Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 38
As explained in my pinned Tweet thread @Sonjahaha, it’s the end of an era for me, after waiting 30 years and writing/reporting/blogging/tweeting/predicting/losing for over 20 years, I can finally retire my pen from my bible and say: WE ARE THE CHAMP19NS!
(And sorry, Google and Blogger updates have screwed up my last post, no links nor pics, ARGH! - edited and added a couple of links months later)
The 38th and final week of the 2019-2020 Premier League football season saw:
33 goals - most by Man City = 5
237 shots - most by Man City = 31
77 on target - most by Man City = 10
85 corners - most by Man City and Saints = 9 each
217 fouls - most by Wolves, Sheff United and West Ham = 16 each
32 bookings - most by Man United = 5
1 red card - Evans for Leicester
5 penalties - 5 scored (Aubameyang for Arsenal, Deeney for Watford, King for Bournemouth, Bruno Fernandes for Man United, Ings for Saints)
#ARSWAT
3-0 down after 33 minutes at the Emirates, managerless Watford confirmed the obvious: relegation. The Gunners fired home their first three shots on target: MOTM Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted their penalty for Craig Dawson’s clumsy foul on Alexandre Lacazette (5’ pen), assisted Kieran Tierney (24’), and then topped it all off with an overhead kick (33’). The Hornets tried their best and pulled one back from the spot, Troy Deeney converting it after David Luiz’s foul on Danny Welbeck (43’ pen), the former Arsenal man making it 3-2 from close range (66’). The hosts’ keeper Emiliano Martínez denied the former Gunner a late equalizer, leaving the relegated side gutted. All eyes are on their owners after last week’s sacking, whilst Mikel Arteta’s eighth-placed side ended their worst league season for 25 years on a high, all their eyes and European hopes now resting on the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday.
#BURBHA
Yves Bissouma (20’) and Aaron Connolly (50’) helped Brighton to victory, which saw the Seagulls finish 15th on 41 points, their highest total in the Premier League, one better than 2017-18. The Clarets did make a match of it, Chris Wood firing in the equalizer just before the HT-break (44’), and Jay Rodriguez seeing his second equalizer chalked off thanks to the beloved VAR (59’). Their first home league defeat since New Year’s Day saw Sean Dyche’s men finish tenth, still an achievement despite the disappointing end to the season. The Burnley boss’ future at the club still remains in doubt, his frustration with the board and lack of squad depth and investment obvious and well known.
#CHEWOL
Frank Lampard’s men made sure they finished in the top four with a comfortable win against Wolves. MOTM Mason Mount’s beautiful curling free-kick (45+1’) and Olivier Giroud’s finish from close range (45+4’), sealed the victory within 144 seconds just before the HT-break, placing the Londoners in fourth, behind Man United in third on goal difference. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side never really made a match of it at Stamford Bridge, having lost five of their six closing-day PL matches (winning only against Sunderland in 2009-10). The defeat saw the Wanderers finish seventh behind Tottenham on goal difference, but they still have some chance of European qualification if the Blues beat the Gunners in the FA Cup final on Saturday (or they win the Europa League themselves of course).
#CRYTOT
Crystal Palace kept their unbeaten run of five final-day PL games going with a hard-fought draw against Tottenham (making it four wins and one draw the last five seasons’ final days). Harry Kane opened the scoring (13’), but Roy Hodgson’s men kept digging and looking to end their dire run of seven previous defeats. Jeffrey Schlupp capitalised on some poor Spurs defending, finishing from close range to level the score (53’). The visitors had more chances, but it stayed a goal and point each, the former England boss mourning the lack of quality and strength, especially upfront. The result saw José Mourinho’s side leapfrog Wolves into sixth and Europa League qualification. Not bad, to say that when the Portuguese took over last season’s Champions League finalists, they were 14th.
#EVEBOU
The Cherries ended up heartbroken despite winning 1-3 at Goodison Park, the other results going against them and confirming their five-year stay in the top-tear has come to an end. Eddie Howe’s men gave it their all and took the lead thanks to Joshua King’s penalty after Richarlison handled the ball in the box (13’ pen). Moise Kean equalised against the run of play, tapping in Theo Walcott’s cross (41’). But Dominic Solanke headed Bournemouth back in front just before the HT-break (45+1’). It was a tense second half until Jordan Pickford let through Junior Stanislas’ soft shot to make it 1-3 and give the visitors a nice cushion (80’). The win ended a run of nine consecutive away PL defeats. But the fight they showed was too late, the Cherries falling, 18th, whilst the Toffees failed, finishing 12th, their lowest place at the end of a season in 16 years. Carlo Ancelotti has a lot of work to do.
