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From left: Tom Davies, Marco Silva consoles Sam Clucas, Arsène Wenger, Riyad Mahrez and Joshua King. Composite: Rex/Shutterstock, Getty Images, EPA,
From left: Tom Davies, Marco Silva consoles Sam Clucas, Arsène Wenger, Riyad Mahrez and Joshua King. Composite: Rex/Shutterstock, Getty Images, EPA,

Premier League: 10 talking points from this weekend’s action

This article is more than 6 years old

Chelsea and Spurs face challenges of a differing kind despite their success, Paul Clement justified his appointment and Marco Silva is likely to leave Hull

1) Upheaval will test Tottenham’s momentum

Tottenham’s form at White Hart Lane this season has been the bedrock of their title challenge but can they maintain that when they move to Wembley next season? Their results in the Champions League and Europa League and in the 4-2 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea seem to suggest otherwise but Mauricio Pochettino must find a way of ending the hoodoo if Spurs are to challenge again next year. “We need to feel that Wembley is our home and we need to find a balance between White Hart Lane and there,” said the manager after this win. “Next season we will feel it is our home.” That will be easier said than done, however. Tottenham’s momentum in the last few weeks has felt unstoppable at times – defeat at West Ham apart – but a summer of upheaval off the pitch awaits. It will be an even greater achievement if they can go one better in 12 months’ time. Ed Aarons

Match report:
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester United
Pochettino basks in perfect send-off for old stadium
In pictures: the changing face of White Hart Lane
David Hytner: Rainbows and tears on Tottenham’s last day at the Lane
White Hart Lane: an iconic stadium remembered by those who knew it best

2) Sturridge provides timely display of his worth

Handed his first start for Liverpool since 2 January, Daniel Sturridge must have recognised as he lined up against West Ham that it was a case of now or never in regards to his future at the club. Increasingly it has looked as if he will leave in the summer having become marginalised under Jürgen Klopp due to a combination of injuries and a perceived clash of style, and with games running out there appeared little chance of him changing that narrative. But with Roberto Firmino ruled out with a muscle strain the England international was handed his chance, one he duly took with a display brimming with sharpness and topped off with his seventh goal of the season as Liverpool secured a crucial victory in their pursuit of a Champions League place. Only time with tell if Sturridge’s display at the London Stadium is enough to keep him at Anfield next season but he showed here that he retains the abilities – ice-cold temperament and red-hot finishing – to be a central striker for a leading club. What Sturridge needs now is to stay fit, which unfortunately for him has proved easier said than done. Sachin Nakrani
Match report: West Ham United 0-4 Liverpool
We proved we can cope with pressures says Klopp
Sachin Nakrani: Klopp hopes Philippe Coutinho embraces Anfield a little longer

'A perfect afternoon' for Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool – video

3) Keeping King could be key for Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s win against Burnley ensured the highest points tally in the top flight in their 118-year history and fittingly Josh King was the man who provided the winner. The Norway international has been Eddie Howe’s standout player of the campaign scoring 16 goals, with 12 in his past 14 appearances. The acquisition of King on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers when Bournemouth were promoted has proved a masterstroke, and Howe may struggle to hold on to the striker in the summer. Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been rumoured to be interested despite Howe stating King will stay on the south coast. If Bournemouth do fend off suitors they will have an excellent foundation for their third season in the Premier League. A point against Leicester on Sunday will ensure a top-half finish but a win could propel them as high as eighth. Graham Searles

Match report:
Bournemouth 2-1 Burnley

4) Hull set to lose Silva after relegation confirmed

Marco Silva departed south London with Hull City’s away support still bellowing his name and pleading with him to stay, but the Portuguese’s body language suggested the final-day visit of Tottenham Hotspur will be an occasion to bid farewell. He has the option to extend his stay at the KCom Stadium by 12 months, and maybe replicate Rafael Benítez’s achievements with Newcastle in the second tier, but that task feels more daunting than it was for the Spaniard at St James’ Park. There is too much uncertainty at Hull, where the ownership remains such an issue. He pointed, rightly, to last summer’s chaos as having ultimately done for his team’s chances of staying up, and to have come as close to he did to securing survival was quite an achievement. Plenty of clubs will be coveting the 39‑year‑old’s services this summer. His stint on Humberside is likely to end soon. Dominic Fifield

Match report:
Crystal Palace 4-0 Hull City
Silva yet to decide future after relegation

Sam Allardyce reflects on seesaw season after keeping Crystal Palace up – video

5) Davies adds versatility to youthful verve

Tom Davies has won over most Everton supporters this season and his second-half display against Watford underlined his value to the club. Davies switched from his usual midfield role to right-back on Friday night with Enner Valencia joining the fray. And the manager Ronald Koeman was quick to point out that versatility will be key in the future. “Tom can play out of different positions,” Koeman told evertontv. “I still think the midfield role is his best position but he showed in the second half that he can play as a right full-back. He did well. We improved offensively in second half on the right-hand side. At one moment in the game he tried to do the same thing he did against Manchester City when he scored, but you can’t do that as a right full-back. But he’s young and he will learn that. I told him and he will understand and not make that mistake again.” Andy Hunter

