Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article
10 things we learned from the weekend’s Premier League and EFL Cup final action
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The weekend may have been light on Premier League action, with the Manchester derby and Arsenal’s game against Southampton postponed due to the EFL Cup final, and Leicester hosting Liverpool on Monday.
But the season’s first Wembley showpiece more than made up for that, as Manchester United counted their lucky stars and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s many attacking attributes to edge past Claude Puel’s side 3-2.
The Swede was very nearly upstaged by Manolo Gabbiadini, who scored two and had a third - incorrectly - ruled out
But Jose Mourinho ultimately became the first ever Manchester United manager to win a major trophy in his debut season with the club, even if it was a tad harsh on Southampton.
Back in the Premier League, Chelsea won yet again to maintain the momentum in their march to the title, while Tottenham bounced back from their Europa League disappointment to spank Stoke.
Read on for everything we learned this weekend:
There is a reason Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets away with being so bullish and arrogant in his frequent declarations of self-worth – because he delivers on the big occasion time and time again.
The 35-year-old striker scored twice in the EFL Cup final – including an 87th-minute winner – to virtually single-handedly land the first trophy of the Jose Mourinho era at United and take his goal tally for the season to 26.
Ibrahimovic is said to be stalling on signing up to United for a second year because of the uncertainty over whether they will be in the Champions League next season.
With his kind of enduring brilliance, United can’t afford not to have him next season.
Who says there are no strikers of value out there?
That’s the common refrain from many current managers, who bemoan the lack of forward talent out there.
But Claude Puel has landed a star in Manolo Gabbiadini, a £14m buy from Napoli.
Gabbiadni’s two expertly-taken EFL Cup final goals against United took his total to five in three games for Saints, or eight in his last six if you include his final run of games for his former club.
The 25-year-old tormented United’s defence, who had no answer to his speed of thought and movement, as well as his deadly finishing.
Cesc Fabregas scored the opening goal on his 300th Premier League appearance as Chelsea beat Swansea 3-1 and remind us all that he is a top class player, one of the best midfielders of his generation.
The Spain World Cup winner enjoyed a glorious career at Arsenal, went to Barcelona and did not quite live up to his hopes but has found a nice home at Chelsea.
Although not a guaranteed starter, Fabregas is one hell of a player to have on the bench and in the squad. He started this one, scored with a nice finish and showed what a valuable player he has been for Chelsea.
Ashley Williams is growing massively into a leadership role at Goodison, after what was a tricky start to his Blues career, given the almost constant changes in the back line in his early weeks.
He is one of the most consistent centre halves in the league, and you wonder why he wasn’t at a top four club many years ago.
Maybe his time has come with Everton. He was certainly on point in Everton’s win against Sunderland, sweeping up the danger and marshaling his defenders with authority.
Michael Keane showed great character as Burnley came from behind to share the spoils with Hull.
Keane might have gone into his shell when he handled to give away the spot-kick for Hull’s opener.
He was under pressure from Harry Maguire when he handled, but he was still leading with his arm up.
Instead the Clarets centre-half was determined to make up for his error and he showed great composure to score their equaliser just five minutes later.
He chested down Robbie Brady’s corner before lashing home with his left foot.
The on-loan Arsenal midfielder was subbed in the 66th minute of Bournemouth’s trip to the Hawthorns after failing to have much influence in the match against West Brom.
He might have got on the end of Fraser’s 42nd minute cross if he had been a bit braver in committing when Dawson was rushing in.
Andy Carroll had scored five goals in six starts before his latest sicknote with a groin strain, and West Ham boss Slaven Bilic decided to take no risks with his injury on a damp, blowy evening in Hertfordshire.
Michail Antonio’s industry, versatility and goals have been major assets for the Hammers this season when Bilic has been short of recognised strikers.
But the Eastenders’ attack often lacked a focal point for the stream of crosses – high and low – from the flanks against Watford.
For long periods, West Ham enjoyed more possession and territory, but until sub Andre Ayew’s equaliser, there was not enough end product.
Allardyce’s pre-match words about his team not listening to his instructions were harsh – and risked an adverse reaction from his squad.
But instead Palace came out firing against Middlesbrough with arguably their best performance under their new manager and could have won by more.
They set up with three centre-backs against Crystal Palce on Saturday, but the two wing-backs – Fabio and Stewart Downing – played very deep and offered little attacking threat.
When Palace took the lead, Boro needed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
They didn’t – or couldn’t. Every week the table looks worse.
Every top side has one and for Spurs it is Harry Kane. The north Londoners’ high-class marksman was at his predatory best to wipe out Stoke single-handedly.
The first of those goals, in his 36-minute hat-trick, was the 100th of his career. He could have had another too. The effort he curled goalwards in the 27th-minute flew only narrowly wide.
He tracked back, he foraged out wide and of course he set up Dele Alli - all before his half-time orange. His was not just a man of the match display because of the goals.
Kane earned the match ball because of a performance of the highest class. Still only 23 and having played only 219 matches, Spurs have produced a potentially world class striker with his best years ahead of him.
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