Premier League Notes - Week 12

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 12

The 12th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

28 goals - most by Burnley, Man United and Liverpool = 3 each

285 shots - most by Everton = 24

96 on target - most by Burnley = 12

109 corners - most by Man City = 13

213 fouls - most by Crystal Palace, Burnley and Wolves = 17 each

37 bookings - most by Brighton = 5

1 red card - Kabasele for Watford

0 penalties

#NORWAT

Hornets winger Gerard Deulofeu opened the scoring after just 76 seconds on Friday night, the second fastest by an away side in the Premier League this season, walking through the Canaries' back line. Sub Andre Gray doubled the lead after the break with a cheeky back-footer (52’). Defender Christian Kabasele’s daft second yellow (65’) didn’t make much off a difference, the visitors stayed in control at Carrow Road, despite the hosts pushing and trying. Quique Sánchez Flores' side climb off the bottom of the table with their first win of the season, Norwich taking their place, nicht gut for their German boss Daniel Farke.

#CHECRY

It was a one-sided first half in the lunchtime kickoff at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, all Blues, the Eagles defending well and frustrating the hell out of the hosts. Tammy Abraham broke the deadlock after the break with a fine finish across goal into the bottom right (52’). Christian Pulisic doubled the home side’s lead (78’), relieving the little bit of pressure there was on Frank Lampard’s men and taking them up to third. Comfy three points, sixth consecutive league win, condemning Roy Hodgson’s stubborn side to their fifth defeat of the season, pushing them down to 12th. 

#BURWHU

Ashley Barnes’ tap in gave the home side the lead (11’), what happened to defenders marking anyone?! Chris Wood’s thunderous header was disallowed by VAR (36’), but nothing and no one could deny the home side were bossing it - VAR shambles, giving the corner which led to the first goal and disallowing the second goal on unclear and marginal if any evidence. But Wood made sure the Clarets wouldn’t have to moan about that for too long, slotting the ball home totally unmarked to make it 2-0 shortly before the break (44’). And it got even worse for the visitors, keeper Roberto Jiménez topped his dire display by flapping at a corner and adding an own goal to the scoreboard to make it 3-0 (54’), just embarrassing. Seven league and cup games without a win now for the Hammers, and injuries to skipper Mark Noble and Manuel Lanzini won't help Manuel Pellegrini either. An easy win and just what the doctor ordered after three straight league defeats for Sean Dyche’s men. 

#NEWBOU

Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson finished off and fired home a brilliant corner routine (14’), the Magpies just couldn’t deal with it. Set pieces, hey? Their right-back DeAndre Yedlin made up for it and equalised just before the break with a flying header (42’). Another defender, this time Ciaran Clark, bundled one over the line to give the home side the lead (52’), what a turnaround thanks to an American brace. Steve Bruce will be glowing during the international break after their first successive league wins of the season takes them up to 13th. Who needs strikers?!

#SOUEVE

A totally unmarked Tom Davies headed the Toffees ahead early on (5’), his first for the club in 553 days, Saints defence all over the place, shocking. Again, do they have to Google-search marking?! But the home side were level soon after the break, sub Sofiane Boufal handing former Red Danny Ings an easy poke in to make it 1-1 (50’). But the visitors regained the lead when Richarlison volleyed home the perfect cross by Djibril Sidibé (75’). Marco Silva was in absolute ecstasy after watching his side record their first away win since March, taking them up to 15th, whilst Ralph Hasenhüttl's side slide down to 19th, three points from safety, after losing four consecutive home league games at St Mary's for the very first time. 

#TOTSHU

United were in control, dominating and making much more of the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs being just shadows. But Son Heung-min made the most of the miscommunication between the defenders to give the home side the lead (58’). Seconds later, David McGoldrick levelled the score with a tap-in (60’), but VAR scrubbed it off for offside in the buildup, millimeters, again! For me, the line was even, and if it takes so long to check, it’s NOT offside. Shambles. But George Baldock swept in the deserved equaliser, VAR wasted more time on another offside check, but couldn’t disallow it this time, no matter how many lines were drawn, 1-1 (78’) and game on! It ended a goal and point each, Chris Wilder’s side will be disappointed as they worked and deserved more from this match but still climb up to fifth, whilst Mauricio Pochettino is left wondering and pondering with no wins since September = in the last five league matches, his side crumbling and tumbling down to 14th. 

