Premier League Weekend Review: Slot under fire, Beto’s brace lifts Everton, and Sunderland hoodoo haunts Newcastle

Arne Slot 's struggles, Everton 's push for Europe, and Newcastle's Black Cat curse. Five talking points from the weekend's Premier League action.

Bournemouth enhanced their reputation as Europe's draw specialists again this weekend, after holding Manchester United on the south coast. The Cherries twice came from behind to earn a point, a result that made it five consecutive league draws for Andoni Iraola's side.

Their five draws on the bounce is the longest run of stalemates in the Premier League since 2020-21, when Fulham also drew five straight games.

No side in Europe's top five leagues has drawn more games than Bournemouth this season, with almost half of their 31 games (15) ending all square.

Arne Slot reeled off the excuses as Liverpool lost at Brighton, but there will be little sympathy for the under-fire Dutchman.

A 10th defeat of the Premier League campaign means Liverpool have lost more games this season than in any other campaign since 2015-16, while only five reigning Premier League champions have lost more games during a title defence.

Hugo Ekitike's early withdrawal was problematic with no recognised alternative, but the decision to introduce Curtis Jones was a cautious change that backfired.

Liverpool look bereft of ideas going forward, vulnerable defensively, and lethargic. It was no surprise to discover that Brighton significantly outran their visitors. The performance was a world away from the midweek win over Galatasaray and Slot seemed unable to get a tune from his team. It's not the first time we've said that this season.

– Saturday, 21 March 2026

Beto has shouldered some serious criticism during his time at Everton, but is the forward timing another purple patch perfectly? Last season, the 28-year-old scored five goals in five games in February to help Everton climb the table under David Moyes.

He's played second-fiddle to Thierno Barry for much of the current campaign, but made it five goal involvements in eight Premier League games to sink Chelsea.

In Everton's best home performance of the season, Beto was instrumental, lifting in a fantastic opener after darting onto James Garner's pass. The forward's flaws are often well discussed, but find him with grass to run into and Beto can be a real handful.

A second goal and assist for Iliman Ndiaye capped a dream night, and a win that moves eighth-placed Everton with three points of the top five - a position that will almost certainly guarantee Champions League football.

With Brentford (7th) and Liverpool (5th) up next, Everton's European dream is in their own hands.

It's said that Black Cats are unlucky and Newcastle know that better than most.

Despite spending the majority of the last decade residing above their North East neighbours, Sunderland , Newcastle have been unable end a wretched record against them.

Eddie Howe has become the first ever Newcastle manager to lose both of his first two league meetings with Sunderland, following a 2-1 defeat at St James' Park this weekend.

Sunderland sucker-punched his side late on with the Black Cats' comeback completed by Brian Brobbey, whose 90th-minute winner was the latest ever scored in a Premier League Tyne-Wear derby.

– Sunday, 22 March 2026

Sunderland's success stretched their unbeaten run in league games against Newcastle to 11, the longest either side has ever recorded.

Having been at the centre of a summer spat between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, it was perhaps fate that Morgan Gibbs-White would decide what had become a crucial contest this weekend.

Gibbs-White looked certain to sign for Spurs last summer, until accusations from Forest over an illegal approach saw a U-turn made. It's a situation that might just keep Forest in the Premier League - and at Tottenham's expense.

Spurs have struggled badly for creativity all season and it is not difficult to see how Gibbs-White would have improved their struggling side.

– Sunday, 22 March 2026

The midfielder made the points safe for Forest in North London with the second goal, his sixth in 12 games. It's a moment that helped Forest climb above Spurs in the table and push the home side closer to the