Soccer-Premier League talking points

There is much more to come from him too, I'm sure," he said. POSTECOGLOU PLAYS DOWN TOP-FOUR OBSESSION Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou does not buy into the Premier League obsession of a top-four finish, insisting achieving it does not keep him awake at night. His side had the chance to move into fourth spot on Saturday but capitulated to a 3-0 defeat at Fulham.

Talking points from the weekend in the Premier League: FULHAM'S MUNIZ REPAYING SILVA'S FAITH

Without a Premier League goal to his name, Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz's days at Fulham looked numbered in January with the club apparently open to offers for the 22-year-old. A remarkable transformation, however, has made him become one of the top-flight's most in-form strikers with seven goals in his last seven league appearances.

His double helped Fulham to an impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and manager Marco Silva said Muniz, who hardly shone during a loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, was proving him right. "It hasn't been easy for him, but he hasn't given up and when he has been presented with a chance he has taken it. There is much more to come from him too, I'm sure," he said.

POSTECOGLOU PLAYS DOWN TOP-FOUR OBSESSION Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou does not buy into the Premier League obsession of a top-four finish, insisting achieving it does not keep him awake at night.

His side had the chance to move into fourth spot on Saturday but capitulated to a 3-0 defeat at Fulham. Presented with a post-match question from a reporter about Tottenham falling back into their old ways when a golden prize was at stake, the Australian bristled.

"I don't see fourth as the prize," he said. "I don't want to finish fourth if we haven't grown as a team and developed as a team. If nobody believes me then that's fine." FA CUP TAKES CENTRE STAGE

The FA Cup's lustre has steadily diminished during the march of the Premier League but the world's oldest knockout competition offered a reminder of its magic at the weekend. An intriguing Premier League title race was firmly on the back burner as three of the four quarter-finals produced absolute classics with 18 goals between them.

Second-tier Coventry City's extraordinary stoppage-time heist to win 3-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers ensured one side from outside the top tier survived. Chelsea also struck two stoppage-time goals to beat visiting Leicester City 4-2, while the best was saved to last with Manchester United pipping Liverpool 4-3 in extra time at Old Trafford in one of the best ties of recent years.

It all felt like a throwback to days of old and long may it continue. BRENTFORD'S POOR FORM CONTINUES AS DROP ZONE LOOMS

Brentford successfully avoided the so-called 'second-season syndrome' last term as they appeared to consolidate their place in the top flight by finishing ninth. But rather than push on, Thomas Frank's side are going backwards and are in the worst form of any club, picking up four points form the last 27 on offer.

A 2-1 away defeat by fellow strugglers Burnley at the weekend will set alarm bells ringing at Brentford who appear to be spiralling towards the relegation zone in 15th place, four points above third-bottom Luton Town. After the international break they have crucial games on the horizon against relegation-battling Everton, Luton and Sheffield United and the Bees will need a reboot if they are not to undo all the good work of the last two seasons.

FOREST DECISION WILL SIMPLIFY RELEGATION BATTLE A decision on what punishment Nottingham Forest will face is expected in the next few days and it cannot come soon enough.

A possible points penalty for breaking Premier League financial rules has been hanging over Forest for months -- complicating matters at the bottom of the table. Forest's 1-1 draw at Luton on Saturday meant they stayed in 17th place, three points above their opponents, but they could drop into the bottom three next week when the learn their fate.

Even then Forest could appeal, but at least they, and the teams around them, will have a slightly better idea of the points that might be required to escape the drop.

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