ALEX CROOK: Tales of the Unexpected

Our football ambassador ALEX CROOK is back with his latest Tales Of The Unexpected, highlighting five takeaways that might not have been expected from the Premier League weekend…

Anything that caught you by surprise over the weekend? Email content@starsportsbet.co.uk and we’ll include the best submissions in next week’s TOTU!

⭐ STARSPORTS.BET FOOTBALL MARKETS ⭐

---

1️⃣ ENZO GIVES A MASTERCLASS IN TURNING A POSITIVE INTO A NEGATIVE

Enzo Maresca should have been all smiles after Chelsea bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at home to Everton.

But even seeing Cole Palmer end a Premier League goal drought stretching back to September did not seem to cheer up the miserly Chelsea gaffer.

After frowning his way through post-match TV and radio interviews, Maresca then offered up a cryptic message in his press conference describing the build-up to the game as ‘the worst 48 hours’.

My reading of the situation is that Maresca is not happy with the club’s hierarchy and is pushing back against their policy of investing in youth. If that is the case, the Italian may be going down a very slippery slope.

⭐ LIVE Top Four Finish – Chelsea 🔵
? CLICK TO BET NOW

---

2️⃣ SHOULD ARSENAL TURN TO JESUS FOR FESTIVE PERIOD?

I am not sure anyone expected Arsenal to make as heavy weather of their clash at home to basement boys Wolves as they did.

The misfiring Gunners were given a huge helping hand as the visitors scored not one but two own goals, including the stoppage-time winner.

But while the victory could prove priceless come the end of the season, it was another bad day at the office for Viktor Gyokeres.

Gyokeres only touched the ball five times in the first half and has managed just six goals in 19 appearances since his big-money move from Sporting.

The Gunners looked much more threatening when the fit-again Gabriel Jesus replaced the Swede for the final nine minutes.

After virtually a whole year out, Jesus also looked sharp in the mid-week Champions League win at Club Brugge and must be pushing for a starting spot.

⭐ LIVE Premier League Winner – Arsenal 🔴
?  CLICK TO BET NOW

---

3️⃣ WILSON GOAL GLUT ENSURES FULHAM WONT’ BE CASTAWAY

There aren’t many Premier League players in better form right now than Fulham’s Harry Wilson.

So often deployed as a super-sub by Marco Silva, the Welsh international is fast making himself one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Wilson scored one and made the other two as the Cottagers extended Burnley’s losing run to seven games and now has three goals and as many assists in his last four games.

At a time when the Cottagers’ strikers are failing to fire, his rich vein of form has been gratefully received by manager Silva and Fulham fans alike.

---

4️⃣ ELANGA STRUGGLING TO JUSTIFY PRICE TAG

Manchester United fans used to have a song about Anthony Elanga scoring goals from everywhere.’

Newcastle supporters were less complimentary of their £55m summer signing in the wake of Sunday’s limp 1-0 Weir-Tyne derby defeat at Sunderland.

Elanga was handed a surprise start by manager Eddie Howe, but once again flattered to deceive as the Magpies struggled to lay a glove on their bitter rivals.

Elanga now has a paltry one assist and zero goals from his 23 appearances in a black and white shirt. He definitely isn’t scoring goals from everywhere.

---

5️⃣ FOUR-SOME DOM MAKING ME BELIEVE LEEDS CAN STAY UP

Having written them off as relegation fodder a matter of weeks ago, I am now coming around to the idea of Leeds surviving in the Premier League.

I was at the Gtech on Sunday to see Daniel Farke’s men earn a well-deserved 1-1 draw against a Brentford side who are heard to beat at home.

Since swapping to a 3-5-2 formation, Leeds have beaten Chelsea and drawn with both Liverpool and the Bees.

That system switch has also helped bring the best out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose excellent late header made it four goals in as many games.

If nothing else, Farke’s men have got West Ham worried about their own chances of staying up.

---

Views of authors do not necessarily represent views of Star Sports Bookmakers.

---

STAR PROMOTIONS