Premier League Notes - Week 31

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 31

The 31st week of the Premier League football action saw:

LIVERPOOL CROWNED CHAMP19NS!!!!!!

19 goals - most by Liverpool = 4

227 shots - most by Liverpool = 21

65 on target - most by Chelsea = 10

112 corners - most by Man United = 10 

209 fouls - most by Newcastle and Watford = 15 each

25 bookings - most by Wolves and Bournemouth = 3 each

2 red cards - Jack Stephens for Southampton, Fernandinho for Man City 

2 penalties - 1 scored (Willian for Chelsea)

#LEIBHA

Brighton started brightly at the King Power stadium, won a penalty early on after James Justin was punished for sliding in on Aaron Connolly, but Kasper Schmeichel denied Neal Maupay from the spot (14’). Not much else happened.The Foxes dominated the second half, had a last-minute penalty-shout for a handball against Lewis Dunk. The ball did hit the skipper's arm, but he was falling with his back to the ball, not having a clue of where he or that round thing was. It ended a staler than stale-mate, a point each, important for the Seagulls as it takes them six points clear from the drop zone, whilst Brendan Rodgers’ side have only won one in the last seven. Disappointing.

#TOTWHU

Again, nothing happened. Tottenham dominated, the Hammers kept them at bay. Until the final minutes before the interval, when Son Heung-min hit the back of the net, but the VAR disallowed the goal offside, just. So, it stayed 0-0. The visitors came back out more attacking and pressing, plenty of misses and nearlies at both ends. Over a depressing hour gone, Tomáš Souček tangled with his legs and led the quick ball into the back of his own net off a Spurs corner to make it 1-0. And Harry Kane doubled the hosts’ lead with under ten minutes to go after a quick counter (83’), in his 200th PL appearance for the club. José Mourinho has never lost in 14 matches against sides managed by David Moyes (W9, D5). After seven games without a win, even the miserable Portuguese has to be happy! Moyes condemned the VAR for missing the handball in the buildup to the opener and rightly so. Harsh on the Hammers

#MUNSHU

The Red Devils were on top from the start, chances, possession. No surprise then after just eight minutes: Throw in, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford move, the latter putting a low ball in from the byline, really sharp finish from the prior, Simon Moore didn't have a chance. And Martial whacked in the second a couple of minutes from the interval, unmarked in the centre of the box. Were the visitors respecting social distancing a bit too much?! Poor, just poor. Zonal marking. And Martial completed his first senior hat-trick, again with another easy run through the whole white-shirted back-line, a fine finish, tap over the keeper and in (74’). And that's also Man United's first PL hat-trick since Robin van Persie in 2013 under Sir Alex. Loved Gary Lineker’s tweet on Rashford. Three goals, three points, too easy, Chris Wilder and his side all over the place.

#NEWAVL

The Villans bossed the game early on against very poor Magpies at St James’ Park. But both sides had chances and will have been frustrated not to see anything or anyone on the scoreboard. Moments after coming on, sub Dwight Gayle put the home side ahead, easy tap in with loads of space, through the keeper’s legs, the other sub Andy Carroll with an instant assist (68’). Impact. Talking about subs and impact, Ahmed Elmohamady levelled the score six minutes after coming on (83’), his header sliding underneath and past Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Dúbravka. Who complained about extra subs, ey?! Aston Villa have conceded 36 goals in the second half of Premier League matches this term - no side has conceded more. At least they got a crucial goal and point back this time.

#NOREVE

The hosts enjoyed a bright start again, but the Toffees soon went through the gears, taking over more and more, Dominic Calvert-Lewin coming closest in the first quarter. Both sides kept cancelling each other out up until the HT break. Everton started the second half much better and took the lead off Lucas Digne's corner, headed in at the near post by Michael Keane (55). Whatever Carlo Ancelotti said during the interval, it worked. And zonal marking flopped, again. Pf. No PL side has conceded and scored more goals off a corner, I’ll let you guess which side respectively.

