Premier League Notes - Week 21

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 21

The 21st week of the 2019-2020 Premier League football season saw:

25 goals - most by West Ham = 4

241 shots - most by Burnley = 21

85 on target - most by Leicester = 9

99 corners - most by Tottenham and West Ham = 9 each

209 fouls - most by Southampton = 21

34 bookings - most by Norwich = 5

1 red card - Kabasele for Watford

1 penalty - 1 scored (Noble for West Ham) 

#BHACHE

Tammy Abraham’s take after Kurt Zouma headed on a corner was blocked by Aaron Mooy, but only as far as César Azpilicueta, who was left with an easy take to give the Blues the lead unmarked from close range (10’). But the Seagulls didn’t go down from there, quite the opposite, they kept going and pushing, pulling a great low save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga, just before Alireza Jahanbakhsh equalised with a stunning Rooney-esque overhead kick (84’). Kepa couldn’t stop that one! Having failed to score in any of his first 26 appearances for Brighton in all competitions, the Iranian winger has now netted in consecutive appearances for the Albion. The Chelsea stopper denied Neil Maupay a late winner, the home side tried their best, ending a cracking contest on top, it was nearly a shame they had to share a point each. 

#BURAVI

Jack Grealish had the ball in the back of the net for the Villans after Charlie Taylor had messed up his clearance, but the VAR chalked the goal off deeming Wesley was offside in the buildup (14’). He wasn’t. All the lines and dots didn’t clarify or confirm anything. Shambles. It’s the 22nd goal disallowed by the vid ref. Grealish and Wesley worked well together again to give the visitors the lead after all, the latter taking the prior’s fine pass on his chest and hitting it in through keeper Nick Pope’s legs (27’). Grealish got his name on the board all right as well, with a whacker into the back of the net (41’). The Clarets were nowhere. Until the second half, where they finally fought back, throwing everything at Villa. First shot on target = goal, Chris Wood free after some penalty box pinball to head home powerfully from Ashley Westwood's cross. The VAR checked something (don’t ask what) but the goal stood (80’). But it was not to be any more than a consolation goal, Villa holding on to the win to take them out of the relegation zone, fully deserved. It wasn't a good day for Sean Dyche and his men, blown further back and down by this defeat and more injuries, to 15th.

#NEWLEI

The Foxes came out firing, Jonny Evans walloping the ball off the Magpies keeper Martin Dúbravka in the opening minutes, it echoed through St James’ Park. Ayoze Pérez took advantage of some awful play at the back by Florian Lejeune to give the visitors the lead, finding the back of the net despite being challenged and tumbling in the box (36’). James Maddison doubled their lead with a cracker from the semi-circle into the top right corner (39’). And Kelechi Iheanacho hit the woodwork before the break (43’), the home side scrambling. The struggle got worse after the restart, Steve Bruce had already made all changes when Fabian Schär went down injured and unable to continue, reducing the home side to ten men shortly after the restart (53’). Hamza Choudhury had time and space to take a run up and take the ball in from the semi-circle with a perfect shot to make it 0-3 and three points sealed for Brendan Rodgers' men (88’), keeping them second, ten points behind the league leaders (before their match the following night).

#SOUTOT

The Saints were so close to opening the scoring after just 17 seconds! It was Danny Ings’ shot that was blocked, and seconds later Cédric Soares wasted another golden opportunity wide (2’). At the other end, Alex McCarthy denied Harry Kane with a super high spring save (6’). Ings with a great run, touch and take through the Spurs defence and past Paulo Gazzaniga, Gascoigne-esque, gave the home side the lead at St Mary’s and made it nine goals in ten games for the former Red (17’). Toby Alderweireld’s handball in the box was checked by the VAR, replays showed yes, handled, but the screen said no pen (52’). I give up understanding this video mess. Kane’s leveller was flagged offside, the VAR confirmed it correctly for a change, I have to say (74’). During that chance, the England striker pulled his hamstring, things going from bad to worse for José Mourinho and his men. 

