The Analyst: Danny Higginbotham gives his verdict on the weekend’s action in the Premier League, including Sunday lunchtime’s North London derby
From Mousa Dembele's impact for Tottenham to Burnley's 'fortress', check out our expert's thoughts on the weekend
SUNSPORT’S analyst Danny Higginbotham gives his verdict on the weekend’s top action in the Premier League.
Check out all the former Manchester United and Stoke defender has to say about another exciting weekend of football, below.
Keep up to date with ALL the Premier League news, gossip, transfers and goals on our page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary.
START THE CARR, JOSE
MICHAEL CARRICK screened the back four for Manchester United and looked after the centre-backs, this allowed Marouane Fellaini and Paul Pogba to play in more advanced positions and go forward.
It meant Pogba was facing the Swansea goal every time he picked up the ball.
But this showed that Carrick has to start every United Premier League game.
He knows how to slow down the tempo and when to speed it up. And while people say he’s slow, they can’t say how slow, because Carrick has the first five yards in his head.
MOUS TRAP
TOTTENHAM’S change of system caught the eye but the key for them was Mousa Dembele.
For all the talk about Harry Kane, the Belgian is their most important player, the one who breaks from midfield to draw the other team out and create space for the Spurs’ front four.
Since the beginning of last season, Tottenham have played 18 games without Dembele in the first 11 and lost five but only been beaten in one of the 31 when he has started. That’s how important he is and shows he is under-valued.
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VIC-TORY FOR MOYES
JERMAIN DEFOE has been left isolated by Sunderland’s line-up all season.
He has been on his own up front and up against three or four defenders whenever the ball was played to him, waiting too long for support.
But at Bournemouth, he got that help from Victor Anichebe. It made it a lot easier for Defoe and also gave Sunderland the option to go longer. That paid off.
WRONG FLAW-MATION
RONALD KOEMAN wanted to nullify Chelsea’s wing-backs and get at their centre-halves by matching Antonio Conte’s back three shape, aiming to create solidity in the centre of the pitch.
But it’s always difficult when you come up against a team which has played a system more often than you.
It is easier to stick with the system you know and try to be more defensive.
If the other team know the system better than you, you can end up paying the price, and Everton did.
TOUGH MOOR
BURNLEY have got 13 of their 14 points at home.
Any promoted team needs to make their home a fortress and Sean Dyche’s men have shown in their last two games at Turf Moor, with last-minute winners against Everton and now Crystal Palace, that they are willing to keep going to the very end.
If your home form is good, like Burnley's, that helps create a hostile atmosphere and means you are on the right track.