#WOLBOU

Deadlocked at Molineux, both sides struggling to create or produce anything of note, Adama Traoré with the only notable attempt of the first half. Raúl Jiménez broke that dead deadlock with his head on the hour mark, into the top of the net after Adama made space on the right side and provided him with a deep cross, the tenth time this season these two have combined. Aaron Ramsdale denied Willy Boly later on with a fine save to his lower left and stopped Wolves from doubling their lead. But all for nothing, another poor game and zero points for the Cherries, leaving them in the drop zone on goal difference.

#LIVCRY

Just before the first drinks break, Red free kick about 25 yards out, TAA took and banged it in, what a goal! Into the right corner of the net, heard it bang in, keeper no chance (23'). Trent has been directly involved in 30 Premier League goals since his debut in August 2016. At least five more than any other defender in the same time period. The Reds doubled their lead just before the break, Fabinho with the cross up and in to Mo Salah who took it into the centre of the box and completed the move with a lovely finish, Palace keeper or defence no chance (44'). Fabinho made it three with a beautiful right foot curler from outside the box, into the right corner, keeper no chance, again (55'). ‪Provided by Salah on the counter, Sadio Mané put a brilliant shot across goal into the bottom right (69'), 9th in 11 games against this side for the Senegalese master, and the French commentators compared it to the mastery of Thierry Henry. All beauties! Why couldn’t they do that at Goodison? ‪Since Palace won 2-1 at Anfield in April 2017, Liverpool are unbeaten in 56 home Premier League games (W46, D10), winning their last 23. Boom. Jürgen Klopp and his men just needed City to drop points next to clinch the title, see below for more details or click here for my full ByTheMinLFC coverage. Yeah.

#BURWAT

The hosts fired everything at Watford in the first quarter, keeper Ben Foster out of position and Josh Brownhill sweeping his shot wide, after Craig Dawson cleared Jay Rodriguez’s chance off the line brilliantly, all just before the first drinks break. Shortly before the second round of drinks. it was Dwight McNeil who made a big clearance off the line against Troy Deeney, Will Hughes putting the rebound wide. Jay’s lovely header across the goal and into the bottom right corner of the net that finally gave the Clarets the lead off an excellent assist by McNeil (73’). Nice bounce back after their thrash against City, which takes them up to 11th, whilst the Hornets will be looking over their shoulders, just one point clear of the relegation zone.

#SOUARS

The young Gunners started brightly, keeping the Saints defense and stopper busy, until the latter totally screwed up. Alex McCarthy had a back-pass from his defender, Eddie Nketiah charged the clearance down and scored (20’), a real gift. Jack Stephens saw a second yellow late on, the last man bringing down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the run clear through on goal (86’). The consequential free kick was blocked by the wall, the rebound saved, the second rebound netted by youngster Joe Willock (87’). A much needed win for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta’s first victory on the road, lifting them up to 9th, Saints stuck in 14th, ten points clear from the drop zone. 

#CHEMCI

The ball was loose from the Chelsea box after Antonio Rüdiger’s clearance, two City defenders totally messed up, Christian Pulisic capitalised from their giveaway, ran off with the ball and made a lovely low finish to give the home side the lead (36’). Cheers from Merseyside. Kevin De Bruyne smashed in the equaliser with a superb free kick (55’). Tension rising for the Reds. Raheem Sterling hit the post shortly afterwards. Mason Mount put a chance wide at the other end. Pulisic moved around the keeper, his take cleared off the line by Kyle Walker (72’), Liverpool fans’ reactions shown everywhere. Tense. Ping pong in the City box, saved, scramble all over the place, cleared. VAR check showed clear handball by Fernandinho, good save actually. The ref had no choice, red and pen. Willian converted sending the keeper the wrong way to make 2-1 to the Blues and party time in and around Liverpool after 30 long years. And the Red party went ahead indeed. 

