1 Still no clear favourite for the title

The most obvious takeaways from the match between the league leaders and the champions was that Liverpool are diminished from the rampant attacking force that swept all before them last season and that United have closed the gap on them. That wasn’t saying much, though, because it’s fine making up significant ground on your bitterest rivals but isn’t something to shout about if you don’t actually do anything about it.

It was a match that never really sparked into life and, strangely, left the neutral with more questions about each side’s respective title credentials, with United lacking in the belief to take the game by the scruff of the neck and Liverpool unable to breach a defence that has conceded the most of the teams in the top 10.

The other conclusion to be drawn was that Fabinho has developed into a first-class stand-in for Virgil van Dijk. The Brazilian’s timing,

powers of recovery and reading of the game make up for the absence of the Dutchman’s pace. Fabinho is no slouch himself, however, as evidenced by the ground he covered to block one opportunity

when Bruno Fernandes had lost his marker at the back post and the snuffing out of a late chance for Marcus Rashford as United broke on a three v three.

2 Maybe Carney had a point

Leeds United have not won a game since a social media storm in which former England women’s captain Karen Carney justifiably made the point that Marcelo Bielsa’s teams have a history of imploding in the final months of the season.

Carney’s argument was that Leeds might have, perhaps, benefited from lockdown last spring during their promotion-winning campaign because they got the chance to recharge

their batteries at a vital point in the season. It provoked outcry among Leeds supporters, with the club’s official Twitter account poking fun at Carney in the aftermath of a 5-0 win over West Brom ultimately leading to her deleting her account on the platform.

But guess what? That was then and this is now. Leeds have lost three on the bounce – including last weekend’s humiliating defeat in the FA Cup at League Two Crawley Town and have slipped a place to 12th in the division.

It is hardly compelling evidence that Carney was absolutely correct but nor does it refute the fact that she might have had a point – one that was worthy of a grown-up discussion, rather than the ridicule she received.

3 Ups and downs for Armstrong

Stuart Armstrong (left) has provided strong running from deep areas and a goal threat throughout Southampton’s revival under Ralph Hasenhuttl and is a shoo-in for Steve Clarke’s European Championship

squad this summer. It is somewhat baffling that he is not a starter for Scotland, however. He runs the channels brilliantly and offers the kind of out ball that Clarke’s counter-attacking system thrives on.

Yet, perhaps there was a clue hiding in plain sight during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Leicester City. Armstrong was not at fault for either of Leicester’s goals – let’s clear that up from the start – but he did concede possession with an ambitious lofted pass forward that was immediately cut out and then missed his tackle when he went to make amends for the concession. He was saved only by Ayoze Perez shooting over the bar when he shoud have scored. It brought to mind his aimless pass down the line which resulted in Harry Kane’s injury-time equaliser in the World Cup qualifying draw against England in summer 2017 and perhaps provides a hint at Clarke’s thinking when it comes to his use of the former Celtic man.

4 Ndombele continues to demonstrate that there is a way back under Mourinho

Dele Alli was conspicuous by his absence from the Spurs squad at Bramall Lane yesterday despite praise from Jose Mourinho following his display against Marine in the FA Cup last weekend. No-one was using his performance – he registered two assists – in that game as evidence that the England midfielder had returned from the cold and Mourinho made cryptic noises later in the week about players who were “unhappy” but prepared to “work, work, work” and those who were “not prepared to fight”.

A year ago, it was Tanguy Ndombele who found himself in Alli’s boots. The France international has since returned as a transformed figure, so much so that he has become an integral part of Mourinho’s midfield.

Yesterday, against Sheffield United he orchestrated Spurs’ best attacking moves from deep, capping a sublime performance with an exquisite outside-of-the-boot finish that sealed a victory that had looked in jeopardy at 2-1. It also made a mockery of failed-manager-turned-ill-informed-pundit Tim Sherwood’s recent comparison between Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko as two physical “runners” in the Spurs midfield.

5 Allardyce might just be capable of biggest escape act yet

Okay, Wolverhampton Wanderers had won just once in eight games prior to their defeat by West Brom on Saturday, but it was still a derby against their fiercest rivals and they were odds-on favourites to beat a side who had won just once all season – and that against then-winless Sheffield United.

Yes, West Brom got the benefit of a couple of narrow penalty decisions, and survived one against them when Kieran Gibbs handled a cross inside his own area but Allardyce could take credit.

He made six changes to the team that had lost to Blackpool in the FA Cup and stiffened up his midfield with new signing Robert Snodgrass making his debut. The Scot added his usual mix of brawn and strong running as West Brom closed the gap on the team in 17th, Burnley, to five points.

Allardyce has been here plenty of times before but following thrashings at the hands of Arsenal and Leeds, it appeared his powers of escapology seemed to be on the wane. Saturday at Molineux might just have forced a rethink.