#WATWOL

A giveaway by the Wolves back line, Ismaïla Sarr was gifted the ball by Leandre Dendoncker, to pass it to Gerard Deulofeu on the left side of the box, who made no mistake with a nice low curl around and in to give the home side the lead (30’), Henry-esque. Abdoulaye Doucouré doubled the hosts’ lead after the break, diagonal bang from the centre of the box into the top corner (49’). Pedro Neto pulled one back, an evil but cracking deflection into the top corner, unstoppable (60’). With 19 years and 298 days, he’s the first ever teenager to score a Premier League goal for Wolves. One thing the VAR got right for a change, deeming Christian Kabasele pulling back Diogo Jota, who was running clear on goal, was worth a red, correcting the ref’s yellow (71'). It stayed 2-1. Nigel Pearson is working wonders yet again, seeing the Hornets to their fourth win of the season and move to just two points away from safety. 

#MCIEVE

Phil Foden’s opener from close range was chalked off by the good old VAR, this time a quite obvious one, provider Riyad Mahrez offside in the buildup (13’). Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring with a cracker that could only curl and bounce in off Jordan Pickford’s glove (51’). The Brazilian doubled the score squeezing the ball in between keeper and near-post (58’). Nice move and take by the Citizens, the Toffees beaten, too soft and easy. Jesus has scored more Premier League goals against Everton (7) than he has against any other team in the competition. Oh Claudio Bravo, messed up totally with the ball in the box, leading to Richarlison netting one back, a lovely cross by Dominic Calvert-Lewin to set him up (71’). Jesus hit the woodwork looking for a hat-trick late on (80’). A nervy finish ended with the fifth consecutive win for the Citizens against the Toffees by an aggregate score of 13-4, but it was the first time Pep Guardiola beat Carlo Ancelotti (their previous meetings as managers - two Real Madrid wins versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final of 2014).

#NOWCRY

The home side took an early lead. Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendía exchanged a couple of passes before a blocked Buendía shot landed into the path of Cantwell, who made no mistake of netting it (4’). Palace had to wait a loooooong time for the VAR to confirm the equaliser, sub Connor Wickham sliding the ball in off Wilfried Zaha’s low cross (85’), ONSIDE, his 50th career goal, but first in the Premier League for 1,138 days since he netted against Manchester City in November 2016 - also assisted by Zaha. This time it ended a goal and point each, keeping Norwich bottom and seven points from safety, whilst Palace remain ninth. 

#WHUBOU

Mark Noble with the breakthrough, deflecting in the opener for the home side (18’) to make him the first player to score a Premier League goal in each of the 14 years since 2007. A flashy jump and bicycle kick by Sebastien Haller doubled the Hammers’ lead (25’). The skipper won a soft penalty and converted it to make it 3-0 (35’), 6 out of 6 spot kicks for the captain, and perfect start for new boss David Moyes. The last time West Ham scored three goals in a game was on 24 August against Watford in a 3-1 win (week 3). The last time they did that in the opening 36 minutes of a game was in May 2007 against Bolton, Noble also scoring their third that day. Felipe Anderson made it four (67’). The Moyes effect. It didn’t end perfect for the home side though, with Aaron Cresswell sent walking for a silly late and high tackle on Ryan Fraser - for the VAR to revise it to just yellow (77’). Why?! WTF?! It was reckless, dangerous, pointless in the end to argue anything anymore. No sense. VARce!!! The result ended Bournemouth's six-game unbeaten run against West Ham in the Premier League (W3 D3) and sees them drop down to 18th, whilst the Hammers climb up to 16th, two points ahead of their opposition.

#ARSMUN

Nicolas Pépé was totally unmarked in the centre of the box to net an easy opener (8’). And he hit the woodwork with a low curl shot on to the left post after David de Gea passed the ball to him (38’). The Spanish stopper punched away Alexandre Lacazette’s chance off a corner, onto his own defender who deflected it straight to Sokratis Papastathopoulos who pounced on it and banged it in to double the Gunners’ lead from a couple of yards out (43’), fully deserved. United created more chances in the second half, but Arsenal never looked in grave trouble. The Red Devils stay fifth, the gap between them and the top four is still five points. Arsenal climb up to 10th, nine points away from Chelsea in fourth. The Gunners had not won in their previous seven home games. And it’s their first Premier League win this season against a team currently in the top half of the table (D4 L5). Manchester United have taken 39 points from their last 30 league games. That's fewer than Crystal Palace and Everton and the same amount as Newcastle United. Ole at the whee...