My Predictions - Actual Results

Leicester 1:1 Brighton - 0:0

Tottenham 2:1 West Ham - 2:0

Man United 2:0 Sheffield United - 3:0

Newcastle 2:1 Aston Villa - 1:1

Norwich 1:3 Everton - 0:1

Wolves 2:0 Bournemouth - 1:0

Liverpool 2:1 Crystal Palace - 4:0

Burnley 0:1 Watford - 1:0

Southampton 1:1 Arsenal - 0:2

Chelsea 2:2 Man City - 2:1

Click here for my previous Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 37

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 37

The 37th week of the Premier League action saw:

19 goals - most by Arsenal = 5

241 shots - most by Man United & Arsenal = 16 each

76 on target - most by Watford & Arsenal = 8 each

110 corners - most by Bournemouth = 11

205 fouls - most by Stoke = 18

43 yellow cards - most by Stoke = 5

1 red card - Yoshida for Southampton 

0 penalties

What a game! The scenes at the Hawthorns! Jake Livermore netted the injury time winner for West Brom against his former side Tottenham, scruffy scramble over the line, but they won’t care! The win took them off the bottom and fighting on to the last week - depending on other results, especially games in hand, see below. Caretaker boss Darren Moore stayed very quiet and controlled on the sideline, they may still go down, but still, what a job he has done! 10 points from 5 games (in contrast to Alan Pardew's 8 points from 18 games)! Wow! Swansea’s 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth added to the Albion’s party. And after the Saints conceded a late late late late equaliser at Everton, you never know... Huddersfield earned a hard-fought and deserved point at Manchester City, whose title celebrations were long overdue, party for both sides. The crucial relegation crunch battle was the game in hand between Southampton and Swansea... See below.

What a team! Brighton secured their place in the Premier League for another season by beating Manchester United on Friday night. Thanks to goalline technology, Pascal Groß’ header that was cleared by Marcos Rojo but counted as it had just crossed the line, just, a centimetre or two. Chris Hughton’s men deserved the win, their first in eight games, outplaying a tired and forceless looking United, even José Mourinho conceded defeat in attitude as well as the match. It is the first time the Red Devils have ever lost away to three newly promoted clubs in a league season.

Leicester continued their poor end to the season as well, West Ham ending up comfortable 0-2 winners, guaranteeing their safety. So too Newcastle with their third straight defeat in the league, losing 2-1 at Watford, the Londoners ending their own run of seven league matches without a win and ensuring their own PL survival.

What a man! A speedy recovery and all the best to Sir Alex Ferguson and his loved ones, football rivalry aside, you do not wish such unwell on anyone. And if there is an undisputed football icon and legend no one can touch or even get close to, Fergie is the one and only.

Arsène Wenger got a nice Emirates farewell, Arsenal thrashing Burnley 5-0, giving their old boss a fine ending to his reign just as it started 7,876 days before, victorious. It’s the Frenchman’s 475th win in 826 Premier League games, 415th victory in 606 home games in all competitions, thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace and Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolašinac and Alex Iwobi adding to the class and party. Merci Wenger.

What a goal! Xherdan Shaqiri’s free kick was a cracker to give Stoke the lead against Palace in the Saturday lunchtime kickoff, curling the ball off the wall and into the top right corner. But it was not to be, James McArthur and Patrick van Aanholt capitalising on gaps and slips in defence to turn the game around in the second half, condemning Paul Lambert’s men to relegation and ending their 10-year stint in the top league. It started so loud and bouncy but ended all silent and in tears at the bet365 Stadium. Such a shame. Roy Hodgson meanwhile can be very proud how his side have secured their safety and may finish on a club-record high.

Olivier Giroud’s header was enough for Chelsea to beat dominant but points-dropping Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. The Blues remain fifth but the game in hand keeping them in the fight for the top four. The Reds meanwhile, after knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League 5-1 on aggregate, keep dropping points with draws against West Brom and Stoke and this defeat, it would be disappointing for them to fall further down, so nothing else than a win is expected in the final week. Click here for my full match report.

What the hell?! The games in hand played midweek more or less decided the relegation battle and European spots, Southampton celebrating a huge win in Wales thanks to Manolo Gabbiadini’s strike, condemning West Brom down and out despite their strong form under their caretaker boss mentioned and lauded above and leaving Swansea on the brink thanks to goal difference. 
Huddersfield celebrated their safety like title winners after fighting out a point at Chelsea despite the Blues’ dominance. Leicester beat Arsenal for the first time in the Premier League since 1994, serving Wenger yet another away defeat in his penultimate game in charge of the Gunners, making it seven consecutive top-flight away defeats for the first time since 1966. 

League champions Manchester City broke more records by beating Brighton 3-1, scoring most goals in a single PL campaign = 105 and taking Pep Guardiola’s men to a record 97 points, the Spaniard eyeing and expecting his side to complete the century. 

Harry Kane sealed the win and Champions League spot with his 29th PL goal for Tottenham against Newcastle at Wembley, the London side overtaking Liverpool to third. 

Manchester United meanwhile secured their second place with a less impressive goalless draw at West Ham, Mourinho not happy being second-best of course and with the drop in points and belief, much in contrast to David Moyes, who’s more than content with the run of and point for his side. 

That just about finishes off a mad week of footy, all the ups and downs and in-betweens, literally!

My Predictions - Actual Results

Brighton 1:1 Man United - 1:0

Stoke City 1:2 Crystal Palace - 1:2

Bournemouth 2:1 Swansea - 1:0

Leicester 1:1 West Ham - 0:2

Watford 2:2 Newcastle - 2:1

West Brom 1:2 Tottenham - 1:0

Everton 1:1 Southampton - 1:1

Man City 4:0 Huddersfield - 0:0

Arsenal 3:1 Burnley - 5:0

Chelsea 3:1 Liverpool - 1:0 or my match report

Games in hand (see week 31 & *week 35*) saw 10 goals (*2*), 132 shots (*25*), 56 on target (*7*), 49 corners (*9*), 95 fouls (*17*), 16 yellow cards (*1*) & 1 red card (Mavropanos for Arsenal):

Swansea 0:0 Southampton - 0:1

*Chelsea 3:1 Huddersfield - 1:1*

Leicester 1:1 Arsenal - 3:1

Man City 5:1 Brighton - 3:1

Tottenham 1:1 Newcastle - 1:0

West Ham 2:2 Man United - 0:0

All stats not added to this week.

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 34

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 34

The 34th week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Liverpool & Man City = 3 each

236 shots - most by Liverpool = 20

80 on target - most by Crystal Palace = 8

108 corners - most by West Ham = 10

230 fouls - most by Stoke = 21

39 yellow cards - most by Southampton = 5

0 red cards 

1 penalty - Gündogan for Man City

What a game! Unlike last week, this weekend kicked of with a cracker at St Mary’s. Southampton could not have asked for a better start after going two goals up thanks to Dušan Tadić (21’) and Jan Bednarek (60’), Chelsea just chasing shadows, the home side in total control. However, a crazy eight minutes in the last quarter saw three goals, substitute Olivier Giroud with a brace (70’ & 78’) and Eden Hazard (75’) completing a perfect comeback for the Blues, stunning and silencing the Saints. What a turnaround. And more goal-fests were on their way, see below.

Crystal Palace and Brighton enjoyed a love-hate relationship with set pieces in their clash at Selhurst Park - seeing four goals netted in the opening quarter!!! And that was not all, see below.

What a team! Burnley are moving closer to Europa League qualification recording their fifth consecutive win with two goals in three minutes in the opening nine minutes by former Fox Chris Wood (6’) and Kevin Long (9’), Jamie Vardy (72’) pulling one back eventually but Leicester were nowhere, wasteful, too little too late, just like last week, a record eighth time the Yorkshire man has scored and lost this season. Man of the match Nick Pope did a brilliant job keeping and frustrating the hell out of the 2016 champions.

Manchester City ended Spurs’ 14-match unbeaten run beating the Londoners confidently 1-3 at Wembley in the late late kick-off on Saturday, bouncing back from their Champions League exit against Liverpool and leaving them on the brink of winning the Premier League. See below who served them the title on Sunday.

