ALEX CROOK: Tales of the Unexpected

Our football ambassador ALEX CROOK is back with his latest Tales Of The Unexpected, highlighting four 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!

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1️⃣ CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR CHERKI

Manchester City cashed in on Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa by swatting surprise package Sunderland aside and cutting the gap at the top of the table to just two points.

Right at the heart of Saturday’s 3-0 triumph was summer signing Rayan Cherki.
The talented Frenchman has taken a while to come to the boil since his move from Lyon but is really starting to find his groove.

Cherki popped up with two assists, the second an audacious rabona cross as Pep Guardiola’s men turned on the style.

With Erling Haaland guaranteeing goals up front and Phil Foden and Cherki both firing in behind, it would be foolhardy for Arsenal to take City lightly.

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2️⃣ GUEHI GIVES SALAH A LESSON IN LOYALTY

On a weekend when Mo Salah’s bombshell interview brought the subject of player loyalty firmly into the spotlight, Palace captain Marc Guehi once again showed he is the ultimate professional.

Guehi could have been forgiven for going on a Salah-style rant after Palace boss Oliver Glasner blocked his dream move to Liverpool in the final hours of the transfer window.

On the contrary, the England international has knuckled down and continued to produce stellar performances for the FA Cup holders.

Guehi was a colossus at both ends as Palace beat Fulham 2-1 in Sunday’s London derby to smash their way into the top four. With Guehi in this kind of form, maybe a Champions League place is not such a pipe dream for the Eagles.

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3️⃣ SORRY NIC JACKSON

A week ago after holding Arsenal to a draw at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were being talked up as genuine title contenders.

But after losing at lowly Leeds in mid-week and playing out a drab 0-0 draw at Bournemouth, questions are being asked about Enzo Maresca’s lack of firepower. The sight of Liam Delap being forced off holding his shoulder after a typically robust display was a worrying one for the Chelsea boss.

With Delap now facing another couple of months on the sidelines, you have to wonder where all the Blues’ number nines have gone?

It was a big call by Maresca and the Chelsea hierarchy to loan out Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich and Chelsea would have a lot more options in attack if they had just kept the Senegalese, who, after all didn’t do badly last season.

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4️⃣ KIERNAN FOR ENGLAND?

A lot of people chuckled when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ruled himself out of Republic of Ireland contention because he wanted to play for England and next summer’s World Cup.

It is a big ask for the uncapped Everton midfielder to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s plans, particularly with so much competition in his role. But the former Leicester man has been a shining star for Everton during their rise up to fifth place in the table.

Dewsbury-Hall further enhanced his claims with a goal and assist as David Moyes’s men thrashed Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Saturday.

He is making a strong case for Tuchel to at least have a good look at him when the next round of internationals come about in March.

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

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