Premier League Notes - Week 20

Sports - Football - Premier League Week 20

The 20th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

25 goals - most by Watford = 3

249 shots - most by Everton = 22

79 on target - most by Everton = 9

108 corners - most by Southampton = 12

212 fouls - most by Chelsea = 19

43 bookings - most by Arsenal = 5

1 red card - Mariappa for Watford

3 penalties - 2 scored (Deeney for Watford, Kane for Tottenham)

#BHABOU

Only three minutes into the early kickoff, Alireza Jahanbakhsh opened his account for the home side with a lovely low finish across into the bottom right. It was end-to-end stuff, no sign of Christmas fatigue early on, the hosts on top. Dan Burn hit a Messi-esque beauty to double the lead (58’), only for the VAR to spoil the show and disallow the goal for one of those annoying offsides (60’), it was not even an inch of an arm, and so much happened after that, ping pong in the box, it’s farcical. Aaron Mooy controlled and smashed it in to make sure his side’s lead was doubled and couldn’t be disallowed (79’). Lovely lovely football and a deserved three points, the Seagulls were all over the falling Cherries. F-£< VAR!

#NEWEVE

Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the breakthrough at St James’ Park after early Toffee dominance, keeping Martin Dúbravka busy (13’). The Magpies tried their best to hit back, including an offside and handball against Andy Carroll. There were 22 shots in the first half of this game, the second most in the first half of a PL game this season (after 28, Villa at Norwich in Week 8). Fabian Schär finally found the equaliser from close range off Carroll (56’). The number seven provided three assists in his last five Premier League games, as many as he registered in his previous 89 combined. A slide over the line completed the brace for DCL after Carroll lost the ball, and put the visitors back ahead (64’), to make it five goals in his last five appearances in the PL, as many as in previous 28. Over 40 shots between the two, great contest, but only one scorer and winner for the visitors in the end. 

#SOUCRY

The first goal of the season for Max Meyer - was disallowed! Wilfried Zaha was deemed offside by the VAR as he jiggled past two defenders on the left and drilled it low into the box. Meyer was on hand to blast it in and gutted to see it chalked off. By a hair. Or breath as the BBC put it. Pf. James Tomkins headed the visitors ahead off Luka Milivojević’s free kick (50’). Danny Ings equalised for the Saints with their first shot on target, making no mistake of Martin Kelly’s cockup (74’). The point lifts Southampton four points clear of the drop zone, whilst Roy Hodgson's side remain ninth, 

#WATAVI

Troy Deeney gave the home side the lead just before the break, his low hard hit palmed back by Tom Heaton, the rebound squeezed into the far corner (43’). Adrian Mariappa was sent off, second yellow (59’), despite that the ten men doubled their lead and Deeney doubled his total from the spot (67’). Ismaila Särr finished the tie off with a blast in from close range (71’). Villa were nowhere, Nigel Pearson's side rolling over them, on- and upwards, just three points away from safety. 

#NORTOT

Four changes each side, the hosts started on top and took a deserved lead thanks to Mario Vrančiç run through and in, side-footing the ball past everything and everyone, Paulo Gazzaniga beaten too easily to his right (18’). The VAR disallowed Teemu Pukki’s controlled finish (33’), replays showing he was onside?! Great cross and counter goal, the defender’s foot ahead of everything - even the arm of the attacker they kept marking and drawing from. What are the officials watching/taking/doing up there?! Christian Eriksen levelled the score after the restart (55'). Harry Kane equalised again from the spot (83’) after Serge Aurier’s own goal had put the home side ahead for a second time, diverting Pukki’s take (61‘). Only Alan Shearer (145) and Sergio Agüero (138) have scored more Premier League goals in their first 200 appearances in the competition than Kane (136). Lucky point for one side, hard one to take for the other, as it should have been a home win, VARcical! 

#WHULEI

Nine changes for the Foxes after their Boxing Day thrashing against the Reds! A poor penalty from Demarai Gray was easily saved by Łukasz Fabiański, the keeper making up for his foul on Kelech Iheanacho. The Nigerian’s header gave the visitors the lead just before the break, the Hammers’ defence shambolic (40’). Unmarked Pablo Fornals surprised himself with the equaliser, a nice drive into the bottom corner (45’), West Ham’s 151st different goalscorer in the Premier League, more than any other team. A cool clip by Gray finished a breakaway nicely to give Brendan Rodgers’ men the lead (56’) and a comfortable win for the Foxes in the end. The Hammers equal their club Premier League record of four consecutive home defeats, set from November 2005 to January 2006 at Upton Park. Surprise surprise, the late match was still going when Manuel Pellegrini’s departure was announced. More surprising he lasted this long!

