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Misery in Manchester and Forest in seventh heaven - Five Premier League talking points

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February kicked off with a bang in the Premier League, unless you are a fan of one of the Manchester clubs. 

Liverpool passed another test with a professional job on in-form Bournemouth, while Spurs managed to get a win to ease the pressure on Ange Postecoglou ahead of the crucial Carabao Cup semi. 

Here are the biggest talking points from Matchday 24 in the Premier League. 


Manchester City...officially gone 

Any idea that Manchester City's small upward turn in form meant that they had gotten over their troubles this season was quickly blown up in smoke at The Emirates.

Arsenal were not even at their best throughout this game, but they condemned Pep Guardiola to his worst defeat as City boss. 

Off the ball, the Premier League champions just do not look at the races, and it's no real shock that the Gunners were able to pick apart their huge weaknesses and punish City so emphatically.

There will be real concern at The Etihad that even with a possible five Champions League places up for grabs, City could still miss out on the qualifying if they continue in this way. Someone call Amazon Prime, because here's a documentary for you. 

As for Arsenal, it was a big statement win and exactly what their season needed. Is that enough to concern Liverpool and the title race? Probably not...just yet. 

Manchester United...officially gone...again 

Manchester must be a pretty miserable place today, after United slumped to yet another home defeat, this time to Crystal Palace. 

The most telling aspect of the result is that it's not really a surprise anymore, and this United team really are mid-table fodder. Somehow, with the money that hasbeen spent on that squad, they are not a team that can challenge the European picture, and it's being proven time and time again by better, more tactically astute sides. 

This summer could be one of the biggest in the club's recent history, just because there's so much to work on. 

Ruben AmorimRobbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Saints in small silver lining 

Southampton are relegated it all but name, but their win over fellow strugglers Ipswich on Saturday should give them hope in their race not to be the worst Premier League side in history. 

The 2-1 victory puts the club on nine points for the season and means they are just two away from the record-low haul of 11 points recorded by Derby County in 2008. 

Three points in the next 16 games seem doable, even for a Saints side so clearly out of their depth this campaign. 

Seven heaven 

Another impressive hallmark of Nottingham Forest this season has been their ability to bounce back from a setback. Last week's 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth may have caused concerns among some sides who have 'punched above their weight' in a season - but not Nuno's side. 

Their response was to not only get back to winning ways but do it in devasting style by smashing seven goals past Brighton - who did not even play that badly on the day. Forest - and especially Chris Wood - were ruthless and clinical as they cemented their place in the top four. 

It's hard to see the midlands side not being among Europe's elite next season. 

 

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Moyes the master 

The old adage is that you should 'never go back', but David Moyes and Everton just still feel so right - and he's already gotten them in the record books. 

The opening goal on Saturday against Leicester was timed at 10.18 seconds, which is not only the fastest home goal ever seen in the Premier League, but the quickest in Goodison Park's 132-year history. 

Since making his return to Goodison, the Toffees have won three out of the last four games and scored eight goals in that time - something that seemed impossible just a month or so ago. 

It means the Merseysiders are surely safe for this season and can look forward to Moyes leading them into their brand-new swanky stadium next year. 

 

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