Liverpool‘s stale goalless draw against Manchester United may have brought a tame end to the weekend’s action but it couldn’t detract from the intrigue generated from the matches that preceded it.

Anfield played host to a ‘Red Monday-esque’ affair as Jurgen Klopp‘s side failed to find the answer to their bitter rival’s defensive posture, after Arsenal had moved into top spot following a confident home win against Brighton.

There were also wins for Aston Villa and West Ham on Sunday but the news 24 hours earlier had been dominated by the terrifying collapse of Tom Lockyer at Kenilworth Road.

As those agonising over the 29-year-old’s condition received positive updates, in Manchester, the defending champions had another uncharacteristic slip-up, while Everton continued their startling run of form.

Mail Sport takes a look at 10 things we learned from the weekend’s top-flight action.

Man United snatched a point after surviving their daunting trip to Liverpool on Sunday

Michael Olise (centre) scored a last-minute penalty as Crystal Palace came back from two down to draw against Man City at the Etihad

 

Jurgen Klopp’s midfield conundrum

Liverpool have been a weird and wonderful outfit so far this season. Following the disappointment of last campaign, and the overhaul of the side’s engine room, Jurgen Klopp’s side were expected to improve. But not this quickly.

Seventeen games into the season and now just a point off the top has Reds fans believing a 20th top-flight title could be within their grasp but it should not mask the issues that remain in midfield.

At the end of the summer window the gaping hole in defensive midfield was highlighted as the fatal flaw of the side. But now it seems Klopp’s issue is an abundance of options, further complicated by the excellence of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the middle.

With the Reds chasing a late winner in three of their last four games, the Liverpool boss has brought on Joe Gomez and moved Alexander-Arnold into midfield. In the wins over Fulham and Crystal Palace it worked.

However, against United the Reds looked less threatening than before the switch. Furthermore, after his winning goal at Selhurst Park, Harvey Elliot could feel a little aggrieved not to be involved until the 78th minute.

Liverpool can also call upon Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister when fit. Options are great and have allowed Klopp to make crucial in-game changes but Liverpool’s midfield right now lacks an identity.

Liverpool dropped two points to their bitter rivals Manchester United in a 0-0 draw at Anfield

 

Erik ten Hag hasn’t lost the dressing room

Expectation at Old Trafford is low. The bar has been reduced. Still, credit must be given when it’s due and Erik ten Hag’s side were tipped to be on the end of another thrashing at Anfield.

Instead, his team focused their efforts on being solid defensively. Luckily for the Dutchman it proved to be successful as his side became the first team this season to avoid defeat at the home of the Reds and the first in 34 matches to stop them from scoring.

The plan may have been conservative, some would argue not especially befitting of United, but that would be unfair to the United boss, who would not have been able to move for headlines calling for his sacking if they’d opted for an expansive approach and been hammered.

Much has been made of the state of the Red Devils’ dressing room in recent months as results and performances have disappointed, with several claims that he had lost the squad.

But Sunday’s draw proved at the very least that Ten Hag still possesses the ability to motivate his squad and, if given a narrow focus, they are capable of getting a result.

Raphael Varane had been frozen out of the team but has returned in the last two games and starred for United as they kept a clean sheet at Anfield

Man United showed resilience despite going down to 10 men late on when Diogo Dalot (left) was sent off

 

Villa aren’t going away without a fight

For 76 minutes Aston Villa were getting the result many expected. After beating both Man City and Arsenal at home, a trip to Brentford was just the game where a plucky side flirting with a title tilt would come unstuck.

But Unai Emery’s team passed another test on Sunday after completing a late comeback to go within one point of the top nearing the halfway stage of the campaign.

They were aided in their task by the straight red card to Ben Mee in the 71st minute that changed the game. But every team needs a bit of luck and Emery’s side have certainly earned it.

Villa face Sheffield United next weekend with a very real real chance of being top of the tree at Christmas for the first time since 1998.

Ollie Watkins grabbed a late winner at his former club to complete the comeback for Villa

 

Arteta might have been right about Havertz

It’s fair to say that Kai Havertz made a slow start to life at the Emirates following his £65million summer move. The 24-year-old has arguably become the most the enigmatic player in the Premier League – following in the footsteps of another languid left-footed German.

Havertz failed to register a goal contribution in his first six Premier League games, eventually breaking his duck from the spot against Bournemouth in September.

But the ex-Chelsea star has now grabbed three goals in his last six league outings, including two games in which the Gunners won by a single goal.

Arteta clearly feels like his preferred team is rounding into shape having picked the front six of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard. Declan Rice and Havertz in each of their last three matches.

Next weekend’s trip to Anfield will be the ultimate test and if Havertz can add to his goalscoring tally in an Arsenal win then the £65m fee will promptly be forgotten.

Kai Havertz has scored three goals in his last six league outings including the clincher against Brighton at the weekend

 

Dyche-ball could bring European football to Bramley-Moore Dock

Only Aston Villa have amassed more points in the last six games than Everton. The Toffees have won as many matches as West Ham in eighth, and would be in the top half without their 10-point deduction.

