Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 28
The 28th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:
20 goals - most by West Ham, Watford and Wolves = 3 each
229 shots - most by Brighton = 24
71 on target - most by Brighton = 8
115 corners - most by Chelsea = 14
158 fouls - most by Leicester = 16
30 bookings - most by Newcastle and Man United = 4 each
0 red cards
0 penalties
#NORLEI
It was goalless at the break, after both sides tried but failed to find a breakthrough. Shortly after the restart, Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho saw his goal disallowed after the VAR showed the ball had come off his arm in the buildup (50’). The hosts had a penalty appeal waved off seconds before that, no replays shown, I honestly thought they had a shout. A Jamal Lewis beauty gave the home side the lead, from the left corner of the box, curled into the bottom right corner of the net, Kasper Schmeichel had no chance of getting anywhere near that (71’). It’s Norwich’s first goal from open play since New Year’s Day. And the Canaries held on to the win this time, giving them hope, giving them a chance. Will Daniel Farke's men survive? Four points from safety with ten games remaining. They more than deserve to.
Tense encounter. Both sides had chances, Vicente Guaita was definitely kept the busier of the two keepers. Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke were not making friends in Brighton, that’s for sure, they were lucky to still be on the pitch following their first-half antiques. Jordan Ayew broke the deadlock halfway through the second half (70’), provided by Benteke with a fine run and set up, to send the ball under the keeper and in. Against the run of play, Palace were ahead after plenty of Brighton misses. I'knew it. Zaha hit the woodwork late on. Otherwise it was ALL Albion, so many chances, so many misses, keeper Guaita man of the match, denying the home side anything and everything. The 24 shots the hosts had is their best-ever tally in a Premier League game. Roy Hodgson’s men move 12 points clear from the drop zone, whilst Graham Potter's side are only four points away, the other sides still due to play. Brighton remain the only side without a Premier League win in 2020 (D5 L3), with the Seagulls last enjoying a top-flight victory against Bournemouth on 28 December (week 20).
#BOUCHE
The home side were unable to clear the ball out of the box after Olivier Giroud’s attempt came off the bar, and Marcos Alonso made no mistake of lashing it in from close range (33’). Jefferson Lerma headed in the leveller through Willy Caballero’s gloves off a corner (54’), the keeper will not like to see the replays of that! Game. On. And seconds later, the VAR confirmed Joshua King was NOT offside when he tapped the ball in from close range (57’), Chelsea all over the place, conceding two goals in three minutes. Alonso headed in the rebound after Pedro’s shot was saved to make it 2-2 (86’). The Cherries hung on to at least one point, the Blues denying them a surprise win and themselves some blushes.
#NEWBUR
It ended goalless at St James’ Park, only one win in ten league matches for the Magpies, 21 chances, nothing netted, keeping Steve Bruce’s men in 14th. Burnley’s stubborn defence earned them a point, extending their unbeaten Premier League run to six matches and taking Sean Dyche's side up to ninth.
#WHUSOU
No side had won fewer Premier League points at home than West Ham this season (12 before kick-off). And you could tell*. Jarrod Bowen broke the deadlock at the London Stadium (15’), assisted by Pablo Fornals, nice slot through and finish from a tight angle after the Saints lost the ball, putting the Hammers ahead. Michael Obafemi, set up by James Ward-Prowse, the youngster impressing with a tidy finish to level the score (31’). A mistake by keeper Alex McCarthy handed Sébastian Haller an easy finish, sliding in the ball in off Michail Antonio’s cross (40’) to put home side ahead again. David Moyes’ men stayed on top after that, Antonio’s nice low finish off Fornals’ fine cross making it 3-1 (54’) and party time in East London, all tensions released and forgotten.*
#WATLIV
Weak and frustrating evening for the Reds at Vicarage Road: Ismaïla Sarr tapped in the ball from close range, Abdoulaye Doucouré the provider, fine move and turn to set the scorer up (54’). Too easy. The league leaders were trailing. And deservedly so. Nearly an hour gone, Sarr broke clear and doubled the hosts’ lead! VVD with a shocker there! And it got worse for the Reds: what a giveaway by TAA this time! The top players flopping! Not their night! Troy Deeney ended up with an easy tap up and in past Alisson (72’). And that was it. The unbeaten and winning run ended for Jürgen Klopp’s men. But they’re still 22 points clear at the top. Could be worse. Watford are the first side to beat Liverpool in the Premier League since Manchester City in January 2019 (week 21), ending the joint-longest winning streak (18) and the second longest unbeaten run (44) in English top-flight history. The Reds’ 0-3 loss was the biggest margin of defeat for a side starting the day top of the Premier League since November 2015 (Man City 1-4 Liverpool).