#LEIARS

Unmarked Jamie Vardy put the home side ahead from inside the box completing a lovely move for the Foxes (67’). James Maddison doubled their lead with a banger, from the edge of the box, you could hear the low shot hit the bottom left of the net (75’). Brendan Rodgers’ men bossed the match in a very rainy King Power Stadium on Saturday evening, climbing up to second with the easy win, downing Unai Emery and his Gunners to yet another defeat, their third of the season, sinking down to sixth, behind Sheffield United in fifth on goal difference.

#MUNBHA

The Red Devils bossed it, only thanks to Albions keeper Mathew Ryan it wasn’t an absolute thrash in the Sunday early afternoon kickoff at Old Trafford. Andreas Pereira (17’) and Marcus Rashford (66’) scored either side of a Davy Pröpper own goal (19’). Ole Gunnar Solskjær described their biggest home win in the Premier League since August as their best performance of the season, taking them to an unbeaten home run of seven games in all competitions, their best since March 2018 (eight games under José Mourinho), and up to seventh. 

#WOLAVL

Wanderers’ first top-flight win over the Villans since 1978 was fully deserved. The hosts dominated and carved open the visitors again and again, but didn’t break the deadlock until shortly before the break thanks to Ruben Neves (41’). Raúl Jiménez doubled the hosts' lead to seal the three points late on (84’). Trézéguet with a late consolation goal (90+2’) could not hide the fact how poor the visitors were, manager Dean Smith conceded that much after the match, whilst Nuno Espírito Santo can be very happy, with his side climbing into the top half of the table for the first time since the opening weekend. 

#LIVMCI

A Fabinho smacker (6’), Mo Salah header off Andrew Robertson's perfect cross (13’) and diving header by Sadio Mané (51’) sealed the deal for the Reds, three points in the bag, at the top, nine points ahead of the champions, Bernardo Silva with the only reply (78’) at loud, shaking, dancing, prancing, glowing, celebrating Anfield. Pep Guardiola's 380th top-flight match as a manager, it was only the fifth time the Spaniard found himself two goals behind at half-time, losing all of them. His outrage against the refs was a bit OTT, (hilarious takes on Twitter) replays showing his players handled and fouled before any of the penalty calls and making the VAR decisions not easy but correct. Remember last season? With or without VAR, Liverpool bossed the champions. There was and always will be close and controversial calls, you either play on to win it (like the Reds did) or moan on and lose it (as the Citizens suffered). Jürgen Klopp meanwhile, can go into the international break smiling, his side in their best home form in 34 years (13 consecutive home league wins) after his ninth career win against Pep. 

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Norwich 3:1 Watford - 0:2

Chelsea 1:2 Crystal Palace - 2:0

Burnley 1:3 West Ham - 3:0

Newcastle 1:0 Bournemouth - 2:1

Southampton 2:1 Everton - 1:2

Tottenham 2:2 Sheffield United - 1:1

Leicester 3:1 Arsenal - 2:0

Man United 1:1 Brighton - 3:1

Wolves 2:1 Aston Villa - 2:1

Liverpool 2:1 Man City - 3:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

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.

Reds Shock Citizens 3-0 In Europe

Sports - Football - Champions League - LFC 3:0 MCFC

Liverpool swept Premier League leaders Manchester City aside 3-0 at Anfield, all goals scored in a breathtaking opening 31 minutes, stunning Pep Guardiola's men in their first leg Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday night.

Top scorer Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after 12 minutes, pouncing on the rebound from close range after City keeper Ederson denied man of the match Roberto Firmino, netting his 38th goal of the season, ninth in Europe.

Eight minutes later, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled the Reds' lead with a smacker of a strike past Ederson from 20 yards out, James Milner the provider for a record seventh assist in the competition, three more than any other player.

And Sadio Mané completed the dream-start and made it three heading in Salah's cross with just over half an hour gone, making it seven goals in the last eight games for the Senegalese. Pep's face said it all, the Citizens just did not have a clue what hit them.

These three goals brought Liverpool's total in the Champions League to 31, making them the top scoring side this season and recording their biggest tally ever in a single season in the European Cup.

The buildup was massive, the atmosphere was breathtaking, the visitors were not allowed to get a touch on the ball without Jürgen Klopp's men swarming them and the Kop booing them, City sub and former Red Raheem Sterling especially getting it after coming on later on in the game.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson did a brilliant job blocking and denying any chances for the opposition on the wings, frustrating the hell out of Gabriel Jesus, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sané and leaving Loris Karius with not much to do.

That was the main difference to their last clash in the league, a seven-goal thriller where the Reds ended up on top as well, the clarity and control of the win = clean sheet for the Reds. This time the Citizens did not get anything back, not even a glance back into goal nor the match.

The Sky Blues failed to record a single shot on target for the entire game for the first time since 26th October 2016 (against Manchester United in the League Cup) despite enjoying much more possession after the break.

Their Catalan boss has only enjoyed one win in his last six meetings with Klopp in all competitions (D2 L3), the 5-0 thrash at the Etihad last September, with the German registering more wins against Pep than any other manager (= six).

The Merseysiders meanwhile remain unbeaten at home in Europe since October 2014 (0-3 against Real Madrid), extending their run without defeat to 15 matches at Anfield (W10 D5).

The only bad news for Liverpool were Salah's injury, which saw him being replaced by Georginio Wijnaldum just eight minutes after the interval, and Jordan Henderson's suspension, the captain's late booking seeing him suspended for the second leg at the Etihad next week.

It was an unforgettable night at Anfield, but like Klopp said, it is only half-time. Nothing is decided yet. We will see next Tuesday who will make it into the Champions League semi-final.

But the Reds will first have to travel to Goodison Park on Saturday, where they will meet Everton in the Premier League Merseyside derby lunch-time kick-off. The Toffees will be hoping and praying a certain Egyptian will stay out.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 12', Oxlade-Chamberlain 20' & Mané 31'.

Match Stats: LFC 3-0 MCFC
Possession: 34%-66%
Shots: 9-11
On target: 5-0
Corners: 0-8
Fouls: 6-10
Yellow cards: 1-4

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 6 Lovren, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 7 Milner, 14 Henderson (c) (booked 86'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (18 Moreno 85'); 19 Mané, 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 71'), 11 Salah (5 Wijnaldum 53'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 2 Clyne, 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings, 63 Masterson.

Man City Team: 31 Ederson; 14 Laporte, 4 Kompany (c), 30 Otamendi (booked 45'+3'), 2 Walker; 25 Fernandino, 17 De Bruyne (booked 80'); 19 Sané, 21 Silva, 8 Gündogan (7 Sterling 57' (booked 90'+2')); 33 de Jesus (booked 76'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 3 Danilo, 5 Stones, 18 Delph, 20 Silva, 35 Zinchenko.

Referee: Dr Felix Brych (GER)
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 50,685

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

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

Reds End City Run In 7-Goal Thriller

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 4:3 MCFC

Liverpool ended Manchester City's Premier League unbeaten run in shocking style, gob-smacking and handing Pep Guardiola's men their first league defeat of the season in a seven-goal Super Sunday showpiece-thriller at Anfield.

Former Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the Reds the lead with a smacker after just 8:47 minutes, a nice long strike 45 yards from goal between four defenders, across the keeper Ederson and in, boom!

The visitors were stunned, the Kop loud, but five minutes before the break City replied, Leroy Sané smashing in the equaliser past Loris Karius' bottom right, his near-post, not good for Simon Mignolet's replacement.

Up until then, Jürgen Klopp's men were all over their opponents, chasing, tracking and closing down every ball, thrilling to watch, hell to play against. Or pressing, pressing, pressing as others put it.

Liverpool continued the high-powered, energised and full-on style after the break, Man City dominating possession but not play.

