Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 36
The 36th week of the Premier League football action saw:
25 goals - most by Tottenham and West Ham = 3 each
255 shots - most by Liverpool = 24
75 on target - most by Liverpool = 8
107 corners - most by Liverpool = 13
113 fouls - most by Everton and Man United = 15 each
26 bookings - most by Tottenham and Arsenal = 3 each
0 red cards
1 penalty - 1 scored (Wood for Burnley)
#CHENOR
Olivier Giroud headed the dominant Blues ahead just before the half-time break (45+3’). Disappointing defending by relegated Norwich after a strong first-half performance frustrating the hosts. The Canaries were a bit more adventurous and pushing in the second half, but not much, Chelsea stayed on top and banked the three points to keep them in third place.
#BURWOL
The home side made it as cagey and difficult as possible for Nuno Espírito Santo’s men to find any way through. But Raúl Jiménez whacked in the breakthrough for Wolves, netting the rebound off Matt Doherty’s saved shot (75’). Eventful final minutes of stoppage time: Just after they missed a golden chance, headed wide, Burnley won a penalty. Overhead kick?! No foul! Offside? No, handball! The VAR confirmed the spot kick, Chris Wood banged it in to the right side netting to level the score (90+6’). One goal and one point each, Sean Dyche must be the happier.
#MCIBOU
David Silva’s stunning free kick into the top corner gave the Citizens the lead early on (6’). But the Cherries hit back, Junior Stanislas with a gem of a free kick, but Ederson and the post did enough to keep it out. Seconds later Gabriel Jesus doubled City’s lead, working his way through everyone, finishing nice and low into the far corner (39’). The visitors had the ball in the back of the net again after the break, but the VAR found Joshua King’s toe offside. Jesus’ penalty shout was rightly called off by the VAR as the Brazilian was the one stepping on the defender Steve Cook’s foot, correct call for a change (74’). David Brooks finally pulled one back, fully deserved for the visitors (88’). But it stayed 2-1, harsh on Eddie Howe and his men, who worked harder and produced more, just not the result. That’s what counts most, as the ex-champions know as well.
#NEWTOT
Son Heung-min gave Spurs the lead at St James’ Park, low and through DeAndre Yedlin’s legs (27’). And the South Korean could have had another goal seconds later, hit from 25 yards, pulling a high-flying save out of Martin Dúbravka. But the Magpies didn’t stay down, creating chances, worrying and working Hugo Lloris hard, Dwight Gayle denied by the woodwork. Matt Ritchie found the equaliser after the half-time break, sublime whack across the box and in (56’). Harry Kane restored the visitors’ lead shortly after, unmarked, easy header down and in, his 200th in 350 appearances (60’). And the record striker put another one in to make it 201 and 1-3, off another save off Erik Lamela’s shot, easy central and from close range but painful one clashing with a defender on the way (90’). Costly defeat, points and injuries for Steve Bruce and co, after playing and working so well and hard.
#ARSLIV
Early dominance by the champions was nearly rewarded through Emiliano Martínez’s cock-up with the ball, which found Roberto Firmino’s high leg and went just wide, just, off the post (13’). Sadio Mané broke the deadlock from close range after great buildup by Andrew Robertson and Firmino, bing, bang, boom (20’). Virgil van Dijk was left complaining after he lost the ball off Reiss Nelson for Alexandre Lacazette to whack in the equaliser, seconds after the Frenchman had a goal chalked off for offside (23’). There was nothing there, a rare soft giveaway by the big Dutchman, handing the Gunners their first shot of the match. And Nelson smashed Arsenal ahead, across and into the far corner, off Lacazette from the right, after Liverpool messed up again, a throw-in to Alisson, the keeper gave it away (44’). Two presents, two goals, the hosts ahead against the run of play. The Reds have gone in behind at half-time despite scoring the opening goal for the first time since December 2016 vs West Ham; that game was also the last time they made two errors leading directly to a goal in the opening half. The visitors dominated after the break, possession, chances, but the only real save Martínez had to make wasn’t until added time. Jürgen Klopp was understandably not happy, the champions’ third defeat of the season, lots of records out of the window with it. Click here for ByTheMinLFC coverage.