#BURMUN

The Red Devils dominated, but Burnley coped well and kept solid, including Phil Bardsley’s goal-line clearance (34’). Until Anthony Martial converted an absolute gift (44’), Charlie Taylor giving the ball away needlessly to Andres Pereira who made no mistake of setting up his team mate. Too easy. All hard work undone for Sean Dyche and his men. Marcus Rashford sealed the win in the last seconds (90+5’), Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his men ending up on top of an otherwise dire match, not much else to shout about. The home side looked like they could and should have snatched and grabbed something back, but just weren’t good enough in the end. Not that their opposition was much better. Still, the win sees United up to fifth, just one points separating them from the top four.

#ARSCHE

After a bright start for the home side, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed the Gunners ahead totally unmarked (13’). The Blues were struggling for the whole first half. The visitors dominated after the restart. Bernd Leno handed Jorginho the equaliser off Mason Mount’s free kick (83’), an easy punch away, but the keeper somehow missed it. The German stopper has made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the Premier League since August 2018 (seven). And Tammy Abraham completed the perfect counter and turnaround through Leno’s legs (87’). Frank Lampard was ecstatic, no wonder, after his side didn’t form much of a threat for most of the match. Mikel Arteta will be gutted after his side bossed it for so long - and should Jorginho have been sent off? This is the first time Arsenal lost against the Blues after being ahead at the break, winning 12 games and drawing three before. And it’s the Gunners’ first defeat after winning all other 68 home Premier League games where they led at half-time. Only one league win since the first weekend of October for the one London side, whilst the other is only three points behind third-placed Manchester City!

#LIVWOL

The Reds dominated, but didn’t quite click, couldn’t get the final touch right. It took more VAR drama to overrule the officials' judgement of handball against Adam Lallana, setting up an onside Sadio Mané for an easy tap in to give the home side the lead (42’). Pedro Neto squeezed in the equaliser into the bottom left corner to level the score before the break (45+3’) - Nuno Espírito Santo was booked as he was going absolutely mental on the sideline whilst VAR checked and disallowed Neto's equaliser, for offside in the buildup, it was Joao Moutinho’s arm! Replays showed it was the tip of his toe as well actually... 1-0 it stayed and remained at the break, still, madness! Mané is only the second player to be directly involved in 30 Premier League goals during 2019 (24 goals, 6 assists), after Jamie Vardy (34). It ended a tense win for the Reds to put them 13 points clear at the top, with a game in hand. 

#MCISHU

Lys Mousset thought he had put the visitors ahead in the first half (29’), but not for long as VAR chalked it off for offside - theme of the weekend. Sergio Agüero gave the home side the lead (52’) after the referee got in the way of the United defence trying to clear the ball. Controversial. Kevin De Bruyne doubled the Citizens’ lead with a low finish (82’). Chris Wilders' side's first away defeat of the season (10 games) and they still out-created the champions. Big chances: Man City 1-3 Sheffield United (with Man City’s big chance coming as a result of a refereeing deflection). Phenomenal first half of the season from the Blades, finishing the year in eighth, whilst the Citizens remain third after their first clean sheet since 26 October, 14 points behind the league leaders, six points ahead of Chelsea in fourth.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Brighton 2:2 Bournemouth - 2:0

Newcastle 2:1 Everton - 1:2

Southampton 2:1 Crystal Palace - 1:1

Watford 2:2 Aston Villa - 3:0

Norwich 1:2 Tottenham - 2:2

West Ham 1:3 Leicester - 1:2

Burnley 1:1 Man United - 0:2

Arsenal 2:2 Chelsea - 1:2

Liverpool 2:1 Wolves - 1:0

Man City 1:1 Sheffield United - 2:0

Click here for my previous Premier League Notes.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report and RMC Sport coverage.

Premier League Notes - Week 19

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 19

The 19th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

28 goals - most by Man United and Liverpool = 4 each 

238 shots - most by Man United = 22

76 on target - most by Man United = 10

98 corners - most by Everton = 10

195 fouls - most by Aston Villa and Everton = 15 each

36 bookings - most by Tottenham, Bournemouth and Arsenal = 4 each

1 red card - Ederson for Man City

3 penalties - 3 scored (Norwood for Sheff United, Milner for Liverpool, Sterling for Man City)

#TOTBHA

Adam Webster headed the Seagulls ahead (37’) after the VAR disallowed Harry Kane’s opener, very close, very harsh, offside (25’). But the record striker couldn’t be denied when he netted the rebound to level the score after the restart (53’) after Mathew Ryan saved his first attempt. And Dele Alli turned the game around with a nice looping take across and into the far corner (72’). Brighton put up a great fight, Spurs were knackered but winners in the end, lucky to not be down to ten, or even nine men though! Graham Potter was gutted to see his hardworking side leave London with nothing. Tottenham boss José Mourinho has never lost in eight PL games on Boxing Day (W6 D2), managing more games without defeat on the day than any other manager in the competition. Chosen.

#AVINOR

Not much to write about until the second half: Villa were unable to clear a corner and Alex Tettey smacked in a low shot but Douglas Luiz did brilliantly to make a sprawling clearance to somehow knock the ball over the crossbar. The home side took the lead after super work by Jack Grealish in the box to set up a fine hit by Conor Hourihane, making sure his team mate’s hard work was rewarded and the opposition punished for their misses (65’). Tom Heaton denied the Canaries any way back into the game, stopping Marco Stiepermann's thumping drive late on. The result ends a four-match losing streak for Dean Smith's side, pushing fellow-strugglers Norwich back down to the bottom. 

#BOUARS

Somehow Dan Gosling was able to find his way through and past four Arsenal players to give the home side the lead at the Vitality stadium (36’). What’s marking for again? And that was after the Gunners were denied again and again at the other end, they were punished for playing and losing the ball at the back. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang passed the ball in unmarked to level the score (64’). Again, I think the defenders need to Google-search marking, man-marking, the basics of defending! Callum Wilson was clearly offside when netting a rebound from close range (82’), keeping the score at a goal and point each and showing Mikel Arteta what job he has on his hands, the Gunners remaining in the bottom half of the table. The Cherries had lost six of their previous seven league matches, the point pulling them down to 16th, two points from the drop zone.

#CHESOU

The Saints broke the Christmas afternoon deadlock with a lovely individual goal, Michael Obafemi’s fine finish into the top corner (32’). And after dozens of passes, a GIF-book Stuart Armstrong jump and pass to Nathan Redmond, a stab-in past keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, made another lovely lovely setup and finish to double the visitors’ lead (73’) and serve much deserved Christmas celebrations for Ralph Hasenhüttl and co, the win taking them up to 14th, three points safe from relegation. Frank Lampard’s side stay fourth after losing consecutive home league games for the first time since 2011. 

#CRYWHU

73% of the Eagles' goals this season have come in the second half. But it was the Hammers who broke the deadlock after the break, Robert Snodgrass out of nowhere with a lovely shot across goal into the far corner (57’). An easy equaliser, low take from inside the box, by Cheikhou Kouyaté got the home side back into the game (68’). And what an extraordinary touch, turn, touch and take past everyone and everything by Jordan Ayew it was to give the hosts a last-minute winner (89’). An unforgettable comeback for Roy Hodgson and his men, Selhurst Park bouncing seeing their side wining and climbing up to ninth, whilst pressure is increasing on Manuel Pellegrini, his side down to 17th, just one point from the drop zone.

#EVEBUR

Everton had 12 shots in the first half - the most they've attempted in the first half of a Premier League game at Goodison Park without scoring since April 2017 (also against Burnley). New boss Carlo Ancelotti had to wait close to 80 minutes to see a diving Dominic Calvert-Lewin find the Toffees’ breakthrough with his header across goal bouncing in off the post. So, a winning start for the new Italian boss, taking the side up to 13th.

#SHUWAT

Chris Basham was flagged offside as he played the ball across for John Fleck to turn it in, the VAR checked and confirmed, no goal for United. It was the visitors who broke through soon after, thanks to a fine run and finish by Gerard Deulofeu (27’), man-marking missing totally, yet again (I seem to be writing that A LOT in the PL). The hosts hit back from the spot, one of the softest of the soft penalties, Will Hughes not doing much wrong on George Baldock, the VAR didn’t dare to overturn, skipper Oliver Norwood made no mistake of converting and equalising (36’). Both sides seemed to be happy to settle for a point each in the end.

#MUNNEW

Ninth v 10th: Matty Longstaff gave the visitors a deserved lead, a low shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner (17’), after Dwight Gayle missed a couple of not-sitters-but-oh-so-good-chances. Anthony Martial found the equaliser, off Martin Dúbravka’s glove and in (24’), the keeper should have kept that soft shot from inside the box out. A present for Mason Greenwood put the hosts ahead (36’), what was Fabian Schär doing?! His pass back made it too easy for the United youngster, still, a top-quality finish. Marcus Rashford made it three (42’), the Magpies all over the place, easy header. Martial made no mistake of capitalising on yet another defensive giveaway to make it 4-1 (51’). Too easy. The scoreline does not reflect how poor United are, just how wasteful, weak and woeful Steve Bruce’s men were. And it could have been better/worse = 12-1. Ole Ole Ole Ole rang around Old Trafford for the first time in a while. The love/hate relationship with Christmas and Manchester continues for both sides: The Red Devils haven’t lost at home in the league on Boxing Day since 1978 (W16 D3), whilst it's been 89 years since Newcastle last completed a league double over Manchester United. 

#LEILIV

Liverpool had won their previous four Boxing Day matches in the PL, by an aggregate score of 11-0, but never won five consecutive such matches in their league history. Records are there to be broken and the Reds keep doing it! Roberto Firmino headed the league leaders ahead (31’). Since the start of last season, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided 19 assists in the Premier League, more than any other player. The Foxes didn’t record a single shot in the first half. It got more and more tense after the restart, until Çağlar Söyüncü's handball, the VAR checked and confirmed, penalty. Sub James Milner converted with his first touch of the match to double the visitors' lead (71’). Firmino brace (74’) and Trent from provider to scorer (78’) completed the onslaught. Leicester had conceded just five goals in nine home games this season before the Reds arrived. Wow. Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr Jürgen Klopp! Booming into 2020! 

#WOLMCI

Diogo Jota was played in over the top and lifted the ball over Ederson before the keeper took him out. Couldn’t avoid it, red card (12’). Another loooooong VAR check followed for a foul to be given against Leander Dendoncker, after replays showed he tread on Riyad Mahrez’s boot. Raheem Sterling’s penalty take was saved by Rui Patrício, to then get a second chance, because of player encroachment, saved again, but the former Liverpool man netted the rebound to give the Citizens the lead (25’). The crowd was going absolutely bonkers mad, understandably so. Sterling doubled the lead shortly after the restart, set up by Kevin De Bruyne, nice runs and takes by both (50’). Adama Traoré pulled one back for the home side, into the bottom left corner, low whacker, finally and fully deserved (55’). Hungry scorer to even hungrier and stronger provider, beating Benjamin Mendy too easy to set up Raúl Jiménez, easy tap-in equaliser from close range (83’). Game. On. And yes, they did it, Matt Doherty turned the game and stadium on its head with a lovely run, move and low hit, 3-2 (90’). The noise! Sterling hit the woodwork in the 93rd minute, just to top the absolute madness of the match at Molineux. It ended 3-2, a fully deserved win. Pep Guardiola can have no complaints, Nuno Espírito Santo can be very proud of his side's mad fightback, taking them up to fifth.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Tottenham 3:1 Brighton - 2:1

Aston Villa 2:1 Norwich - 1:0

Bournemouth 1:2 Arsenal - 1:1

Chelsea 2:1 Southampton - 0:2

Crystal Palace 1:1 West Ham - 2:1

Everton 2:0 Burnley - 1:0

Sheff United 2:0 Watford - 1:1

Man United 2:2 Newcastle - 4:1

Leicester 1:2 Liverpool - 0:4

Wolves 1:2 Man City - 3:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 18

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 18

The 18th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

18 goals - most by Southampton and Man City = 3 each
197 shots - most by Man City = 23
67 on target - most by Man City = 12
83 corners - most by Wolves = 11
217 fouls - most by Burnley = 21
41 bookings - most by Burnley, Wolves and Spurs = 4 each
1 red card - Son Heung-min for Spurs
2 penalties - 2 scored (Gündogan for City, Deeney for Watford, Willian for Chelsea)

#EVEARS

The lunchtime kickoff was a dire game, dismal to watch. Both new bosses have a hell of a job ahead of them. Carlo Ancelotti looked miserable in the crowd, watching the Toffees not produce a single shot on target in Duncan Ferguson's last game as caretaker manager, whilst Mikel Arteta looked on pondering, his Gunners firing blanks, the result dragging them down to 11th. 

