Premier League Notes - Week 6

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 6

The sixth week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

31 goals - most by Man City = 8

258 shots - most by Man City = 28

91 on target - most by Man City = 11

98 corners - most by Everton = 12

202 fouls - most by Leicester = 16

38 bookings - most by Arsenal = 5

2 red cards - Saïss for Wolves, Maitland-Niles for Arsenal

3 penalties - 3 scored (Ward-Prowse for Saints, Agüero for City, Pépé for Arsenal)

#SOUBOU

Saints were all over the place on Friday night, unable to cope with the Cherries, hence, two goals down at the interval. And just when it looked like the hosts were getting back into the game after the break (creating 25 shots!), things went from bad to worse to embarrassing! Stoppage time drama saw a brilliant save by Aaron Ramsdale at the one end, keeping the score at 1-2, followed by a comedy error at the other, Angus Gunn and Jan Bednarek producing You've Been Framed material, a present for Callum Wilson to make it 1-3 with the last kick of the game and three points for the visitors, their first ever win at St Mary's! Eddie Howe's side have won four of their last eight away games in the Premier League, having had lost the previous nine in succession!

#LEITOT

The Foxes' comeback was full of ups and downs and controversies. VAR was cheered on and chanted by the fans after a goal was disallowed for offside, to Paulo Gazzaniga's relief after an embarrassing spill! LMAO! But eventually Spurs found a breakthrough, Son Heung-min with a cheeky back-foot pass on the edge of the box, finding Harry Kane, who was falling over like a stumbling drunk but somehow still got a shot away and in to give the visitors a weird but top quality lead (25'). VAR chalked another goal off, Serge Aurier with the finish, eventually disallowed, but this time it was soooooo close, millimetres! The French commentators were not happy! But off is off (more to that below)! Moments later, Ricardo Pereira had all the space in the world, no one near him in the box, easy equaliser (69'). After all the chances, poking and trying, VAR controversies, disallowed goals, the hosts pulled themselves back into the game. And James Maddison completed the perfect comeback, with a screamer to make it 2-1 (85')! Mauricio Pochettino's men have failed to win three consecutive Premier League games when they are leading at the break for the first time since March 2008. Since Brendan Rodgers took over at the King Power Stadium, only Manchester City and Liverpool have picked up more points. Top character. 

#BURNOR

After last week's surprise victory against the reigning champions, Norwich were on a high. But Chris Wood had better ideas, shooting the Canaries down with his brace, two goals in four minutes (10', 14'). Lethal. The 27-year old Kiwi opened the scoring with yet another header, his seventh since the start of last season, more than any other player has nodded in. Five of his last six league goals have been scored with his head, and four of those from corners. Nod on. 

#EVESHU

Everton scored an own goal to add to all their misery, opening the score for Sheffield United five minutes before the break at Goodison Park. The Toffees have now conceded 20 goals from set pieces since Marco Silva took over, more than any other Premier League team. It was a great counter to double the lead/agony, depending which side you're on. It completed the Blades' first PL away win in 13 years, despite the home side dominating and trying their best with over double the possession, eight times the shots and double on target. A reminder: The blue Merseysiders have spent £195 million on transfers (net) since June 2016, which makes them the fourth highest spenders in the English top tier. Their allocation of resources is one of the worst in the PL history! They are the highest spending club in WORLD football without a trophy with £954m splashed out since 1995. Mind. Blown. 

#MCIWAT

This was just ridiculous! The same side that created 31 shots in a great comeback to grab a point against Arsenal last week, just absolutely crashed and burned from kickoff at the Etihad. It was the fastest and biggest onslaught, David Silva finding the net first after just 52 seconds! 17 minutes later, it was already 5-0! I couldn't keep up with the Tweets! It's the fastest any side has ever gone 5-0 ahead in the Premier League and the biggest half-time lead. Bernardo Silva made it six, scoring his first ever PL brace, and netting in back to back home league games for the first time in his City career. And that was not all. It became the Portuguese's first ever top-flight hat-trick in what is his 178th appearance across the English, French and Portuguese top tiers. It was the first time for the Citizens to score eight in a single PL fixture. An absolute mauling. Watford's heaviest defeat ever in English league football. Outclassed. Gerard Deulofeu completed 13 out of his 14 passes - EIGHT of those coming from kickoff! Shocking.