#LIVSHU

It didn’t even take four minutes for Andy Robertson’s cross from the left to find Mo Salah, who nutmegged Man United loanee keeper Dean Henderson to open the scoring at Anfield. On the break, Sadio Mané did well to find Salah, the Egyptian pulling a world class save out of the United keeper, for his Sengalese team mate to power in the rebound (64’). The controlled victory is their 18th consecutive Premier League win at Anfield and put the Reds 13 points clear at the top with a game in hand. With 19 wins and 1 draw from their first 20 Premier League games, Liverpool have matched Man City's 2017/18 record. They've kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league for the first time in over 12 years (Pepe Reina the last Red stopper to do so in 2007-08). Salah's opening goal was his 50th left-footed strike for the club in the PL - only Robbie Fowler (85) has netted more for the club in the competition. And last but definitely not least, under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool have won all 12 of their home league games against promoted sides by an aggregate score of 35-4. The league leaders haven't lost a league game at Anfield when they've been winning at half time since 2009 and have now gone unbeaten in the league for a whole calendar year. If they win their next game, it would be the best start to a top flight season... EVER! 

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Brighton 1:2 Chelsea - 1:1

Burnley 1:1 Aston Villa - 1:2

Newcastle 1:2 Leicester - 0:3

Southampton 1:2 Tottenham - 1:0

Watford 1:2 Wolves - 2:1

Man City 2:1 Everton - 2:1

Norwich 1:0 Crystal Palace - 1:1

West Ham 2:1 Bournemouth - 4:0

Arsenal 2:2 Man United - 2:0

Liverpool 2:0 Sheffield United - 2:0

Click here for the previous Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 3

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 3

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

30 goals - most by CHE/WHU/LIV/MCI = 3 each

284 shots - most by Liverpool = 25

79 on target - most by West Ham = 10

101 corners - most by CHE/BRI/MUN/WAT = 8 each

199 fouls - most by CRY/EVE = 18 each

33 bookings - most by Crystal Palace = 4

1 red card - Andone for Brighton

4 penalties - 3 scored (Noble for West Ham, Salah for Liverpool, Jiménez for Wolves)

#ASTEVE

It was a miserable Friday night for Marco Silva and his men. Goals from club record £22m signing Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi lifted Dean Smith's side up to 11th in the table and gave Aston Villa their first win in the top flight since February 2016. Everton have failed to come from behind at the interval to win a Premier League game since September 2015 at West Brom (W0 D5 L33 since), suffering only their third league defeat in their past 14 matches in the competition (W7 D4 L3).

#NORCHE

Frank Lampard’s first win came with Chelsea’s youngest starting line-up in the Premier League since February 1994. But Norwich didn’t make it easy for them at Carrow Road, equalising twice, despite all the visitors’ dominance! Tammy Abraham is the youngest Blues player to score a Premier League brace since Mark Nicholls in January 1998, helping his side to the three points.

#BRISOU

Brighton's sending off came from what looked like a career ending tackle! Florian Andone was shown a straight red card on the half-hour mark following a high, rash challenge on Saints defender Yan Valery. Albion manager Graham Potter said he "can't defend" the Romanian’s challenge. The Seagulls were out of the game after that, unable to form much opposition nor competition. Southampton's opening goal was a stunner! Moussa Djenepo broke the deadlock with a fine strike moments after coming on as a second-half substitute. Another super sub!

#MUNCRY

Man Who? Crystal Palace pounced, making all the home side’s dominance count for zero. Daniel James thought he had rescued a point for the home side in the final minute of normal time. But full-back Patrick van Aanholt netted in the 93rd minute equaliser off Wilfried Zaha's burst forward, becoming only the second player to score a 90th-minute winner against United in the Premier League after Thierry Henry for Arsenal in January 2007, and the first to do so at Old Trafford. Roy Hodgson’s men like to travel, 60% of their points last season came on the road. This was their first victory at the famous Manchester ground since 1989, making Marcus Rashford rue his missed spot kick earlier in the second half - deja vue for the Red Devils after Paul Pogba’s missed penalty last week. Manchester United have won only one of their past nine matches, scoring just eight goals and conceding 16. Ole’s at the wheel...

#SHULEI

Super subs at Sheffield United as well: Harvey Barnes snatched the winner from the edge of the box six minutes after coming on, recording the Foxes’ first league win of the season and Chris Wilder's side only their second defeat in 21 matches. Former Wednesday player and boo man Jamie Vardy had given Leicester the lead at Bramall Lane, before club record signing Oliver McBurnie headed in the equaliser for the home side and the sub's heart-breaker. 

