who somewhat incredibly for a midfielder is Chelsea’s all-time top scorer, looks as much a goal threat as ever at 35.
He has he been remarkably consistent for well over a decade now, and unusually for a high-profile footballer, also has had virtually no off-field indiscretions over the course of his career.
Yet strangely, a persistent few continue to doubt his ability and continually disrespect him with lurid chants.
Of course, Lampard has patently never been a classical midfielder in the style of Paul Scholes or Xabi Alonso — players with an impressive and rare ability to dictate a game — yet this caveat should by no means detract from his status as an all-time great.
3. Liverpool’s inability to defend set pieces is letting them down
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There was much to admire about Liverpool’s performance today.
As ever, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge delivered at vital times and the Anfield club showed good character to rescue a point late on despite being second best for much of the second half.
Nevertheless, it will surely not have escaped Brendan Rodgers’ attention that all three goals that Everton scored stemmed from his side’s failure to cope adequately with opposition set pieces.
It is not the first time this flaw has cost them dearly — they also were punished for their vulnerability in this regard amid their 2-2 draw with Newcastle back in October.
Consequently, if Brendan Rodgers’ stated aim of Champions League football is to remain viable, they will surely have to address this chronic problem.
4. Can Artur Boruc be relied upon?
It may seem harsh to point the finger at a goalkeeper who plays for the team with the second-best defensive record in the league, yet Artur Boruc has been badly at fault for two recent goals that Southampton have conceded.
Granted, the Polish goalkeeper can be excellent on his day — he would not have only been beaten seven times this season if that wasn’t the case — and Boruc has undoubtedly played an integral role in Southampton’s meteoric rise.
Yet throughout his career, the 33-year-old has shown a worrying tendency to suffer from lapses in concentration at inopportune moments.
His mistake today, which was the turning point in Arsenal’s ruthless 2-0 win over the Saints, was inexcusable, as was the recent well-documented concession of a goal against Stoke.
At this stage in his career, he should not be making such elementary errors and if he continues to do so, Mauricio Pochettino may have to get the chequebook out in January.
5. Hoolahan’s continuing absence from Norwich side a worry for Ireland
If Martin O’Neill plans to play an archetypal number 10 in the Ireland team, he’ll surely be worried that the main candidate for the role — Wes Hoolahan — has made just one league start all season for Norwich (in their 2-2 draw with Everton).
There was no reversal of this trend today, as the Canaries suffered another disappointing result, losing 2-1 to a much-improved Newcastle outfit.
Though the former Shels star did make a substitute appearance in the game this afternoon, he hardly had much time to impress, as he emerged from the bench in the 89th minute.
Norwich are currently just one point above the relegation zone and look set for a season-long fight to stay in the division. Hence, if Hoolahan continues to be effectively ignored even in such desperate circumstances, O’Neill will surely have to consider alternatives for Hoolahan, such as Aiden McGeady or Andy Reid.