#NEWBRI

There were lots of empty seats at St James' Park! The Seagulls dominated from start to finish with most of the possession! The Magpies only had 24.2% of the ball in the first half, not much more after the restart. A reminder of Steve Bruce's men's possession so far this season: 38% v Arsenal, 37% v Norwich, 20% v Spurs, 49% v Watford, 25% v Liverpool. WTF?! What are they on the pitch for?! To play football, no?! It was an absolute drag by Newcastle on Saturday night, waste by Brighton not to capitalize, the torture ended 0:0. Cheered sub Andy Carroll couldn't make the much needed difference on his return to Tyneside.

#CRYWOL

Leander Dendoncker's own goal was Crystal Palace's 100th goal in the Premier League under Roy Hodgson - the first time the Eagles have scored as many under one boss and they are the first club the former England boss has managed in the competition to reach this total. Centurions. Diogo Jota's last-breath equaliser from close range spoilt the party at Selhurst Park and nicked a point for ten-man Wolves, FIVE MINUTES in to stoppage time! 

#WHUMUN

How many times and weeks have I been writing it and will keep on writing it: Man Who?! The Hammers' dominance finally paid off when Andriy Yarmolenko made the breakthrough just before the break, squeezing the ball past David de Gea into the bottom corner (44'). The Red Devils have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last ELEVEN away matches in all competitions, their worst run since conceding in 14 consecutive matches between April and December 2002. It was a smacking free kick by Aaron Cresswell to make it 2-0 with under ten minutes to go, top corner, de Gea no chance. Manuel Pellegrini is the first manager to win against four different United managers in the Premier League: David Moyes, Luis van Gaal, José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Collection.

#ARSAST

What a comeback it was by the Gunners, first to come from behind being down to ten men, and then in what fashion! Two goals in four minutes, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's late winner was an absolute belter!!! That made it seven in seven this season for the Gabonese striker. The Villans are still pointless on the road, and despite a much improved performance Dean Smith's men haven't won any of their last five Premier League away games when scoring first (D1 L4) and fall down to 18th, whilst the Gunners fly high back up to fourth. 

#CHELIV

The Reds bossed the first half, the Blues the second. Jürgen Klopp's men are the first team in top-flight history to win their opening six matches of a top-flight season in two consecutive seasons. Pacesetters, five points clear at the top. The contrast in commentating was surreal! Martin Tyler sounded very bored, whilst the French and American commentators went mad! No wonder, all three goals were top quality and the end was tense! The VAR arguments are getting more and more ridiculous! As mentioned above, close, yes, cruel, maybe, but off is off! (I loved Graeme Souness' quote on those close calls: "You cannot be nearly pregnant!") And with or without VAR, there will always be missed incidents and mess-ups, it is still humans behind the screens (and in front of them)! Nobody's perfect. But there should be a system where they get punished or there should be some consequences for anything missed or messed up, because every call, every goal, every point is oh so crucial! But hey, that would probably take another 20 years for the FA to work it out! Behind every other country and every other sport! Pf! No wonder it's winding everyone up!

My Predictions - Actual Results

Southampton 1:1 Bournemouth - 1:3

Leicester 1:1 Tottenham - 2:1

Burnley 2:2 Norwich - 2:0

Everton 1:1 Sheffield United - 0:2

Man City 2:1 Watford - 8:0

Newcastle 1:0 Brighton - 0:0

Crystal Palace 1:0 Wolves - 1:1

West Ham 2:2 Man United - 2:0

Arsenal 3:1 Aston Villa - 3:2 

Chelsea 2:3 Liverpool - 1:2

Click here for last week's Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 5

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 5

The fifth week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw: 

32 goals - most by Chelsea = 5

267 shots - most by Watford = 31

98 on target - most by Watford = 10

116 corners - most by Man City = 16

200 fouls - most by Tottenham = 19

32 bookings - most by Tottenham and Everton = 4

2 red cards - Sharp for Sheff United and Masuaku for West Ham

2 penalties - 2 scored (Rashford for Man United, Pereyra for Watford)

#LIVNEW

Liverpool set a new club record of 22 consecutive Premier League matches unbeaten (W18, D4, L0), after coming back from behind at St. James' Park. This is also the Reds’ longest top-flight unbeaten streak since March to November 1990 (23). Newcastle’s shock lead came thanks to Jetro Willems’ (7’), the first goal for the Eintracht Frankfurt loanee. Jürgen Klopp’s men are the first team in PL history to win 14 consecutive matches while scoring more than once. Sadio Mané is the first player to play 50 PL games at Anfield without losing a single one. The Senegalese’s brace (28’, 40’) was helped by sub Roberto Firmino’s masterclass! Mohamed Salah was also part of the dance (72’) to make it 3-1 and a jolly front trio! Class, class and class, three goals and three points, helping LFC stay at the top with five wins out of five. In the last 16 months, the Reds have had more CL finals than PL defeats!!! BOOM!!!

