Premier League Picks Of The Week 36

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 36

The 36th week of the Premier League action saw:

24 goals - most by Liverpool = 5
257 shots - most by Man City = 25
80 on target - most by Leicester = 12
110 corners - most by Fulham = 11
188 fouls - most by Everton = 15
28 bookings - most by Watford, Newcastle, Leicester and Man United = 3 each
1 red card - Maitland-Niles for Arsenal
0 penalties

What a game! There were six goals between Southampton and Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, you can imagine the scenes at St Mary’s! It ended 3-3, the point guaranteeing safety for the home side. What a job Ralph Hasenhüttl has done! When he was appointed, the Saints had won just one of their first 15 league games. They were in 18th and among the favourites for relegation. The Austrian has overseen eight wins in 21 games since then, and has confirmed his side's place in the top tier for another year. Matt Targett scored the 1000th goal of the season in the Premier League (67'); this is the second earliest date the 1000th goal has been scored in a PL season, after April 1st in 1994-95. The substitute's header made it 3-2, but man of the match Callum Wilson spoiled the party slightly with his second goal of the day, a late equaliser from close range (86'), to make it three goals and a point each. Bournemouth have taken seven points from their last four away league games (won two, drawn one) after taking none from the nine before that. Southampton have lost 27 points from leading positions in the league this season, more than any other side. But they won't care right now, as the result took hosts to 38 points in 16th, seven points clear from the drop zone, and the Cherries to 14th on 42 points, with two games remaining. Happy days. 

What a team! Liverpool took Huddersfield apart on Friday night, taking them back to the top of the league, temporarily at least, seeing records tumbling all over the place, the fastest, the most, goals, points, individual, club, etc. With Sadio Mané (23', 66') and Mohamed Salah (45'+1', 83') both on the scoreboard with a brace each and passing the landmark, the Reds became the first club to have two players score 20 goals or more in a Premier League season since Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge accomplished the same feat in 2013-14, for the same club. Salah's two-goal return also saw the great Egyptian become only the third LFC player to pass 20 or more Premier League goals in consecutive seasons for the club, placing him in the same company as Robbie Fowler (1994-95 and 1995-96) and the same Suárez mentioned above (2012-13 and 2013-14). His overall tally of 69 goals in 100 games is the highest number of goals managed by any Liverpool player after a century of appearances. Records. But Jürgen Klopp's men didn't stay top for long, see more about Manchester City's win on Sunday below.
Wolves are breaking all sorts of records as well, the newly promoted team sitting four points clear in seventh after winning 1-2 at Vicarage Road, European dreams coming true? Watford can still spoil it for them if they beat the Citizens in the FA Cup final on the 18th May. But still, Nuno Espírito Santo can be a very proud man, what his side has achieved! Respect.

What a man! Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno spared his side from a thrashing at Leicester on Sunday, it could have been 6 or 7-0 if it weren’t for the German's top saves, blocks and stops. Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ two soft bookings and consequential dismissal were harsh and didn’t help the Gunners (36’), who were dominated by the Foxes before and after that. It was no surprise when Youri Tielemans headed in the opener after the break (59’), taking the Monaco loanee to three goals and five assists in 11 games for the 2016 champions. Jamie Vardy sealed the win with a fine brace, first heading in the ball after it came off the crossbar from his fine counter run and lob over Leno (86’), assisted by Kasper Schmeichel. And then in injury time, he made it 3-0 unmarked from close range (90’+5’). Since his Premier League debut in August 2014, the 32-year-old striker has scored 31 goals against the 'big six' sides - more than any other player. Brendan Rodgers continues his fine form, whilst Unai Emery will have all his hopes and eyes and everything on the Europa League now after yet another disappointing defeat, his side locked in fifth, only one point ahead of Manchester United in sixth, two points behind Chelsea in fourth. More to the latter two's crucial clash below.

What a goal! What a hit is was by Ryan Babel! The former Liverpool winger's beautiful curler (79'), his fifth goal since joining from Besiktas in January, was enough to bank the three points for the relegated side. Fulham’s season is ending on a high, the result condemning Cardiff to their 23rd defeat of the season, keeping them in 18th, four points from safety with two games to go after Brighton snatched a point from Newcastle in the evening kickoff on Saturday. Crucially cruel or cruelly crucial.

Manchester City beat Burnley thanks to the ref’s watch on Sunday! The stubborn home side frustrated the visitors, blocking, clearing, saving everything the Citizens threw at them. But Sergio Agüero, who else, saw his shot from close range cleared by defender Matthew Lowton (63'), but it was over two centimeters over the line (29.51mm to be exact). Sean Dyche can still be proud of his side. Like the Clarets boss said, Pep Guardiola shouting at his side to get the ball into the corner, summarises how strong and well his team did. The defending champions are back at the top, but only one point ahead of Liverpool, with two games to go. Crucially cruel or cruelly crucial, again.

What the hell?! This builder’s curse worked for West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday. The French media reported how a builder, who's a Hammers fan, left scarves and/or shirts of his team in the concrete and/or under the pitch whilst constructing the ground. He must have enjoyed seeing the first goal conceded and first defeat for the home side at their new stadium. Michail Antonio's smashing goal (67') led to groovy celebrations. A last-minute clearance of Vincent Janssen's header off the line by Fabián Balbuena made sure the points stayed with the visitors after they had missed chances to seal the deal themselves. Everyone was knackered when the final whistle finally blew! Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino blaming "stress and fatigue". That's not good ahead of their first Champions League semi-final against Ajax on Tuesday. Even worse with their lack of signings now showing the leaks, wounds and weaknesses of his side in the final and most crucial stage of the season. Hard. Life. 

Referee Martin Atkinson was ridiculous at Old Trafford on Sunday! Absolute shambles! Juan Mata gave the Red Devils the lead against Chelsea (11’), but his teammate David de Gea made sure Marcos Alonso pulled one back (43’) after the stopper spilled Antonio Rüdiger's 30-yard attempt. Howlers, left, right and centre! The race for the top four remains wide open. Well. If anyone wants to. They are all trying their best not to win at the moment. Mistakes against Manchester City and Barcelona mean de Gea has, in the space of 13 days, matched the total number of costly errors he made in 123 previous club appearances. The Spaniard has not kept a clean sheet since United's goalless draw against Liverpool on the 24th February. But will his boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær dare to drop him??? Manchester United have not won any of their last four games in all competitions - they have not had a longer winless run since December 2015 under Louis van Gaal. And three points behind Maurizio Sarri's men in fourth, Champions League qualification is now out of their hands. 

My Predictions - Actual Results
Liverpool 6:0 Huddersfield - 5:0
Tottenham 2:1 West Ham - 0:1
Crystal Palace 1:2 Everton - 0:0
Fulham 1:2 Cardiff - 1:0
Southampton 2:0 Bournemouth - 3:3
Watford 1:1 Wolves - 1:2
Brighton 1:1 Newcastle - 1:1
Leicester 1:1 Arsenal - 3:0
Burnley 1:1 Man City - 0:1
Man United 1:1 Chelsea - 1:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, Twitter, Sky Sports app and RMC Sport coverage.