Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 24
The 24th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:
31 goals - most by Leicester = 4
250 shots - most by Man United = 24
85 on target - most by Brighton, Saints, Everton, Chelsea and Leicester = 8 each
118 corners - most by Chelsea = 17
224 fouls - most by West Ham = 19
28 bookings - most by Sheffield United = 4
1 red card - David Luiz for Arsenal
5 penalties - 4 scored (Jorginho for Chelsea, Noble for West Ham, Pérez for Leicester, Pukki for Norwich)
It’s been a mad/crap week, so, just very quick notes on each match. Short(er) and sweet(er) (for some, sour(er) for others).
#AVIWAT
What a comeback in the crucial relegation battle: Troy Deeney headed the visitors ahead (38’), but Douglas Luiz smashed in the equaliser (68’) before Tyrone Mings deflected Ezri Konza’s shot in for a late dramatic winner (90+5’). The result pushes the resolute Villans out of the relegation zone up to 16th and the shaken Hornets the opposite way back down to 19th, after being served their first defeat in eight matches in all competitions.
#BOUBHA
Another crucial clash at the bottom: Harry Wilson’s strike (36’), Pascal Groß' own-goal (41’) and Callum Wilson's first goal for 16 league games (74’) ended the fighting Cherries’ six-game winless streak, Aaron Mooy with the only reply late on for the dominant but frustrated Seagulls (81’). The goals-count-more-than-any-stats victory sees Eddie Howe’s men climb up to 18th, two points behind Brighton in 15th.
#CRYSOU
Ralph Hasenhüttl was a very happy bunny after watching his side record a comfortable win at Crystal Palace. Nathan Redmond (22’) and Stuart Armstrong (48’) were both on the scoreboard with two fine goals as the Saints secured their fourth successive away victory in the Premier League, moving them up to 9th, past Roy Hodgson’s side, who slip down to 11th, the Eagles falling flat (0 shots on target, 0 corners) after their impressive draw at City at the weekend (week 23).
#EVENEW
More late drama: It looked like a comfy home win for the Toffees after Moise Kean scored his first goal for the club (30’) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin doubled the hosts’ lead with his 12th of the season (54’). But substitute Florian Lejeune had a better idea and smashed and bashed in two goals with just 102 seconds between them. One crash-boom-bang overhead kick (90+4’), the other fired through a defensive scramble (90+5’). The sensational late point-grab sees both Carlo Ancelotti’s and Steve Bruce’s men seven points clear from the drop zone in 12th and 13th respectively.
#SHUMCI
The Blades looked like they were on course to squeeze a point out of the Citizens at the Etihad, after Dean Henderson denied Gabriel Jesus from the spot and frustrating the hell out of Pep Guardiola and co with a bunch of top saves. But once again, Sergio Agüero tapped in the winner after coming off the bench (73’), scoring his sixth goal in the last three games. Chris Wilder's side remain seventh after their gutsy performance and test against second-placed City.
#CHEARS
It was a nightmare start for the Gunners which saw David Luiz sent off (26’) for a daft last-man challenge, and Jorginho putting the Blues ahead from the resulting penalty (28’). But the visitors played better one man down and hit back, twice. First 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli scored a brilliant equaliser (63’). Then, after César Azpilicueta restored Chelsea's lead late on (84’), the ten men never gave up and Héctor Bellerin marked his return from injury with a dramatic leveller from the edge of the box (87’). Finally some fight from Mikel Arteta's men, but still just one win in the last eight PL games sees them remain 10 points off a CL spot, whilst Frank Lampard was left disappointed after watching his fourth-placed side’s dominance wasted.
#LEIWHU
Leicester’s fine home win came at a cost with Jamie Vardy’s injury. Harvey Barnes scored the opener for the Foxes from close range (24’), before providing for Ricardo Pereira (45+5’). Hammers captain Mark Noble pulled one back from the spot (50’) before Leicester's Ayoze Pérez did the same to restore the home side’s lead (81’). And the Spanish midfielder made it two for him and four goals and three points for Brendan Rodgers’ men with a fine drill (88’). The win leaves Leicester 14 points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United, while David Moyes’ side remain level on points with second-from-bottom Watford and without a win in three successive league games.
#TOTNOR
Injury-hit Spurs recorded their first win since Boxing Day, edging past bottom-side Norwich. Dele Alli put the hosts ahead (38’), before Teemu Pukki hit back from the spot (70’). But Son Heung-min headed in the winner (79’). José Mourinho sees his side climb up to sixth, level on points with United in fifth and Wolves in seventh, but the Portuguese is left scratching his head what players he has left and who he can sign before the end of the transfer window. Daniel Farke’s side meanwhile are in deep trouble, six points from safety.
#MUNBUR
Old Trafford is stuck in a nightmare, witnessing Burnley’s first ever PL win there. Chris Wood smashed the first goal into the top corner (39’), before Jay Rodriguez doubled the Clarets' lead after a nice one-two with Wood, firing into the top corner beating David de Gea at his near post (56’). It was the third season in a row Sean Dyche’s men had gone 2-0 up at Old Trafford, but for the first time they hung on for all three points, seeing them climb to 13th, seven points clear of the relegation zone. Deserved. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side remain six points behind Chelsea and away from the top four. Just not good enough.
#WOLLIV
Reds skipper Jordan Henderson headed in the opener off TAA’s corner (8’), but Wolves equalised soon after the restart, Raúl Jiménez putting in Adama Traoré's cross (51’). It was tense, sloppy and not easy for Jürgen Klopp and his men, but Roberto Firmino made sure the league leaders bagged another three points, drilling in yet another late winner (84’). It’s Liverpool’s 22nd win in 23 league games, taking them 16 points clear at the top, with a game in hand. After winning their past 14 league games, the Reds are the third team to go 40 games unbeaten in the PL. Records. Keep on rolling.
My Predictions - Actual Results
(As mentioned above, it’s been a mad/crap week. I forgot to log my Tuesday night predictions, so, that’s why they’re all put down as 0:0.)
Aston Villa 0:0 Watford - 2:1
Bournemouth 0:0 Brighton - 3:1
Crystal Palace 0:0 Southampton - 0:2
Everton 0:0 Newcastle - 2:2
Sheffield United 0:0 Man City - 0:1
Chelsea 0:0 Arsenal - 2:2
Leicester 2:1 West Ham - 4:1
Tottenham 2:1 Norwich - 2:1
Man United 3:1 Burnley - 0:2
Wolves 0:3 Liverpool - 1:2
No comments:
Post a Comment