And just before the hour-mark, the Red storm of three goals in nine minutes commenced:

Roberto Firmino with a brilliant individual goal, stayed up, kept the ball, and shooooooot, 2-1. The shirt went off. Yep, and Anfield exploded.

Seconds later, Sadio Mané hit the post, a minute before his left-footer into the top left corner made it 3-1, even Martin Tyler got loud!!!

And that wasn't all, not even six minutes later, Mohamed Salah clipped the ball over Ederson and in, after the keeper made an error of a clearance/pass/cross/whatever it was supposed to be, 4-1, vielen Dank!

Rache ist süüüüüß! (= revenge is sweeeeet! In case you're wondering what I'm on about, here's my report on the last time these two sides met.)

But it would have been too good to be true. It cannot be Liverpool FC without a hick-up (or two) and more drama drama drama!

Sub Bernardo Silva (84') and Ilkay Gündogan (91') pulled two late goals back to make it 4-3 and hand the Citizens a glimmer of hope of avoiding defeat and the Reds that all too familiar horrifying feeling of "NOT AGAIN".

GULP. I couldn't watch...

But it was not to be for the league leaders and record-breakers, the home side held onto the lead and bagged the three precious, unexpected, awesome points.

Only two teams have gone longer unbeaten than City's run of 22 matches from the start of the season in Premier League history - Arsenal in 2003-04 (38 games) and Manchester United in 2010-11 (24).

And Guardiola doesn't seem to like Klopp, having lost five times against the German, more than against any other manager.

Andy Robertson was outstanding at the back for the Reds, controlling and frustrating the Citizens, including former Red Raheem Sterling, which was inspiring especially after all the Reds were so worried about being without injured Virgil van Dijk! And Coutinwho?! Life goes on and looks pretty rosy without the Brazilian!

Emre Can's substitution changed the game and showed how much Liverpool relied on him as City came back into the game minutes after he was replaced by James Milner.

And many were surprised to see under-fire defender Dejan Lovren start and given the captain's armband.

But who cares?! WE WON AND SHOWED EVERYONE YES WE CAN! JAWOHL!!!

Liverpool Goals: Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mané 61', Salah 68'.

Man City Goals: Sané 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gündogan 90'+1'.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius, 12 Gomez, 32 Matip, 6 Lovren, 26 Robertson, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 23 Can (7 Milner 79', booked), 5 Wijnaldum, 11 Salah (20 Lallana 88'), 9 Firmino (booked), 19 Mané (17 Klavan 90'+4').
Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings, 29 Solanke, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Man City Team: 31 Ederson, 2 Walker, 5 Stones, 30 Otamendi (booked), 18 Delph (3 Danilo 31'), 17 De Bruyne, 25 Fernandinho (booked), 8 Gündogan, 7 Sterling (booked, 20 Bernardo Silva 71'), 10 Agüero, 19 Sané.
Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 15 Mangala, 21 Silva, 35 Zinchenko, 55 Diaz.

FT Stats: LFC 4-3 MCFC
Possession: 36%-64%
Shots: 16-11
On target: 7-4
Corners: 5-6
Fouls: 10-7
Yellow cards: 2-3

Referee: Andre Marriner
Man of the match: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,285

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD2, Twitter and Sky Sports match coverage.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 18

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 18

The 18th week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Huddersfield, Man City & Liverpool = 4 each
263 shots - most by Chelsea = 24
93 on target - most by Man City = 11
104 corners - most by West Ham = 9
234 fouls - most by Tottenham = 20
40 bookings - most by Brighton & Tottenham = 4 each
3 red cards - Ndidi for Leicester, Deeney for Watford, Hogg for Huddersfield
6 penalties - 3 scored (Mooy for Huddersfield, Noble for West Ham, Rooney for Everton)

