Monday, 2 December 2019

Premier League Notes - Week 14

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 14

The 14th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

31 goals - most by Tottenham = 3
260 shots - most by Man City = 24
99 on target - most by Man City = 9
122 corners - most by Arsenal = 12
186 fouls - most by Sheff Utd = 18
26 bookings - most by Sheff Utd = 5
1 red card - Alisson for Liverpool
1 penalty - 1 scored (Aubameyang for Arsenal)

#NEWMCI
The Magpies made up for last week’s dire display at Villa Park (week 13), by frustrating the hell out of the champions, and grabbing a point from Pep Guardiola’s men when they thought Kevin De Bruyne found the winner with a smacker from distance, in off the crossbar to make it 1-2 with under ten minutes to go (82’). But ex-Liverpool player Jonjo Shelvey produced an unstoppable stunner to make it 2-2 (88’), keeping the unbeaten home run going at six games since losing to Arsenal on the opening weekend (week 1). Steve Bruce had keeper Martin Dúbravka to thank as well for keeping his side in the game with some strong stops. The draw sees City drop eleven points behind the Red league leaders, whilst Newcastle remain 14th, but just a couple of points off the top half, and only four points separating them from the top five.

#BURCRY
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (45+1’) and sub Jeffrey Schlupp (78’) helped Palace to their first league win in six games. Sean Dyche was disappointed with the result, but not with the display, the hosts kept on pushing, but unlike their opposition, couldn’t break the cage. The Clarets have lost all three home games in which they have conceded. The result took Roy Hodgson’s side up to eleventh, level on points with their opponents in tenth. 

#CHEWHU
Aaron Cresswell’s winning goal (48’) was a top-quality cracker and deserved all the replays and points, ending his side’s seven-game winless run. Hammers third-choice keeper David Martin was in tears after the match, the 33-year-old’s debut in which he starred with an inspired performance and top stops and blocks, embracing his dad, West Ham legend Alvin. It’s the visitors’ first clean sheet since 22 September (week 6) and their first victory at Stamford Bridge for 17 years, the three points taking them up to 13th, four points clear from the drop zone, whilst the Blues fall three points behind Man City in third after back-to-back defeats.

#LIVBHA
The league leaders bossed the show at Anfield in the first half, leading thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s headed brace (18’, 24’). But it wouldn’t be Liverpool without some twists and turns and nervous ending. Jürgen Klopp saw his keeper Alisson sent off for handling the ball outside the box (76’). Sub stopper Adrián was still getting ready and positioning his wall when ref Martin Atkinson blew the whistle allowing sub Leandro Trossard’s quick low take hit the back of the net to make it 2:1 (79’), and make the final ten minutes very nervous and tense. But the Reds held on, the win moving them 11 points clear at the top before Sunday's games, equalling their longest ever unbeaten run in the top flight = 31 games without defeat (also between May 1987 and March 1988).

#TOTBOU
Just like last week, Spurs were bossing the match and cruising thanks to Deli Alli’s brace (21’, 50’) and Moussa Sissoko’s close-range volley (69’). But José Mourinho saw his men concede a couple of needless late goals again like last week (week 13), Harry Wilson capitalising on some sloppy and sleepy defending (73’, 90+6’). But I’m sure the Portuguese won’t have or receive many complaints after his side’s first back-to-back wins this season, taking them up to fifth. Eddie Howe meanwhile, saw his Cherries lose three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2018, pulling them down to 12th.

#SOUWAT
The Saints produced the perfect comeback at St Mary's, with late goals from Danny Ings (78’) and James Ward-Prowse (83’), after Ismaïla Sarr had given the Hornets a deserved lead in the first half (24’). Their first league win since September eased the pressure on their own boss Ralph Hasenhüttl, his half-time substitutions worked and did the trick. The defeat left the visitors bottom of the Premier League and no other choice than to sack their boss Quique Sánchez Flores after less than three months in charge.

#NORARS
The Gunners nicked a point thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace (29’ pen, 57’), the home side left gutted not to have capitalised fully on some shambolic defending and wasteful play in general. Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg looked frustrated at the full-time whistle. This game showed what difficult job this was for Unai Emery and will be for whoever his permanent replacement is going to be. Daniel Farke’s side outplayed the visitors by far, Teemu Pukki (21’) and Todd Cantwell (45+2’) back on the scoreboard after individual droughts. The result leaves Arsenal eighth in the Premier League, seven points off a place in the top four, while Norwich remain 19th, three points from safety.

#WOLSHU
The Blades bossed the first half and were ahead thanks to Lys Mousset’s early opener (2’). Nuno Espírito Santo's side were second best until Matt Doherty headed in the equaliser (64’), the goal extending their unbeaten run to nine games, their longest run in the top-flight since April 1973, keeping them in sixth. Chris Wilder’s men have not lost away in the league since last January and remain seventh.

#LEIEVE
Djibril Sidibé delivered an absolute beauty from the right side into the six-yard area which Richarlison powered in with a cracking header (23’), an excellent move with an excellent finish. The Foxes were falling all over the place, looking for penalties left, right and centre. VAR got it right for a change when Ben Chilwell’s dive was spotted, the penalty decision overturned, but why wasn’t he booked?! There was no contact! Pf! SIX MINUTES into added time, Kelechi Iheanacho didn’t give a damn about the raised flag, the Nigerian forward was so sure of himself and his sublime finish, he was gone celebrating. VAR confirmed he was onside, Brendan Rodgers over the moon with yet another comeback win, his counterpart Marco Silva understandably devastated (and sacked in the morning?). The result keeps the 2016 champions eight points behind the Reds, whilst the Toffees drop to 17th, two points away from the drop zone. 

#MUNAVI
Jack Grealish was fouled by Andreas Pereira but that didn’t put him off and the Villa man produced an awesome curling finish from an angle to beat David de Gea and stun Old Trafford (11’). Marcus Rashford's header came off the post before bouncing up and hitting Villa keeper Tom Heaton's shoulder on its way over the line, own goal, 1-1 (42’), lucky after a poor first half by Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s men. Sub Victor Lindelöf (64’) and Tyrone Mings (66’) added to the scoreboard in a crazy couple of minutes, the linesman corrected by VAR, confirming the latter goal, the English centre-back didn’t celebrate because he thought he was offside, but no more points for either side, two goals and one point each sees them end the weekend in ninth and fifteenth respectively. Dean Smith’s side deserved more than just avoiding defeat at Old Trafford for the first time since 2009. The Red Devils are in their worst form in 30 years with just 18 points after 14 games.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Newcastle 1:1 Man City - 2:2
Burnley 2:0 Crystal Palace - 0:2
Chelsea 2:0 West Ham - 0:1
Liverpool 3:1 Brighton - 2:1
Tottenham 3:1 Bournemouth - 3:2
Southampton 1:2 Watford - 2:1
Norwich 1:2 Arsenal - 2:2
Wolves 2:1 Sheff Utd - 1:1
Leicester 4:1 Everton - 2:1
Man Utd 2:1 Aston Villa - 2:2


All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports and RMC Sport coverage.

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