Premier League Notes - Week 22

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 22 

The 22nd week of the Premier League Football season saw:

27 goals - most by Man City = 6

221 shots - most by Man City = 22

90 on target - most by Man City = 12

77 corners - most by Chelsea = 10

198 fouls - most by Arsenal = 21

25 bookings - most by Arsenal, Burnley, Saints and Newcastle = 3 each

1 red card - Aubameyang for Arsenal

3 penalties - 3 scored (Jorginho for Chelsea, Rashford for Man United, El Ghazi for Villa)

#SHUWHU

The Blades dominated the Friday Night Football match, an early injury and substitution of keeper Łukasz Fabiański didn’t help the visitors after barely 15 minutes. The hosts took a clumsy but deserved lead after the restart, John Fleck capitalising on sub stopper David Martin’s error and setting up Oli McBurnie for an easy finish from close range (53’). Sub Robert Snodgrass celebrated a last-minute equaliser after plenty of missed chances by both sides, to be disallowed by the VAR (90+3’). It looked like a foul-shove by Declan Rice on John Egan in the build-up, but the screen said handball against Rice. The number 41 was gutted to say the least, lambasting the VAR in the post-match interview saying the ball was headed onto his arm at such a speed, how can you stop it?! Harsh decision indeed, but correct, that’s the rule. So, it stayed 1-0, Chris Wilder and his men recording their eighth consecutive league win against London sides at Bramall Lane, taking them up to fifth before all the other weekend’s games, cutting short David Moyes’ 100% record as Hammers boss, which was shred to pieces by the VAR. The Scotsman’s side remain 16th before the other matches, just two points separating them from the drop zone. 

#CRYARS

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slotted home Alexandre Lacazette’s lovely through ball (12’). Jordan Ayew saw his shot deflected in to level the score after the break (54’). The French Gunner went from hero to zero, seeing red for a late and nasty ankle-turning tackle on Max Meyer, the ref’s yellow reviewed and changed to red by the VAR (67’), correct call in my eyes. It was a heated derby, end-to-end stuff, misses, clearances and woodwork whacking, physical clashes, the crowd on the ref’s and VAR’s case - the anti-banners vanished very quickly after decisions went the home side's way though. It stayed one goal and one point each. No wins in four league and FA Cup games for the oldest boss Roy Hodgson and his men. One win in four Premier League games for the youngest manager Mikel Arteta and his team. The result keeps both sides in 9th and 10th respectively, one point between them. Arsenal have failed to win five league games after leading at the break (D4 L1), their joint-highest total in a single Premier League campaign (also five in 2010-11). Dire.

#CHEBUR

The Blues bossed it, but got lucky with a couple of calls. The VAR camera angles and lines were ridiculous once again, denying the visitors any chance of getting back into the game. Pf. Jorginho gave the hosts the lead from the spot (27'), sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after Willian made the most of Matt Lowton's "challenge". To be fair, the Burnley number 2 did his best to take his legs away and avoid contact, but the VAR confirmed foul and pen, 1-0. Another harsh one. Tammy Abraham doubled the lead rising the highest and heading home Reece James' fine cross, too easy (38'). Nick Pope won't like to see these replays as the ball went through the keeper's gloves. Flop. And Callum Hudson-Odoi made it three (49'), the VAR checking whether his team mate the number 9 didn't touch the ball on its way in, and deeming he didn't, so H-O's fine run and take was not offside and the goal stood, 3-0. Three goals and three points for Frank Lampard and his men keeps them in fourth, five points clear of Man United. Sean Dyche is watching his side crumbling, fourth defeat on the trot, falling down to 15th, four points from the drop zone before Sunday’a crucial relegation clash between Bournemouth and Watford. 

#EVEBHA

Early on in the game, Theo Walcott didn’t get a penalty just because he didn't go down against Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk's pull, sad but true. Is that not what the VAR is there for??? Richarlison broke the deadlock for the Toffees with a lovely turn and curl in (38'). Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had doubled their lead from close range, but the VAR disallowed it because of handball (79'). Goodison Park was in total dismay about the officiating, but ended up cheering on the winning side, taking Carlo Ancelotti's side to 11th, level on points with Arsenal in 10th, whilst Graham Potter's men remain winless at Goodison, four points above the relegation zone in 14th. 

#LEISOU

TEN shots on target for the visitors, over half of them by Danny Ings including a couple of woodwork smackers, it could have been 1-9! Unbelievable! (See week 10 if you don't get what I'm referring to.) Dennis Praet had opened the scoring for the home side, netting Jamie Vardy's ball across at the back post (14'). Simples. But the visitors replied soon after, Stuart Armstrong equalising for the Saints with the help of a huge deflection off James Maddison to fool and beat Kasper Schmeichel (19'). Ralph Hasenhüttl's men remained on top, and with just over an hour played, the VAR denying them a penalty after a foul on Shane Long by Çağlar Söyüncü, but replays showed an offside in the build-up. But the former Red finally did it, 81st minute, Ings raced ahead and poked the ball through Schmeichel's legs to give Southampton a deserved lead, getting booked for his celebrations, stripping his shirt off and all. I don't think anyone cared at that point. And in the last minute of normal time. Jonny Evans thought he had headed his side level, but the VAR disallowed it offside, late drama for the one side, relief for the other, Brendan Rodgers gutted, his Austrian counterpart chuffed to bits.

#MUNNOR

Who else but Marcus Rashford gave the home side the lead, goal number 13 for him, poked home from close range off Juan Mata's whipped in ball (27'). The 22-year-old England striker outplayed and -performed everything and everyone in his 200th PL game. David de Gea kept out Todd Cantwell's attempt just before the break, the visitors trying their best to stay in the tie. Rashford doubled the Red Devils' lead from the spot soon after the restart (52'), after Tim Krul slid into Brandon Williams' leg to concede the penalty. And Anthony Martial made it 3-0 seconds later (54'), set up by Mata's curler, to head it into the bottom corner, keeper no chance. Not a good day for the stopper! And it went from bad to worse, sub Mason Greenwood scoring from the edge of the box (76'), low and hard into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 and Ole Gunnar Solskjær smiling, his side moving up to fifth. 

#WOLNEW

Miguel Almirón put the visitors ahead with a great finish, top right corner from inside the box, provided by Dwight Gayle (7'), his second PL goal of the season, three in three in all competitions. Leander Dendoncker levelled the score soon after with a volley in from close range (14'). A point-blank save by Martin Dúbravka against Pedro Neto late on spared his side from a defeat, despite more injury woes and forced changes for Steve Bruce and his men. Do the Magpies have enough fit players left?! They remain 13th with the point gained, whilst Nuno Espírito Santo's side climb up to 7th. 

#TOTLIV

The Reds continue their reckless run at the top, more records tumbling left, right and centre. The visitors bossed the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the front trio creating chance after chance. It was surprising the league leaders only led by one goal at the break, thanks to Roberto Firmino, his left foot doing the magic, across goal and into the right side of the net, after Mohamed Salah set him up, surrounded by white shirts but still able to turn and pass the ball (37'). The VAR checked for a handball by Jordan Henderson in the buildup, deemed fine, the goal stood. Of course Sky Sports pointed out and José Mourinho complained about the Red throw-in that started the whole move, replays showing it looked like the final touch came off Sadio Mané. Anyway, anyhow, the Reds got a deserved lead and Spurs tried to hit back on the counter, creating more chances after the break, but Alisson kept another clean sheet, LFC's sixth one on the trot. Jürgen Klopp still looked very frustrated in the post-match interview, no wonder, it was a tense match-up, which his side could and should have put to bed much earlier by netting their chances. Spurs stopper Paulo Gazzaniga made some fine saves as well, including a point-blank one against Mané. Sub and Real Betis loanee Giovani Lo Celso put a golden chance across goal and wide late on, Klopp and Mourinho fuming and stunned on the sideline, the German because of his defence, the Portuguese for the missed opportunity to grab a point. The one goal was enough in the end. It's the first time EVER in any of Europe's five main leagues that a team has ever taken 61 points of the first 63 = 21 games. They're at the top, SIXTEEN POINTS CLEAR - before City's Super Sunday clash, AND A GAME IN HAND not to forget! 38 games unbeaten, their longest league run EVER. Mind. Blown. Completely nuts as Gary Lineker put it on Twitter. Simply the best. 

#BOUWAT

The visitors dominated and Abdoulaye Doucouré had all the time and space in the world to control the ball and take the shot from just over six yards out to give Watford the lead (42'). Ismaïla Sarr set the midfielder up after keeper Mark Travers messed up his clearance. The Cherries were nowhere, very sloppy and unable to cope and organise themselves, leaving a very worried atmosphere around Dean Court. Hornets skipper Troy Deeney doubled the advantage from close range, Sarr the provider again (65'). And substitute Roberto Pereyra put the icing on the cake, making it three goals and three points with a bang after Andre Gray's attempt had been cleared off the line by Ryan Fraser (90+2'). What a win! Nigel Pearson has taken 13 points from a possible 18 in charge at Watford. The only game the English manager has lost was his first game at league leaders Liverpool (week 17). The run has taken his side out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, whilst Eddie Howe's men drop down to 19th, two points from safety. Dire times at the Vitality Stadium. 

#AVLMCI

Riyad Mahrez broke the deadlock running through the Villa defence and bashing the ball into the bottom right corner, too quick for keeper Ørjan Nyland on his near post (18'). And the Algerian doubled the lead soon later, the Villans unable to clear the ball, and the number 26 capitalising and smashing in the ball from nearly the same spot as the first, just a few yards out, no one near him or the ball (23'). Sergio Agüero made it three a few minutes later, with a bang across from the edge of the box and in off the keeper's gloves, beaten to his right this time (28'). Kevin De Bruyne's run and exemplary cross from the right found Gabriel Jesus perfectly, who whacked in the fourth just before the break (45+1'). Villa were in bits, unable to cope, all over place. No competition. And one great Argentinian overtook a great Frenchman*, making it 176 for him and 0-5 to Pep Guardiola and his men, running all over the Villans and tapping it in (57'). And that was not all, it had to be a hat-trick, his 12th in the PL, another record, overtaking Alan Shearer (11) AND *Thierry Henry's Premier League total (176), moving level with former Chelsea midfielder and now manager Lampard on 177 PL goals. Legend. The hosts did pull one back from the spot late on, but Anwar El Ghazi didn't celebrate, understandably so (90+1'). It ended 1-6, taking the Citizens up to second, two points ahead of Leicester in third, 14 points behind Liverpool at the top. Record-breaker(s). I loved how the City fans delayed their goal celebrations until after the VAR confirmed the goals, every single goal, making a point of their discontent with the system. Not that they had much to moan or boo about in this match.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Sheffield United 2:1 West Ham - 1:0

Crystal Palace 1:2 Arsenal - 1:1

Chelsea 2:0 Burnley - 3:0

Everton 2:1 Brighton - 1:0

Leicester 2:1 Southampton - 1:2

Man United 2:1 Norwich - 4:0

Wolves 1:0 Newcastle - 1:1

Tottenham 0:2 Liverpool - 0:1

Bournemouth 1:1 Watford - 0:3

Aston Villa 1:3 Man City - 1:6

Click here for my previous Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 28

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 28

The 28th week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Arsenal and Liverpool = 5 each

251 shots - most by Man City = 22

65 on target - most by Liverpool = 10

102 corners - most by Man City = 13

176 fouls - most by Southampton = 15

30 bookings - most by Cardiff, Burnley and Man United = 3 each

0 red cards

1 penalty - 1 scored (Agüero for Man City)

What a game! Arsenal and Liverpool were on fire! The Gunners took Bournemouth apart at the Emirates, 5-1 with five different scorers including recalled Mesut Özil with the opener after just four minutes. Substitute Alexandre Lacazette sealed the win making it five with a superb free-kick (78’), condemning the Cherries to their ninth consecutive away defeat for the first time since the 1933-34 season. The result keeps Unai Emery’s men in the top four, one point ahead of Manchester United. More to the Red Devils' impressive win and run below.

The Reds thrashed Watford 5-0 at Anfield, which was just what the doctor ordered for them in the title race and after their disappointing and frustrating goalless draw at Old Trafford on Sunday. Sadio Mané (9’, 20’) and Virgil van Dijk (79’, 82’) starred with a brace each - the prior’s second the cheekiest of cheeky back-healers, absolute stunner, the latter’s both headers. Injured Roberto Firmino's replacement Divock Origi contributed one as well in-between (66’), adding up to their biggest win of the season. But the real star was man of the match and night Trent Alexander-Arnold. Left out at the weekend, the youngster showed how much he was missed, producing top passes, crosses, control and precision, becoming the youngest player ever at 20 years and 143 days to get three assists in a Premier League game. Just wow! The win helped Jürgen Klopp’s men and their goal difference, just one point clear at the top ahead of Manchester City in second. More to the Citizens' lucky winner below.

What a team! Chelsea beat Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino’s men slumped and bumped out of the title race too easily. The Blues had dropped goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after his League Cup antiques at the weekend, but his replacement Willy Caballero didn’t have anything to do = 0 shots on target produced by Spurs. The embarrassing scenes were in the opposing goal this time, Hugo Lloris letting the opener by Pedro go through his legs (57’) before watching his team mate Kieran Trippier pass the ball past him and into his own net (OG 84’). That makes it two own goals in their last six Premier League games, as many as in their previous 113 in the competition. They are still in third, but now eight points behind City in second and nine away from the top.

Manchester United recorded their eighth consecutive away win - not even the great Sir Alex Ferguson was able to achieve that! Ole Gunnar Solskjær (still only caretaker) saw his side beat Crystal Palace convincingly despite their looooong list of injuries (of eight first-team players!). Romelu Lukaku stepped up and scored twice (33’, 52’), and Ashley Young drilled in a third (83’), to hand the Red Devils yet another win and keep them in fifth and in the race for the top four, just one point separating them from Arsenal in fourth. Surely, the Norwegian boss will be made permanent, a question of when.. Not if... ?!

What a man! Brendan Rodgers was announced as the new Leicester boss hours before their match against Brighton at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night. The news of his talks with the club was no real surprise, but the speed of his departure from Celtic caught out everyone. It seemed like the Northern Irishman couldn’t wait to get away! The Foxes recorded their first home win in five on the night, beating the Albions 2-1, thanks to goals by Demarai Gray (10’) and Jamie Vardy (63’), Davy Pröpper with a cracking but the only reply for the visitors (66’). But most of the main focus and attention was on the new man in the stands. The 2016 champions are up to 11th, on 35 points, ten points clear of the drop zone, 18 away from the top six. What will the new boss' ambition/aim/target be without any silverware in sight (unlike in Scotland)?!

What a goal! Newcastle’s opener against Burnley at St James’ Park by Fabian Schär (24’) was sublime! Sean Longstaff pounced on the visitors' weak defense to double the home side’s lead (38’). Both goals were clinical and crucial in the relegation battle, ending Sean Dyche’s side’s eight-game unbeaten run in the league and easing the Magpies’ relegation worries.

Everton’s team work goals at Cardiff were top-quality, all three of them. Gylfi Sigurðsson's brace (41’, 66’) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's late finish (90’+3’) ended the Toffees’ league run of three successive defeats. The win takes them up to ninth, four points behind Watford in eighth and level on points with West Ham in tenth.

Manchester City’s penalty against the Hammers was softer than soft, which was otherwise a very frustrating night for Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad. Sub Bernardo Silva went down without any contact, seconds after coming on. Surrounded by West Ham players, replays showed, if anything, the Portuguese midfielder twisted and tripped over his own feet. But the spot kick was given, and of course Sergio Agüero made no mistake of netting it (pen 59’) and the three points for the Citizens with it, to keep them in the title race, one point behind the Reds. Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini was understandably less happy with that call and result.