What a game! Huddersfield ended their goalless and winless away run in style thrashing Watford 1-4 at Vicarage Road, the first top-flight meeting between the two. It was the Terriers' first away win and goal since 12th August when they started the Premier League campaign with a convincing 0-3 win at Crystal Palace. Elias Kachunga scored his first Premier League goal, Aaron Mooy doubled the lead from close range. The Hornets' poor discipline showed again, captain Troy Deeney shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle with just over half an hour gone, the third successive game and fourth time this season Marco Silva's men were reduced to ten men. Laurent Depoitre made it three after the break smashing the ball in after José Holebas slipped. Huddersfield skipper and former Hornet Jonathan Hogg was then sent off, second yellow, and Abdoulaye Doucouré pulled a goal back for Watford with a superb half-volley from 25 yards out. But Mooy made it two for him and four for the visitors, sealing the win from the spot, taking David Wagner's side up to 11th on 21 points, one point behind Watford in 10th. Sehr gut!

What a team! Newcastle have lost eight of their last nine Premier League games (D1, L8) after Arsenal's Mesut Özil's brilliant volley was enough to beat the Magpies at the Emirates, their longest winless run in the league since May 2015 (10). Their fourth straight defeat saw Rafael Benítez's men drop into the relegation zone and the Spanish boss crying out for "something in January". It is sad when there is more happening off the pitch than on the pitch. Gunners boss Arsène Wenger meanwhile has Özil to thank, the German's moment of magic was the only thing that brightened up a dull afternoon in London.
At the other end of the table, Manchester City outclassed Tottenham, beating the London side 4-1 at the Etihad, recording their 16th successive Premier League victory, topping and bossing the table eleven points ahead of local rivals Manchester United. The Red Devils won 1-2 at West Brom on Sunday to avoid the gap getting even bigger. It was not the most convincing win though... ZzZ

What a man! Man of the match Kevin De Bruyne bossed the show at the Etihad, scoring City's second, winning the (missed) penalty and making six key passes. In contrast to the top Belgian, Dele Alli was nowhere to be seen for Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino's men lucky to end the game with eleven men after some reckless challnges. Spurs are now without a win in 10 away games against the "big six" (4D, 6L).
Man of the match at the Vitality Stadium was Mohamed Salah,becoming the first Liverpool player to score at least 20 league and cup goals in a single season since Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14, and the first to score 20 goals before Christmas since the great legend Ian Rush in 1986-7. The extraordinary Egyptian touched the ball 48 times with an 80% pass success rate, scored a fine individual goal and put in four crosses in Liverpool's 0-4 win at Bournemouth, keeping the Reds unbeaten in the last 12 matches in all competitions. Click here for my full match report.
And last but not least, Wayne Rooney has made it ten goals in his last nine Premier League games for Everton, missing one but netting the other spot kick to seal the comeback and 3-1 win against bottom side Swansea on Monday Night Football. The Toffees are continuing their revival under Big Sam, having now won four of their past five games, which has taken them up to ninth in the table. What crises?!

What a goal! Crystal Palace hadn't scored in their last ten league games on the road before downing Leicester 0-3 in convincing fashion at the King Power Stadium Saturday lunch time. I certainly didn't predict that! Their last away goals were on their 1-2 win at Anfield under Big Sam in April, the longest such goalless away run by any top-flight side since 1949-50. Under fire Christian Benteke certainly made up for his penalty screw-up last weekend, scoring the opener and setting up man of the match Wilfried Zaha to double the lead with a lovely stepover move and shot. Birthday boy Wilfred Ndidi's second yellow for simulation hit the Foxes and threw away any chance of a comeback, Bakary Sako making it three goals and three points for the visitors in the final seconds of the game. Roy Hodgson has worked wonders, his side unbeaten in the last seven league games (3W, 4D), with three consecutive away clean sheets for the first time in the league, rising up from the bottom dumps to 14th. Claude Puel's men remain eighth in the table, nowhere near as impressive as in the midweek thrashing of his former club Southampton.

