Premier League: talking points from the weekend action

He finally scored. Rasmus Højlund broke his 21-match goal drought – dating back to 12 December – with a composed strike to put Manchester United 1-0 up against Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Having received the ball from Bruno Fernandes around 40 yards out from goal, he carried it into the penalty area before unleashing a powerful low shot into the bottom-left corner. You could just sense the relief on the striker’s face as he walked back to the halfway line for the restart. It was also a positive evening for Alejandro Garnacho, who ended his 25-game stretch without a goal, dating back to 28 November. It should give both players a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final stretch of the season. “The most important thing for me is the work they are putting in, especially defending,” Ruben Amorim said. “They live for assists and scoring goals. Rasmus, really good control right foot and then Garnacho is always trying to score a goal and he deserved that feeling.” Emillia Hawkins

Persisting with Robert Sánchez in goal could be the call that ends up costing Enzo Maresca. Sánchez is not good enough to be Chelsea’s first choice. Maresca was on the right track when he replaced the Spaniard with Filip Jörgensen last month. Sánchez is erratic and makes Chelsea’s defenders nervous. It is not clear why Maresca has recalled him. Sánchez was lucky not to concede more during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. He almost gifted Gabriel Martinelli a goal with a dreadful attempt to play out from the back. He flapped unconvincingly at crosses but Leandro Trossard kept failing to capitalise. The breakthrough came from Mikel Merino, whose looping header from Martin Ødegaard’s corner caught Sánchez out. Sánchez had moved off his line and towards his near post when the ball was delivered but was too far across to deal with Merino’s header. One lapse in judgment cost Chelsea in a tight game. Jacob Steinberg

While the injury that forced Bernardo Silva off after 76 minutes may keep him out for “two weeks,” Pep Guardiola said, Omar Marmoush impressed by claiming the penalty Erling Haaland converted, and scoring a fine long-range goal. He now has four since joining Manchester City in the winter window. “As an attacker, scoring goals makes it easier [to settle in],” the forward said. “But even without the goals, the players have made me feel at home, the staff also. This club has the feeling of a big family and I’m happy to be here. It’s always a challenge coming into a new team, but much easier coming into a club like this, with the quality of the players on the pitch and the coach of course.” Jamie Jackson

By hook or by crook, Everton have racked up nine unbeaten league games under David Moyes, his only defeat coming in his first game back in the job. Shorn of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the bulk of that time, the Toffees have had to find goals and attacking impetus from alternative sources. Following a fairly toothless display form Everton’s starting forwards, substitute trio Youssef Chermiti, Armando Broja and Tim Iroegbunam earned praise from Moyes, as did goalscorer Jake O’Brien, whose injury-time equaliser earned his a side a point. Moyes has certainly improved the Toffees’ proficiency in the final third but they’ve not kept a clean sheet since the first day of February. After four successive draws, finding a balance between attack and defence is something to work on over the international break. Dominic Booth

Ipswich enjoyed some positive moments in defeat to Nottingham Forest but a disastrous seven-minute spell in the first half, when they conceded three goals, effectively ended their chances of securing a positive result. By the time Ipswich posed an attacking threat, they were three goals down, the combination of Jaden Philogene, Omari Hutchinson and Julio Enciso, in support of striker Liam Delap, lacking cohesion. “That’s the first time we’ve played with that permutation of that front four,” said Kieran McKenna. “Our execution wasn’t good enough. We lost the ball too much in too many good situations. We lost some big moments whenever we broke pressure or regained the ball. From a balance point of view it’s something I’ve got to reflect on again to try and find the best partnerships.” While McKenna will not publicly concede relegation, Ipswich’s position suggests a likely drop. The question remains whether he can effectively experiment to secure late-season points and bolster morale. Yara El-Shaboury

Now 36, Willian made his first start for Fulham since rejoining the club in January after an ill-starred six months at Olympiakos. He was typically involved – it’s easy to see why Marco Silva is such a fan – and much of the first half of Fulham’s win over Tottenham on Sunday seemed to involve Willian snapping at the heels of Djed Spence as he was forced back towards his own goal. There was a scurrying run and a low shot deflected just wide early in the second half and a late long-range effort that arced just wide, but the highlight was an extravagant volleyed flick with the outside of his ankle to Emile Smith Rowe. He remains an enormously useful and effective player, not just in his own right but in the way he links up with the left-back Antonee Robinson; it’s easy to see why Silva was so keen to bring him back. Jonathan Wilson

The true victors of Brentford’s victory at Bournemouth were most probably Brighton, Newcastle and Aston Villa in the race for Europe. Bournemouth have replicated last season’s boom and bust cycle at the wrong time. If their football has had Arne Slot and Pep Guardiola cooing, they are not without flaws. Fatigue and pressure have taken hold. “It’s a matter of leaving the second ball, smelling the danger, reacting quicker than them,” Andoni Iraola said. Both of Brentford’s goals came via set pieces. That Iraola has been discussing his future with sporting director Thiago Pinto has been confirmed by owner Bill Foley. The hope is that Iraola can stay as long as Thomas Frank, who continues to do a wonderful job in improving Brentford each season on a budget. Europe is still not beyond either team’s reach. “There’s loads of good teams going for those European spots, but we have quality to nail one of them,” said winning goalscorer Christian Nørgaard. John Brewin

Having gone nine games without a goal in all competitions, Jørgen Strand Larsen would have been forgiven for lacking in confidence. Southampton, though, are a striker’s dream this season. In the continued absence of their leading goalscorer, Matheus Cunha, Wolves’ 6ft 4in target man scored his first goals since December, the first a header from Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s cross from the right, the second a low finish that beat Aaron Ramsdale from the edge of the box. Despite his newfound form, Strand Larsen may struggle for minutes over the international break. He competes with Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth for a place in the Norway team. Billy Munday