#EVEMUN
Taxi for David de Gea! The Spanish stopper banged the ball off Dominic Calvert-Lewin into the back of his own net, failing to deal with the pass back, no threat whatsoever (3’). More chances came close for both sides in an intense start at Goodison Park, de Gea denying DCL this time before Nemanja Matić hit the woodwork (7’). The Toffees bossed the game early on, but then the Red Devils took over. Skipper Séamus Coleman had to be replaced by Djibril Sidibé (28’) because of injury. Jordan Pickford was beaten at his near post by a shot from distance, Bruno Fernandes finding the unlikely equaliser (32’). Not a good day for goalkeepers. Gylfi Sigurðsson hit the post with a lovely free kick (57’). Pickford made up for the earlier mistake with a double save in the final minute (90’). DCL’s last-minute winner was disallowed by the VAR for offside, despite the ball taking a massive deflection to beat de Gea (93’). It was not to be. It ended a goal and point each, Carlo Ancelotti fuming with the officials, OGS a lucky bugger to get anything out of this game. Madness.
#TOTWOL
Wolves corner, Raúl Jiménez's flick causing some panic in the Spurs defence, but then the hosts broke, suddenly the visitors were in all sorts of trouble. Dele Alli eventually got a shot away, which was saved, Steven Bergwijn there to net the rebound (13’). Wolves have conceded the first goal in a Premier League game for the 18th time this season, more than any other side; they avoided defeat on 11 of the previous 17 occasions. Matt Doherty levelled the score, banging in the ball after Spurs were unable to deal with it and clear it (27’). Serge Aurier put the home side back ahead just before the break (45’). The Spurs right-back with his first goal of the season, cutting in from the right side of the Wolves box and bending into the far corner. But the visitors hit back, clinically punishing the dominant Spurs, Diogo Jota left with a tap in after Adama Traoré and Jiménez did all the hard work in the buildup to make it 2-2 (57’). And what a goal to put the Wanderers ahead: Jota turned in his own half and then just kept going, leaving Spurs behind him, to set up Jiménez, who cut inside his marker and produced a beautiful left-footer into the far corner to make it 2-3 (73’). The result moves Nuno Espírito Santo’s side level on points with the Reds Devils in fifth.
My Predictions - Actual Results
Norwich 0:2 Leicester - 1:0
Brighton 1:1 Crystal Palace - 0:1
Bournemouth 1:1 Chelsea - 2:2
Newcastle 1:2 Burnley - 0:0
West Ham 1:3 Southampton - 3:1
Watford 0:3 Liverpool - 3:0
Everton 1:1 Man United - 1:1
Tottenham 1:1 Wolves - 2:3
Aston Villa P:P Sheff United
Man City P:P Arsenal
It was goalless at the break, after both sides tried but failed to find a breakthrough. Shortly after the restart, Leicester forward Kelechi Iheanacho saw his goal disallowed after the VAR showed the ball had come off his arm in the buildup (50’). The hosts had a penalty appeal waved off seconds before that, no replays shown, I honestly thought they had a shout. A Jamal Lewis beauty gave the home side the lead, from the left corner of the box, curled into the bottom right corner of the net, Kasper Schmeichel had no chance of getting anywhere near that (71’). It’s Norwich’s first goal from open play since New Year’s Day. And the Canaries held on to the win this time, giving them hope, giving them a chance. Will Daniel Farke's men survive? Four points from safety with ten games remaining. They more than deserve to. 
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