Friday 2 March 2018

Premier League Picks Of The Week 28

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 28

The 28th week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Liverpool & Brighton = 4 each
233 shots - most by Liverpool = 21
92 on target - most by Liverpool = 12
98 corners - most by Leicester & Tottenham = 13 each
205 fouls - most by Brighton = 17
24 yellow cards - most by Newcastle = 4
0 red cards
2 penalties - 1 scored (Murray for Brighton)

What a game! A late comeback by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium broke Newcastle's hearts after they started so brill! Dwight Gayle's double had given the visitors a two-goal cushion at the break. But Adam Smith's smacker off the crossbar and Dan Gosling's side-footed last-minute equaliser nicked a point for the Cherries, leaving them in 11th after Watford's win later on against Everton, whilst the Magpies dropped to 15th.
And what a crucial win it was for Brighton in the relegation battle, thrashing the sorry Swans 4-1. Star man Glenn Murray scored twice, Anthony Knockaert and Jürgen Locadia added to the Welsh side's misery later on after they saw Tammy Abraham's effort deflected in by Lewis Dunk for his fourth own goal of the season - the only shot on target for the visitors! The result takes Chris Hughton's side up to 12th whilst Carlos Carvalhal's men dropped to 18th.

What a team! West Brom's misery continued as Huddersfield held off their fightback to win 1-2 at The Hawthorns. The Terriers took the lead shortly after the break thanks to Rajiv van la Parra and it was doubled by Steve Mounié with under an hour gone. Craig Dawson headed one back for the home side minutes later, and went close from another set-piece in the dying moments. But the visitors recorded their second consecutive win, taking David Wagner's side three points safe from the drop zone in 14th. Alan Pardew on the other hand, has only seen one win in his 14 games as Albion boss, keeping his side rock bottom, seven points from safety. Surely they can't escape from that far down with ten games to go!

What a man! Liverpool's front trio were at it again as they thrashed West Ham 4-1 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon to bring the Reds' goal total to 103 in all competitions this season. Simply the best (well, behind City). Click here for my LFC match report with all the facts, stats and details.
Manchester United had sub Jesse Lingard to thank for their three points on Sunday, his header downing Chelsea after Romelu Lukaku had levelled out Willian's opener. It wasn't a clash of the top titans, more like a bash of the flop divers! But it was enough for the Red Devils to keep them second, their bitter red Merseyside rivals two points behind them, the two sides' meeting in a couple of weeks is going to be interesting.

What a goal! Stoke stopper Jack Butland went from zero to hero within seconds. After gloving in the equaliser for Leicester, a blooper-and-a-half own goal to level Xherdan Shaqiri's opener, the keeper made some great saves moments later denying Riyad Mahrez and Harry Maguire off the rebound against the post. It stayed 1-1 and a point each, leaving the Potters in the bottom three whilst the Foxes moved up to eighth.
Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini's 90th-minute equaliser at Burnley dragged the Saints out of the relegation zone, keeping the Clarets' 2018 winless run going. Troy Deeney showed how it's done, whacking Watford ahead from the middle of the box, enough to beat a poor Everton side in the late kickoff on Saturday. Crucial goals all round in and around the relegation zone.

What the hell?! Dele Alli's diving was so annoying to watch on Sunday! Even more annoying was that he didn't get cautioned for his theatrics! Crystal Palace did well to frustrate the hell out of Tottenham, until Harry Kane headed in the winner in the final minute of normal time, his 35th goal in 36 matches. Double argh! The result leaves Palace in 17th, level on points with Swansea in 18th, whilst Tottenham moved up to 4th, two points ahead of Chelsea in 5th.
After being well and truly thrashed by the league leaders Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday, Arsenal didn't expect much in their postponed league meeting on Thursday night... And rightly so, they were once again totally outclassed and -played by the Citizens and well beaten 0-3 at the Emirates, their joint-heaviest home Premier League defeat, having lost by three-goal margins to Coventry (1993), Middlesbrough (2001) and Chelsea (twice in 2009). The Gunners started quicker and more on the ball than in the cup thrash, but Pep Guardiola's men were just too good in their 100th match under the Spaniard, recording his 69th win thanks to Bernardo Silva, David Silva and Leroy Sané and their clinical play and finishes, all in a sublime first half. To add to the home side's misery Ederson saved their second-half spot-kick denying Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and any kind of comeback for the hosts. Arsène Wenger meanwhile, well, I'm lost for words how the Frenchman is still in his job!!! The stadium was half-empty and it such a big clash, that is a big statement by the fans!!! It must be the end! Putain!!!

My Predictions - Actual Results
Leicester 3:0 Stoke City - 1:1
Bournemouth 2:1 Newcastle - 2:2
Brighton 1:1 Swansea - 4:1
Burnley 1:1 Southampton - 1:1
Liverpool 3:2 West Ham - 4:1 or my match report
West Brom 2:0 Huddersfield - 1:2
Watford 2:1 Everton - 1:0
Crystal Palace 1:1 Tottenham - 0:1
Man United 2:2 Chelsea - 2:1
Arsenal 2:2 Man City - 0:3

Click here for my previous Premier League Picks.

All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match reports, MOTD, Twitter and SFR coverage.

No comments: