Premier League Picks Of The Week 16

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 16

The 16th week of the Premier League action saw:

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

234 shots - most by Man United = 20

75 on target - most by Man United = 11

111 corners - most by Man City = 13

233  fouls - most by Huddersfield = 20

40 bookings - most by Wolves and Arsenal = 5 each

2 red cards - Zambo Aguissa for Fulham, Yedlin for Newcastle

2 penalties - 1 scored (Kamara for Fulham)

What a match! Chelsea shocked Manchester City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, becoming the first team to beat Pep Guardiola’s men in the league this season and knock them off the top spot. The Blues were very well organised, stood back and weathered the storm, stubborn and professionally. The Citizens dominated, but the hosts hit back on the counter when it mattered most, N’Golo Kanté (45’) and David Luiz (78’) finding the gaps and pouncing on them, netting a strong right-footed strike and from a corner (that should have been a goal kick - VAR material) respectively. The more surprising and relieving the result was for the London club after Maurizio Sarri’s side’s shambolic defensive display against Tottenham and defeat at Wolves the previous weeks. 

What a team! Liverpool are the last team left in the country standing unbeaten in the league after thrashing Bournemouth 0-4 at Dean Court thanks to a Mohamed Salah hat-trick (25’, 48’, 77’) and Steve Cook's own goal (68’). The great Egyptian showed great character, staying up and scoring rather than tumbling and rolling on the floor whining after being fouled by Cook, and last but not least, sharing his man-of-the-match award with James Milner after his 500th Premier League match. Respect. Jürgen Klopp’s men went into their crucial Champions League decider against Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday much more confident, top of the Premier League, with their firing boots fit and set and yet another clean sheet on record. And the Reds made it through to the last 16, maybe not comfortable, but solid and deserved.

What a man! Paul Pogba looked a very sad and lonely man not featuring at all in Manchester United’s confident and comfortable 4-1 win against struggling Fulham at Old Trafford. Much in contrast to that, Juan Mata starred with his 50th Premier League goal that made it 2-0 and his 50th league assist. Manager José Mourinho did not shy from complimenting the Spaniard and pointing out the difference - “the quality, the brain,... he plays for the team.”. Something the Portuguese has been missing from the Frenchman and club record £89 million signing. Even Romelu Lukaku ended his goalless drought of 997 minutes at home in all competitions, scoring his first goal at Old Trafford since March that made it 3-0 before the break and easy going from there for the hosts.

What a goal! Lucas Torreira left it late at the Emirates but his winning goal was a spectacular acrobatic take and the only starring light in a very dozy, grey and gloomy day, game and display for Arsenal against Huddersfield (83’). The result takes the Gunners' unbeaten run to 21 games in all competitions, their longest since 2007. Unai Emery’s men are yet to have a league game where they lead at the break though, only two games off West Ham’s and Cardiff’s season total records of 18 games in 1994-5 and 2013-14 respectively, totalling 17 points after 16 games, whilst Arsenal are on 34 points. Worrying? Not really, it is the result that matters most. No?

Felipe Anderson’s sublime finish made it 3-2 and completed a fine comeback for West Ham against Crystal Palace (65’). The Brazilian winger’s fifth in six games added to Robert Snodgrass’ (48’) and Javier Hernández’s (62’) goals to overturn James McArthur’s early opener (6’). Jeffrey Schlupp pulled one back for Roy Hodgson’s men (76’), but it was too little too late. It’s the Hammers’ third win on the trot for the first time in two years and scoring three goals in three consecutive games for the first time in 36 years!

What the hell?! Ten-man Newcastle fell to their seventh home defeat in nine thanks to Matt Doherty’s 94th minute header to make it 1-2 to Wolves at St James' Park. Rafael Benítez was fuming, pointing out VAR cannot come soon enough, and understandably so. Referee Mike Dean was annoyingly inconsistent, sending off Magpies defender DeAndre Yedlin for pulling back Diogo Jota, even-though he was not the last man, but letting off Wolves defender Willy Boly scot-free despite elbowing Ayoze Pérez in the face. The result sees Rafa’s men remain 15th, three points above the drop zone, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side tenth. 
The former LFC and CFC Spaniard is not the only one counting down to VAR time!!! Watford manager Javi Gracia insisted the dramatic late 2-2 draw at Everton on Monday night would have definitely ended differently if the most crucial calls would have been made correctly, like the Toffees’ offside opening goal by Richarlison (15’) and Yerry Mina escaping a red card. Lucas Digne’s delightful curl five minutes into stoppage time earned the home side the point at Goodison Park, leaving the Londoners reeling after a dramatic game that saw two goals and a missed penalty in five action-packed minutes with just over an hour gone. The result takes the Hornet's winless run on the blue side of the Mersey to 13 in the league (D2 L11). Damn.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Bournemouth 1:2 Liverpool - 0:4

Arsenal 3:1 Huddersfield - 1:0

Burnley 1:1 Brighton - 1:0

Cardiff 2:1 Southampton - 1:0

Man United 2:1 Fulham - 4:1

West Ham 2:1 Crystal Palace - 3:2

Chelsea 1:3 Man City - 2:0

Leicester 1:2 Tottenham - 0:2

Newcastle 2:1 Wolves - 1:2

Everton 1:1 Watford - 2:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, Times newspaper, MOTD, BT and Sky Sports coverage.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 35

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 35

21 goals - most by Man City = 5

205 shots - most by Arsenal = 20

74 on target - most by Man City = 12

93 corners - most by Leicester = 11

169 fouls - most by Watford = 17

26 yellow cards - most by Crystal Palace = 5

0 red cards

1 penalty - 1 scored (Groß for Brighton)

What a game! It was a desperate show at the King Power on Thursday night, both Leicester and Southampton missing chances, failing to record anything, ending up sharing a point each after a goalless show, keeping them 8th on 44 points and 18th four points from safety respectively. Not much to shout about for either side, the Saints fans the more worried.

Doomed rock-bottom West Brom on the other hand performed a perfect comeback from two goals down on Saturday to grab a point from Liverpool, late drama and bad refereeing, click here for my full match report.

It was too little too late by Stoke as well on Sunday, taking the lead against Burnley thanks to Badou Ndiaye but ending up conceding an equaliser, Ashley Barnes grabbing a point for the visitors at the bet365 stadium, condemning the home side to more misery and closer to certainty of relegation.

What a team! Brighton moved closer to Premier League safety with a hard-fought point against Tottenham last Tuesday, Pascal Groß levelling the score from the spot 143 seconds after Harry Kane had put the visitors ahead shortly after the break at the Falmer Stadium. With the London side much changed ahead of their FA Cup semi-final clash against Manchester United on Saturday, Chris Hughton felt the point was well deserved. The Red Devils meanwhile made seven changes for their match at Bournemouth on Wednesday, ending up comfortable 0-2 winners thanks to Chris Smalling and sub Romelu Lukaku, despite the Cherries’ hard work and penalty appeal(s). Refereeing had once again not been good all round this week, more below.

Manchester City showed the glaring gap and difference between the top and the bottom of the table thrashing 17th placed Swansea 5-0 at the Etihad on Sunday, followed by awesome scenes afterwards of selfies, chants and celebrations of the fans and players all over the pitch. Can only say congratulations again! 

What a man! The biggest news was Arsène Wenger’s announcement on Friday, of leaving Arsenal at the end of the season after 22 years. End of an era. And as a Liverpool fan I can say to the Gunners and their fans, be careful what you wish for. That unbeaten team (of 2004) is the best I’ve ever watched and that is a lot to say and see during the Fergie era!!! Yes, that’s a long time ago and a lot has happened since, but you cannot ignore the Frenchman’s massive influence in the team and game in general, how much it has changed and evolved with him! It will be hard to follow up. Names like Brendan Rodgers are already flying around. I’m just shaking my head... Pf... Taking charge of his 1,228th game on Sunday, facing West Ham, the atmosphere was certainly different, it was all about “Merci Arsène”. There were plenty of injuries and changes ahead of their Europa League semi-final. And the Gunners huffed and puffed and missed plenty, Joe Hart made a couple of splendid saves, it looked like same old frustrations. But it all exploded in the second half, the Hammers fighting back but three goals in seven minutes including Alexandre Lacazette’s brace made it 4-1 and was enough to keep the Emirates loud and singing “There’s only one Arsène Wenger!”.

What a goal! ((What a miss it was by Alvaro Morata for Chelsea, with just keeper Nick Pope to beat and make it 0-2 at Turf Moor in their game in hand on Thursday night, the Spaniard put the golden chance wide. The visitors were lucky enough to be ahead through Kevin Long’s own goal. Burnley equalised eight minutes later thanks to Barnes. But Victor Moses restored the lead for the Blues soon after.))

Rafael Benítez’s 100th game in charge of Newcastle was not much to write about on Monday night, Theo Walcott spoiling the show with a fine walloping finish to hand Everton their fifth consecutive top-flight win against Newcastle for the first time since January 1920 and end their run of three league games without a win. It was the only shot on target for the Toffees. The Magpies have won just one of their last 14 league trips to Goodison Park (D3 L10). And it says a lot that these stats were a more interesting read than the match itself. ZzZzZ

What the hell?! The goalless draw between Watford and Crystal Palace on Saturday ended feisty with bookings galore - how the referee at the Hawthorns didn’t distribute cards I just do not understand! As mentioned above, the refereeing has been so bad and inconsistent all round, something needs to be done! VAR has not been popular with the teams, but some kind of review system has to be introduced to improve the game! And not make the officials look like ignorant, bias, insecure and/or dodgy dummies! I keep ranting on about it nearly every week, the teams have rejected the VAR system, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE!!!

