Premier League Week 17: Key Takeaways from All the Drama
Although many teams have struggled to produce consistent quality this season, the Premier League has consistently provided late drama. Week 17 exemplified this no end. The late goals flew in around the league and they will have far-reaching consequences.
Despite their dominance, Liverpool were forced to settle for a point against Arsenal, coming from behind to net an equaliser deep into stoppage time. Meanwhile, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers left it late to secure all three points in closely-fought, exciting contests.
Here are three key takeaways from the action in Week 17.
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Raheem Sterling Is Not a Striker
One of the ties of the weekend was the 2-2 draw at Anfield.
After deservedly leading through Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool allowed Arsenal to claw their way in front before Martin Skrtel equalised in the 97th minute (4:03 below).
For the third consecutive match, Raheem Sterling was deployed as a central striker and the 20-year-old failed to convince in his new role.
In his post-match interview with the BBC, Brendan Rodgers spoke of Liverpool's dominance in the game and the chances they created.
Indeed, Liverpool had 27 shots—the most Arsenal have faced in the league since 2003—but all this shows is they're simply not clinical enough. This is partly due to Sterling playing out of position.
The graphic below, courtesy of FourFourTwo's Stats Zone, shows Sterling's attacking contributions against Arsenal.
Despite his central role, the youngster's contributions were largely restricted to the left flank and he failed to score from his three shots. Sterling is a fine, creative player. But he's not a forward.
Week 16's performance against United tells a similar story:
While Sterling scored two against Bournemouth in the League Cup on Wednesday, his ineffectual efforts against Premier League opposition show that he isn't cut out to play up front.
Why Rodgers would opt to use Sterling—who hadn't scored since September—when a fully-fit Rickie Lambert is available is baffling.
The former Saints man scored 14 goals last year. With Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli injured, surely this was the exact situation Lambert was recruited for?
Per Phil McNulty of the BBC, Rodgers said: "Can we now challenge for the top four? Yes. Absolutely. The most important thing is that we are moving in the right direction again."
The character the Reds showed in battling back stands them in good stead going forward.
But for all the positives Liverpool can take from the performance, if Rodgers sticks with Sterling up front then they won't discover the clinical edge they need to win consistently.
Rodgers also revealed that Sturridge could be back in January. Unless he hits the ground running, he's unlikely to be sharp. To build on this performance and challenge for the top four, Liverpool need to start using Lambert more.
Sunderland's Tyne-Wear Win Can Reinvigorate Their Season
Sunderland won their fourth derby in a row against arch-rivals Newcastle United with a 1-0 victory at St James' Park.
Though the last-gasp winner from Adam Johnson may have only secured the Black Cats' third win of the season, the victory can act as a catalyst to reignite Sunderland's fortunes.
In his post-match interview with the BBC, Gus Poyet stated: "There is no bigger confidence than beating your biggest rivals."
The win is just what Sunderland need to kick on up the league.
The Black Cats have lost just once in their last eight, showing great solidity at the back. Only seven goals were conceded in that time, and four were in the game against Manchester City.
If not for the freak 8-0 drubbing at Southampton, Sunderland would have one of the best records in the league.
With defensive solidity a problem for many teams this season, that stands them in good stead to start turning their frequent draws into wins.
The added confidence will do Sunderland a world of good, and with winnable games against Hull City and Aston Villa coming up, Poyet can start to look up rather than over his shoulder.
If they can inject a bit of creativity or cutting edge in January, then the campaign could be very enjoyable up on Wearside. A top-10 finish finally looks a realistic possibility for the long-suffering fans.
Charlie Austin Can Fire QPR to Safety
QPR produced a stunning comeback against West Bromwich Albion to win 3-2 at Loftus Road, courtesy of Charlie Austin's first Premier League hat-trick.
The trio of strikes brings Austin's impressive tally to 11 for the season, behind only Sergio Aguero and Diego Costa.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Harry Redknapp was full of praise for Austin, citing his work rate and goalscoring ability.
The 25-year-old's form could just make the difference in a tight relegation battle.
Rangers' defence is the worst in the league, but what gives them an edge over their rivals is a prolific striker in the form of Austin.
Leicester City looked early on to have that in Leonardo Ulloa, while Burnley put their faith in Danny Ings. However, neither has had a comparable impact to the QPR man.
If Austin can maintain his form, he might just about be able to cancel out his side's defending and give the Hoops a strong survival chance. The confidence his late hat-trick will bring makes his continued form all the more likely.
Many, such as Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, believe the forward deserves an England call-up:
However, with England not playing their next fixture until March 27, any serious England talk seems somewhat premature.
Nevertheless, the former non-league centre-forward is destined to have a huge impact on the race for survival.
After a Boxing Day trip to Arsenal, QPR face Crystal Palace and Swansea City at home. Rangers have picked up all 17 of their points at Loftus Road this season, so with Austin in top form they could find some breathing room at the bottom sooner rather than later.