#AVISOU

Danny Ings put the visitors ahead with a cheeky side-footer after Shane Long’s shot was saved but not cleared (21’). Jack Stephens doubled the lead nodding the ball past the diving Tom Heaton (31’). Ings was gifted his brace and it sealed the victory shortly after the break (55’), making it seven goals in the last seven games for the former Liverpool striker. The Saints were on fire! Jack Grealish did pull one back for the Villans (75’), but the home side couldn’t avoid their fourth defeat on the trot, a disappointing run after their well deserved point at Old Trafford at the beginning of the month (week 14), taking them down to 18th.

#BOUBUR

Like the early kickoff, there wasn’t much action to write about in this match at the Vitality Stadium. Until the final minute. Jay Rodriguez with the winner (89’), a powerful header to break the deadlock, his first goal in eight games for the visitors. It was the only shot on target. Three points is what counts most, taking the Clarets up to tenth, whilst the Cherries remain 14th.

#BHASHU

John Egan’s early goal for United (8’) was disallowed by VAR for handball (9’). Neal Maupay saw his tap-in disallowed for offside, provider Martin Montoya not keeping his line right. The visitors were ahead eventually, record signing Oli McBurnie with a really strong finish (22’), his third goal of the season. Jack O’Connell thought he had doubled the lead (56’), but was disallowed for offside, again, busy flags and VAR! The Blades have now had four Premier League goals awarded on the field only to be ruled out by VAR this season, more than any other club. Overruled, but still worthy winners, climbing up to fifth.

#NEWCRY

The visitors were pinned back by the Magpies for most of the first half, but both sides didn’t make much happen in front of goal. Miguel Almirón broke the deadlock with a top-notch winner (82’), totally unmarked, his first goal for the club after 27 games and 47 shots, the wild celebrations reflected the relief. Roy Hodgson will have been gutted after his men worked hard creating more chances, making up for a disappointing start, but the Eagles just let themselves down overall, dropping down to 12th, whilst Steve Bruce's men climb up to ninth.

#NORWOL

The Canaries bossed the first half. Todd Cantwell gave the home side the lead they fully deserved (17’) after Alex Tettey hit the woodwork early on. Teemu Pukki could and should have had a hat-trick, so many clear chances wasted wide or softly, not discrediting the keeper Rui Patrício’s top saves. Romain Saïss made the home side pay for all those misses, capitalising on poor defending and heading in the equaliser (61’). Raúl Jiménez had enough time and space in the box to net the rebound off Tim Krul’s save (81’). Just one win in the last 13 for Norwich sees them remain stuck in 19th, the Wolves coming back and hurting them, the win taking them up to 6th.

#MCILEI

Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for the Foxes dinking the ball over Ederson with a top-draw finish (22’). Riyad Mahrez levelled against his former team with a fine low take turning/deflecting the ball around and past Kasper Schmeichel (31’). And İlkay Gündoğan turned the game around from the spot, softer than soft penalty, Raheem Sterling making the most of Ricardo Pereira’s contact (43’). Tap-in for Gabriel Jesus off a perfect setup from the right by Kevin De Bruyne made it 3-1 (69’). If it weren’t for Leicester's top stopper, it would have been an absolute thrashing. Brendan Rodgers and his men’s momentum’s halted, their gap in second place is closed to within a point by Pep Guardiola and co in third, ten and 11 points away from the top spot respectively.

#WATMUN

After a quite uneventful first half, both sides unable to get anything on target, a mad four minutes saw the Red Devils pushing the self-destruct button, which the Hornets gratefully accepted and capitalised on. First David de Gea let Ismaïla Sarr’s weak shot slip through his gloves and into the goal (50’) - since the start of last season, no player has made more errors leading to Premier League goals than the Spanish stopper. Then Aaron Wan-Bissaka brought down the scorer very clumsily in the box, Troy Deeney smacking the spot kick into the back of the net to make it 2-0 (54’). That woke up Vicarage Road, witnessing their first home victory and only their second win of the season. Not bad at all for new boss Nigel Pearson’s first home game! Merry Christmas! How much longer will Ole stay at the wheel after his fifth defeat in the league? They’re eighth, their lowest position at this stage of a season since 1989. Where’s Santa when you need him?