#LEIMUN
The Foxes flopped and dropped out of the top four, where they had sat for 325 days this season, handing the Red Devils the Champions League spot after a disappointing defeat at the King Power Stadium. Plenty of chances were wasted by the hosts before Bruno Fernandes gave OGS’ side the lead from the spot after Anthony Martial tumbled between Wes Morgan and Jonny Evans (71’). Surprise, surprise: It was United’s 14th penalty of the season, the most for a side in PL history. The latter Fox saw red late on to add to Brendan Rodgers’ and co’s misery (90+4’). And sub Jesse Lingard put salt onto the wound, robbing the ball off keeper Kasper Schmeichel to net the second goal (90+8’). A miserable end to the season for Leicester, whilst it will be a happy return to Old Trafford for the visitors, feeling they’re back where they belong.
#MCINOR
Talking about miserable: Bottom side Norwich were taken apart at the Etihad, Man City thrashing Daniel Farke’s men 5-0 as a farewell present from the Premier League. Gabriel Jesus (11’), MOTM Kevin de Bruyne (45+1’, 90’), Raheem Sterling (79’) and Riyad Mahrez (83’) all added to the show, legend and skipper David Silva’s last appearance for the club after ten glittering years. The Citizens have scored 100+ league goals in a top-flight season for a fifth time, an English record (also 1936-37, 1957-58, 2013-14 and 2017-18). Boss Pep Guardiola will now focus on the Champions League with Real Madrid being their next visitors in the second leg of their last-16 clash next week.
#NEWLIV
Dwight Gayle gave the Magpies an unexpected lead after just 25 seconds off Jonjo Shelvey’s quickly taken free-kick (1’), the quickest goal on a PL final day. That’s the only time the hosts touched the ball in the Reds’ box in the first half. The champions, starting without their star front three, were level before the break thanks to MOTM VVD’s header (38’). Divock Origi banged the Reds ahead from 20 yards out (59’), before sub Sadio Mané curled in a late third to seal the win (89’). Jürgen Klopp’s men finished top on 99 points after their club record 14th PL away win this season, 18 points ahead of City in second, whilst Steve Bruce is left sour and waiting about Newcastle’s takeover (breaking news today that the Arabs have pulled out), his side safe from the drop but picking up only two points from the last six games. Contrast.
#SOUSHU
MOTM Ché Adams’ brace (50’, 71’) and Danny Ings' penalty (84’) turned the game around for Southampton to beat Sheffield United 3-1 at St Mary’s. John Lundstram had given the visitors the lead from close range as the Blades were on top (26’). But for only the second time this season, the Saints overturned a HT-deficit, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men finishing the season in 11th, whilst Chris Wilder’s side dropped to ninth, still their highest finish in the Premier League, in their first season back in the top tier since 2007. Not bad.
#WHUAVL
Aston Villa ensured their survival at the cost of Bournemouth after a draw at West Ham was enough to avoid the drop. Skipper, hero and MOTM Jack Grealish had put the Villans ahead with a smacker of a strike (84’). 100 seconds later, Andriy Yarmolenko’s deflected shot levelled the score (85’) and shot up the nerves for the final minutes at the London Stadium (and false hopes for the Cherries). But Dean Smith’s men survived and could breathe a sigh of relief, whilst the Hammers had already secured their safety in 16th last match-week. In his 19 games in charge, David Moyes has recorded one more PL point than his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini did in the previous 19 games (20-19). The former Everton boss was full of praise for the young and fresh - hinting on more, as in more newbies incoming?
My Predictions - Actual Results
I was working on Sunday, made it home just in time for the second half, then realising that for the first time this season I forgot to make my predictions. So, I just put 0:0 on all. I’m happy I beat my dad in our final season of predictions - end of an era after 20 years! See my Twitter thread mentioned at the top for more on that, just search Sonjahaha and you'll find me.
Arsenal 0:0 Watford - 3:2
Burnley 0:0 Brighton - 1:2
Chelsea 0:0 Wolves - 2:0
C Palace 0:0 Tottenham - 1:1
Everton 0:0 Bournemouth - 1:3
Leicester 0:0 Man United - 0:2
Man City 0:0 Norwich - 5:0
Newcastle 0:0 Liverpool - 1:3
Southampton 0:0 Sheff United - 3:1
West Ham 0:0 Aston Villa - 1:1
All facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, ByTheMin, RMC and Sky Sports coverage - see the previous posts for links.
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