Premeir League Five Points: City gain ground as Rooney deflates Liverpool

Manchester City were the big winners on a weekend that saw Arsenal and Leicester settle for draws while Manchester United got an ugly-but-they’ll-take-it win over Liverpool in England’s biggest derby. Here are the five things we learned this weekend in England. – Jamie Trecker

Takeaways: Let’s not mince words: Sunday’s derby was a miserable slog of a match. But United’s fans will not care. Sunday, it was one fine swipe of the foot from Rooney that did the job, and it leaves Liverpool in dire shape. Eight points out of fourth place, the Reds are likely to have to reset expectations. But for United, who now sit just two points off Spurs, hope of a European place has been restored. United may be able to return to Europe – but their fans will still be wondering if they can return to entertaining as well.

Takeaways: Arsenal’s six year wait for a win at Stoke goes on, but this was still a valuable point for an exhausted team. With Mesut Ozil out, Alexis Sanchez still waiting to return, and both Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla nowhere near fitness, this was always a tough game for Arsenal to win and the Gunners showed grit in the scoreless draw. Arsenal must return to winning ways against Chelsea next weekend at home, however: should they beat their rivals, they face a pretty decent run-in with their destiny in their own hands. If not…

Takeaways: Unwanted at Swansea, tarred as a player with an “attitude problem,” Shelvey saw his value plummet over the past several months, and Steve McClaren must be thinking he got a bargain on Saturday night after a fee of just $16 million. Shelvey played like a man with something to prove, setting up both goals with intelligent passes in a vital 2-1 win over West Ham. Shelvey has a lot more to prove having bounced now out of two teams -- this does feel like a last chance for the young man. Displays such as Saturday’s will go a long way towards helping.

Takeaways: Roberto Martinez was rightly fuming at the end of his side’s tie with Chelsea, a pulsating 3-3 encounter that should have ended up a 3-2 win. Inexplicably, the linesman blew a clear offside call on John Terry’s winner deep in stoppage-time, and Martinez minced no words. “Maybe the refs need a bit of help,” he said -- and we agree. Will this play add to the growing calls for video review? It should.

Takeaways: Mark Bunn’s show for Villa Saturday is likely to signal the end for American Brad Guzan as a starter. Bunn was excellent between the posts against top club Leicester, and was a commanding presence -- something Guzan has not offered for some time now. This is bad news for fans of the United States men's national team, but it might be good news for the Villans. Unfortunately, Guzan has endured two poor seasons now, and a change had to come.