What a man! Mohamed Salah (69’) headed in his 30th league goal, 40th of the season in all competitions, after Sadio Mané (7’) netted his 10th and 17th respectively and Roberto Firmino (90’) finished the game off with his 15th and 25th respectively, to make it Liverpool 3-0 against Bournemouth at Anfield. That takes the front trio’s total to 55 goals in the league, 82 all round, the Reds moving up to third overtaking Tottenham after their defeat against Man City. And that’s the eighth clean sheet in the last 12 games, five conceded, 29 scored by Jürgen Klopp's men, the only unbeaten team at home left in all four divisions. Mind-blowing! 

West Brom caretaker boss Darren Moore absolutely dwarfed Manchester United manager José Mourinho, not just in statue but with the teams’ contrasting performances as well. Watching the match, you would have never have guessed it was at Old Trafford, the bottom side dominated play and didn’t let the Red Devils into the game, Jay Rodriguez (73’) heading in the winner that handed Manchester City the title for the third time in seven years. I’m sure Sir Alex Ferguson was wondering who/what/why he was watching and seeing, whilst Pep Guardiola’s golfing afternoon most certainly turned so much sweeter, becoming the first Spaniard to win the English title. And with five games to spare they equalled the English top-flight record of United (1907-08 & 2000-01) and Everton (1984-85) of being crowned the earliest champions! Congratulations to the Citizens, definitely simply the best this season! 

What a goal! Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha’s second was a lovely finish, raising and heading the ball in acrobatically, to make it 3-1 after just 24 minutes against Brighton. José Izquierdo made it five goals in under 35 minutes with a sublime curl into the bottom corner to make it 3-2. Game on!!! The scoreline stayed that way though after the all-guns-blazing firing start taking Roy Hodgson’s men to only their second win in the last 11 games and six points clear of the drop zone.

Swansea’s Kyle Naughton’s own goal gave Everton the lead against the run of play in Wales (43’), off his face, it was a bit bizarre, the home side thinking they’ve cleared it, the ref’s watch proving differently. Jordan Ayew grabbed a goal and point back for the Swans (71’) but it will still have felt like two points dropped, Toffees boss Big Sam praising Wayne Rooney for his performance, much in contrast to last week’s Merseyside derby tantrum.

Substitute Tom Ince left it later than late to find a last-minute winner against Watford (90’+1’), slotting in Mathias Jørgensen’s fine cut back to record the Tigers’ first win in six. Crucial goals and points all round in the relegation battle, this result taking Huddersfield seven points clear of the bottom three.

And it was all about the subs at West Ham too, Peter Crouch netting for Stoke after Joe Hart spilled Xherdan Shaqiri’s shot (79’) before Andy Carroll grabbed a point back with a fine volley (90’) coming off the bench in his first game since January. It was a late rescue after the home side already saw three goals disallowed, the result leaving the Potters in 19th, the end of their 10-year PL stint edging closer and closer, the Hammers happier in 14th, seven points safe from the drop zone.

What the hell?! Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso was lucky not to see red for his challenge on Saint Shane Long, Mark Hughes was not happy, Antonio Conte saw nothing of course. Yeah, rrrrright.

Newcastle recorded their first home win against Arsenal since 10 December 2005 ending a losing streak of ten games with their 2-1 comeback win at St James’ Park on Sunday thanks to Ayoze Pérez (29’) and Matt Ritchie (68’) after Alexandre Lacazette (14’) had opened the scoring for the visitors. The Gunners continued their miserable away run remaining winless on the road in 2018 - losing five successive away league games for the first time since 1984. Salud to Rafael Benítez, his club should be safe in 10th, 13 points clear of the drop; same old misery for Arsène Wenger, stuck in sixth, Burnley sneaking up on them in seventh. Merde.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Southampton 1:2 Chelsea - 2:3

Burnley 1:1 Leicester - 2:1

Crystal Palace 1:1 Brighton - 3:2

Huddersfield 0:0 Watford - 1:0

Swansea 2:1 Everton - 1:1

Liverpool 4:1 Bournemouth - 3:0

Tottenham 1:1 Man City - 1:3

Newcastle 1:2 Arsenal - 2:1

Man United 2:0 West Brom - 0:1

West Ham 1:1 Stoke City - 1:1

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.