Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 29
It's been a few weeks since my last blog, a couple of weeks since the last ball has been kicked in the English football leagues, a lot has happened since... As explained and lined out on my Twitter thread, I love football, have always blogged and will keep on blogging, until we get there. Number 19. Walk on. Write on. With hope in your heart. YNWA. Here are my notes on the last weekend we were able to enjoy the game, until further notice:
The 29th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:
19 goals - most by Chelsea and Leicester = 4 each
215 shots - most by Burnley = 21
100 on target - most by Chelsea = 11
109 corners - most by Man City = 11
222 fouls - most by Watford and Burnley = 16 each
39 bookings - most by Burnley = 5
1 red card - Djenepo for Southampton
3 penalties - 2 scored (Dele Alli for Tottenham, Vardy for Leicester)
#LIVBOU
Liverpool had to come back from behind against Bournemouth to record their 22nd successive Premier League win at Anfield, breaking the English top-flight record set by Bill Shankly's team in 1972, and taking their unbeaten home run to 55 games (W45, D10). Callum Wilson gave the visitors a controversial lead slotting home Jefferson Lerma's low cross after appearing to push Joe Gomez in the build-up to the goal (9’). But the Reds soon hit back, Mohamed Salah in his 100th league appearance for the club, levelled the score with a low finish (24’). And turning from provider to scorer, Sadio Mané completed the turnaround (33’), latching onto Virgil van Dijk’s through-ball. James Milner denied the Cherries any way back into the game, clearing Ryan Fraser’s attempt off the goal-line, in a very nervous second half. Jürgen Klopp’s men, missing injured skipper Jordan Henderson, hung on to the win, moving them one step closer to their first title in 30 years, whilst Eddie Howe’s side remain in the relegation zone, level on points with Watford and West Ham but with a worse goal difference than their nearest rivals at the bottom.
#ARSWHU
Alexandre Lacazette's goal 12 minutes from time, which had to be confirmed by the video assistant referee to add to the nerves at the Emirates, decided the tie. The win lifted the Gunners up to ninth, five points behind Chelsea in fourth, leaving boss Mikel Arteta optimistic about his side’s chances of finishing in the top four. David Moyes meanwhile, watched his side record their sixth consecutive Premier League defeat on the road despite creating more chances and threats. But it’s only goals that count, leaving the Hammers hovering above the bottom three only on goal difference.
#CRYWAT
Jordan Ayew helped his side Crystal Palace to their third successive Premier League victory and climb into the top half of the table. His smart finish from the edge of the box (28’) and eighth league goal of the season, was enough for Roy Hodgson’s men to beat relegation-threatened Watford. The side that beat the league leaders last week, mourned their missed chances this week, leaving boss Nigel Pearson very disappointed, just goal difference separating his side from the drop zone.
#SHUNOR
Billy Sharp’s header (36’) and Manchester United loanee keeper Dean Henderson’s heroic saves late on, helped Sheffield United beat Norwich to make it 10 points out of the last 12 and take them to sixth, boosting their chances of European football next season. Daniel Farke’s side on the other hand, remain rock bottom, six points from safety, the German boss describing it as "dramatic and tragic for the lads, because they tried everything".
#SOUNEW
Newcastle moved eight points clear of the relegation zone with nine games to go, after beating ten-man Southampton. Allan Saint-Maximin scored the only goal of the game late on (79’), pressuring Yan Valery into a mistake before tucking the ball home beyond hard-working keeper Alex McCarthy. The Saints stopper had made some top saves, including Matt Ritchie's spot kick, and got close to earn his side a hard-fought point after they had been reduced to ten men midway through the first half when Moussa Djenepo's yellow card was upgraded to a red following a VAR review of his foul on Isaac Hayden. But it was not to be, leaving Steve Bruce a very happy man, whilst Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side drop to 14th following a third defeat in their last four Premier League games.
#WOLBHA
Nothing happened, only one shot on target in each half at Molineux (they recorded more bookings!). The goalless draw took Wolves up to fifth, leaving Brighton, who have yet to win in 2020, just two points above the relegation zone. Graham Potter was full of praise for his Seagulls keeping a clean sheet on the road and all, whilst Nuno Espírito Santo was not so happy with his Wanderers. Contrast. It's all about perspective.
#BURTOT
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was not a happy man, feeling Chris Wood should have been given a penalty after Spurs' equaliser, but the striker did not go down under Davinson Sánchez's tackle. Dele Alli's 50th Premier League goal came from the spot (50’) after Ben Mee brought down Erik Lamela in the box. It was enough to earn Tottenham a point following Wood’s early opener (13’), an easy tap-in after Hugo Lloris had spilled Jay Rodriguez’s shot from distance. Frustrating for both, José Mourinho's side’s fifth game without a win, leaving them four points behind Chelsea, who have a game in hand. Not good. Dyche's men though, have climbed back into the top half of the table and are unbeaten in the past 14 Premier League matches in which they have led at the break. Not bad.
#CHEEVE
Carlo Ancelotti’s return to Stamford Bridge ended up being a miserable afternoon as the Italian watched his side Everton being thrashed 4-0 by his former employer Chelsea, his joint-heaviest league defeat as a manager. Mason Mount ended an 18-game goal drought by firing the ball past Jordan Pickford at his near post and the Blues ahead (14’). Pedro doubled their lead with his first league goal of the season as Frank Lampard's side took control (21’). Two goals in three minutes shortly after the restart, Willian into the bottom corner (51’) and Olivier Giroud with a tap-in off a short corner (54’), sealed the deal for the hosts, no contest. The result keeps the Toffess in 12th, eight points behind fifth-placed Manchester United, whilst Chelsea stay fourth, three points ahead of the Red Devils.
#MUNMCI
Ole Gunnar Solskjær can and will be over the moon, literally, after Manchester United completed the Premier League double over derby rivals Manchester City for the first time in a decade. The champions’ Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson had a nightmare afternoon at Old Trafford, gifting Anthony Martial the opener, a low shot squeezing through under him (30’). And then in the final seconds (90+6’), the stopper threw a clearance straight to Scott McTominay, who made no mistake, one take into the back of the net, in front of a delirious Stretford End to double the hosts’ lead and secure the win. It was a smashing clash, the VAR denying Pep Guardiola’s men any way back into the game, Sergio Agüero deemed offside, whilst referee Mike Dean made a couple of controversial calls leading up to the goals as well. But the Spaniard couldn’t deny, despite all his side’s possession, the Red Devils bossed the game and capitalised on the Citizens’ flaws to bank the three points with two cracking counters. The result sees United remain fifth, three points behind Chelsea in fourth, whilst City trail the top Reds by 25 points, meaning the league leaders need just two more wins to seal their 19th title.
#LEIAVI
A brace each for Harvey Barnes (40’, 85’) and Jamie Vardy (pen 63’, 79’) completed Leicester’s thrashing of Aston Villa at the King Power Stadium. The convincing win ended the Foxes’ dire run of two wins in their past eight Premier League games - and two points in their past four matches. Brendan Rodgers was glowing and full of praise for his third-placed side, five points clear of Chelsea, four behind City. Dean Smith's Villans remain in the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive league defeat, and a fifth in all competitions, second from bottom, two points from safety.
My Predictions - Actual Results
Liverpool 2:1 Bournemouth - 2:1
Arsenal 2:1 West Ham - 1:0
Crystal Palace 1:1 Watford - 1:0
Sheffield United 1:1 Norwich - 1:0
Southampton 2:0 Newcastle - 0:1
Wolves 1:0 Brighton - 0:0
Burnley 2:2 Tottenham - 1:1
Chelsea 2:2 Everton - 4:0
Man United 3:2 Man City - 2:0
Leicester 1:2 Aston Villa - 4:0
And it all escalated from there...
Coronavirus: What next in the UK coronavirus fight?
And there are still people out there who believe we're all just over-panicking, it's a conspiracy, fooling us and taking control over us, all for their own profits and gains. Whoever they are. OPEN YOUR EYES!!! No one is gaining anything from this atm. Either way, whatever, whoever, for whatever reason, the main and clear thing is, people are dying! If you don't believe that, then you can join the Flat-Earthers, Holocaust- and 9/11 deniers, etc. Everyone else, welcome to the real world, STAY HOME, STAY SAFE!!! YNWA
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