My Predictions - Actual Results

Brighton 1:2 Tottenham - 1:1*

Bournemouth 2:1 Man United - 0:2*

((Burnley 2:2 Chelsea - 1:2))

Leicester 2:1 Southampton - 0:0*

West Brom 1:3 Liverpool - 2:2 or my match report

Chelsea P:P Huddersfield*

Watford 1:1 Crystal Palace - 0:0

Arsenal 2:2 West Ham - 4:1

Stoke 1:2 Burnley - 1:1

Man City 5:1 Swansea - 5:0

Everton 2:2 Newcastle - 1:0

*rescheduled/postponed due to the FA Cup semi-finals

((Game in hand, see week 31; 3 goals, 5-16 shots, 2-5 on target, 3-2 corners, 9-11 fouls, 1-0 yellow cards; not counted towards this week’s totals))

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Salah & Mané Shoot Down The Magpies

Sports - Football - Premier League - LIV 2:0 NEW

Liverpool outplayed and outshone Newcastle with a top-class convincing 2-0 home win, that could have easily been more, the front trio starring and shining once again in the Saturday evening kick-off.

Jürgen Klopp made two changes from the side that beat West Ham 4-1 last weekend, Jordan Henderson replacing James Milner and Dejan Lovren coming in for Joel Matip.

Rafael Benítez returned to Anfield making three changes for Newcastle after their draw at Bournemouth last weekend, with Jonjo Shelvey out injured and Matt Ritchie and Ayoze Pérez dropped to the bench, Mikel Merino, Jacob Murphy and Christian Atsu starting in their place.

The home side dominated play from the offset with over 80% possession, 290-71 passes, 90%-56% accuracy in the opening half an hour alone. Their stamina and patience payed off eventually.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box set up Mohamed Salah to his right, who put a low left-footed shot through goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka's legs to break the deadlock five minutes before half time, his 24th league goal of the season, 32nd in all competitions.

Only Fernando Torres has scored more goals in a single season for Liverpool (33 in 2007/08) since Robbie Fowler in the 90s.

The Egyptian has scored in his last seven appearances in all competitions, the last LFC player to score in more is Daniel Sturridge (8) in February 2014.

Loris Karius denied Mohamed Diamé with a full-stretch dive and save to his right seconds before the break, a lovely curving shot into the top left corner, a chance out of nowhere. It was the only real stop the Red keeper had to make.

Roberto Firmino produced a top-notch set-up through the centre of Newcastle's defence with Sadio Mané ready to double the score ten minutes after the interval.

The Senegalese slotted his strike home with his right, flick, into the right side of the back of the net, a beautiful move and goal, exemplary sparkling football all round by the Reds.

That's his 14th, Liverpool's 67th goal of the season and 200th under Klopp.

LFC have scored more PL goals against NUFC than they have versus any other side in the competition = 91.

Salah had a couple of penalty shouts late on, but the referee stayed consistent in waving off any stumbles, falls, rolls and moans.

The Reds remain unbeaten after 22 league games against the Magpies at Anfield, last losing 0-2 in April 1994 (W18, D4).

Rafa had previously never lost against Liverpool with other teams recording five draws before this match (3 with Chelsea, 2 with Newcastle).

This win takes Klopp's men up to second, one point ahead of Manchester United before their trip to Crystal Palace on Monday.

The two bitter rivals will meet next weekend, what a clash it will be, decisive in who will end closest to league leaders Manchester City.

HT Stats: LFC 1-0 NUFC
Possession: 75%-25%
Shots: 9-3
On target: 2-2
Corners: 4-2
Fouls: 3-4

FT Stats: LFC 2-0 NUFC
Possession: 71%-29%
Shots: 14-7
On target: 3-2
Corners: 8-3
Fouls: 7-9

Liverpool Goals: Salah 40', Mané 55'.

LFC Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 4 Van Dijk, 6 Lovren, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 23 Can, 14 Henderson (c), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (7 Milner 79'); 19 Mané (20 Lallana 74'), 9 Firmino (32 Matip 88'), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 12 Gomez, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 29 Solanke.

NUFC Team: 12 Dubravka; 3 Dummett, 20 Lejeune, 6 Lascelles (c), 22 Yedlin; 15 Kenedy, 10 Diamé, 23 Merino (14 Hayden 73'), 30 Atsu; 7 Murphy (17 Ayoze Pérez 85'); 9 Gayle (21 Joselu 66'). 4-4-1-1
Subs not used: 2 Clark, 11 Ritchie, 19 Manquillo, 26 Darlow.

Referee: Graham Scott
Man of the match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,287

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.