Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 26
The 26th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League Football season saw: A winter break! So, the fixtures were split over two weekends-and-a-bit:
26 goals - most by Arsenal = 4
245 shots - most by Tottenham = 23
77 on target - most by Tottenham = 10
104 corners - most by Aston Villa = 12
199 fouls - most by Arsenal = 15
32 bookings - most by Chelsea = 4
1 red card - Choudhury for Leicester
1 penalty - 0 scored
#EVECRY
Too easy for the Toffees: A fine cross from Theo Walcott on the right, found Bernard totally unmarked in the box, first touch, side-footer, curled into the top corner, excellent finish, keeper no chance, 1-0 (18’). No clean sheet in 10 for the Eagles, the longest run in the PL. Christian Benteke, set up by nice and quick and slick Wilfried Zaha, slid the equaliser under Jordan Pickford (51’), the stopper will not like those replays and looked apologetic afterwards. Cringe. It’s only the Belgian’s second goal since the start of last season. But that high didn’t last long, counter run and hit, ruthless Richarlison to the edge of the box, found the bottom right corner, to make it 2-1 (59’). And Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it three goals and three points for the home side, tapping in the rebound after Richarlison’s header came off the crossbar (88’). Roy Hodgson’s men had chances to spoil the show, Benteke could have had a hat-trick, but the woodwork and the general lack of form didn’t help. Carlo Ancelotti and Goodison Park ended up very happy, the win taking them up to 7th on the day.
#BHAWAT
Lovely finish by Abdoulaye Doucouré, body and feet, perfect movement, to put the ball in past four defenders and the keeper to give the visitors the lead (19’). I could watch that move in slower motion again and again. Exemplary. The equaliser hurt to watch, Adrian Mariappa, under no real threat, put a cross from the right by Alireza Jahanbakhsh into the back of his own net (78’). Nightmare of every defender. Watford have scored six Premier League own goals since the start of 2018-19, more than any other side in the competition. Crueler than cruel. The point sees the sides remain in 15th and 19th respectively.
#SHUBOU
A beautiful team move was finished off by Callum Wilson, making no mistake of netting the rebound off Harry Wilson’s blocked smash-hit, to give the visitors a deserved lead (13’) after a strong start. The home side took a while to get into the game, but ended the first half on top, chance after chance, ping pong, Billy Sharp finally converting, tapping in the equaliser just before the break (45+1’). And sub John Lundstram snatched the lead, with a fine move and low finish into the corner of the net (83’). The winners end just two points away from the CL places, whilst the losers are just two points clear of the drop zone. Contrast.
#MCIWHU
#WOLLEI
Home side took the lead just before the break thanks to Willy Boly's header, or so they thought, it was disallowed by VAR, for offside in the buildup. Where?! What?! How?! Who?! Why?! Not clear at all! Lots of boos and chants and understandably so, it would have been fully deserved. Wolves felt robbed, it's their fourth goal to be disallowed by the VAR this season, only Sheffield United have had more (5). But the Foxes worked hard and defended well, definitely ended up the happier of the two with the clean sheet and the point, especially after being down to ten men for the last 15 minutes thanks to Hamza Choudhury's two stupid yellows.
#SOUBUR
Ashley Westwood's bizarre corner-goal after just 93 seconds is the earliest away goal Burnley have ever scored in the Premier League. He was helped by the wind and Danny Ings not dealing with the ball but letting it turn into the goal instead (2’). But the former Liverpool man made up for his earlier screw-up and levelled the score at St Mary’s, with a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner (18’). Lovely turn, control and then a cracking smacker into the back of the net by sub Matěj Vydra, who came on after 22 minutes for an injured Chris Wood, to make it 1-2 and ending his 18-month goal-drought (61’). It was enough to bag Sean Dyche’s men the three points, frustrating for the Saints, boos rang around St Mary’s at the FT whistle and understandably so.
#NORLIV
Norwich worked hard, but Jürgen Klopp’s men found the breakthrough eventually. A brilliant turn and shot in the box by sub Sadio Mané (78’) was enough for the league leaders to continue their enormous run. Liverpool have gone 43 top-flight matches unbeaten, just six matches behind Arsenal's invincible record of 49 games (2003-04). They have earned 103 points from the last 105 available to them in the Premier League, winning 34 of their last 35 matches. Their 76 points from 26 matches this season is a top-flight record. And they stay at the top, 25 points clear of the Citizens, who have a game in hand (see above and below for details).
#AVITOT
Villa lost at home to Spurs, 3-2, despite scoring first. Son Heung-min scored injury-time goals in each half (45+2', 90+4'), taking Spurs up to fifth what might be but probably won't be a Champions League place after Man City's ban, which they will definitely fight against. The Villans stay a point and place above the drop zone. It was an intense game, both keepers were kept busy, Pepe Reina starring, including a penalty save against Son, but the rebound went in just before the break, and all in all, the defenders were struggling. In the end, Björn Engels gave it away in stoppage time, letting Son through to net the winner, the club's latest PL winner since 2009. Dean Smith wasn't happy with the VAR, but the Villa boss cannot ignore his side's leaks and weaknesses at the back.
#ARSNEW
After a frustrating first half, both sides missing chances, the Gunners bossed the game. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pépé scored in quick succession (54', 57' respectively), before Mesut Özil and Alexandre Lacazette got in on the fun late on (90', 90+5' respectively). The result doesn't affect the table too much, Newcastle slip to 13th due to goal difference, seven points above the drop zone, Arsenal into the top half, seven points off fourth.
#CHEMUN
A lot of questionable decisions once again in this match! How was Harry Maguire’s kick out not a red card? And Willian was booked for diving when there was contact, outside the box, so, no pen, but should have been a free kick. Anthony Martial gave the visitors the lead against the run of play, the Blues made to pay for all their misses, just before the break (45’). Play had resumed after Andreas Christensen got his nose busted, great outswinger of a cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, brilliant header down into the bottom corner from Martial to put the Red Devils ahead. Then to spread the VAR love even more, Kurt Zouma’s equaliser was disallowed for a push (57’), and they call themselves men! And to add salt onto the wound, Maguire doubled the Red visitors’ lead (66’). Sub Olivier Giroud thought he had pulled one back, but the VAR chalked it off for offside, the good old toe (78’). Two injuries, topped by two disallowed goals. What a mess. The Blues robbed, just one point separating them from Spurs in 5th; Ole Ole Ole's side's up to 7th, just three points away from the top four.
#MCIWHU
So, the match eventually took place on Wednesday, in a half-empty Etihad, with zero atmosphere, even the French commentators were taking the mick. City bossed it, making the Hammers work hard, giving their all. Rodri broke the deadlock after half an hour. 15-1 shots, 5-0 on target in the first half alone. Pf. That dominance continued after the break, Kevin De Bruyne bashing in the second goal for the home side (62’). It stayed just 2-0, even though it could have been 12-0. No competition. David Moyes has to be very worried, his side stuck in 18th, one point from safety, and facing the league leaders next, at Anfield.
My Predictions - Actual Results
Everton 1:1 Crystal Palace - 3:1
Brighton 1:2 Watford - 1:1
Sheff United 1:0 Bournemouth - 2:1
Man City 2:1 West Ham - P:P
Wolves 1:2 Leicester - 0:0
Southampton 1:2 Burnley - 1:2
Norwich 0:3 Liverpool - 0:1
Aston Villa 1:2 Tottenham - 2:3
Arsenal 2:1 Newcastle - 4:0
Chelsea 1:1 Man United - 0:2
Man City 2:1 West Ham - 2:0
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