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.

Dire Goalless Draw Not Helped By Ref

Sports - Football - Premier League- LIV 0:0 STK

It ended goalless between Liverpool and Stoke City in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday, the Potters squeezing out a point and keeping their manager Paul Lambert’s unbeaten record at Anfield intact, a Premier League record of five games without defeat (5 = 2W 3D).

The home side did dominate as expected, star man Mohamed Salah missed a sitter early on and put a free kick wide.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out injured for the rest of the season, young defender Trent Alexander-Arnold played in a more attacking position, stumbling and wasting a great chance in the box.

Danny Ings, in place of a not-yet-fit Sadio Mané up front, saw his goal disallowed, flagged offside, so close.

Stubborn and very physical, the visitors had a couple of chances as well, nothing to worry Loris Karius too much though.

The second half continued dragging and frustrating for Jürgen Klopp and his men.

There was a handball appeal against man of the match defender Erik Pieters late on, who certainly gave his all, Georginio Wijnaldum was furious with the officials.

Virgil van Dijk was booked seconds later, Ryan Shawcross threatened with a chance but missed, it was end to end stuff in the final minutes.

James Milner was not happy with the referee either, nothing given after he was felled down, unlike when he had challenged to win the ball earlier on.

Six minutes were added on for all the injuries, Wijnaldum headed high, everyone in white surrounding Salah.

The great Egyptian looked tired, producing seven shots, none on target, the most he has had without scoring in a single game for Liverpool in all competitions. 

Roberto Firmino saw his penalty appeal in the final seconds ignored, Pieters getting away with it again, hugs all round as replays showed.

The Reds will be rightly disappointed to not have gotten more out of the match they bossed throughout, but the final edge was missing.

It was the first time in nine games the Reds failed to score at home in the league, since drawing 0-0 against West Brom in December, netting 27 in the eight games between the two goalless draws.

Klopp and co will be glad not to have more names added to the injury list after a very physical game with a lot of clashes and ouches, Jordan Henderson going down at the end of the first half but continued after treatment.

Next is the second and decisive leg of the Champions League semi-final in Rome on Wednesday before a trip to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League at the weekend with Chelsea looking to break into the top four.

Stoke meanwhile are three points from safety with two games left to play in the league (against Crystal Palace next weekend and at Swansea on the final day).

HT Stats: LIV 0-0 STK

Possession: 66%-34%

Shots: 7-1

On target: 1-0

Corners: 0-2

Fouls: 2-10

Yellow cards: 0-2

FT Stats: LIV 0-0 STK

Possession: 72%-28%

Shots: 19-5

On target: 2-1

Corners: 9-2

Fouls: 7-14

Yellow cards: 1-2

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 17 Klavan, 4 van Dijk (booked 88’), 12 Gomez; 18 Moreno, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 66 Alexander-Arnold (2 Clyne 65’); 28 Ings (7 Milner 65’), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 3-4-3 on Sky & PL apps, good old 4-3-3 on BBC & SFR with 18 & 66 completing the back line whilst 12 is in the middle... Bit of both in the end, sometimes back 5!!!

Subs not used: 6 Lovren, 22 Mignolet, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke, 58 Woodburn.

Stoke City Team: 1 Butland; 3 Pieters, 15 Martins Indi (32 Sobhi Ahmed 52’), 17 Shawcross (c), 6 Zouma; 2 Bauer, 27 Ndiaye, 4 Allen, 22 Shaqiri; 25 Crouch (booked 36’) (24 Fletcher 65’), 18 Diouf (booked 42’). 4-4-2

Subs not used: 7 Ireland, 16 Adam, 20 Cameron, 29 Haugaard, 40 Campbell.

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Erik Pieters

Ground: Anfield

Attendance: 53,255

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports and BBC match reports, Twitter, Sky Sports and Premier League apps and SFR coverage.

Stubborn Baggies Snatch A Point Late On

Sports - Football - Premier League - WBA 2:2 LIV

West Brom came back from two goals down in the last eleven minutes to make it 2-2 and grab a point back from Liverpool in the early kick-off on Saturday at the Hawthorns.

Danny Ings scored his first Liverpool goal since the 4th October 2015 Merseyside derby to give the Reds the lead just four minutes into the match.

Sadio Mané produced a fine move on the left in the build-up, to cross to Georginio Wijnaldum who set up the former Derby player for the opener.

The Reds had made five changes ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday, whilst the Baggies remained unchanged from their win at Old Trafford last weekend.

The home side had plenty of chances to come back into the match before and after the break but a certain Egyptian spoilt that possibility.

Sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set up Mohamed Salah just over six minutes after coming on, the top scorer bouncing the ball up and past everyone from close range to make it 0-2 to the visitors.

With that goal Salah equalled Luis Suárez’s LFC record of 31 Premier League goals in a single season.

Jake Livermore pulled one back for the bottom side with just over ten minutes to go, netting the rebound off a Loris Karius save from a couple of yards out, the Red keeper not happy.

Ahmed El-Sayed Hegazi got away with a couple of reckless tackles, first with a late challenge on Ings earlier on (followed by a punch in the stomach), then elbowing Salah in the buildup to the home side’s goal, referee Stuart Attwell not seeing and/or having any of it!

With a couple of minutes to go, a soft free kick, taken by skipper Chris Brunt on the left, was headed in by Salomón Rondón to make it 2-2 and complete a perfect comeback for Darren Moore’s men.

The caretaker coach could not have asked for a better reaction, Jürgen Klopp’s side never really got on top of things, the German blaming the dry pitch whilst the home side created more of less and grabbed a point back from the Red clutches.