What the hell?! There were plenty of penalties this week (some mentioned above)! Glenn Murray missed from the spot for Brighton, the goalless draw against fifth-placed Burnley taking his side's winless run to seven matches, the last win was their 1-0 victory at Swansea on 4th November, keeping the south-coast club in 13th. Stoke boss Mark Hughes wasn't happy with referee Graham Scott after he pointed to the spot for West Ham's Manuel Lanzini's dramatic tumble. Hammers boss David Moyes blamed fatigue. Either way, the game ended 0-3 to the visitors at the Bet365 Stadium after kick-off was delayed for an hour due to a power outage. This defeat means the Potters have now lost five out of their last six and conceded the most goals in the Premier League, leaving just one point and one place above the relegation zone. All that can't come from refereeing decisions, the "Hughes out" shouts getting louder and louder...
Romelu Lukaku and José Mourinho have issues! The United forward opened the scoring against his former side West Brom, celebrations muted again like last time, his boss showing no reaction whatsoever, sitting stone cold frozen in the dugout. Your team just scored ffs! It is well known that the Portuguese has been flirting with PSG, mark my words, I've got the feeling his days in Manchester are counted! He doesn't seem to like or enjoy it there much! Depressing!

My Predictions - Actual Results
Leicester 2:0 Crystal Palace - 0:3
Arsenal 4:2 Newcastle - 1:0
Brighton 0:1 Burnley - 0:0
Chelsea 3:1 Southampton - 1:0
Stoke City 2:2 West Ham - 0:3
Watford 2:0 Huddersfield - 1:4
Man City 2:1 Tottenham - 4:1
West Brom 1:1 Man United - 1:2
Bournemouth 1:2 Liverpool - 0:4 or my match report
Everton 2:1 Swansea - 3:1

Click here for my previous Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 10

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 10

The tenth week of the Premier League action saw:

23 goals - most by Liverpool & Man City = 3 each
114 shots - most by Crystal Palace = 19
68 on target - most by Crystal Palace = 9
92 corners - most by Crystal Palace = 11
195 fouls - most by Crystal Palace = 18
29 yellow cards - most by Watford & Stoke = 4 each
0 red cards
2 penalties - 1 scored (Mohamed Salah missed for Liverpool, Luka Milivojevic for Crystal Palace)

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What a game! West Brom against Manchester City started with a flood of goals, three in under 15 minutes! Leroy Sané opened the scoring for the visitors with a vicious strike from 15 yards. Jay Rodriguez levelled the score for the hosts three minutes later lifting the ball past Ederson off Gareth Barry's cross. But seconds later Fernandinho restored the Citizens' lead, seeing the ball deflect off a couple of players and in off the post. Former LFC winger Raheem Sterling made it 1-3 with just over an hour gone after the game calmed down a bit. The home side pulled one back late on, what a massive mistake it was by Nicolás Otamendi, Matt Phillips capitalizing well on it, but it was too little too late for the Baggies. The blue league leaders keep flying high five points clear at the top even after not exactly their best performance.

What a team! Just when Arsenal looked to be on top of their game after taking Everton apart 5-2 last week, they were humbled by Swansea, in the first half. The Swans took the lead when Sam Clucas slotted one in against the run of play halfway through the opening half. And it could have been worse if it weren't for Petr Čech's stops, denying Jordan Ayew, who came closest to double the Welsh side's lead. But the Gunners hit back and completed a great turnaround after the break, thanks to two goals in seven minutes by Sead Kolašinac (51') and Aaron Ramsey (58'). It's the third successive game the Londoners have fought back from behind, ending manager Arsène Wenger's 800th Premier League game on top, remaining fifth in the league table, level on points with Chelsea in fourth.
Newcastle definitely don't like Mondays after losing their 10th consecutive top-flight match on this miserable opening day of the week. Burnley deserved the win thanks to Jeff Hendrick's second league goal of the season, sealing a nice fifth anniversary present for manager Sean Dyche, who has been linked with the vacant Everton job. I don't think he'd be that stupid: Burnley are sitting high and happy in seventh, whilst the Toffees are stuck in the bottom three, more to their defeat below.