#WATWHU

There was a penalty within the opening couple of minutes at Watford! Like Aston Villa conceded last week, making the mountain too high to climb straight away. West Ham pounced and won comfortable thanks to the spot kick and record signing Sébastian Haller’s brace. Despite all the chances and effort, it’s been a miserable start for the Hornets, three defeats out of three games. Javi Gracia's side, who sit bottom of the table, have now lost seven successive games in all competitions for the first time since 1999.

#LIVARS

Liverpool recorded their 12th consecutive Premier League win, equalling their best sequence in the top flight under Sir Kenny Dalglish between April and October 1990. Mohamed Salah has been involved in 77 goals in 77 games, 57 goals and 20 assists. It was a comfortable home win against Arsenal, Joël Matip with the opening header before the great Egyptian added his brace, helped by David Luiz’s idiotic foul in the box, pulling him down by the shirt and handing the Reds a penalty. And then Mo embarrassed the former blue again out on the touchline at the start of a dazzling run that ended with a low, curling finish into the bottom corner just before the hour. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has faced Arsenal eight times without defeat in the Premier League (W5 D3). Vielen Dank!

#BOUMCI

Manchester City cruised to a win at Bournemouth, no shocks or surprises there. David Silva starred in his 400th appearance for the club, contributing to all three goals = Sergio Agüero’s brace taking him to 400 goals for club and country, 235 of them for City, and Raheem Sterling’s poke in. The Cherries, who drop to 10th place, continued a miserable run against the Citizens, that has seen them concede 28 times in their last nine league meetings. Pep Guardiola's side has won all nine of their top-flight games against Bournemouth - the best 100% win record by a team over an opponent in top-flight history.

#TOTNEW

Club record £40m signing Joelinton with his first Newcastle goal served Steve Bruce his first points as Magpies manager, stunning Tottenham at Wembley. The Brazilian striker took advantage of sleepy defending to control substitute Christian Atsu's pass beautifully before drilling past Hugo Lloris. Spurs lacked the creativity to break down a resolute Newcastle side, whose four-man midfield kept sitting deep in front of a back five. Bruce hopes Newcastle win "will shut a few people up". Tell that the fans who have travelled more than 1,000 miles over the past two weekends. But hey, they definitely weren't complaining on their way back from London this time!

#WOLBUR

Raúl Jiménez's penalty in the 97th minute was the latest ever Premier League goal by Wolves, just their second shot on target in the game, grabbing his side a point against Burnley. Ashley Barnes looked to have won it for the Clarets after pouncing from around 25 yards - his fourth goal in three Premier League games this season - against a disjointed Wolves side playing their third game inside a week. Nuno Espírito Sante's side has drawn their first three games of a league campaign for the first time since 1938-39, when they finished second in the top flight. Good omen? The Wanderers are unbeaten in their last 10 home games in the Premier League (W6 D4); their longest run without defeat in the top flight since April to October 1979 (also 10 games). Brilliant run!

So, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Wolves were the only three home sides not to suffer defeat! #HomeSweetHome

My Predictions - Actual Results

Aston Villa 1:2 Everton - 2:0

Norwich 1:1 Chelsea - 2:3

Brighton 2:2 Southampton - 0:2

Man United 2:0 Crystal Palace - 1:2

Sheff United 1:1 Leicester - 1:2

Watford 0:0 West Ham - 1:3

Liverpool 4:2 Arsenal - 3:1

Bournemouth 0:4 Man City - 1:3

Tottenham 2:1 Newcastle - 0:1

Wolves 2:2 Burnley - 1:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 29

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 29

The 29th week of the Premier League action saw:

23 goals - most by Man United and Crystal Palace = 3 each

234 shots - most by Man City = 23

80 on target - most by Man City and Chelsea = 7 each

106 corners - most by Man City = 14

204 fouls - most by Tottenham and Watford = 15 each

39 bookings - most by Watford = 5

1 red card - Torreira for Arsenal 

4 penalties - 2 scored (Kane for Tottenham, Noble for West Ham)

What a game! There were goals and action galore at Old Trafford. Southampton scored two crackers, but were still the losers in the end, whilst Manchester United had plenty more chances and misses but were able to end up on top despite more injuries and a missed spot-kick. More details about all the top goals below.