It’s maybe too little too late to avoid relegation for West Brom, but at least gives them some encouragement to look forward to something next season, a side that actually gels and plays together! 

Moore has won five points from his three Premier League games in charge (W1 D2 L0), one more than Alan Pardew won in his last 11 games for the Baggies (W1 D1 L9). 

Meanwhile it was a wake-up call for Liverpool ahead of their European clash against Roma on Tuesday, they have to take more care and concentration at the back to not make all the class and sparks at the front go to waste!

HT Stats: WBA 0-1 LFC

Possession: 30%-70%

Shots: 4-5

On target: 1-2

Corners: 5-4

Fouls: 5-0

FT Stats: WBA 2-2 LFC

Possession: 38%-62%

Shots: 13-9

On target: 6-3

Corners: 7-4

Fouls: 12-5

Yellow cards: 0-1

West Brom Goals: Livermore 79’ & Rondón 88’.

Liverpool Goals: Ings 4’ & Salah 72’.

West Brom Team: 1 Foster; 3 Gibbs (17 Burke 76’), 26 Hegazi, 25 Dawson, 2 Nyom; 14 McClean (6 Evans 71’), 11 Brunt (c), 8 Livermore, 10 Phillips; 19 Rodriguez (4 Robson-Kanu 89’); 9 Rondón. 4-4-1-1

Subs not used: 5 Yacob, 13 Myhill, 20 Krychowiak, 28 Field.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 18 Moreno (booked 69’), 17 Klavan, 4 van Dijk, 12 Gomez; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c), 5 Wijnaldum; 19 Mané (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (65’), 28 Ings (9 Firmino 65’), 11 Salah (6 Lovren 84’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Man of the match: Matt Phillips

Ground: The Hawthorns

Attendance: 24,520

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

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

LFC Through To CL Quarter Finals

Sports - Football - Champions League - LIV 0:0 POR (5-0)

Liverpool progressed to the Champions League quarter finals for the first time since 2009 after a comfortable goalless draw in the second leg of the last 16 on Tuesday night at Anfield beating Porto 5-0 on aggregate.

Click here for my ByTheMin match coverage.

Five changes were made by the home side after their league win against Newcastle on Saturday, Adam Lallana featuring in Europe for the first time since the 2016 Europa League final.

The Portuguese league leaders had made ten changes after they beat Sporting 2-1 in the league on Friday, Iker Casillas starting for the visitors nine years after the Spaniard faced hell when he came to Merseyside with Real Madrid.

The keeper made his 167th appearance in the Champions League - 16 more than any other player in the history of the European Cup (Xavi next on 151).

The Reds were in control throughout, the first half registering no shots on target by either side, showing what a training game it was.

It was only the second time this season Liverpool failed to have a single shot on target in the first half of a game - last against Chelsea in the Premier League on 25 November (FT 1-1).

Porto captain Felipe Augusto de Almeida Monteiro intervened at crucial times, stopping Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino in their track when it mattered most.

The Senegalese hit the woodwork once for the Reds with just over half an hour gone, otherwise neither Casillas nor Loris Karius had anything to worry about in the first half.

The first shot on target came shortly after the break, Abdul Majeed Waris with a nice right-footed shot from outside the box, well saved by Karius, first stop the German keeper had to make.

Sub Danny Ings and James Milner had headers on target later on, but nothing to make Casillas sweat, same after star man Mohamed Salah came off the bench to get a run out for the last quarter of an hour.

The first Liverpool corner came in the 88th minute after Casillas denied Ings, stopping another header from going in.

It stayed goalless, Casillas did well not to worsen the aggregate score, the blue and white Dragons could leave Anfield with their heads held high, not everyone can say they kept a clean sheet here!

They are actually the first side to achieve that in the competition this season.

No team have ever progressed to the next round following a 5-0 home defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie.

Liverpool remain unbeaten against Porto, having played them six times in all competitions (W3 D3).

Porto have never won a Champions League away game against an English side, drawing three and losing 10 of their 13 trips.

The biggest aggregate win in the competition is still Bayern Munich's 12-1 against Sporting Lisbon in 2008/09.

Next on the fixture list for Jürgen Klopp's men is just a little league trip to Old Trafford on Saturday...

HT Stats: LIV 0-0 POR (5-0 on aggragate)
Possession: 66%-34%
Shots: 3-1
On target: 0-0
Corners: 0-0
Fouls: 4-10
Yellow Cards: 0-1

FT Stats: LIV 0-0 POR (5-0 on aggregate)
Possession: 65%-35%
Shots: 12-10
On target: 5-1
Corners: 1-3
Fouls: 11-12
Yellow cards: 1-2

LFC Team: 1 Karius, 12 Gomez, 6 Lovren, 32 Matip, 18 Moreno, 14 Henderson (c) (booked 59'), 7 Milner, 23 Can (17 Klavan 80'), 20 Lallana, 19 Mané (11 Salah 74'), 9 Firmino (28 Ings 62'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 4 Van Dijk, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Porto Team: 1 Casillas, 2 Pereira, 28 Felipe de Almeida Monteiro (c), 23 Reyes, 30 Dalot Teixeira (booked 90'+2), 10 Óliver Torres, 20 André (booked 34') (27 Oliveira 62'), 87 Bruno Costa, 17 Corona, 18 Waris (21 Ricardo 68'), 9 Aboubakar (14 Paciência 80'). 4-4-2
Subs not used: 12 Sá, 55 Machado Mata, 25 Monteiro, 8 Brahimi.

Referee: Feliz Zwayer
Man of the match: James Milner
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 48,768

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports and BBC match reports, Twitter and beIN sports coverage.