Premier League Picks Of The Week 29

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 29

The 29th week of the Premier League saw:

235 shots - most by West Ham & Chelsea = 20 each
28 goals - most by Everton = 4
204 fouls - most by Stoke = 16
34 bookings - most by Stoke = 6
2 reds cards - Phil Bardsley for Stoke & Tom Huddlestone for Hull
3 penalties - 3 scored (Walters for Stoke, Alli for Tottenham & Milner for Liverpool)

What a game! The pulsating draw at the Etihad gets my vote, not just because I'm a Liverpool fan. I could hardly keep up with all the action reporting for ByTheMinute on the game, it could have been 5-5. Click here to read my full LFC ByTheMin match coverage. It was end-to-end stuff, with plenty of power and pace, controversial decisions, chances, sitters, misses, beauties, screamers, howlers, etc. Referee Michael Oliver didn't make many friends. Record-breaker James Milner's penalty was cancelled out by none other than Sergio Agüero. City boss Pep Guardiola was the happiest, Reds manager Jürgen Klopp less so. Click here to read my full LFC match report. The result keeps both teams in third and fourth place, giving Tottenham some breathing space in second and seeing United climbing closer up to fifth.

What a team & man! Leicester recorded their first away win since April, beating West Ham 2-3 at the Olympic Stadium. It was brilliant to hear the fans singing "we're winning away" chants and see Jamie Vardy on the scoreboard, only his second away goal of the season. Keeper Kasper Schmeichel had the game of his life with spectacular show-stopping saves. His dad must be very proud. It was a great game by an awesome team with a legendary keeper. Craig Shakespeare must be glad to have the real Tigers back, whilst everyone else is left scratching their heads wondering what he has done to them? Or what ex-boss Claudio Ranieri was doing wrong?!

What a man! Romelu Lukaku is another record-breaker after making all the wrong headlines for rejecting a new contract at Everton. The Belgian striker made up for it with a welcome hat-trick as the Toffees thrashed 4-0 Hull City at Goodison Park. The win keeps Ronald Koeman's side in seventh place, but creeping up level on points with Arsenal.

What a goal! There were so many shockers this week! From shocking defence at set pieces by Arsenal that cost them dearly at West Brom, to Swansea's Alfie Mawson's own goal that handed Bournemouth the lead in the crucial relegation battle. The top flop goes to the Boro keeper though, Victor Valdes with an absolute mock-up handing the ball over to Antonio Valencia who pressed and capitalised on the slip easily to make it 1-4 to United. It's a cruel cruel cruel world out there! 

What the hell?! ARGH! I was so annoyed by all the diving and whining! It totally spoilt the Stoke-Chelsea game! But Arsenal annoyed me even more! It was one of the worst performances I have seen by the Gunners. Manager Arsène Wenger indicated he knows his future, rumour has it he already has another one- or two-year deal... Really?!?!?! The Frenchman has most certainly lost the team by the looks, the fans may be split, but, really?!?!?! A new deal before the end to one of his worst seasons... Hm... Fff...

My Predictions - Actual Results
West Brom 1:1 Arsenal - 3:1
Crystal Palace 1:2 Watford - 1:0
Everton 2:1 Hull City - 4:0
Stoke City 1:1 Chelsea - 1:2
Sunderland 2:1 Burnley - 0:0
West Ham 2:2 Leicester - 2:3
Bournemouth 2:2 Swansea - 2:0
Middlesbrough 1:2 Man United - 1:3
Tottenham 3:1 Southampton - 2:1
Man City 3:2 Liverpool - 1:1 or click here for my LFC match report 

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

All pictures and stats taken from the BBC match reports

Liverpool brush champions aside 4-1

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 4:1 LCFC

The new expanded Anfield enjoyed their team outplay and easily beat Premier League champions Leicester 4-1 in the first home game of the season for the Reds.

It was nearly perfect for Jürgen Klopp's men, a strong, dominant and in control performance, except for Lucas Leiva's giveaway to Jamie Vardy just seven minutes before the break. It was a shocker.

Before that muck up, Roberto Firmino had opened the scoring off James Milner's pass, stepping inside Robert Huth before netting the ball into the bottom corner.

Skipper Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge combined well, the latter's heel cheekily finding Sadio Mané to score on his home debut and make it 2-0 with just over half an hour gone.

The team and crowd were on fire, to be quenched by Lucas' inexplicable blooper of a pass, intended for keeper Simon Mignolet, but ending up perfectly across goal, fit for Vardy, an easy tap in for the profound striker.

This gave Claudio Ranieri's men hope and a breath of fresh air, however, Liverpool got their act together again in the second half, Adam Lallana making it 3-1, firing a shot into the top corner.

And to wrap up the win, Firmino doubled his score and made it 4-1 thanks to an unselfish Mané, who rounded an oncoming Kasper Schmeichel, to pass the ball to the Brazilian, who made no mistake of beating the Leicester defence to steer it in.

The score is harsh in the Danish stopper who made seven saves in an otherwise strong performance, but shows how crushing the Reds were, wearing and tearing down their opposition. So much so, Klopp lost his glasses in all the excitement, once again. Someone contact his optician/insurance/provider...

Liverpool Goals: Firmino 13' & 89', Mané 31' and Lallana 56'.

Leicester Goal: Vardy 38'.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 20 Clyne, 32 Matip, 21 Lucas, 7 Milner; 20 Lallana, 14 Henderson (c) (booked 44'), 5 Wijnaldum (35 Stewart 76'), 19 Mané (18 Moreno 90'+3'); 15 Sturridge (10 Coutinho 76', 11 Firmino. 4-4-2
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 16 Grujic, 17 Klavan, 27 Origi.

Leicester Team: 1 Schmeichel; 17 Simpson (2 Hernandez 34'), 5 Morgan, 6 Huth (booked 82'), 28 Fuchs; 26 Mahrez, 13 Amartey (booked 28'), 4 Drinkwater, 11 Albrighton (23 Ulloa 65'); 20 Okazaki (7 Musa 45'), 9 Vardy. 4-4-2
Subs not used: 3 Chilwell, 10 King, 21 Zieler, 22 Gray.

Match Stats: Liverpool-Leicester
Attempts: 17-12
On target: 11-3
Corners: 1-7
Fouls: 4-8
Bookings: 1-2
Possession: 62%-38%

Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Attendance: 51,232

Pictures taken from BBC match report

Click here for my previous LFC match report