#EVEAVL
Early injury woos and change for the Toffees, both sides struggled fitness-wise, not much produced, created or shown by either side. This had 0-0 written all over it. But Villa stuck around, created opportunities as well. And the Villans scored with their first shot on target: A free-kick whipped in, cracking delivery from Conor Hourihane, and Ezri Konsa poked out a long leg and just about got it over the line (72’). But it was not to be. A cross to the back post, Theo Walcott looped a header across goal and Konsa did his best to clear it with an overhead kick, but his contact only sent it over the line before Pepe Reina could get anything on it. The ref's watch confirmed the clear goal, 1-1, the hosts’ first shot on target as well (87’). A goal and point each, a bit of pride for one side, heartbreak for the other.
#LEISHU
Leicester on top, took a deserved lead, youngster Luke Thomas with an assist on his debut, picking out Ayoze Pérez with a beauty of a pass from the left, the Spaniard took a touch and then nailed a low shot through the legs of John Egan and into the bottom corner (29’). Demarai Gray doubled the Foxes’ lead with a lovely shot across Dean Henderson and in (79’). The result keeps Brendan Rodgers' men in Champions League qualification, whilst Chris Wilder's side's European hopes are left hanging, two points behind Wolves in 6th.
#CRYMUN
A Palace penalty appeal was ignored shortly before Marcus Rashford gave the Red Devils the lead just before the half-time break with a lovely move into the box and turn around the Eagles defenders and keeper and in (45+1’). Bruno Fernandes the provider, of course. Jordan Ayew’s equaliser was disallowed by the lovely VAR - both his and the defender’s toes were on the same line FFS (55’)! It took over two minutes for the call! Ridiculous! Time out?! Fernandes hit the woodwork a couple of minutes before Anthony Martial on a charge doubled United’s lead (78’). Harsh. Patrick van Aanholt was down and out after that, had to be replaced, Roy Hodgson must have been counting his demons. OGS’ side ended up on top, but with a lot of help from modern technology.
#SOUBHA
Neal Maupay put the Seagulls ahead, finishing off a fine move off Tariq Lamptey's long throw, headed on by Glenn Murray, through the heart of the Saints’ defence and in by the Frenchman, a nice reverse shot from eight yards out, wrong-footing Alex McCarthy (18’). A great counter saw the home side level, Danny Ings on the charge off Nathan Redmond, left-footer into the bottom right from the centre of the box, nice one (66’). It ended a goal and point each, Brighton edging their way to safety, leaving Southampton more disappointed, dropping points after dominating once again.
#WHUWAT
Michail Antonio gave the Hammers an early lead, one-touch take nutmegging the Watford keeper Ben Foster (6’). Tomáš Souček doubled the hosts’ lead soon after, heading in a superb cross by Jarrod Bowen (10’). Dream start for David Moyes and co. Declan Rice smashed in the third across and in from over twenty yards out into the top right corner (36’). Beauty. With that, West Ham have scored more Premier League goals in their last five games (12) than in their previous 11 games combined. The Hornets hit back after the break, Troy Deeney smashing in the rebound off Abdoulaye Doucouré’s good run past a couple of defenders and low shot off the post to make it 3-1 (49’). Foster kept out Sébastian Haller’s superb take trying to catch out the keeper out of position from distance, seconds after the West Ham man came on (73’). Nigel Pearson was in agony seeing his side create chance after chance, but just unable to add more to the scoreboard. It ended 3-1, crucial points for the Hammers, leaving Watford sweating, three points separating them from the drop zone with two games left to play.
My Predictions - Actual Results
Chelsea 3:0 Norwich - 1:0
Man City 3:0 Bournemouth - 2:1
Newcastle 2:2 Tottenham - 1:3
Arsenal 2:2 Liverpool - 2:1
Everton 2:1 Aston Villa - 1:1
Leicester 2:1 Sheffield United - 2:0
Crystal Palace 1:2 Man United - 0:2
Southampton 1:0 Brighton - 1:1
West Ham 3:2 Watford - 3:1
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