Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 19
The 19th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:
28 goals - most by Man United and Liverpool = 4 each
238 shots - most by Man United = 22
76 on target - most by Man United = 10
98 corners - most by Everton = 10
195 fouls - most by Aston Villa and Everton = 15 each
36 bookings - most by Tottenham, Bournemouth and Arsenal = 4 each
1 red card - Ederson for Man City
3 penalties - 3 scored (Norwood for Sheff United, Milner for Liverpool, Sterling for Man City)
#TOTBHA
Adam Webster headed the Seagulls ahead (37’) after the VAR disallowed Harry Kane’s opener, very close, very harsh, offside (25’). But the record striker couldn’t be denied when he netted the rebound to level the score after the restart (53’) after Mathew Ryan saved his first attempt. And Dele Alli turned the game around with a nice looping take across and into the far corner (72’). Brighton put up a great fight, Spurs were knackered but winners in the end, lucky to not be down to ten, or even nine men though! Graham Potter was gutted to see his hardworking side leave London with nothing. Tottenham boss José Mourinho has never lost in eight PL games on Boxing Day (W6 D2), managing more games without defeat on the day than any other manager in the competition. Chosen.
#AVINOR
Not much to write about until the second half: Villa were unable to clear a corner and Alex Tettey smacked in a low shot but Douglas Luiz did brilliantly to make a sprawling clearance to somehow knock the ball over the crossbar. The home side took the lead after super work by Jack Grealish in the box to set up a fine hit by Conor Hourihane, making sure his team mate’s hard work was rewarded and the opposition punished for their misses (65’). Tom Heaton denied the Canaries any way back into the game, stopping Marco Stiepermann's thumping drive late on. The result ends a four-match losing streak for Dean Smith's side, pushing fellow-strugglers Norwich back down to the bottom.
#BOUARS
Somehow Dan Gosling was able to find his way through and past four Arsenal players to give the home side the lead at the Vitality stadium (36’). What’s marking for again? And that was after the Gunners were denied again and again at the other end, they were punished for playing and losing the ball at the back. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang passed the ball in unmarked to level the score (64’). Again, I think the defenders need to Google-search marking, man-marking, the basics of defending! Callum Wilson was clearly offside when netting a rebound from close range (82’), keeping the score at a goal and point each and showing Mikel Arteta what job he has on his hands, the Gunners remaining in the bottom half of the table. The Cherries had lost six of their previous seven league matches, the point pulling them down to 16th, two points from the drop zone.
#CHESOU
The Saints broke the Christmas afternoon deadlock with a lovely individual goal, Michael Obafemi’s fine finish into the top corner (32’). And after dozens of passes, a GIF-book Stuart Armstrong jump and pass to Nathan Redmond, a stab-in past keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, made another lovely lovely setup and finish to double the visitors’ lead (73’) and serve much deserved Christmas celebrations for Ralph Hasenhüttl and co, the win taking them up to 14th, three points safe from relegation. Frank Lampard’s side stay fourth after losing consecutive home league games for the first time since 2011.
#CRYWHU
73% of the Eagles' goals this season have come in the second half. But it was the Hammers who broke the deadlock after the break, Robert Snodgrass out of nowhere with a lovely shot across goal into the far corner (57’). An easy equaliser, low take from inside the box, by Cheikhou Kouyaté got the home side back into the game (68’). And what an extraordinary touch, turn, touch and take past everyone and everything by Jordan Ayew it was to give the hosts a last-minute winner (89’). An unforgettable comeback for Roy Hodgson and his men, Selhurst Park bouncing seeing their side wining and climbing up to ninth, whilst pressure is increasing on Manuel Pellegrini, his side down to 17th, just one point from the drop zone.
#EVEBUR
Everton had 12 shots in the first half - the most they've attempted in the first half of a Premier League game at Goodison Park without scoring since April 2017 (also against Burnley). New boss Carlo Ancelotti had to wait close to 80 minutes to see a diving Dominic Calvert-Lewin find the Toffees’ breakthrough with his header across goal bouncing in off the post. So, a winning start for the new Italian boss, taking the side up to 13th.
#SHUWAT
Chris Basham was flagged offside as he played the ball across for John Fleck to turn it in, the VAR checked and confirmed, no goal for United. It was the visitors who broke through soon after, thanks to a fine run and finish by Gerard Deulofeu (27’), man-marking missing totally, yet again (I seem to be writing that A LOT in the PL). The hosts hit back from the spot, one of the softest of the soft penalties, Will Hughes not doing much wrong on George Baldock, the VAR didn’t dare to overturn, skipper Oliver Norwood made no mistake of converting and equalising (36’). Both sides seemed to be happy to settle for a point each in the end.
#MUNNEW
Ninth v 10th: Matty Longstaff gave the visitors a deserved lead, a low shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner (17’), after Dwight Gayle missed a couple of not-sitters-but-oh-so-good-chances. Anthony Martial found the equaliser, off Martin Dúbravka’s glove and in (24’), the keeper should have kept that soft shot from inside the box out. A present for Mason Greenwood put the hosts ahead (36’), what was Fabian Schär doing?! His pass back made it too easy for the United youngster, still, a top-quality finish. Marcus Rashford made it three (42’), the Magpies all over the place, easy header. Martial made no mistake of capitalising on yet another defensive giveaway to make it 4-1 (51’). Too easy. The scoreline does not reflect how poor United are, just how wasteful, weak and woeful Steve Bruce’s men were. And it could have been better/worse = 12-1. Ole Ole Ole Ole rang around Old Trafford for the first time in a while. The love/hate relationship with Christmas and Manchester continues for both sides: The Red Devils haven’t lost at home in the league on Boxing Day since 1978 (W16 D3), whilst it's been 89 years since Newcastle last completed a league double over Manchester United.
#LEILIV
Liverpool had won their previous four Boxing Day matches in the PL, by an aggregate score of 11-0, but never won five consecutive such matches in their league history. Records are there to be broken and the Reds keep doing it! Roberto Firmino headed the league leaders ahead (31’). Since the start of last season, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided 19 assists in the Premier League, more than any other player. The Foxes didn’t record a single shot in the first half. It got more and more tense after the restart, until Çağlar Söyüncü's handball, the VAR checked and confirmed, penalty. Sub James Milner converted with his first touch of the match to double the visitors' lead (71’). Firmino brace (74’) and Trent from provider to scorer (78’) completed the onslaught. Leicester had conceded just five goals in nine home games this season before the Reds arrived. Wow. Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr Jürgen Klopp! Booming into 2020!
#WOLMCI
Diogo Jota was played in over the top and lifted the ball over Ederson before the keeper took him out. Couldn’t avoid it, red card (12’). Another loooooong VAR check followed for a foul to be given against Leander Dendoncker, after replays showed he tread on Riyad Mahrez’s boot. Raheem Sterling’s penalty take was saved by Rui Patrício, to then get a second chance, because of player encroachment, saved again, but the former Liverpool man netted the rebound to give the Citizens the lead (25’). The crowd was going absolutely bonkers mad, understandably so. Sterling doubled the lead shortly after the restart, set up by Kevin De Bruyne, nice runs and takes by both (50’). Adama Traoré pulled one back for the home side, into the bottom left corner, low whacker, finally and fully deserved (55’). Hungry scorer to even hungrier and stronger provider, beating Benjamin Mendy too easy to set up Raúl Jiménez, easy tap-in equaliser from close range (83’). Game. On. And yes, they did it, Matt Doherty turned the game and stadium on its head with a lovely run, move and low hit, 3-2 (90’). The noise! Sterling hit the woodwork in the 93rd minute, just to top the absolute madness of the match at Molineux. It ended 3-2, a fully deserved win. Pep Guardiola can have no complaints, Nuno Espírito Santo can be very proud of his side's mad fightback, taking them up to fifth.
My Predictions - Actual Results
Tottenham 3:1 Brighton - 2:1
Aston Villa 2:1 Norwich - 1:0
Bournemouth 1:2 Arsenal - 1:1
Chelsea 2:1 Southampton - 0:2
Crystal Palace 1:1 West Ham - 2:1
Everton 2:0 Burnley - 1:0
Sheff United 2:0 Watford - 1:1
Man United 2:2 Newcastle - 4:1
Leicester 1:2 Liverpool - 0:4
Wolves 1:2 Man City - 3:2
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