#BRIBUR

Substitute Jeff Hendrick fired in an injury-time equaliser from 20 yards out to earn Burnley a point with their only shot on target, denying Brighton their first home win since 2 March and keeping the Clarets' unbeaten run down South going, not having lost in their last seven Premier League games on the South coast (W4 D3).

#MUNLEI

David de Gea made a great save against James Maddison early on! The penalty that was given after not even eight minutes, really? Marcus Rashford ran across and fell, the Leicester defender Çağlar Söyüncü didn’t have much say or play in it! Pf! The early goal spoilt the encounter straight away. De Gea saved and Maddison was close again after the break. Manchester United held on and scraped through, ending Leicester's unbeaten start to the season and bagging three points for the first time since the opening day. Ole Gunnar Solskjær's men have had 40% of the penalties in the Premier League so far this season. The Foxes have lost nine of their last ten league matches at Old Trafford (W0 D1 L9). Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has conceded more goals from penalties (16) in the Premier League in 176 appearances than his dad former United stopper Peter Schmeichel conceded in 310 appearances (15).

#SHUSOU

Southampton’s summer signing Moussa Djenepo scored the deciding goal beating Sheffield United’s defence with a brilliant move and take (66’). The Blades had a goal ruled out for offside by the VAR when Oliver McBurnie thought he had put them in front shortly after the break. Chris Wilder was not happy with a handball decision given against his side, who have now won just one of their opening five games on their Premier League return. Tough luck.

#TOTCRY

Son Heung-Min has scored in all four of his Premier League home games against Crystal Palace (four goals), with Tottenham going on to win each of the previous three. The South Korean's brace (10’, 23’) helped Mauricio Pochettino’s men thrash Crystal Palace 4-0 and take them back into the top four. It’s their biggest league victory over the Eagles, as well as their joint-biggest against them across all competitions (also 4-0 in January 1987 in the FA Cup fourth round).

#WOLCHE

Stunning skill from Tammy Abraham on the edge of the box, to drive the ball in past Rui Patrício for a superb hat-trick (34', 41', 55'). The 21-year-old England striker is now the Premier League‘s leading goalscorer, the youngest ever Chelsea player to score a PL hat-trick, and the youngest Englishman to do so in the competition since Raheem Sterling (v Bournemouth) in October 2015. He joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Dele Alli in becoming only the third PL player aged 21 or younger to score two or more goals in three consecutive appearances. Outstanding, oh, and he is the first player in PL history to score a hat-trick and an own goal in the same game. It ended Wolves 2-5 Chelsea btw. Goals and action galore in the Wanderers' boss Nuno Espírito Santo's 300th match as a manager.

#NORMCI

ELEVEN players out injured vs ONE, newly promoted against defending champions, it ended 3-2! How many millions of pounds worth of difference between the two as well?! Good old footy won! Daniel Farke’s men kept marking, pressure on the ball, running, surrounding, pushing non-stop, both ends of the pitch and match! Thrilling win! Shocker for Manchester City! Especially playing from the back, the Citizens were absolute shambles! Hopefully everyone watched and learned! The rare defeat, their first since January, leaves Pep Guardiola's side five points behind Liverpool. The Canaries registered only their second win in their last 15 Premier League meetings with the reigning champions (W2 D1 L12) - their other win was also against the Citizens in May 2013.

#BOUEVE

It was too easy for Bournemouth, defensive shambles by Everton, no discrediting Callum Wilson’s brace (23’, 72’), his first Premier League goals since January. Having lost their previous two league home games, against Leicester and Manchester City, the Cherries kick-started their campaign with a thoroughly deserved first home league win, lifting them to eighth in the table. The Toffees meanwhile, were left reeling, having conceded seven goals in their past three league games, as many as they had in their previous 13 Premier League fixtures, and dropping down to 11th. 

