Man City remains in contention for the title; Man United continues to secure victories under Carrick.

The European soccer weekend once again provided ample discussion points across the leading leagues … where should we start? Perhaps at Anfield, where a tumultuous match concluded with Manchester City emerging victorious, Liverpool in disarray, and Dominik Szoboszlai receiving a red card amidst significant VAR confusion. Meanwhile, the highlight of the weekend in France — Le Classique — saw Paris Saint-Germain score five goals against rivals Marseille, reaffirming their position in the title race.

In England, Manchester United secured another win under interim manager Michael Carrick … will they contemplate making his position permanent based on this streak? Or do they recall the previous situation with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and how that unfolded?

– Ogden: Prepare for a summer of coaching upheaval
– VAR review: Was Liverpool justified in their claims about the missed red card? Was the penalty for Man City justified?
– Dawson: Mainoo exemplifies Man United’s progress under Carrick in the victory over Spurs

Additionally, there is much to discuss regarding Barcelona (more accolades for Lamine Yamal), Inter Milan (and some recognition for the underrated Federico Dimarco), Arsenal (Viktor Gyökeres is adapting well), Bayern Munich (yes, they achieved another win), Real Madrid (who were once again buoyed by Kylian Mbappé), and much more.

It’s Monday morning, making it an ideal time for some reflections. Let’s dive in.

Disorder and debate at Anfield, but Man City survives to compete another day

The final thirty minutes — framed by Dominik Szoboszlai, first with a stunning strike, then with a red card that defies logical reasoning — were as chaotic and eventful as one could imagine. The result is that City reduced their deficit from nine points to six. With a crucial match against Arsenal set for the Etihad on April 18, they have every reason to maintain their belief.

Let’s begin with the dramatic conclusion. Szoboszlai’s free kick was a display of technical brilliance; the curve and force of the shot made it nearly impossible to stop. Some may question Gianluigi Donnarumma for his two-man wall, but considering Szoboszlai was over 30 yards out and has demonstrated the ability to place the ball in the top corner, it is understandable that the City goalkeeper wanted to track the ball’s trajectory.

Szoboszlai was also involved in City’s equalizer, albeit negatively. He played Bernardo Silva offside. Then came the penalty, successfully converted by Erling Haaland (who has yet to score a league goal from open play since before Christmas) after Alisson collided with Matheus Nunes.

Are we finished? Not at all. Donnarumma’s save from Alexis Mac Allister’s shot — deflected off Rúben Dias, forcing the keeper to adjust midair — was the kind of save that will be discussed for a long time.

Then came the confusion surrounding Rayan Cherki’s disallowed goal. To a casual observer, it might have seemed inconsequential, with Liverpool trailing, 2-1 or 3-1, who really cares? However, Premier League titles have been determined by goal difference, as City knows all too well. Champions League qualifications are also at stake, which is pertinent for Liverpool. Thus, the disallowed goal holds significance. Additionally, Szoboszlai, who filled in as an emergency right back, now faces a one-match suspension on a team already missing three potential right backs.

– Man City’s comeback against Liverpool keeps the Premier League title race alive

Regarding the decision itself, we were promptly informed it was correct according to the laws. Szoboszlai pulled back Haaland in what was a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity. While the referee initially allowed play to continue, that advantage was lost when Szoboszlai moved ahead of him. The fact that Cherki’s shot was heading for goal seemingly does not matter, as Szoboszlai would likely have cleared it had Haaland not tugged at his shirt.

Confused? Watch the highlights, and it will become clearer. What may remain perplexing — and what anyone who has played the game at any level might find difficult to understand — is how this aligns with the essence of football. It may reflect a strict interpretation of the Laws of the Game and the accompanying directives, but it feels fundamentally wrong. This game is as much about emotion and intuition as it is about rules.

This dramatic conclusion overshadowed what was already an eventful match. Just on the refereeing front, Ibrahima Konaté on Omar Marmoush and Bernardo Silva on Mohamed Salah both appeared to be the types of penalties that would not have been overturned had they been awarded. Marc Guéhi not receiving a red card for pulling back Salah also felt unjust. Arne Slot was visibly frustrated as well. While Dias might have intervened and Donnarumma could have come off his line, surely that constituted a goalscoring opportunity?

play1:16Did Man City keep the Premier League title race alive with a late win against Liverpool?

Rob Dawson reacts to Manchester City’s late 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League.

On the footballing front, City had a distinct advantage in the first half, restricting Liverpool to three shots (none on target) and an xG of 0.14 (compared to 1.12). The compact front three of Haaland, Marmoush, and Antoine Semenyo disrupted Liverpool’s build-up play, even if it meant excluding someone like Cherki. After halftime, the dynamics shifted. City faded — as they have often done recently — and Liverpool created better opportunities, with Salah, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike (twice) all coming close.

