1) United take flight but Van Persie has gone off the radar

Lost in the narrative of Manchester United's runaway championship challenge is how the goals have dried up for Robin van Persie. The flying Dutchman of the first part of the season has become badly grounded and has only one goal since 20 January. He can still point to the 23 finishes of his debut season for the club. Yet unlike Wayne Rooney, who is still a force when a barren patch is encountered, Van Persie's body language has become distant, his touch uneven and his contribution to the team scant. If United were not 15 points ahead of Manchester City – and threatening to disappear further into the distance – the questions would have started a few weeks ago about what has happened to Van Persie. Jamie Jackson

2) Clubs likely to pay price for coin-throwing

At some stage over the next 48 hours the Football Association will presumably follow the Metropolitan Police by launching an investigation into the incidents of coin throwing that marred Chelsea's game with West Ham at Stamford Bridge. Both John Terry and Frank Lampard were pelted with small change and litter during the match – the former was hit, the latter was not – with both spending far too much time, unwisely perhaps, in front of the away support. Terry appeared to hold aloft an imaginary trophy. Lampard, a familiar pantomime villain at Upton Park, celebrated his 200th Chelsea goal in front of the massed ranks of West Ham fans. Some level of FA sanction could be administered to both clubs, with this a throwback to a similar scene at a League Cup tie eight years ago when Mateja Kežman was struck by a coin and Chelsea, as the home club responsible for controlling supporters, were fined £30,000. Yet it is hard to know how either could be expected to police such incidents. Remove all small objects, including currency, at the gate? Unlikely. Instead police and Chelsea security staff will pore over CCTV footage to try to identify the culprits, with West Ham's help. Whether successful or not, it was an ugly way to remember a fractious afternoon. Dominic Fifield

3) Retrospective report could yet hurt Wigan

In Wigan's win over Newcastle Callum McManaman's dangerous challenge on Massadio Haïdara went unpunished but warranted a red card that would have brought an automatic three-match ban. Whether he gets one depends on the contents of the referee Mark Halsey's report to the FA; if the official witnessed the incident, then no further action can be taken – any subsequent suspension would rule him out of Wigan's FA Cup semi-final against Millwall. And while McManaman has made a solitary league start this season for the Lancashire club, no player has made a greater contribution to their finest FA Cup run. Missing the match at Wembley would be a heavy price for him to pay for a tackle that was definitely reckless but probably not malicious although Newcastle are entitled to point out that Haïdara, who did nothing wrong, will be out for far longer. Richard Jolly

4) Liverpool fans' protest is right on the money

Before watching Liverpool's meek surrender against Southampton, those in the away end at Saint Mary's unfurled several home-made banners bemoaning Premier League fat cats and planned increases in the price of their season tickets. The club have announced a new six-tier pricing system for Anfield next season that will result in price increases of up to 9% in some parts of the stadium. Although season tickets in the Kop will remain level or reduced, the most expensive adult season ticket for the 2013-14 season will be £850 (an increase of over 5%) while the cheapest will sell at £710. The least expensive at their neighbours Everton, by contrast, will be £427. Although Liverpool are currently mid-table in the Premier League ticket price table, over 1,000% inflation since 1990 means the club is certain to continue pricing out more and more fans of all ages who just want to see their favourite local team play football. The pre-match protest by the hardcore who had made the 474-mile round trip to see that team get hammered by Southampton was entirely justified and by the game's end they had many more reasons to feel aggrieved. Barry Glendenning

5) How to solve a problem like Adel Taarabt

Harry Redknapp bristled when he was asked after Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa whether he could have introduced Adel Taarabt from the substitutes' bench a little earlier. "I didn't need to bring him on earlier because [in the] first half we were fantastic without Adel Taarabt. He hasn't played the last two games that we have won," the QPR manager said, before acknowledging how well the Moroccan played during his 24 minutes on the pitch. "When he came on I thought he was excellent. I thought he did some fantastic things, hit some great passes and I was well pleased with his performance." Taarabt was indeed superb and, if Redknapp could guarantee that sort of contribution for 90 minutes week in week out, his name would surely be on the team-sheet. Redknapp, though, hinted after the victory over Sunderland the previous Saturday that Taarabt was stretching his patience. Speaking about the player's absence from the squad, Redknapp said the midfielder had "suddenly" suffered "a little bit of thigh strain or something" during midweek and declared himself unavailable. When he is available, though, and playing like he did against Villa, Taarabt is a joy to watch. QPR need much more of the same in the final eight matches. Stuart James

