Rio Ngumoha’s dancing lights up Liverpool future on dramatic day for Arsenal – Premier League hits and misses | Football News

Ngumoha on song to signal his bright Liverpool future

His name is Rio and he danced past Castagne.

There has been plenty of criticism and bad feeling about where Liverpool are right now. But the future with Ngumoha is bright.

The 17-year-old is a prodigious talent and his feet were too quick for Fulham’s full-back Timothy Castagne on Saturday. His shot 36 minutes in, after earning a yard of space with some trickery, was too pinpoint for Bernd Leno.

It may not have been as dramatic as his first Premier League goal, that last-gasp winner at Newcastle in August. But his second top-flight strike felt like a confirmation of his quality at this level and an indication he will be a name dominating headlines for years to come.

He is now Liverpool’s youngest Premier League goalscorer at Anfield.

Perhaps fittingly, he played a part in Mo Salah scoring Liverpool’s second from the other flank soon after. A passing of the baton, perhaps, on Salah’s first appearance at the stadium since announcing his upcoming exit this summer.

Liverpool fans sung Salah’s famous anthem loudly when the Egyptian hit the net. They’ll be singing Ngumoha’s for years to come…
Peter Smith

Is this where Arsenal lost the Premier League?

Brighton 22/23. Aston Villa 23/24. Bournemouth 25/26?

Is this the game Arsenal will look back on and see the league title slipping away, again? Two morale-sapping cup defeats had raised the stakes around Saturday’s lunch-time kick-off even more, but this year was meant to be different.

At every bump in the road all season, the Gunners have been questioned. Have they got the bottle this time? If not now, then when? But each time they have looked like wavering, they have bounced back.

Not this time. Just as things looked to be back on track with Tuesday’s Champions League win in Lisbon, they came crashing back to earth with one of the limpest performances of the season.

Mikel Arteta had made headlines in the build-up to the game by installing a big screen pumping out TikTok edits at the club training ground and calling for the fans to bring their lunch and dinner to the Emirates on Saturday – but amid all of that noise, it his side who made a meal of things.

The nerves had become apparent during the late 2-0 win over Everton in Arsenal’s last league match almost a month ago. They had at least been the dominant force in that game whereas Bournemouth smelt the fear in Arteta’s squad and overran them with their trademark high-intensity pressing game.

Bournemouth are not the kind of side you would want to play when there is an extra anxiety in your step, hesitate that extra moment and overthink your every pass. But that is what champions have to do. Get over that fear and grind things out when the going gets tough. Arsenal could not do it.

They have come through many tests this season before this but how far has the dial swung in the last four matches?

Missing out on their first silverware in six years at Wembley last month raised the loudest question yet about whether they do have the character of champions.

Judging by the trepidation running through this defeat, Arteta’s squad aren’t sure of the answers themselves.
Ron Walker

Brentford rue missed chances in European race

It was a game of ‘what ifs?’ for Brentford as they saw their chance, at least momentarily, to go level on points with Liverpool snatched away by the Reds’ biggest rivals.

The majority of the positives from the game will stem from Igor Thiago breaking the club record for the most goals in a single Premier League season, surpassing Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo as he reached number 21.

The nature of his goals summed up Brentford’s problems. One was a penalty, the other he was trying to avoid making contact with the ball. When it came to creating chances, or finishing them off, Keith Andrews’ men were wasteful.

Twice they hit the bar with unmarked headers, and on multiple occasions they squandered good opportunities from inside Everton’s 18-yard box.

At times, the hosts were absolutely exhilarating and it seemed impossible that they wouldn’t walk away with all three points. But their lack of clinical edge cost them, and it could’ve been worse had Caoimhin Kelleher not been in inspired form down the other end.

Brentford have done an incredible job to find themselves in the hunt for European football at this stage of the season. But a fourth consecutive draw and a continued failure to make the most of several big chances are the fine margins that might mean they miss out.
Callum Bishop

Dewsbury-Hall showing knack for big goals

In his three previous seasons in the Premier League, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall managed a combined eight goal involvements (three goals, five assists). This term alone, he has 12.

That has proved crucial for an Everton side that, despite being among the contenders for European football, do not have a single player with more goals than Dewsbury-Hall’s seven.

The former Leicester man has never been known for his goals, but he clearly has confidence in his ability to find the net. So much so that he promised David Moyes a good return if he played him in the right positions.

It’s not just the number of goals that are important. It’s the number of important goals. The winner against Manchester United. Two contributions in a 3-2 win over Wolves. Another two in the 2-1 victory against Fulham. Now the late leveller at the Gtech.

After a forgettable season at Chelsea where Premier League minutes were few and far between, Dewsbury-Hall is without a doubt making up for lost time and proving why he is a player Everton can rely on in the big moments.
Callum Bishop

Brighton march on as Burnley limp to the Championship

It was far from pretty from Brighton and they needed an unlikely candidate in the form of Mats Wieffer to ultimately make the difference on the afternoon.

Wieffer had scored just one goal for the Seagulls prior to this trip to Turf Moor but tripled his tally for the club to secure all three points.

There were faint boos from the Burnley fans at full-time but as previously mentioned, the feeling was apathy rather than frustration.

Their relegation back to the Championship is now all but confirmed with the club 12 points adrift of safety with six games to go.

“It’s heading that way,” Scott Parker admitted after the game in the aftermath of a 20th league defeat of the season.

Meanwhile, Brighton march on and remain in touching distance of the top five. They couldn’t sneak into the Champions League spots, could they?

Their form, with five wins in their last six top-flight games, suggests they might. Liverpool have had a tendency to falter this season sitting six points ahead, and Chelsea are also susceptible to slipping up in sixth. Opta currently have their chances sitting at six per cent. It’s one to keep an eye on.

There is a lot to play for at the Amex – and it’s Tottenham up next.
Patrick Rowe

Nuno has made West Ham ruthless in both boxes

When a Nuno Espirito Santo team gets rolling in his style of play, they become a force of nature that is hard to stop in the Premier League. His Nottingham Forest side showed that last season. And, remarkably, West Ham are now heading the same way under his watch.

His teams are built to be brilliant and ruthless in both boxes. That sounds easy to implement but it’s a coaching method that takes hours of drilling on the training field. It’s why it takes time for teams to see the full rewards of his work.

January was a big month in hindsight for the Hammers with Axel Disasi, Taty Castellanos and Pablo being recruited. Three players who fit the style and system that Nuno brings.

Castellanos, especially, has worked wonders playing as the focal point. His all-round game has flourished in recent weeks but without the goal return. That changed against Wolves in an exceptional performance from a player who looks so motivated to make his mark in the Premier League. West Ham are on the charge.
Lewis Jones