What does this mean for both teams? City remains in the title race, although Pep Guardiola appears no closer to a consistent lineup he trusts week in and week out. The front three may have performed well against Liverpool in the first half, but it is hard to envision regularly excluding Cherki. Nevertheless, there is enough talent to keep them competitive … and at some point, Haaland will need to start scoring from open play again, right?

Liverpool, on the other hand, departs with a bruised ego, a gap at right back, and a squad that still appears quite thin for the final stretch. The match could have swung in their favor, but a challenging road lies ahead.

The true Paris Saint-Germain rises and overwhelms Marseille

To be honest, we hadn’t seen much from Paris Saint-Germain until now — at least not if we are using last year’s Champions League-winning performance as our standard. Competing with Lens at the top of Ligue 1, eliminated from the Coupe de France, and playoff-bound in the Champions League. Luis Enrique had cautioned that the Club World Cup would disrupt his preseason and that they wouldn’t be at their peak for some time. It felt as though he was preemptively making excuses, but that has largely been the reality.

It wasn’t solely about results, as some of his team selections also indicated he wasn’t overly impressed with last season’s stars. Leading up to Sunday’s significant match against Olympique Marseille, Ousmane Dembélé (the reigning Ballon d’Or) had started three of the previous six matches on the bench. Désiré Doué has been fit since early December, yet he too had been inconsistently included in the lineup, starting just two of PSG’s last six. Lucas Chevalier, who was not part of last year’s squad but was chosen to replace Donnarumma in goal, was benched in favor of Marat Safonov.

You can never be certain what to expect from Marseille, but there was a possibility they might upset PSG, who were trailing Lens (3-1 victors over Rennes Saturday) at kick-off. That notion was quickly dismissed. Dembélé silenced critics with two first-half goals — the second being a remarkable strike — leading to a commanding 5-0 victory that saw them hit the woodwork multiple times and achieve an xG of 4.39.

PSG may be out of the French Cup and engaged in a tight domestic battle. They may not have impressed in their Champions League defense thus far, conceding 10 goals in eight matches. However, they came alive on Sunday night. Just as they were lackluster in the first half of last season only to gain momentum as spring approached, they could very well find their rhythm at the perfect moment in the Champions League knockout stages this year. (Their first leg against Monaco is just over a week away … )

Carrick secures four consecutive wins … how long can United resist the urge?

play1:39Hutchison: Carrick has made a mockery of Amorim’s Man United

ESPN’s Don Hutchison believes Michael Carrick has made a “mockery” of Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.

The temptation to overhaul everything and make Carrick’s position permanent is palpable. Certainly, this scenario is reminiscent of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. After taking over from Jose Mourinho with the “caretaker” label in December 2018, he won 14 of his first 19 matches in charge (including eight in a row after his appointment) and by March, he was awarded the job permanently. (Fewer people recall that he also won just two of the club’s final 12 matches that season.) By November 2021, he was dismissed.

Carrick is not Solskjaer, but one would think United would be aware of their history. Regardless of the outcome, they need to conduct a thorough manager search, led by Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox (as accountability is essential, and why else are you compensating these individuals?). Allow Carrick to apply (if he wishes), let his performance be evaluated alongside other candidates, and if he is the right fit, appoint him. It is clear that this is the appropriate approach — especially since it is not as if Real Madrid will be pursuing him anytime soon. Whether Manchester United adheres to this plan remains uncertain given recent history.

This is not a slight against Carrick. Three of his victories came against high-profile opponents — the top two in the league and, on Saturday, Tottenham — and he has demonstrated the ability to make tactical adjustments. For instance, he pushed the speedy Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo into wide positions and positioned Matheus Cunha alongside Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 role for extended periods. Not rocket science? Perhaps, but it is more than his predecessor accomplished. Was his task made easier on Saturday because he faced 10 men for over an hour? Certainly. However, he capitalized on that advantage. An xG of 1.26 to 0.04 at 11 vs. 10 indicates that he effectively pressed his advantage, which is what one expects from a coach.

As for Spurs, it is easy to point fingers at Cristian Romero for his sixth red card since joining the club. Clearly, he should exercise better judgment, and his behavior raises concerns. However, Spurs manager Thomas Frank is not without fault in this situation. He appointed Romero as captain following Son Heung-Min’s departure. Additionally, against United, even at 11 vs. 11, Spurs offered little beyond a compact defensive setup and counterattacks.