6) R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Is familiarity with a manager a breeding ground for contempt among supporters? David Moyes feels that after 11 years at Everton he deserves respect. He says: "I wasn't hurt by the reaction to the [Wigan] defeat last week but everything seemed to come to a head. For some reason they [the fans] seemed to think my [contractual] position was the reason for that result. So was my position the reason for this [Manchester City] result? I know what we have to work with and the boundaries restricting where we can go as a football club. I'm the one who actually knows all that and maybe the supporters don't know all these things and they are expecting something more from us. When we went down to 10 men [on Saturday] I made a couple of substitutions that weren't popular, even though I felt it was right to keep us in the game. I hope people now realise I got that right. I know I was being questioned about it and I hope those people are now big enough to turn round and say: 'He got it right.' Last week didn't influence whether I stay or leave at the end of the season and this result won't either. I've always said where we finish will determine what happens. I hope I get respect for having been here 11 years. I'll always give Everton that respect and I hope that will now be mutual." Joe Lovejoy

7) Gervinho fires Arsenal's push for fourth

Can Gervinho reignite Arsenal's push for a Champions League place next season? After he scored his first league goal since September in the 2-0 win over Swansea City Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, believes that the Ivory Coast striker can. "I am convinced, yes," Wenger said. "He came back from the African Cup of Nations and looked a bit jaded. But now until the end of the season I'm sure he can be a big force for us. He's sensitive; he needs support. He wants to do well so, when he doesn't score, he's very down. But he gives us something different." Russell Kempson

8) Should Stoke fans expect more?

"Poor game, good point," said West Bromwich Albion's manager, Steve Clarke, of the drab 0-0 draw with Stoke. I expect many a manager leaving the Britannia Stadium this season has thought likewise. But is it really a good point or just what you expect against Tony Pulis's Stoke these days? No team in the Premier League has drawn more games than their 13 in the league this season. Six of those have been goalless. Do Stoke fans believe it's better to snooze than lose? Perhaps, but some could be forgiven for being a bit miffed that their Saturday afternoon pop is so flat so often. Having spent £75.2m (net) on his squad – the third highest in the Premier League – Pulis's team should be capable of doing more than just bolting the door. That's not to say his job should be under threat. Establishing Stoke in the top flight has been a fine achievement. But with similar financial backing from Stoke's chairman, Peter Coates, next season, his team ought to be more than just a barometer for mid-table security. Gregg Bakowski

9) How much longer will Mignolet be at Sunderland?

Sunderland's brilliant Belgian goalkeeper shook his head in apparent disgust as he left the pitch at the end of his side's underwhelming 1-1 home draw against a Norwich City side reduced to 10 men for most of the match. Without Mignolet's heroics Martin O'Neill's team could well be in the bottom three but the suspicion is he will not be around to save them for too much longer. What price Mignolet to Arsenal in the summer? In reality selling their prize asset – possibly along with Stéphane Sessègnon – might be the most realistic way for O'Neill to rebuild a squad desperately in need of pace, invention and resilience. Louise Taylor

10) Tottenham fight the weight of history in the near future

André Villas-Boas' men played well in losing at Liverpool, the Europa League defeat at Internazionale was not too damaging as they progressed regardless on the away-goals rule in the week and Fulham's manager, Martin Jol, admitted that, despite his side winning 1-0, Tottenham had been "the better team" on Sunday. But they lost again and they now have a new enemy to set alongside Arsenal, who refuse go quietly in the fight for a top-four finish. It is the weight of history. Tottenham have faltered badly in the closing stages of the past two seasons and three straight defeats, no matter how they have come, have cranked up the psychological pressure. David Hytner