#TOTCHE

Form went out of the window in this Super Sunday London derby. Willian gave the visitors the lead with an absolute cracker (11’), a lovely unstoppable curler from just inside the box into the far corner, beauty. From cracker to comical: the penalty - what was Paulo Gazzaniga and the referee thinking? The keeper bashed into Marcos Alonso with a high boot, the ref Anthony Taylor gave a free kick against the Blue, the French commentators were laughing. VAR revised and corrected it, definite penalty and booking. Willian made it 0:2 from the spot to end the half, which the visitors bossed. And it went from bad to worse for Spurs when Son Heung-min received a straight red after the VAR revised his daft kick-out at Antonio Rüdiger following a fowl by the Blue defender (62’), his third sending off in his last 17 league starts. I don’t know what José Mourinho was arguing about with the fourth official, it looked clear to me and the VAR. Racist chants followed, and eight minutes added on to top it all off! Frank Lampard celebrated thoroughly with the away fans after the FT-whistle, the win against his former boss widens the gap between the top four and the rest to four points.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Everton 1:2 Arsenal - 0:0
Aston Villa 2:1 Southampton - 1:3
Bournemouth 2:2 Burnley - 0:1
Brighton 1:1 Sheff United - 0:1
Newcastle 2:2 Crystal Palace - 1:0
Norwich 1:2 Wolves - 1:2
Man City 1:2 Leicester - 3:1
Watford 1:3 Man United - 2:0
Tottenham 3:1 Chelsea - 0:2
West Ham P:P Liverpool - postponed because of the Club World Cup.

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 17

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 17

The 17th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

19 goals - most by Man City = 3

239 shots - most by Man United = 24

78 on target - most by Brighton = 10

103 corners - most by Leicester = 12

230 fouls - most by Man City = 24

39 bookings - most by Norwich = 5

0 red cards

1 penalty - 0 scored

#LIVWAT

Mohamed Salah’s brace (38’, 90') kept the Reds’ winning run going, despite some nerves and sloppy play by the league leaders. It wasn’t their best play, manager Jürgen Klopp was fuming at the officials for some of their decisions as well though, overlooking some fouls by Christian Kabasele on the great Egyptian, and a goal disallowed harshly offside by VAR, denying Sadio Mané. Nigel Pearson’s men played well, but wasted some sitters, another defeat keeping them rock bottom, six points from safety.

#BURNEW

Chris Wood headed the home side ahead (58’), but it wasn't a that clear and simple game. Both managers questioned the official appointed and decisions made. Steve Bruce was unhappy about the corner given that lead to the goal, when the Premier League debutant ref Tim Robinson (he's not even on Wikipedia!!!) originally gave goal kick, to randomly change his mind on advice of his assistant. Wasn’t there a foul anyway? Sean Dyche was not happy either, saying the opposition should have been down to ten men anyway... What is VAR for again?! Pf!

#CHEBOU

The Cherries bossed it, and it took a long VAR check to confirm their deserved lead (84’), Dan Gosling hooking the ball back and over the line - he wasn’t offside! The visitors had plenty of chances, everyone expected the Blues to nick it, but it didn’t happen for Frank Lampard’s men. The result keeps the Londoners in fourth, but the gap closed to three points, whilst Eddie Howe's men climb up to 14th with the deserved win. 

#LEINOR

Tim Krul's own goal off Jamie Vardy’s shot (38’) cancelled out Teemu Pukki’s opener (26’) and ended the top striker's record-breaking scoring run. The game was end-to-end stuff. Brendan Rodgers said he wasn't thinking about the growing gap to the top, now standing at ten points, whilst the Canaries' resilient and stubborn performance made Daniel Farke very happy, even though his side remain 19th, they closed the gap to 18th and 17th to three points. 

#SHUAVI

The game didn’t really start till the second half. John Fleck's brace (50’, 73’) was top quality play and goals, Barca-esque! Villa's penalty came off the woodwork for Jack Grealish (78'), and with that the little hope they had, was gone (0 shots on target). Chris Wilder was all smiles, and understandably so, with his side going up to fifth with the win, having just lost one of their last ten league games, whilst Dean Smith's men are falling oh so close to the bottom three, as mentioned above, just goal difference separating them from the drop zone. Alarm bells.