Match report:
Everton 1-0 Watford
Koeman raises doubts about Barkley’s future

6) Bamford leaves Boro wondering what might have been

Steve Agnew had the chance to give Middlesbrough fans something to cheer in their final home game of the season before returning to the Championship but instead piled on more frustration. Patrick Bamford made his first Premier League start for Boro in place of Adama Traoré and was his side’s best player, showing excellent movement and threat in the box with a nicely taken header in the second half. Bamford scored his first goal and in doing so has one more than Traoré. But the former Barcelona man has made 15 more league starts and has one assist in that time. Bamford enjoyed his most successful loan spell from Chelsea at Boro when he scored 19 goals in all competitions two seasons ago. Middlesbrough fans will have been left thinking what might have been had Agnew shown faith in the striker when he first took over as manager from Aitor Karanka. GS

Match report:
Middlesbrough 1-2 Southampton

Patrick Bamford scores for Middlesbrough against Southampton. Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters

7) Leicester must decide on Mahrez soon

As the close season approaches Craig Shakespeare is mindful he may lose Riyad Mahrez this summer. Asked if he talks regularly to the playmaker about his future, the Leicester City manager said: “Not regularly, no. We don’t need to pander to everybody’s needs but they need to know they are wanted at a football club and appreciated. Riyad is one of many who, if you ask him, feels appreciated and wanted here, not only by the coaching staff and the owners and the fans but also by the players as well. They are under contract with us. Everything else is pure speculation. You don’t have a decision to make unless you get an offer, and we haven’t had an offer for any one of our players.” Shakespeare and the board can expect that to change and Mahrez, the 2016 PFA Player of the Year, is bound to head the list of footballers about whom they will have to make a decision. Jamie Jackson

Match report:
Manchester City 2-1 Leicester City
Touré to be offered new deal to extend stay

8) Have top-four finishes come at a price for Arsenal?

It was a hypothetical question for which even Arsène Wenger had no time. Would Arsenal have won more Premier League titles if they had not qualified for the Champions League every year for the past 17 years? “That’s very difficult to answer, you know,” he said. “Let’s win on Tuesday and let everyone else think about what should happen, what has happened and what could happen. I have to work in the present.” That much is true, especially with qualification for the competition next season still on the line, although it had been his suggestion that Chelsea will struggle to replicate their title success of this season next year because of the demands of European football. Arsenal supporters must be wondering if perennially being knocked out in the last 16 has been a sacrifice worth making. EA

Match report:
Stoke City 1-4 Arsenal
Wenger says team have shown late-season unity

Mesut Özil chips the ball over goalkeeper Jack Butland to score Arsenal’s second goal in a 4-1 win at Stoke. Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

9) Clement restores Swansea’s spirit and intelligence

Hats off to Paul Clement for keeping Swansea City up. When Carlo Ancelotti’s old sidekick was sacked by Derby County his managerial suitability was questioned, but Clement has provided convincing answers. Before his arrival Swansea had leaked 44 goals in 19 games but have since conceded 25 in 18. Their past four fixtures featured three wins, one draw and three clean sheets. He has helped the club to rediscover their fluent passing, tactical intelligence, identity and spirit. Significantly, all senior players either injured or not included in the squad who won at Sunderland travelled to Wearside independently, booked their own hotel and surprised Clement by arriving at the Stadium of Light to cheer on Swansea. Let us hope they all bought a collectors’ item – the final programme edited by Rob Mason, who has been made redundant by Sunderland. Mason will be missed. Louise Taylor

Match report:
Sunderland 0-2 Swansea City
Moyes wants to stay only if given funds to rebuild

10) Is Sánchez in Chelsea’s sights?

What now for Chelsea’s forwards this summer? While there appears to be little likelihood of significant movement further back in the team, Antonio Conte’s main striker, Diego Costa, is being heavily linked with a move to China, following in the footsteps of his former team-mates Ramires and Oscar. Michy Batshuayi had his moment in the sun by scoring the title-winning goal at The Hawthorns but Conte has shown little faith in him and he may well be loaned out. So, if those two depart, who does that leave for a serious tilt at retaining their league title and going deep into the Champions League? Loïc Rémy, with five games on loan at Crystal Palace this season, is obviously not going to be first choice, if he is even retained. A £200m splurge has been mentioned. Much of that will probably have to go on one forward. Alexis Sánchez, anyone? Conrad Leach

Match report:
West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Chelsea
We can challenge Europe’s elite says Fàbregas
Simone Pepe: Conte gave us this crazy power surge

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Chelsea 36 47 87
2 Tottenham Hotspur 36 49 80
3 Liverpool 37 33 73
4 Man City 36 34 72
5 Arsenal 36 29 69
6 Man Utd 36 23 65
7 Everton 37 20 61
8 West Brom 36 -5 45
9 Southampton 36 -6 45
10 AFC Bournemouth 37 -12 45
11 Leicester 36 -10 43
12 West Ham 37 -18 42
13 Crystal Palace 37 -11 41
14 Stoke 37 -16 41
15 Burnley 37 -15 40
16 Watford 36 -22 40
17 Swansea 37 -26 38
18 Hull 37 -37 34
19 Middlesbrough 37 -23 28
20 Sunderland 36 -34 24

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