The uncomfortable truth is that Spurs have won two of their last ten matches in 2026 — both, oddly, against German teams. Unless Tottenham shifts to the Bundesliga this summer, it is difficult to envision improvement without significant changes.

Quick hits

play2:00What makes Lamine Yamal such a difficult player to play against?

Kay Murray and Alejandro Moreno discuss Lamine Yamal’s performance in Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Mallorca.

10. Lamine Yamal is in fine form: It’s easy to overlook that this player is just 18 years old. With an hour gone and Barcelona leading against Mallorca, he received the ball about 30 yards out, created space with a touch, and struck it inside the post. He makes it appear effortless. He has now scored in his last five matches, bringing his season total to 15 (he had 18 in all competitions last year), which is impressive for a winger, even on an attacking team like Barcelona.

Yamal’s goal was crucial as, while Barça had taken the lead and dominated the first half, time was running out, and there was concern it might become one of those matches where Barça reaped far less than they deserved. Instead, it was Marc Bernal — who had looked promising in his early appearances before missing nearly a year due to a cruciate injury — who added the third. Bernal is also 18, and while comparisons to Sergio Busquets are already being made, it is important not to place undue pressure on him — not everyone can handle expectations as well as Yamal.

9. Federico Dimarco recorded three assists as Internazionale overwhelmed Sassuolo: One aspect that distinguishes Inter from other Serie A contenders is their understanding that three points against smaller teams are just as valuable as those against larger ones. The best strategy to secure three points is to score first and then continue to score. The old adage of scoring first and then becoming conservative is a risky approach in today’s game.

This was evident in Inter’s 5-0 away victory over Sassuolo on Sunday. Inter led 2-0 at halftime and then added two more goals at the start of the second half, before Sassuolo went down to 10 men following Nemanja Matic’s red card. A note on Dimarco: when he is fit and performing like this — with three assists on the night — he ranks among the best attacking left backs globally.

play1:45Has Viktor Gyökeres finally settled in at Arsenal?

Janusz Michallik joins Mark Donaldson to react to Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League.

8. Viktor Gyökeres may actually thrive with competition for his position: I am not a Gyökeres enthusiast in the sense that, unlike most, I did not believe he was the missing piece, and I thought the transfer fee was excessive. However, it is becoming clear why he is present now that Mikel Arteta has other attacking options, such as Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, both of whom started in the 3-0 win over Sunderland (with Havertz in the number 10 role).

As a change-of-pace option — particularly after defenders have been chasing the agile Jesus or containing Havertz’s deep runs — Gyökeres can be highly effective. It is not just the two goals he scored on Saturday — one while falling and the other an empty net on the counter — after coming on, but the influence he had during his half-hour on the field. Much has been said about the depth of Arteta’s squad, but the true strength lies in the variety of options available, rather than merely having similar choices. With those goals, Gyökeres has reached 13 in all competitions this season, suggesting he will likely hit 20 from open play. Quite commendable.

play2:00Harry Kane praises ‘fantastic’ Luis Diaz after Bayern hat trick

Harry Kane reacts to Bayern Munich’s 5-1 victory against Hoffenheim, highlighted by his brace and Luis Diaz’s hat trick.

7. Bayern Munich’s win is more crucial than impressive: … and this is despite the 5-1 scoreline. The match shifted early when Kevin Akpoguma fouled Luis Díaz, resulting in a penalty and a red card. Was it the right decision? The penalty was justified, but the red card? Technically perhaps — he used his arms, which typically warrants a sending off — but it felt excessive. Harry Kane converted the penalty, but it wasn’t until another handball penalty in the 45th minute that Bayern regained control before Díaz scored to make it 3-0 in first-half injury time. In between the two penalties, however, TSG Hoffenheim, despite being a man down, managed to equalize and won the xG battle (1.66 to 1.37). Bayern manager Vincent Kompany is unlikely to be pleased with that.

What he will appreciate is halting the momentum of a red-hot Hoffenheim (who had taken 19 of 21 points in their previous seven matches) and maintaining the six-point lead. That, along with Diaz’s hat trick. The Colombian is an absolute dynamo and has already reached 18 goals in all competitions this season, marking a career best.

6. Take Cole Palmer’s hat trick with a grain of salt, but Liam Rosenior continues to win: Palmer’s participation and scoring is undoubtedly positive news for Chelsea. He remains the club’s most vital player aside from Moises Caicedo, and when he nets three goals — as he did in Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers — it is significant. However, two of the three were penalties, both awarded after unnecessary fouls by Wolves defenders (especially the two-handed push for the second … in an era of VAR, such actions are rarely overlooked).

Aside from Palmer — and we will see how his fitness holds up in