#SOUWHU

It was a deserved lead for the Hammers after being denied a penalty by the VAR for two fouls in the box, Sébastian Haller with the breakthrough (37’). Michail Antonio doubled their lead after the break - VAR disallowing the goal for handball, but the English winger was fouled with a high boot at the same time! Free kick?! Advantage = goal!!! FFS! FBS! (Let's just say those abbreviations show how much I disagree with those decisions!) Danny Ings saw one golden chance come off the crossbar, the closest the Saints came. The former Liverpool man hit the woodwork again, but it was not to be. It stayed 0-1, the Londoners' recording their second win in 11 games - has it saved Manuel Pellegrini’s job? His side climb up to 15th, whilst Ralph Hasenhüttl's side remain 18th, level on points but 11 goals worse off than Villa in 17th. 

#MUNEVE

The Toffees' pressure paid off with an embarrassing own goal by Victor Lindelöf. The United defender was watching the ball all the way when it came in off a corner, watching, watching and watching it bounce off him and into the back of the net (36’). The Red Devils have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 consecutive top flight matches - for the first time since April to August 1971. Duncan Ferguson liked it, a lot, celebrating like mad with the ball boy. David de Gea and Ole Gunnar Solskjær didn’t, feeling the keeper was fouled in the buildup. VAR checked and saw nothing in it. It would have been a super soft and cruel call, United could and should have just dealt much more and better with that set piece. Shambles. Substitute Mason Greenwood hit a nice leveller across goal, past Jordan Pickford and in from the edge of the box (77’), denying Everton's interim boss a second consecutive win. 

#WOLTOT

What a cracking opener it was by Lucas Moura, seconds after Son Heung-min saw his shot parried out by Rui Patrício (8’). Adama Traoré equalised for the hosts with a wacker from 20 yards, a thunder past Paulo Gazzaniga (67’). And after battering Spurs all over the place, the Wanderers left Jan Vertonghen unmarked to head in the stoppage time winner off Christian Eriksen’s corner (90+1’). José Mourinho celebrated the late win big time, the result seeing them climb up to fifth, three points behind Chelsea and the top four. Nuno Espírito Santo and his men will feel robbed and double-gutted to see their 11-game unbeaten run end like this. Cruel. 

#ARSMCI

The Emirates was silenced after just 90 seconds, Kevin De Bruyne smashing the ball in, totally unmarked, you could hear the ball hit the back of the net, boom, bang, thank you ma’am. And that was after the Gunners made a promising start, Gabriel Martinelli pulling a good save out of Ederson shortly after kickoff. What a start. And Raheem Sterling doubled the Citizens’ lead, again, Arsenal defenders all over the place, leaving the former Red forward unmarked, too easy (15’). It’s the fifth time the Londoners have conceded multiple goals in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League home match. They lost all of the previous four. De Bruyne smacked in a third from the edge of the box (40’), Freddie Ljungberg waiting to bring on Bukayo Saka for an injured Sead Kolašinac - they had enough time to prepare whilst their player was down. WTF?! And the Belgian hit the woodwork shortly afterwards, smelling blood and looking for his hat-trick. But it didn’t come, second half was just procedure. Arsenal are now seven points behind Chelsea in fourth, and seven points away from Southampton and relegation. Pep Guardiola nearly looked embarrassed heading for the post-match handshake, his side remain third, four points behind Leicester and fourteen points behind Liverpool in second and first respectively. Arsenal have gone six games without a win at the Emirates across all competitions (D3 L3); their longest run without a home win since between December 1994 and February 1995 under George Graham (eight games).

#CRYBHA

The most fouled player in the Premier League this season Wilfred Zaha smashed in an equaliser from the edge of the box for injury-hit Palace (76'), who toiled for 70 minutes and trailed to Neal Maupay's fine finish into the top corner shortly after half time (54'). Roy Hodgson hailed the gutsy performance, his side grabbing a point and extending their unbeaten run to four games after Albion had thrown everything at them. The point takes the Eagles above Arsenal up to ninth, whilst Graham Potter's side remain 13th.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Liverpool 4:0 Watford - 2:0

Burnley 1:1 Newcastle - 1:0

Chelsea 1:0 Bournemouth - 0:1

Leicester 2:0 Norwich - 1:1

Sheff United 2:2 Aston Villa - 2:0

Southampton 2:1 West Ham - 0:1

Man United 2:1 Everton - 1:1

Wolves 2:2 Tottenham - 1:2

Arsenal 2:3 Man City - 0:3

Crystal Palace 2:1 Brighton - 1:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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