It’s early to make such a big call, especially with the continued uncertainty that hangs over the club, but Dyche looks to have fashioned a team capable of challenging for the European places in seasons to come.

He’s done it once before. In the 2017-18 season he led Burnley to a seventh-place finish that earned a spot in the Europa League qualification rounds.

His current Everton squad, with a quartet of England internationals, are an improvement on that Clarets squad, even in a stronger division. Dyche’s team have managed to maintain their defensive solidity – they’ve kept four consecutive clean sheets – while providing a threat in attack.

The club’s future success will depend heavily on the resolution of their many financial issues but from a footballing perspective, Evertonians have gone from dreading playing Championship football in their new stadium to dreaming of European nights under the lights.

Everton are third in the Premier League form table after beating Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor

 

Nottingham Forest need to change something

Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Friday night was their fifth in six games and saw them fall to 17th in the Premier League table, just five points above the drop.

There is no shame in losing to Ange Postecoglou’s exciting side but when it comes in front of your hopeful fans amid a torrid run, it could prove damning.

The result was made worse by the fact that Forest had glorious chances of their own before being undone by a pair of errors by Matt Turner in goal.

It seems there is no mitigation that will save Steve Cooper, who surprises every week he remains in the dugout. Unfortunately for Forest, they’ll find no reprieve from the fixture computer.

In-form Bournemouth are up next before Newcastle, Man United, Brentford and Arsenal. A couple of winnable games for sure, but its a run far trickier than the matches they lost to get into this position.

If not for the poor performance of the three promoted sides, Forest would be nailed on to get relegated this season, and they still might if they remain static.

Forest need to change something, because they’re falling like a stone.

Under-fire Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has seen his side win just one of their last seven games

 

Man City are vulnerable; there’s a Premier League title up for grabs

The defending champions and treble winners have started this season very strangely. At first it looked as if they hadn’t missed a step, that they were still hungry despite winning it all last season.

Their wobble  – which consisted of a four game winless streak looked like it had been arrested after the comeback win against Luton. But Saturday’s home draw with Crystal Palace casts the Kenilworth Road performance and result in a different light.

City have failed to win five of their last six games in the Premier League which has left them five points off the top in fourth place.

Pep Guardiola’s side can achieve a maximum of 97 points this season, a mammoth total, yes, but one Liverpool fans will remember all too well was not enough for them to win the division in 2019.

For all the talk of Pep and City clicking into gear after Christmas, there is a chance that they might be leaving themselves a little too much to do, especially with the resurgent Arsenal looking robust enough to stay the course.

Man City dropped two more points to lose further ground in the title race this weekend

 

Champions League qualification has never been so competitive

After Newcastle and Man United crashed out of the Champions League group stages the chances of fifth place in the Premier League guaranteeing qualification for next season’s tournament took a massive hit.

Ironically, it’s those two sides who could really have done with an extra position being open in England’s top-flight.

Last season, the Magpies completed a terrific campaign to finish fourth, while Man United and Arsenal returned to the top table after time away. Those sides enjoyed their best seasons in some time, while the likes of Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool endured major slumps.

However, this term its only Chelsea that have remained on the outside as Spurs and Liverpool have mounted impressive comebacks. And there’s also Aston Villa, who are currently keeping pace with the leaders and enjoy a 10-point advantage over the Red Devils in seventh.

It’s shaping up to be an almighty tussle for the Champions League places. If the title race ends up becoming the three-horse race many forecast, there could be as many as five teams jostling for the final place.

Tottenham have stabilised and sit in fifth despite missing key names through injury

 

West Ham have an elite front-line

If not for a Premier League investigation, Lucas Paqueta could have been wowing fans at the Etihad this season. Instead, the Brazilian has formed one third of a devastating West Ham trident that can threaten any team on their day.

On the other flank is new signing Mohammed Kudus, who is showing his sublime talent on a more consistent basis, while Jarrod Bowen leads the line with 10 league goals in 16 appearances to his name.

David Moyes’s side have been wildly inconsistent so far this season as they have gone about forming a new identity without former skipper Declan Rice. And even if they are yet to crack it defensively, in attack, they’re building something that could be truly special.

All three were involved in the goals that earned three points against Wolves on Sunday, with Paqueta becoming the first Brazilian to grab a hat-trick of assists since Roberto Firmino.

The biggest task for the Hammers will be to keep hold of the 26-year-old. Man City could soon come calling again.

Lucas Paqueta became then first Brazilian to record a hat-trick of assists since Roberto Firmino, while Mohammed Kudus bagged a brace in West Ham’s win

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

 

Premier League clubs need to learn from the Lockyer review

Luton captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on a football pitch for the second time in seven months after suffering a heart issue during the Championship play-off final in May.

The 29-year-old was given the all-clear to return in June but Saturday’s incident has prompted a review at the Hatters.

It should be a timely reminder for clubs in the Premier League and further afield. There have been several incidents in recent years, most famously that of Christian Eriksen at Euro 2020.

Thankfully, on Saturday Luton confirmed Lockyer was ‘responsive’ before being taken to hospital and was in a ‘stable’ condition. Lockyer has remained in hospital undergoing tests and scans.

Luton’s game with Bournemouth was abandoned after skipper Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch