Monday 13 January 2020

Premier League Notes - Week 22

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 22 

The 22nd week of the Premier League Football season saw:

27 goals - most by Man City = 6
221 shots - most by Man City = 22
90 on target - most by Man City = 12
77 corners - most by Chelsea = 10
198 fouls - most by Arsenal = 21
25 bookings - most by Arsenal, Burnley, Saints and Newcastle = 3 each
1 red card - Aubameyang for Arsenal
3 penalties - 3 scored (Jorginho for Chelsea, Rashford for Man United, El Ghazi for Villa)

#SHUWHU
The Blades dominated the Friday Night Football match, an early injury and substitution of keeper Łukasz Fabiański didn’t help the visitors after barely 15 minutes. The hosts took a clumsy but deserved lead after the restart, John Fleck capitalising on sub stopper David Martin’s error and setting up Oli McBurnie for an easy finish from close range (53’). Sub Robert Snodgrass celebrated a last-minute equaliser after plenty of missed chances by both sides, to be disallowed by the VAR (90+3’). It looked like a foul-shove by Declan Rice on John Egan in the build-up, but the screen said handball against Rice. The number 41 was gutted to say the least, lambasting the VAR in the post-match interview saying the ball was headed onto his arm at such a speed, how can you stop it?! Harsh decision indeed, but correct, that’s the rule. So, it stayed 1-0, Chris Wilder and his men recording their eighth consecutive league win against London sides at Bramall Lane, taking them up to fifth before all the other weekend’s games, cutting short David Moyes’ 100% record as Hammers boss, which was shred to pieces by the VAR. The Scotsman’s side remain 16th before the other matches, just two points separating them from the drop zone. 

#CRYARS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slotted home Alexandre Lacazette’s lovely through ball (12’). Jordan Ayew saw his shot deflected in to level the score after the break (54’). The French Gunner went from hero to zero, seeing red for a late and nasty ankle-turning tackle on Max Meyer, the ref’s yellow reviewed and changed to red by the VAR (67’), correct call in my eyes. It was a heated derby, end-to-end stuff, misses, clearances and woodwork whacking, physical clashes, the crowd on the ref’s and VAR’s case - the anti-banners vanished very quickly after decisions went the home side's way though. It stayed one goal and one point each. No wins in four league and FA Cup games for the oldest boss Roy Hodgson and his men. One win in four Premier League games for the youngest manager Mikel Arteta and his team. The result keeps both sides in 9th and 10th respectively, one point between them. Arsenal have failed to win five league games after leading at the break (D4 L1), their joint-highest total in a single Premier League campaign (also five in 2010-11). Dire.

#CHEBUR
The Blues bossed it, but got lucky with a couple of calls. The VAR camera angles and lines were ridiculous once again, denying the visitors any chance of getting back into the game. Pf. Jorginho gave the hosts the lead from the spot (27'), sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after Willian made the most of Matt Lowton's "challenge". To be fair, the Burnley number 2 did his best to take his legs away and avoid contact, but the VAR confirmed foul and pen, 1-0. Another harsh one. Tammy Abraham doubled the lead rising the highest and heading home Reece James' fine cross, too easy (38'). Nick Pope won't like to see these replays as the ball went through the keeper's gloves. Flop. And Callum Hudson-Odoi made it three (49'), the VAR checking whether his team mate the number 9 didn't touch the ball on its way in, and deeming he didn't, so H-O's fine run and take was not offside and the goal stood, 3-0. Three goals and three points for Frank Lampard and his men keeps them in fourth, five points clear of Man United. Sean Dyche is watching his side crumbling, fourth defeat on the trot, falling down to 15th, four points from the drop zone before Sunday’a crucial relegation clash between Bournemouth and Watford. 

#EVEBHA
Early on in the game, Theo Walcott didn’t get a penalty just because he didn't go down against Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk's pull, sad but true. Is that not what the VAR is there for??? Richarlison broke the deadlock for the Toffees with a lovely turn and curl in (38'). Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had doubled their lead from close range, but the VAR disallowed it because of handball (79'). Goodison Park was in total dismay about the officiating, but ended up cheering on the winning side, taking Carlo Ancelotti's side to 11th, level on points with Arsenal in 10th, whilst Graham Potter's men remain winless at Goodison, four points above the relegation zone in 14th. 

#LEISOU
TEN shots on target for the visitors, over half of them by Danny Ings including a couple of woodwork smackers, it could have been 1-9! Unbelievable! (See week 10 if you don't get what I'm referring to.) Dennis Praet had opened the scoring for the home side, netting Jamie Vardy's ball across at the back post (14'). Simples. But the visitors replied soon after, Stuart Armstrong equalising for the Saints with the help of a huge deflection off James Maddison to fool and beat Kasper Schmeichel (19'). Ralph Hasenhüttl's men remained on top, and with just over an hour played, the VAR denying them a penalty after a foul on Shane Long by Çağlar Söyüncü, but replays showed an offside in the build-up. But the former Red finally did it, 81st minute, Ings raced ahead and poked the ball through Schmeichel's legs to give Southampton a deserved lead, getting booked for his celebrations, stripping his shirt off and all. I don't think anyone cared at that point. And in the last minute of normal time. Jonny Evans thought he had headed his side level, but the VAR disallowed it offside, late drama for the one side, relief for the other, Brendan Rodgers gutted, his Austrian counterpart chuffed to bits.