What a man! Super sub Anthony Martial won the early kick-off on Saturday for Manchester United, beating two Spurs defenders to slot the ball home off Romelu Lukaku's headed cross with 81 minutes on the clock, just over ten minutes after coming on. Too easy. With this victory, the hosts have won their last six league games at Old Trafford, conceding zero, keeping them second in the league table. The last time they recorded such a strong league run at home was March 2010 under Sir Alex Ferguson. The weather was just as dire as the entertainment value and quality of the match though. The first half saw the visitors on top, the home side were poor, but took more control after the interval, José Mourinho's substitution(s) proved to be crucial. Harry Kane and Victor Wanyama were ruled out due to injury and certainly missed, both scorers in Tottenham's win over the Red Devils the last time the two sides met in an emotional farewell at White Hart Lane. The result put an end to Mauricio Pochettino's men's unbeaten run on the road this season, recording their second defeat in the league, keeping them in third place, local rivals Chelsea and Arsenal closing the gap to just a point. The London side definitely don't like this ground, having lost 21 of their 26 Premier League trips to Old Trafford. (After this match, Manchester City will surely not be all too worried though, neither side looking half as threatening and lethal as the league leaders.)

What a goal! Both West Ham goals impressed, from nice team play to top quality individual effort! Javier Hernández broke the deadlock with a nice finish and André Ayew doubled the Hammers' lead with a stunner driven from 20 yards out. But a spot kick by Luka Milivojević and late late late late late Wilfried Zaha goal grabbed a point back for Crystal Palace (90'+7!!!), who had also hit the woodwork twice and pulled numerous saves from Joe Hart. It ended a point each for Roy Hodgson and Slaven Bilić, but very different feelings, the fourth point of the season for Palace, denying West Ham a first Premier League away win in six attempts.
Eden Hazard made it three in three for Chelsea, as many goals as in his previous 17 games, to beat Bournemouth 0-1 at the Vitality Stadium. Clinical. Asmir Begović was beaten from a tight angle on the side the Bosnian keeper should have had covered. The Cherries fought hard, but just could not find a breakthrough. Cruel.
And what a run and goal Leicester's opener was against Everton! Jamie Vardy banged the chance in from close range after the Foxes broke and ripped through the Toffees, Demarai Gray with the run past Tom Davies and two more Evertonians, followed by a Riyad Mahrez cross, top top top counter attack. Jonjoe Kenny's deflection added to the visitor's misery, awarded to Gray, who was on fire and involved again with a fine run and shot. The Claude Puel era is up and running, it was certainly a Super Sunday for he Frenchman. Not sure caretaker David Unsworth will get nor want the job at the Merseyside club permanently at this rate, watching his side nowhere near competing, moulding in 18th.

What the hell?! Only Jürgen Klopp knows why Mohamed Salah took the spot kick for Liverpool. James Milner and Roberto Firmino left watching as Huddersfield keeper Jonas Lössl denied the Egyptian from the spot. It just added to the frustrations, the last league win difficult to remember. It was over a month ago to be exact, 2-3 at Leicester, felt like years ago! A slice of luck saw Daniel Sturridge capitalize on Terriers captain Tommy Smith's misplaced header to give the Reds the lead and relieve them of a lot of pressure!!! Firmino doubled the lead with a strong header off a corner. Georginio Wijnaldum made it three with a rifle of a shot, past four defenders, the 150th PL goal under Klopp. What was I ranting about again? The Reds turned on the style at Anfield in the second half, finally!!! Something/someone finally clicked and turned the switch on, and keeping only their fourth clean sheet in ten league games will boost the confidence more, too. The win takes Klopp's men up to sixth, three points behind the top four. It was the first league meeting between the two sides since February 1972 and there was a lot covered in the buildup to the match about the close friendship between the two managers, Klopp and David Wagner. History. The last time the Terriers beat the Reds was 1959 under non-other than Bill Shankly before his LFC era! History-and-a-half.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Man United 2:1 Tottenham - 1:0
Arsenal 1:1 Swansea - 2:1
Crystal Palace 1:2 West Ham - 2:2
Liverpool 1:1 Huddersfield - 3:0
Watford 2:1 Stoke City - 0:1
West Brom 1:3 Man City - 2:3
Bournemouth 1:3 Chelsea - 0:1
Brighton 1:0 Southampton - 1:1
Leicester 1:1 Everton - 2:0
Burnley 0:1 Newcastle - 1:0

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

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