5 Things the Premier League got us talking about

1. Liverpool’s striker-free set-up flatters to deceive

Wayne Rooney doesn’t score at Anfield. Except when he does.

And when he did this weekend he rifled in a half volley that reminded Liverpool how badly they need one of their three injured strikers (Sturridge, Origi, Ings) to get fit again. Liverpool were the better team for the majority of the game, pressing United, playing delicate passing football, losing at the end, and winning nearly all fifty-fifties (except the game of course). How much they need a mobile and agile striker fit again was drilled in when Caulker partnered Benteke up front for the final few minutes.

The Belgian has a place in this current side, but at the moment it seems a similar place to that held by a long haired Geordie when he played for the club as a luxury substitute. It seems a waste to have such an expensive player sitting on the bench only to throw him on for a long-ball-hail-mary in the final minutes but then Liverpool are far more fluid without him and this was a game where Klopp’s decision meant they really, really did deserve to win.

Except, and here’s the kicker, you only deserve to win when you win.

Further discussion points:

• Shane Long to join Liverpool’s injury list on loan?

2. Kirchhoff shows why you should always keep the receipt

A Bayern Munich defender is quite a coup for a team fighting relegation, even if his Bundesliga appearance tally for the season hadn’t topped two. Saying that, if Sam Allardyce had called Bayern’s customer service department to ask for a refund he wouldn’t have been out of order. The block the Swiss defender made for Christian Eriksen’s second goal was laughable and his later attempt to make up for it twenty minutes later gave Spurs a penalty.

Tottenham were undeniably better and top four is theirs to lose but it always helps when the opposition’s newest product malfunctions minutes after it’s purchased.

Further discussion points:

• Even more discussion on Kirchoff’s block

3. A weekend for young British keepers

Yes, he conceded four (see above talking point for reason why) but Sunderland’s Pickford still showed signs that he could be the latest English youth player to not quite reach his potential. On his Premier League debut the keeper made two fine saves to thwart Kane and Eriksen right between being thwarted by Kane and Eriksen.

Without Ozil and Sanchez Arsenal are always an easier team to play against, but they still had enough chances to beat Stoke had Jack Butland not put in a man of the match performance. The young keeper is commanding and confident and Stoke will do well to stop him from sitting on the bench of a bigger club next season.

Further discussion points:

• How good does Oxlade Chamberlain’s new hair look?
• In fact, what hair spray are that whole Arsenal side using?
• 90 minutes. Not one lock out of place.

4. Villa hold Leicester but continue to prop up everyone else

It seems like next year Aston Villa’s shirts will be donning the clunky numbering of the Sky Bet Championship. Despite drawing against former league leaders Leicester the gap continues to grow between them, Swansea and Sunderland, and survival. With Swansea beating Watford on Monday night and climbing out of the relegation spots, Newcastle have been dragged down and now sit above Sunderland. This chain of events now finds Villa looking up towards the North East, with a six-point long road up to Wearside and an extra five on top of that between there and South Wales (with a three point detour towards Tyneside). With a derby against a tough West Brom side and then West Ham away it may be a trip too far for Villa this year.

Further discussion points:

• Why are the numbers on those shirts so clunky?

5. A 3pm kick off that shouldn’t have been a 3pm kick off and a goal that shouldn’t have been a goal

Chelsea’s quest for a top half finish was only slightly enhanced by a last minute goal that shouldn’t have stood. John Terry appeared offside when he scored the final goal in a game that was only seen live by those in the ground, those abroad and those with a basic understanding of the possibilities of the internet. With the game’s circumstance, Everton pushing for a top four finish and Chelsea languishing four points off the relegation zone, plus the inclusion of two ‘big teams, it was a surprising choice for the daily grind of three pm Saturday kick offs.

However, in a season where all teams seem to walk out as equals who can really guess which games are telly worthy.

Then again, this was a six goal game where John Terry scored an opening own goal then a controversial winner. So Sky Sports might have missed a trick with this one.

Further discussion points:

• Players jumping into the crowd is a thing again and the game can only be better for it.