#WATARS

It was a game of two halves at Vicarage Road. All started so well for Arsenal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace (21’, 32’), but bottom-side Watford took over after the break, Tom Cleverley (53’) and Roberto Pereyra (pen 81’) hitting back to make it 2-2. The Gunners faced 31 shots, a club record for the home side and the most their opponents have ever faced in a Premier League fixture since Opta began collecting such data in the division in 2003-04. Unai Emery’s men also hold the record of most errors leading to goals since the start of last season = 14, and failed to win seven of the last ten league games across two seasons. This was the first time in 22 meetings across all competitions that the Hornets and Arsenal have drawn against each other, having last done so in December 1984 (1-1). New Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores has only lost one of his eight managerial meetings with Emery in all competitions (W3 D4 L1).

#ASTWHU

Eight of the 41 Premier League meetings between Aston Villa and West Ham have ended goalless, the highest proportion (19.5%) of any fixture in the competition that's been played 30-plus times. So what did we expect? It was a physical but disappointing encounter, the final touch missing, so bad, that even team mates clashed in frustration.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Liverpool 3:0 Newcastle - 3:1

Brighton 1:1 Burnley - 1:1

Man United 1:1 Leicester - 1:0

Sheff United 1:2 Southampton - 0:1

Tottenham 1:0 Crystal Palace - 4:0

Wolves 1:2 Chelsea - 2:5

Norwich 1:4 Man City - 3:2

Bournemouth 1:1 Everton - 3:1

Watford 0:2 Arsenal - 2:2

Aston Villa 1:2 West Ham - 0:0

Click here for last week's Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 4

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 4

The fourth week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw.

31 goals - most by Man City = 4

264 shots - most by Arsenal = 26

96 on target - most by Tottenham = 9

107 corners - most by Crystal Palace = 13

232 fouls - most by Tottenham = 19

37 bookings - most by Tottenham = 5

3 red cards - Danso for Southampton, Trézéguet for Aston Villa, Boly for Wolves

1 penalty - 1 scored (Kane for Tottenham)

#SOUMUN

Again: Man Who?! New boy Daniel James gave the visitors the lead within ten minutes at Southampton with a banger. David De Gea made a fine save off a corner, however, eventually Jannik Vestergaard headed in the equaliser, Red Devils’ defence unable to cope and clear the ball. The red card was fully deserved, it was a stupid tackle by Saints centre-back Kevin Danso, second yellow, scissor-type, clumsy! Second-choice keeper Angus Gunn made some superb late saves to make sure the match ended one goal and one point each. Ole’s at the wheel... Although, however and whoever's at the wheel, in the past three Premier League meetings between the two sides, the team scoring first has failed to win each time (D2 L1).

#CHESHU

A howler by keeper Dean Henderson gave away Chelsea’s opener (19’), Tammy Abraham pounced and capitalised on the rebound before banging in his brace to make it 2-0 a couple of minutes before the break at Stamford Bridge. Instant response by Sheffield United after the interval came with a sweet right-footed finish by Callum Robinson. A super save by the stopper made up for the howler. The late leveller was scored seconds/minutes after substitute Lys Mousset came on, the Blues leaving too much space, playing too comfy? Kurt Zouma ended up heading Robinson’s cross towards the sub into the back of his own net to make it 2-2 in the final minute of normal time, undoing all the Blues’ good and hard work. Chris Wilder’s side have won five points from their four Premier League games this season - only in 1993-94 (6) have they had a better start in the competition.

#CRYAVL

Trézéguet was sent off, second yellow for a late challenge on Wilfried Zaha, crucial at 0-0, not helping Aston Villa after the restart (54'). It was a lovely creation and finish by Jordan Ayew, the Ghana international could have gone down, but made and scored the chance instead, getting Crystal Palace the win and three points. Roy Hodgson's thanks can go to the VAR as well, disallowing Henri Lansbury’s injury-time equaliser, deeming Jack Grealish was diving in the buildup. Harsh.

#LEIBOU

It was good old Leicester at their best, feisty start, 12 minutes gone, WHAT A GOAL! Cross, one touch, two touches, Jamie Vardy, BOOM! 1-0! But Bournemouth got back in it a couple of minutes later, Kasper Schmeichel beaten from the tightest of tight angles by Callum Wilson, 1-1. But that wasn't it. 2-1 tight again, reflex goal by Youri Tielemans (41’). And when Wilson went down, OUCH! It looked like a career-ending challenge by Tielemans! Ankle gone! How was that not red?! WTF?! VAR?! Vardy made it 3-1 from inside the box (73'), natural, glorious for the Foxes, battering the poor Cherries.

