We were treated to two games in the Premier League today with Liverpool taking on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and Manchester United travelling to the Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion.
With United and Liverpool chasing Manchester City for that fourth champions League place, both sides had to win and while Liverpool were lucky to get away from London with three points.
Here is what we learned from both of those games.
Liverpool might be better off without James Milner
Jurgen Klopp's men were reduced to 10 men when James Milner picked up a second yellow for a needless tackle just after the hour mark. It was only then that Liverpool sprung to life, scored twice and looking like a more difficult and dynamic opposition than the side Palace had encountered in the first half.
Liverpool were without Daniel Sturridge and Phillippe Coutinho from the start as Klopp opted for Milner, Firmino and Lallana across the midfield, with Divock Origi as the lone striker, and Liverpool suffered because of it.
Firmino has been an excellent buy for Liverpool, but he needs a creative player to coax him into linking play and finding himself in positions that he can pounce on. Milner works hard but that won't cut the mustard as one of Liverpool's highest earners when Klopp assesses his options at the end of the season.
Image: Adam Davy / PA Wire/Press Association Images
The debate rages on as to whether Benteke dived for the penalty to seal the three points, but the Belgian has had a horrible time of it lately with questions regarding his future at Anfield thrown around and treated with plenty of severity. Replays showed that Damien Delaney did make contact with his heel, and there are plenty of down on their luck strikers who would have gone down under similar circumstances.
Alan Pardew was not in great form after the game, but he needs to ask more questions of his goalkeeper, Delaney, as he focused on the referee's decision and the fact that Benteke "bought" the penalty.
Manchester United are far from 'fixed'
Manchester United lie sixth in the Premier League having lost to Tony Pulis' West Brom on Sunday evening, with West Ham overtaking them and Liverpool on their heels in seventh. United appear to have regressed yet again in the latest instalment of Louis van Gaal's lessons in boring football.
Despite the fact that Juan Mata was sent off before the half hour mark, Van Gaal and his Red Devils were settling into what looked like a possession-based game with little to merit the tag of 'Super Sunday'.
West Brom deserved their victory and pushed hard for the opener before the half-time whistle. It never came, but they eventually landed it through the industrious Salomon Rondon.
Van Gaal has brought through a number of young players in recent weeks and months, but there is a sense that the old cliches hold true and this team needs leaders. They had one of their most senior players sent off, leaving the outcome of the game up to Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
While United have shown signs of life recently, a well organised side which is committed to the cause in the way Pulis' teams are will always cause problems for United.
The bad news for United fans is that it's likely to get worse at Old Trafford before it gets any better, with injuries mounting and pressure on to perform and beat Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday night.
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