What the hell?! HUDDERSFIELD WON!!! SCORED AND WON!!! Celebrations galore!!! Lots of sickies up North on Wednesday, I bet. Yes, they are still bottom, but sweeter than sweet it still was for them. Only the third win of the season. First since November. After seven consecutive defeats at home. Sweet home. After African striker Steve Mounié scored the winner in the 91st minute, he got buried under his team mates as a thanks. Boss Jan Siewert was also taken over by wild celebrations with his backroom staff after the German's first win in charge of the club. Wolves were their victims, having lost eight of their last nine league matches against the Terriers and seven of their 12 against teams starting the day at the bottom of the Premier League. Southampton meanwhile moved out of the relegation zone after beating Fulham 2-0, and with Cardiff’s defeat, will have added to the bottom club’s celebrations and the tiniest of tiny glimmer of hope that has returned for them in their chance of somehow climbing out of the deep and dark relegation swamp they’re in.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Cardiff 0:0 Everton - 0:3

Huddersfield 1:2 Wolves - 1:0

Leicester 1:1 Brighton - 2:1

Newcastle 2:2 Burnley - 2:0

Arsenal 2:0 Bournemouth - 5:1

Southampton 2:1 Fulham - 2:0

Chelsea 3:1 Tottenham - 2:0

Crystal Palace 1:3 Man United - 1:3

Liverpool 2:0 Watford - 5:0

Man City 3:0 West Ham - 1:0

Click here for the previous Picks Of The Week.

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

Deadlocked & Unbeaten Reds & Citizens

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 0:0 MCFC

Liverpool and Manchester City remain unbeaten and tied with Chelsea on 20 points at the top of the Premier League after their goalless draw at Anfield on Sunday.

It was definitely not the Super Sunday clash as it was built up and expected to be between the two sides that shared 12 goals in their two league meetings last season and six goals in their Champions League matches.

MCFC 5-0 LFC (09/09/2017), LFC 4-3 MCFC (14/01/2018)
LFC 3-0 MCFC (04/04/2018), MCFC 1-2 LFC (10/04/2018)

It took 62 minutes to get the first shot on target, Riyad Mahrez testing Alisson from inside the box shortly before Mohamed Salah's curler from 20 yards was easily caught by Ederson.

Both keepers had nothing to do until then, after a frantic opening 15-20 minutes, the Sky Blues kept the Reds under control and vice versa.

The visitors had 51% possession, their lowest in a Premier League games under their Spanish boss, the home side weren't helped though by injury to their vice-skipper James Milner with under half an hour gone.

It was the first time City failed to have a single shot in the first half since April 2010 against Arsenal and a shot on target in the first half of a Premier League game since the final game of last season against Southampton.

And November 2017 against Chelsea was the last time for Jürgen Klopp's side not to register an attempt on target in the first half of a Premier League game.

But it was not like they were not trying, Sadio Mané and Salah worked hard throughout, Roberto Firmino still seemed isolated and hardly got a touch or look into the game.

Man of the match Bernardo Silva was the key to that, keeping the Citizens locked, recording and completing more tackles than anyone else on the pitch.

Former Red Raheem Sterling and Argentinian fireman Sergio Agüero were both kept quiet, the latter was taken off after 66 minutes, his record against LFC looking dire with no goals in his ten appearances (700 minutes played, 0 wins, 11 shots, 3 on target).

The first genuine save came in the 74th minute, the home side's Brazilian stopper tipping away Mahrez's low shot.

Pep Guardiola's men were given a lifeline after Virgil van Dijk slid into Leroy Sané, getting more of the man than the ball, seconds after it looked like the latter had fouled Salah in the buildup.

Penalty to City it was, five minutes of normal time to go, all hard work looked to be undone for the Reds, until Mahrez took the kick off Gabriel Jesus and put it sky-high to the left and out, relief all round at Anfield.

The Algerian winger has missed five of his last eight spot kicks (four for Leicester, one for City), among players to have taken at least 10 penalties in the Premier League, only former Aston Villa man Juan Pablo Ángel (50%, 5/10) has a lower rate than Mahrez (58%, 7/12).

The champions have not won a league game at Anfield in 15 years, but as frustrating as that miss was, both bosses left happy with their sides' unbeaten records and clean sheets in tact.

Pep has won just one of his past eight managerial meetings with Klopp in all competitions (D3, L4), and is winless in the most recent four (D1, L3, see links above).

Liverpool's total of 20 points is their joint-most after eight games of a Premier League campaign, having also done so in 1996-97 and 2008-09.

As mentioned above, both the Reds and Sky Blues with Chelsea remain unbeaten in the league this campaign, which is just the second time in the Premier League era that as many as three teams have gone unbeaten in their opening eight games of a single season (also 2011-12 with Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle).