It was derby day on Sunday... More on Chelsea’s win at Craven Cottage below. Disappointing 200th league Merseyside derby for goalless and hopeless Liverpool: Everton were definitely happier after denying Mohamed Salah and Fabinho, the only two that got anything on target for the visitors at Goodison Park. Red boss Jürgen Klopp blamed the wind. Whatever it is, it’s costing his side dearly. Four draws in the last six league games means eight points dropped. For the first time in 14 weeks, the Reds have dropped all the way down to second (ignoring week 26 where Manchester City played the extra game because of the League Cup), one point behind Pep Guardiola's men. Following the Red Twitter world, it seems like all is over, the chance has been blown, the first title in 28 years is gone. The difference between the top two clubs is just ONE point, with NINE games to go. And LFC are TEN points and TWO places BETTER off than last season (whilst City are TEN points DOWN!). PERSPECTIVE!

What a team! More injuries hit Manchester City on Saturday, but they’re still winning, that’s the main thing for the league leaders in the title race. It was one-way traffic at Bournemouth (18%-82% possession, 0-23 shots, 0-7 on target, 0-14 corners). Kevin De Bruyne went off injured, his replacement Riyad Mahrez got the winner (55’), a fine low finish in the bottom right corner after a nice team interplay, his first goal since 4th December, his 11th of the season. That is all that was needed. Crucial. 

And it was another good away win for Crystal Palace, this time at Burnley, Roy Hodgson consolidating his and his sides’ place in the top league. A fine run of three wins in the last five games has seen the London side climb up the table by two places, eight points clear from the drop zone. This time, Phillip Bardsley (OG 15'), Michy Batshuayi (48') and Wilfried Zaha (76') were on the scoreboard, denying Sean Dyche’s side any way back, condemning them to their second defeat on the trot, sucking them down to 16th. Contrast.

What a man! REF!!! Watford's opener was just weird?! Jonathan Moss made a very late call on a free-kick after Troy Deeney broke free into the box... To head it in seconds later off the set-piece, but the English striker looked offside (5’). More iffy goals and decisions are mentioned above and below as well. Ridiculous refereeing! So, Brendan Rodgers’ first match as Leicester boss didn’t start well with that! Kasper Schmeichel made a brill block seconds before. Jamie Vardy and keeper Ben Foster clashed and you can tell when players are really injured and hurt when they lay flat and DON’T ROLL AND MOAN AROUND!!! Both were fine in the end. But OUCH! And the champion striker levelled the score in the second half (75’) after the visitors dominated all round, keeping his record going of scoring under five out of six new Foxes managers and taking his club tally to 99. But Hornets sub Andre Gray nicked an injury-time winner for the home side and got booked for his shirtless celebrations (90’+2’) to spoil the party for the Northern Irishman. Javi Gracia and co meanwhile were over the moon. A tense finish at Vicarage road saw Foster blocking and saving again, but it ended 2-1. BRilliant.

What a goal! Talking about managers, Fulham’s first match after sacking Claudio Ranieri was only against Chelsea at Craven Cottage. The managerless side did well under the circumstances, keeping the pressure on and not making it easy for the Blues. Ryan Sessegnon’s injury-time equaliser was flagged offside - a very close call! It looked fine! Another tense finish. Maurizio Sarri’s men ended up on top 1-2 thanks to Gonzalo Higuaín (20’) and Jorginho (31’) after Calum Chambers' leveller (27’). Cruel. How the latter boss is still hanging on to his job, I do not know... *shaking*my*head*

Saints defender Yan Valery’s first professional goal (26’) and United’s first equaliser by Andreas Pereira, the Brazilian's first Premier League goal (53’), were both just unstoppable, breathtaking takes. To add to the iffy list mentioned above, the 2-1, Romelu Lukaku’s first (59’), looked a hint offside though? The second equaliser (2-2 in case you can't keep track) was a beautiful free-kick by James Ward-Prowse (75'), into the top corner, who’s the keeper again?! However, Lukaku snuck in the late low winner (88’), a cruel one into the bottom right corner, 3-2. And that was not all! A later than late penalty to the Red Devils, after Stuart Armstrong brought down Marcus Rashford from behind, saw Paul Pogba selfishly take it, not giving Lukaku a chance of a hat-trick, keeper Angus Gunn kicking the central shot away with his left boot. Top match. Top goals. Plenty of flops as well. Never boring. Another win for Ole Gunnar Solskjær, to make it 10 wins out of 12 league games for the Norwegian temp boss.

