Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 25
The 25th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League Football season saw:
23 goals - most by Liverpool = 4
277 shots - most by Norwich and Brighton = 19 each
85 on target - most by Liverpool = 9
118 corners - most by Norwich = 12
248 fouls - most by Watford = 17
38 bookings - most by Aston Villa, Man United, Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Man City = 3 each
3 red cards - Lerma for Bournemouth, Delph for Everton, Zinchenko for Man City
1 penalty - 0 scored
#LEICHE
The game at the King Power Stadium didn't get going until after the break, when all the missed chances in the first half, were finally turned in. Defender Antonio Rüdiger headed the visitors in front off a corner seconds after the restart (46'). Harvey Barnes levelled the score minutes later, thanks to a deflection off Reece James (54'). And it looked like Brendan Rodgers would get his first win over the Blues in their 14th meeting, after Ben Chilwell put the Foxes ahead with a nice finish into the bottom left corner (64'). But Rüdiger spoilt that party with another header (71'), grabbing Frank Lampard's men a point, keeping the gap between both sides at eight points, in third and fourth respectively.
#BOUAVL
The Cherries were down to ten men for most of the second half after Jefferson Lerma's second yellow card (51'), but hung on to a crucial win against the Villans. The hosts lead comfortably thanks to Philip Billing (37') and Nathan Aké (44'), but the visitors did pull one back for a nervous ending, £8.5m signing Mbwana Samatta on his debut becoming the first Tanzanian player to score in the PL (70'). Eddie Howe's men held on to record their first back-to-back wins since September, taking them up to 16th, one point and place above Dean Smith's side, who are just one point away from the drop zone.
#CRYSHU
Roy Hodgson’s men suffered another disappointing defeat, a Vicente Guaita own goal (58’) giving United the win. It was an absolute howler, nobody at Selhurst Park will want to see again, the keeper dropping Oliver Norwood's corner over the line, gifting the Blades the three points after they hadn't created much until then. The hosts had dominated, but didn't create much either. The result saw the Eagles drop down to 13th, whilst Chris Wilder's side climbed up to 5th, one point ahead of Manchester United (before Sunday's games).
#LIVSOU
The Reds didn’t get started till the second half, and then crushed the Saints at Anfield. The visitors saw all their hard work undone thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's counter goal (47'), skipper Jordan Henderson's composed finish (60') and Mo Salah's brace (71', 90'); all helped by hat-trick provider Roberto Firmino. It was a harsh result for Ralph Hasenhüttl's men, who never stopped pushing, former Red Danny Ings causing most of the home side's headache, including a penalty shout just before the Ox's goal. But as against every side this season, Jürgen Klopp's side were ruthless and just went on to win, again, to go 22 points clear at the top, after also winning their game in hand on Wednesday. TWENTY TWO POINTS! Simply the best.
#NEWNOR
No goals and a point each at St James' Park. The Canaries will be the more frustrated not to have taken more out of this tight tie, seeing more of the ball and more chances, the Magpies lacking quality, looking a bit all over the place, but still grabbing the point and completing their fourth league game unbeaten. The draw leaves Daniel Farke's bottom side seven points away from safety, whilst Steve Bruce's men were booed off the pitch, despite the point taking them up to 10th (before Arsenal's game on Sunday).
#WATEVE
From two goals and a man down after Fabian Delph's dismissal (71'), the Toffees came back, thanks to two goals by Yerry Mina within a couple of minutes injury time just before the break (45+1', 45+4'), and a last-minute winner by former Gunner Theo Walcott (90'). It was cruel on the Hornets, instead of three points lifting them out of the drop zone, they left Vicarage Road with nothing, staying in 19th on 23 points, two points away from safety. Nigel Pearson was understandably gutted, whilst Carlo Ancelotti finally saw his side on the right side of a turnaround and lifted up to 9th. The Italian summarised it well: "This is football, it's unpredictable."
#WHUBHA
This was a thriller which the Hammers led in most of the time, 2-0 and 3-1, but an Angelo Ogbonna's own goal (47'), Pascal Groß (75') and Glenn Murray (79') spoilt the show at the London Stadium with a prod in and late dramatic leveller, the VAR took his time to confirm as replays showed the ball came off the player's side of the chest, not his arm. Hammers boss David Moyes was understandably angry, more with the way his side let their lead slip and fall away, rather than the officials' conduct, the result seeing his side drop into the relegation zone. Graham Potter on the other hand was very proud of his hard-fighting Seagulls, the point keeping them in 15th, ahead of Bournemouth in 16th just on goal difference, two points ahead of their opposition in 18th.
#MUNWOL
It was nothing too exciting at Old Trafford. Both sides with chances, wasted, but the lack of quality in the final third and crowded boxes meant the two sides separated goalless and a point each. Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo was happy with the result which his side worked hard for, whilst I'm not sure what Ole Gunnar Solskjær was taking or watching when the United boss said he thought "someone moved the goal posts". Maybe he was trying to be funny about his side’s lack of finishing, new £47m signing Bruno Fernandes creating most, but just not good enough, the sides finishing sixth and seventh respectively.
#BURARS
Similar to Old Trafford, Turf Moor didn’t see too much quality either. Both sides tried, but wasted most, the result reflects that and is fair. The Clarets worked hard and didn’t deserve to lose, whilst the Gunners kept shooting blanks and didn’t deserve to win. The point saw both sides climb up to 11th and 10th respectively, goal difference separating them from each other and Newcastle and Southampton under them. Tighter than tight in the middle of the table.
#TOTMCI
Total VAR, refereeing and general madness! Raheem Sterling was a very lucky man not to be sent off, first for his late challenge on Dele Alli (13’), and then for his dive after Hugo Lloris saved İlkay Gündoğan’s spot kick (40’). The penalty farce was just ridiculous, the VAR first taking ages to make the call and then not coming to the right decision, missing and messing up all calls on the red and yellow card(s) and the keeper being off his line for the penalty, etc., referee Mike Dean the main star/clown of the mad circus show. It was an absolute shocker of a corner that led to the sending off. And I don’t know what Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arguing, it was an obvious push, second yellow and off (60’). After all that fiasco, it ended up being a dream debut for Steven Berwijn. The Dutch winger chested and smashed in the opener from the edge of the box (63’), Spurs’ first shot of the game. And it was too easy for Son Heung-min, with a big gap in defense, his shot deflected in to double the hosts’ lead (71’). Horrendous defending! Manchester City have failed to score in successive games for the first time under Pep Guardiola, keeping them in second, 22 points behind Liverpool, two ahead of Leicester. Spurs boss José Mourinho was just smiling (sarcastically I'm sure, not happy with the officials' performance), his side climbing up to fifth with the win.
My Predictions - Actual Results
Leicester 2:2 Chelsea - 2:2
Bournemouth 3:3 Aston Villa - 2:1
Crystal Palace 1:1 Sheffield United - 0:1
Liverpool 2:0 Southampton - 4:0
Newcastle 2:1 Norwich - 0:0
Watford 2:1 Everton - 2:3
West Ham 2:1 Brighton - 3:3
Man United 1:1 Wolves - 0:0
Burnley 1:1 Arsenal - 0:0
Tottenham 0:1 Man City - 2:0
No comments:
Post a Comment