The international break is coming at a perfect time for all three sides, to recharge, recap and restart their winning mentality and firing boots.

Liverpool Team: 13 Alisson; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez; 7 Milner (8 Keita 29'), 14 Henderson (c), 5 Wijnaldum (booked 90'); 10 Mané, 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 72'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 3 Fabinho, 22 Mignolet, 23 Shaqiri, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Man City Team: 31 Ederson; 22 Mendy (booked 64'), 14 Laporte, 5 Stones, 2 Walker; 25 Fernandinho, B Silva (booked 21'); 7 Sterling (19 Sané 76'), 21 D Silva (c), 26 Mahrez; 10 Agüero (booked 56') (33 de Jesus 66'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 3 Danilo, 4 Kompany, 30 Otamendi, 47 Foden, 49 Muric.

HT Stats: LFC 0-0 MCFC
Possession: 43%-57%
Shots: 2-1
On target: 0-0
Corners: 2-4
Fouls: 5-3
Bookings: 0-1

FT Stats: LFC 0-0 MCFC
Possession: 49%-51%
Shots: 7-6
On target: 2-2
Corners: 2-6
Fouls: 10-10
Bookings: 1-3

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Bernardo Silva
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,117

Click here for my last LFC match report.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 6

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 6

Here are my Premier League Picks Of The Week 6:

24 goals - most by Man City = 5

238 shots - most by Man City = 21

96 on target - most by Man City = 10

108 corners - most by Man City, Crystal Palace and Everton = 9 each

210 fouls - most by Burnley, Wolves and Arsenal = 17 each

25 bookings - most by Burnley, Southampton, Brighton, Leicester, Fulham, West Ham and Arsenal = 2 each

0 red cards

1 penalty - 1 scored (Kane for Tottenham)

What a game! Two goals in two minutes by Matěj Vydra (39') and Aaron Lennon (41') gave Burnley a strong lead against Bournemouth and high hopes to end their bad run of four straight defeats before Saturday afternoon. Both keepers Joe Hart and Asmir Begoviç made some solid stops, blocks and saves. Then Ashley Barnes sealed the deal with a brace, making it four goals and three points for the home side, relief all-round. Harsh on the Cherries who tried hard, pushed and pressed, but were denied any way back. What a difference no Europa League made for Sean Dyche’s men.

Super Sunday saw no goals between West Ham and Chelsea, the Blues dropping their first points of the season after both sides missed and messed up everything. Hammer keeper Łukasz Fabiański did a good job with some flexible and quick-reaction saves. The Gunners followed with their fourth consecutive win, 2-0, two goals in three minutes against Everton, more to that afternoon kick-off below.

What a team! Liverpool made it seven wins out of seven opening league games, a club record, leaving them as the last team left in the top-four tiers with a 100% winning run and top of the table. It started with an unlucky own goal for Southampton, the ball went ping pong off a corner to Sadio Mané whose pass to Xherdan Shaqiri caused problems, coming off Shane Long and deflecting in off Wesley Hoedt. Joël Matip’s powerful header off another corner doubled the Reds’ lead. Shaqiri’s stunning free kick came off the cross bar and was followed in by none  other than Mohamed Salah to make it 3-0 before the break. Another goal for the great Egyptian was disallowed offside. The dominance, the play, the speed, the connection, it was lethal, the Saints were lucky it ended just 3-0 at Anfield, the Reds are on fire. Boss Jürgen Klopp also has a 100% record of his own, having beaten Mark Hughes all five times they have met in the Premier League. Boom. 

What a man! Claude Puel’s under pressure at Leicester, some saw this weekend as a must-win against Huddersfield. Mathias Jørgensen put the Terriers ahead within five minutes, Kasper Schmeichel beaten, the ball bouncing in off his glove. Kelechi Iheanacho levelled off a counter, exposing the visitors, cool and accurate as you like. Jamie Vardy put a sitter wide, off a free kick. Laurent Depoitre was just as wasteful at the other end. James Maddison smacked a free kick in, an unstoppable strike to make it 2-1 at the King Power stadium. Vardy made it 3-1 to the Foxes with a nice run and clip-finish. What crises?! It was a heavy-hearted and hard-breathing post-match interview for David Wagner after yet another defeat keeping the Terriers smack bang at the bottom of the table.