#MCIBRI

The champions were ahead just after 68 seconds, Kevin De Bruyne with the quickest goal so far this season. Sergio Agüero doubled the lead before the break. Too easy. Acceleration. Top quality finish. Again and again = 3-0 after 55 minutes. The great Argentine is leading the Premier League top scorers list with six already after just four games, 29 in the last 23 appearances! From scorer to provider = Bernardo Silva making it 4-0 in the 79th minute. Ruthless Citizens. Only downer for Pep Guardiola and co: Aymeric Laporte was taken off on the carrier, injured, didn’t look good.

#NEWWAT

Will Hughes slotted the opener in from distance for the visitors after not even two minutes at St James’ Park, Watford's second quickest goal in the Premier League. Fabian Schär banged in the equaliser just before the break (41'), under Ben Foster from inside the box, his first of the season. The Hornets remain bottom despite gaining their first point of the season. *Breaking news Saturday evening end of the first half of the England Euro qualifier against Bulgaria, Javi Gracia was sacked by the bottom club. Surprised?! Na. Sad but true. Half an hour later, the new boss Quique Sánchez Flores was announced. Not new really, the Spaniard has been here before, in 2015-16. That was a surprise. How long will he be given, this month? Will he make Christmas?

#WHUNOR

First home goal for striker Sébastien Haller, the record signing got off the mark at home halfway through the first half against Norwich (24'). Andriy Yarmolenko made it two after the break, doubling the hosts’ lead with a beautiful goal (56')! Happy Hammers move up to fifth. Daniel Farke was not happy with a couple of things VAR missed. Same old problem, with or without new technology, the officials are just not up to scratch. 

#BURLIV

Only Agüero (18) has more Premier League goals in 2019 than Sadio Mané (16), who has scored four in his last three league games against Burnley, making it 0-2 (37’) after Chris Wood opened the scoring with an own goal off Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross (33’). Roberto Firmino became the first Brazilian to score 50 Premier League goals, making it 0-3 ten minutes from time. However, not everything's fine and dandy with the Reds, as Mané was pissed off with Mohamed Salah as the prior was subbed off at the end of the match, after twice the Egyptian wasted chances rather than passing and providing for the Senegalese. Nobody’s perfect. In the last two weeks Jürgen Klopp has set two new club records. One set by Sir Kenny Dalglish by reaching 300 points in the least amount of games (146) as Liverpool manager, and the smiley German has guided the Reds to 13 consecutive league victories for the first time ever. Close enough to perfect.

#EVEWOL

This is the first time there have been three goals inside the first 12 minutes of a Premier League game since Leicester were thrashed 4-2 by Everton in April 2017. This clash against Wolves ended 3-2 to the Toffees, Richarlison’s brace (5’, 80’) starting and deciding the encounter at Goodison Park. Since the start of last season, no side has gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League than Wolves, but it was just not to be this time. Nuno Espírito Santo’s winless men remain 17th, having gone on to be relegated the last four times they have failed to win any of their four opening top-flight games (1964-65, 1975-76, 1984-85 and 2003-04). 

#ARSTOT 

Arsenal have recorded 13 errors leading to goals in the Premier League since the start of last season, the most of any club in the competition. In fact, Bernd Leno has made the most of any player in this period (6). Christian Eriksen reached his Premier League half century (10’), most by any Danish player. Harry Kane's penalty (40’) was the 19th scored in games between the two bitter rivals in the Premier League, the most in a single fixture actually. Spurs were in total control. The second half changed that. Gunner Alexandre Lacazette pulled one back just before the break (45’+1’). Hugo Lloris made some fine saves after the restart, the home side laying into the visitors, total onslaught, no remorse or rest for the wicked. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s equaliser in the 70th minute takes his scoring run to seven successive Premier League starts at the Emirates. Only Thierry Henry in October 2000 went on a longer run at home for the Gunners in the competition (nine at Highbury). The fiery derby ended 2-2 btw. Spurs are winless in eight consecutive Premier League away matches for the first time since December 2011 to April 2012 under Harry Redknapp, gaining just two points from those eight games.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Southampton 1:2 Man United - 1:1

Chelsea 2:1 Sheff United - 2:2

Crystal Palace 1:0 Aston Villa - 1:0

Leicester 1:1 Bournemouth - 3:1

Man City 3:1 Brighton - 4:0

Newcastle 2:1 Watford - 1:1

West Ham 2:2 Norwich - 2:0

Burnley 1:3 Liverpool - 0:3

Everton 1:1 Wolves - 3:2

Arsenal 1:1 Tottenham - 2:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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