#MUNNOR
Who else but Marcus Rashford gave the home side the lead, goal number 13 for him, poked home from close range off Juan Mata's whipped in ball (27'). The 22-year-old England striker outplayed and -performed everything and everyone in his 200th PL game. David de Gea kept out Todd Cantwell's attempt just before the break, the visitors trying their best to stay in the tie. Rashford doubled the Red Devils' lead from the spot soon after the restart (52'), after Tim Krul slid into Brandon Williams' leg to concede the penalty. And Anthony Martial made it 3-0 seconds later (54'), set up by Mata's curler, to head it into the bottom corner, keeper no chance. Not a good day for the stopper! And it went from bad to worse, sub Mason Greenwood scoring from the edge of the box (76'), low and hard into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 and Ole Gunnar Solskjær smiling, his side moving up to fifth. 

#WOLNEW
Miguel Almirón put the visitors ahead with a great finish, top right corner from inside the box, provided by Dwight Gayle (7'), his second PL goal of the season, three in three in all competitions. Leander Dendoncker levelled the score soon after with a volley in from close range (14'). A point-blank save by Martin Dúbravka against Pedro Neto late on spared his side from a defeat, despite more injury woes and forced changes for Steve Bruce and his men. Do the Magpies have enough fit players left?! They remain 13th with the point gained, whilst Nuno Espírito Santo's side climb up to 7th. 

#TOTLIV
The Reds continue their reckless run at the top, more records tumbling left, right and centre. The visitors bossed the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the front trio creating chance after chance. It was surprising the league leaders only led by one goal at the break, thanks to Roberto Firmino, his left foot doing the magic, across goal and into the right side of the net, after Mohamed Salah set him up, surrounded by white shirts but still able to turn and pass the ball (37'). The VAR checked for a handball by Jordan Henderson in the buildup, deemed fine, the goal stood. Of course Sky Sports pointed out and José Mourinho complained about the Red throw-in that started the whole move, replays showing it looked like the final touch came off Sadio Mané. Anyway, anyhow, the Reds got a deserved lead and Spurs tried to hit back on the counter, creating more chances after the break, but Alisson kept another clean sheet, LFC's sixth one on the trot. Jürgen Klopp still looked very frustrated in the post-match interview, no wonder, it was a tense match-up, which his side could and should have put to bed much earlier by netting their chances. Spurs stopper Paulo Gazzaniga made some fine saves as well, including a point-blank one against Mané. Sub and Real Betis loanee Giovani Lo Celso put a golden chance across goal and wide late on, Klopp and Mourinho fuming and stunned on the sideline, the German because of his defence, the Portuguese for the missed opportunity to grab a point. The one goal was enough in the end. It's the first time EVER in any of Europe's five main leagues that a team has ever taken 61 points of the first 63 = 21 games. They're at the top, SIXTEEN POINTS CLEAR - before City's Super Sunday clash, AND A GAME IN HAND not to forget! 38 games unbeaten, their longest league run EVER. Mind. Blown. Completely nuts as Gary Lineker put it on Twitter. Simply the best. 

#BOUWAT
The visitors dominated and Abdoulaye Doucouré had all the time and space in the world to control the ball and take the shot from just over six yards out to give Watford the lead (42'). Ismaïla Sarr set the midfielder up after keeper Mark Travers messed up his clearance. The Cherries were nowhere, very sloppy and unable to cope and organise themselves, leaving a very worried atmosphere around Dean Court. Hornets skipper Troy Deeney doubled the advantage from close range, Sarr the provider again (65'). And substitute Roberto Pereyra put the icing on the cake, making it three goals and three points with a bang after Andre Gray's attempt had been cleared off the line by Ryan Fraser (90+2'). What a win! Nigel Pearson has taken 13 points from a possible 18 in charge at Watford. The only game the English manager has lost was his first game at league leaders Liverpool (week 17). The run has taken his side out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, whilst Eddie Howe's men drop down to 19th, two points from safety. Dire times at the Vitality Stadium. 

#AVLMCI
Riyad Mahrez broke the deadlock running through the Villa defence and bashing the ball into the bottom right corner, too quick for keeper Ørjan Nyland on his near post (18'). And the Algerian doubled the lead soon later, the Villans unable to clear the ball, and the number 26 capitalising and smashing in the ball from nearly the same spot as the first, just a few yards out, no one near him or the ball (23'). Sergio Agüero made it three a few minutes later, with a bang across from the edge of the box and in off the keeper's gloves, beaten to his right this time (28'). Kevin De Bruyne's run and exemplary cross from the right found Gabriel Jesus perfectly, who whacked in the fourth just before the break (45+1'). Villa were in bits, unable to cope, all over place. No competition. And one great Argentinian overtook a great Frenchman*, making it 176 for him and 0-5 to Pep Guardiola and his men, running all over the Villans and tapping it in (57'). And that was not all, it had to be a hat-trick, his 12th in the PL, another record, overtaking Alan Shearer (11) AND *Thierry Henry's Premier League total (176), moving level with former Chelsea midfielder and now manager Lampard on 177 PL goals. Legend. The hosts did pull one back from the spot late on, but Anwar El Ghazi didn't celebrate, understandably so (90+1'). It ended 1-6, taking the Citizens up to second, two points ahead of Leicester in third, 14 points behind Liverpool at the top. Record-breaker(s). I loved how the City fans delayed their goal celebrations until after the VAR confirmed the goals, every single goal, making a point of their discontent with the system. Not that they had much to moan or boo about in this match.

My Predictions - Actual Results 
Sheffield United 2:1 West Ham - 1:0
Crystal Palace 1:2 Arsenal - 1:1
Chelsea 2:0 Burnley - 3:0
Everton 2:1 Brighton - 1:0
Leicester 2:1 Southampton - 1:2
Man United 2:1 Norwich - 4:0
Wolves 1:0 Newcastle - 1:1
Tottenham 0:2 Liverpool - 0:1
Bournemouth 1:1 Watford - 0:3
Aston Villa 1:3 Man City - 1:6


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

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