It was great to see Sir Alex Ferguson back at Old Trafford, standing ovation and goosebumps all-round - and that’s coming from a Liverpool fan! Fred gave the great Scot’s former team the lead against Wolves with a nice turn and shot, his first for the club, making him his side's 500th scorer. David de Gea made some crucial stops as always, Rui Patrício did just as well at the other end. But João Moutinho levelled things with a beautiful touch and unstoppable finish. And both keepers continued their hard shift and great display until the final whistle, it stayed 1-1. Even José Mourinho conceded the opposition was better and deserved the point! (Nuno Espírito Santo's men had more shots on target causing United all sorts of problems.)

What a goal! What a miss it was by City's İlkay Gündoğan, sending the ball sky-high from inside the box at Cardiff. Pep Guardiola was staring on in the rain. But Sergio Agüero opened the scoring with his 205th goal in his 300th appearance for City, 30 in 13 against newly promoted sides! A delightful header up and over the keeper and in by Bernardo Silva made it two goals in quick succession for the champions. And what a smacker Gündoğan made it three with, a diagonal whacker into the top right corner, making up for his earlier miss. The Citizens were singing in the rain in Wales, and all that, top quality play, dominance and goals came in the first half! Riyad Mahrez made it four and five with his first(s) fine finishes for the club, just awesome all-round! Respect to the Cardiff fans who stayed! It could have been six , seven or more.
Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring for Arsenal with a lovely curler from 20 yards, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's gaol was more controversial, doubling the score clearly from an offside position. Everton boss Marco Silva was not happy of course, his side had plenty of chances, Petr Čech held on to a lot to keep the sheet clean. The Toffees remain 12th having only won three of their last 30 PL away games. Arsenal are up to sixth, level on points with rivals Spurs in fifth. This fixture is the highest-scoring one in Premier League history, with these two goals taking the total up to 153.

What the hell?! Tottenham ended their losing streak with at Brighton on Saturday evening - Harry Kane gave the London team the lead from the spot after a blatant handball/save by Glenn Murray. What was he thinking?! The Seagulls had chance after chance to get back into the game, but Erik Lamela doubled the lead for the Londoners. Anthony Knockaert pulled one back late on, a nice diagonal slam, but the visitor’s keeper Paulo Gazzaniga did well and held onto the lead. It was a game of two halves, one quite boring, the other with everything in it.

How was that not a red card for Timothy Fosu-Mensah, it was a bad tackle on Troy Deeney, lucky there was no injury. It ended all level between Fulham and Watford, 1:1, although there were plenty more chances to settle the encounter. A weekend of misses and mess-ups.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Fulham 1:2 Watford - 1:1

Burnley 0:1 Bournemouth - 4:0

Cardiff 1:3 Man City - 0:5

Crystal Palace 2:2 Newcastle - 0:0

Leicester 2:1 Huddersfield - 2:1

Liverpool 2:0 Southampton - 3:0

Man United 1:0 Wolves - 1:1

Brighton 1:1 Tottenham - 1:2

West Ham 0:2 Chelsea - 0:0

Arsenal 2:1 Everton - 2:0

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Red Over Blue Again & Into CL Semis

Sports - Football - Champions League - MCI 1:2 LIV

Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League semi-final for the first time in a decade after coming back from behind to beat Manchester City 1-2 in the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, thrashing them 1-5 on aggregate. 

Mohamed Salah started for the Reds after missing out the goalless Merseyside derby on Saturday due to injury, whilst the Citizens made four changes to the side that lost the mad Manchester derby at the weekend with Sergio Agüero on the bench.

And the home side could not have asked for a better start after their shock in the first leg at Anfield, Virgil Van Dijk losing the ball looking for a free kick, former Red Raheem Sterling ripping through the visitors, given too much space to run and provide Gabriel Jesus who netted the opener after just one minute and 57 seconds! Too easy!

Kevin De Bruyne sent a chance high soon after, before Sadio Mané and Nicolas Otamendi collided, City keeper Ederson Moraes getting involved and pushing the Senegalese again and again, both names were added to the referee's book after just 14 minutes.

