Premier League analysis: Five things we learned in Matchweek 28
Throughout Matchweek 28 of Premier League fixtures, there have been several lessons for certain clubs to learn from.
Newcastle, Leeds, Tottenham and Chelsea all have plenty to reflect on ahead of their respective midweek fixtures.
VAR, too, continues to highlight areas where improvement is needed to enhance the overall product of the Premier League.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joe Jones looks at the key lessons from Matchweek 28.
Everton exploit Newcastle’s weaknesses
David Moyes led Everton to yet another impressive away win this season.
Based purely on away form, Everton would sit second in the table. Unfortunately for the Toffees, home results have stalled their European push, making their season inconsistent.
The lesson for Newcastle was clear. Firstly, balance matters, and secondly, players must be used in their strongest positions.
Having £70m Woltemade in the number 10 role, Gordon deployed centrally, Joelinton out wide and Jacob Ramsey deeper in midfield contributed to a disjointed first half in which Newcastle were second best across the pitch.
Two deflected goals brought them back into the game on separate occasions. However, Everton responded within 105 seconds to restore their lead at 2-1, and then again just 74 seconds later to make it 3-2.
Everton now head to Burnley on Tuesday, while Eddie Howe’s side face a difficult trip to high flying Manchester United.
READ MORE: Premier League analysis: How set-piece situations are reshaping the top sides
Leeds show resilience but fall short
Daniel Farke’s men were ultimately unable to take anything from title-chasing Manchester City.
A disciplined, defensive performance at Elland Road was undone just before half-time as Antoine Semenyo tapped home a beautiful Rayan Ait-Nouri cross.
Leeds did have chances of their own in the first half, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin hitting one chance just wide in the early exchanges of the game.
Overall, the performance showed resilience, but it lacked a clinical edge. The defensive organisation on display will offer encouragement in the relegation battle, especially given the struggles of the teams below them.
The key takeaway from this fixture was the importance of home atmosphere.
The energy inside Elland Road helped keep Leeds competitive until the final whistle. However, Daniel Farke was sent off late on and will now miss the visit from Sunderland on Tuesday.
Tottenham slide deeper under Igor Tudor
Tottenham’s recent decline has been dramatic. Despite ending their trophy drought last season in the Europa League, their league form has collapsed and they now languish in 16th, just four points above the bottom three.
Igor Tudor has inherited a difficult situation. He lost his first game 4-1 at home to rivals Arsenal and followed that up with a 2-1 defeat to Fulham.
This means Spurs are now without a win in 11 league games, a worrying statistic heading into a tough run-in.
Fulham, by contrast, have found form, recording three consecutive wins to move into ninth place on 40 points.
Harry Wilson opened the scoring before setting up the second for former Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi.
Richarlison scored a late consolation goal but also picked up another yellow card following an altercation with Calvin Bassey.
The lesson here is simple - Tottenham must quickly stabilise the dressing room mood.
The threat of relegation is no longer unthinkable, and the financial implications would be enormous in terms of wages, squad value and long-term planning.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Six Nations analysis: Improvements England can make against Italy
Manchester United edge past Palace amid VAR drama
A 2-1 comeback win for Manchester United extended their strong recent run, as they overturned an early deficit against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace following Maxence Lacroix’s header.
Lacroix was later sent off after a lengthy VAR review in the second half. Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting penalty, before United completed the turnaround in the 65th minute as Benjamin Sesko scored the winner for the second consecutive game.
United now sit third, level on points with Aston Villa but ahead on goal difference. With no European or domestic cup fixtures remaining, they have the advantage of one game per week as they push for Champions League qualification.
The key takeaway from this match is that refereeing consistency remains under scrutiny. The VAR process once again sparked debate, underlining the ongoing challenge of achieving clarity and uniformity in decision making.
Arsenal’s set-piece efficiency shines
Arsenal moved a step closer to the title with another victory over Chelsea, once again showcasing their strength from set-pieces.
A goal from Saliba and a close-range finish from Jurrien Timber either side of Chelsea’s response shaped the contest in the Sunday evening clash.
Chelsea’s disciplinary struggles continued, with Pedro Neto receiving their ninth red card of the season.
The match produced six yellow cards in total, five of them for the visitors, while Gabriel was booked for the hosts.
There are two clear lessons from this game - First, Arsenal’s efficiency from set-plays continues to be a defining feature of their title challenge.
Second, Chelsea’s disciplinary record remains a serious concern, reflecting a lack of composure at key moments.
With 10 games still to play, that record may yet worsen unless discipline improves within the squad.
