6) Denayer’s shackling job may inspire future Liverpool opponents
The ankle injury that forced Philippe Coutinho to leave Liverpool’s victory against Sunderland on a stretcher was Jürgen Klopp’s gravest concern on Saturday, but not the only one. As soon as the referee Anthony Taylor blew the first whistle at Anfield Jason Denayer, Sunderland’s on-loan defender from Manchester City, sprinted from his holding midfield role to Coutinho’s side. He stayed there limpet-like until Liverpool’s No10 escaped for the first time and ran into the clearance from Didier Ndong that curtailed his game. In those 30 minutes, with Coutinho subdued, Sadio Mané’s touch eluding him, and Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge injured, Sunderland stifled the Premier League’s leading goalscorers quite comfortably. It was the introduction of Divock Origi’s strength and pace that enabled Liverpool to rediscover their threat and stretch the Sunderland defence to the point of exhaustion in the second half. Despite another important, deserved victory , Klopp was in no mood to discuss David Moyes’s deployment of Denayer on Saturday. “Man-marking?” he said. “It’s not my business. Don’t want to talk about it.” The Liverpool manager awaits confirmation of how long Coutinho will be absent with the ankle problem but he may find others copying Moyes’s tactic when the Brazil international does return. Andy Hunter
7) Payet emphasises his Champions League quality
Dimitri Payet may be tied to West Ham United until 2021 due to the new deal he signed in February but a move for the playmaker must surely be a big temptation for a Champions League challenging club in the winter transfer window. He was the best performer in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. This was an exhibition of passing, shooting and dead ball delivery that oozed class, with Payet showing similar style to last season’s PFA Player of the Year, Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City. The Frenchman earns around £125,000 a week yet this wage and the price of around £40-45m is surely affordable for a Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur to consider making the investment. With this in mind, if West Ham reach 1 February with Payet still at the club they can consider it a success given his top-class quality. Jamie Jackson
8) Academy focus could serve Koeman well
There was no hiding Ronald Koeman’s anger following Everton’s insipid defeat at St Mary’s and the sense is that he has had enough after a run of one win in eight games. Changes to a generally settled team are surely needed and they could be significant – the captain Phil Jagielka, for instance, could be among those dropped for Sunday’s visit of Manchester United after looking well off the pace against Southampton. Ross Barkley may also be for the chop after another ineffective display by the midfielder at the weekend. The trouble for Koeman is that he does not have a host of stand-out alternatives in reserve. He may be tempted, then, to look at Everton’s options at academy level, although such a prospect should perhaps not fill the club’s supporters with too much hope following the Dutchman’s assertion that he “wasn’t aware” of Josh Sims, after the Southampton youth player shone against Everton on what was his senior debut. Koeman, remember, was Southampton manager for two years. Sachin Nakrani
9) The real Llorente stands up for Swansea at last
Finally Swansea City have seen the real Fernando Llorente and if the Spaniard’s contribution against Crystal Palace is a sign of things to come, it could change the course of the Welsh club’s season. Unable to make the squad at Everton the previous Saturday, Llorente came off the bench against Palace to have a hand in one goal and score the two in injury-time that gave Swansea their first win since the opening day. Leroy Fer has already weighed in with six Premier League goals and Gylfi Sigurdsson continues to be at the centre of everything Swansea do as an attacking force, yet it is the No9 position that has proved so troublesome since Wilfried Bony departed. Llorente, who won the World Cup with Spain and scored prolifically for Athletic Bilbao and Juventus, clearly has the pedigree. Maybe he still has the desire and predatory touch in front of goal, too. Stuart James
10) Martins Indi gives Stoke a glimpse of his potential
Bruno Martins Indi was a key player when Holland finished third in the last World Cup and his performance in Stoke City’s win against Watford demonstrated why he was rated as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe two years ago. He has not quite pushed on since then, failing to establish himself at Porto after his transfer from Feyenoord, but there is obvious potential. Martins Indi snuffed everything out whenever Watford attempted to attack, showing strength in his duels with the burly Troy Deeney and composure whenever he was required to cut out through balls. The 24-year-old is on loan at Stoke and Mark Hughes will want to sign him on a permanent basis if he continues to perform at this level. The fear for Stoke before kick-off was that they would struggle without the injured Ryan Shawcross, but Martins Indi ensured that they did not miss their captain. Stoke’s defence has not always coped well without Shawcross, but Lee Grant was rarely troubled in goal. Jacob Steinberg
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