It was a feisty, breathtaking start, the home side dominating and pressing, testing the visitors again and again, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren and Andrew Robertson dealing and coping well with all the pressure, clearing the ball again and again, top class.

Sterling went down too easy too many times, desperately looking for trouble against Robertson, the referee had a word, whilst Alexander-Arnold and Bernardo Silva were cautioned for choking Leroy Sané and verbal protests respectively.

Roberto Firmino was also booked for catching De Bruyne too late, the Belgian too quick for the Brazilian striker on the counter before Liverpool finally got their first shot on target with nearly 40 minutes on the clock, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain serving Ederson an easy catch.

The first half ended as crazy as it started, Bernardo Silva hitting the bar before Jesus' shot was blocked, James Milner with the last touch and Loris Karius nowhere near, Sané netting the rebound, but the flag was up, goal disallowed.

The Ox and Salah combined well in the final seconds before the interval, a nice one-two and rare Red combo attack, but the chance went just high. It stayed 1-0 at half-time without any time added on.

Spanish referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz probably needed the break more than anyone else after a crazy 45 minutes, City boss Pep Guardiola was not happy with the officials and sent to the stands from the restart, obviously having taken his protests too far.

Jürgen Klopp could be glad it was only 1-0 but surely needed the Reds to step up if they did not want to collapse under all the pressure and after having worked so hard. And they didn't. Quite the opposite.

Their Egyptian star shined once again, beating Ederson with a lovely move and finish after collecting the ball off a falling Mané in the box, making it 1-1 with his 10th European goal and 39th in all competitions eleven minutes after the break.

Guardiola communicated with his coaching staff to make changes, Agüero and Ilkay Gündogan were brought on, the home side looking to make their continuous dominance count, but to no avail.

Firmino gave the Reds the lead with just under a quarter of an hour to go, 1-2 on the night, 1-5 on aggregate, his 24th goal of the season after Otamendi gave the ball away and Fernandinho backed away, breaking more European records.

The front duo of Salah and Firmino have both scored more goals in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign for Liverpool than any other player in the club's history (10 each = 20).

These two goals bring the Reds' total to 33 goals in the Champions League this season, the most by an English side in a single campaign.

It was just not City's night, seeing another goal disallowed for offside, correctly this time, Sané mistiming his runs too regularly, no wonder the officials kept raising their flags. 

It stayed 1-2, the Reds' persistence paying off and breaking down the Citizens once again, making it three wins out of three meetings, to reach their 18th European semi-final.

City had scored three or more goals in 12 out of their 26 home games this season, so, they are more than capable to come back from three goals down, but Klopp's men were able to stop them.

Liverpool have only lost by three or more goals three times under Klopp:

Watford 3-0 (2015)

Manchester City 5-0 (2017)

Tottenham 4-1 (2017)

The German made sure that didn't happen again this time, recording his seventh win against Guardiola, the first time the Catalonian has lost three times in a row since May 2015 with Bayern.

Next on the list for the Reds are Bournemouth at Anfield Saturday evening, surely the Kop will be bouncing still after this display - ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ! :-D

Man City Goal: de Jesus 2’.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 56’ & Firmino 77’.

Match Stats: MCFC 1-2 LFC

Possession: 68%-32%

Shots: 20-5

On target: 3-3

Corners: 9-2

Fouls: 5-7

Yellow cards: 2-4

Man City Team: 31 Ederson (booked 14’); 14 Laporte, 17 De Bruyne, 25 Fernandinho; 30 Otamendi, 2 Walker; 7 Sterling, 33 de Jesus, 21 D Silva (c) (10 Agüero 66’), 20 B Silva (booked 30’) (8 Gündogan 74’); 19 Sané. 3-2-4-1

Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 4 Kompany, 18 Delph, 35 Zinchenko, 47 Foden.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk (booked 65’), 6 Lovren, 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 29’) (2 Clyne 81’); 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 19 Mané (booked 14’), 9 Firmino (booked 35’) (17 Klavan 81’), 11 Salah (28 Ings 89’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 29 Solanke, 58 Woodburn.

Referee: Antonio Miguel Matheu Lahoz

Man of the match: Mohamed Salah

Ground: Etihad Stadium

Attendance: 53,461

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter, BT Sport and beIN sports match coverage.