What the hell?! Another soft penalty call went Tottenham's way in the London derby Saturday lunch-time, and it was offside in the build-up to the foul as well?! An easy equaliser for Harry Kane out of nowhere against Arsenal (74’) after Aaron Ramsey’s opener (16’). The Gunners got a spot-kick back late on, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made a soft mess of the take and Hugo Lloris the hero, and Jan Vertonghen’s defending in the aftermath controversial as the Belgian defender looked way over the line when the penalty was taken, denying the visitors a winner. The game exploded into life in the final minutes, seeing Lucas Torreira sent off. As mentioned above, numerous times, I know I am repeating myself, but that is because the bad calls and refereeing overlooks and errors are piling up, again and again, every game, every week! If you like VAR or not, at least that is SOMETHING to check and double-check all these iffy calls!!!

After Cardiff boss Neil Warnock revealed that Nuno Espírito Santo is his wife's favourite manager, there could only be one winner on the day at the Molineux Stadium... ;-) I LMAO AT THE CHANTS!!!

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Tottenham 0:1 Arsenal - 1:1

Bournemouth 2:2 Man City - 0:1

Brighton 0:1 Huddersfield - 1:0

Burnley 2:3 Crystal Palace - 1:3

Man United 1:1 Southampton - 3:2

Wolves 2:1 Cardiff - 2:0

West Ham 2:1 Newcastle - 2:0

Watford 1:1 Leicester - 2:1

Fulham 1:2 Chelsea - 1:2

Everton 1:2 Liverpool - 0:0

Click here for the previous Picks Of The Week.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 16

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 16

The 16th week of the Premier League action saw:

240 shots - most by Tottenham = 27!
21 goals - most by Liverpool, West Brom and Tottenham = 3 each
234 fouls - most by Watford = 20
27 bookings - most by Sunderland, Manchester United & Leicester = 3 each
2 red cards - Arnautovic for Stoke & Jagielka for Everton
1 penalty - 0 scored (Noble miss for West Ham)

What a game! Everton denied Arsenal the chance to go top again (for the night), ending the Gunners' unbeaten run of 14 games, with a late header to make it 2-1, a dream finish for the Toffees at Goodison Park. Arsène Wenger's men had an on-and-off day, especially at the front, seeing plenty of chances gone and missed, including consecutive shots cleared off the line late on. The win takes Ronald Koeman's men up to seventh, whilst Arsenal have widened gap to Chelsea at the top to six points and fallen to third place, behind Liverpool in goal difference.

What a team! Bournemouth moved to the highest league position in their history = 9th after beating champions Leicester 1-0 at Dean Court on Tuesday. West Brom's win against Swansea moved them back down to 10th, but Eddie Howe can be a very happy man. Pep Guardiola was much happier again too after seeing his side record their first home win in almost three months! The only sour note for City after the 2-0 win against Watford at the Etihad Stadium was Ilkay Gundogan's injury. The German midfielder limped off in tears as he will be out for several months with knee ligament damage.

What a man! Adam Lallana starred for Liverpool, scoring two and creating one goal in the Reds' 3-0 win at Middlesbrough. Just what the Red doctor ordered after their last two winless games. Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford had one heck of a match, sparing his side from a worse thrashing against Chelsea, Cesc Fàbregas sparing the Blues' blushes with his first half goal at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats had plenty of spirit and worried Antonio Conte, that's for sure! And last but definitely not least, Salomón Rondón deserves a shoutout for his hat-trick which saw West Brom beat Swansea 3-1 at the Hawthorns. ⚽️👊🏻⚽️👊🏻⚽️

What a goal! Mark Noble's penalty was saved by Tom Heaton but the English skipper fired in the rebound which ended up being the crucial winner for the Hammers against Burnley, his eighth Premier League goal of the season. And the big names counted again for Manchester United, Paul Pogba with a man-of-the-match performance and Zlatan Ibrahimovic finding the winner two minutes from time at Crystal Palace. The Red Devils are certainly finding their horns again...

What the hell?!... Marcos Rojo got away with it again, just like against Everton a couple of weeks ago! His challenge on Wilfried Zaha was dangerous and reckless and should have been punished with a red card! Replays showed. Clearly. But he escaped with just a booking. Again. No comment by Mister Mourinho.... Very selective by the Portuguese... Not much to say, just all praise, when the decisions go his side's way... 😡😈😡😈😡

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

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

Pictures taken from the BBC match reports.