Premier League Notes - Week 26

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 26

The 26th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League Football season saw: A winter break! So, the fixtures were split over two weekends-and-a-bit:

26 goals - most by Arsenal = 4

245 shots - most by Tottenham = 23

77 on target - most by Tottenham = 10

104 corners - most by Aston Villa = 12

199 fouls - most by Arsenal = 15

32 bookings - most by Chelsea = 4

1 red card - Choudhury for Leicester 

1 penalty - 0 scored 

#EVECRY

Too easy for the Toffees: A fine cross from Theo Walcott on the right, found Bernard totally unmarked in the box, first touch, side-footer, curled into the top corner, excellent finish, keeper no chance, 1-0 (18’). No clean sheet in 10 for the Eagles, the longest run in the PL. Christian Benteke, set up by nice and quick and slick Wilfried Zaha, slid the equaliser under Jordan Pickford (51’), the stopper will not like those replays and looked apologetic afterwards. Cringe. It’s only the Belgian’s second goal since the start of last season. But that high didn’t last long, counter run and hit, ruthless Richarlison to the edge of the box, found the bottom right corner, to make it 2-1 (59’). And Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it three goals and three points for the home side, tapping in the rebound after Richarlison’s header came off the crossbar (88’). Roy Hodgson’s men had chances to spoil the show, Benteke could have had a hat-trick, but the woodwork and the general lack of form didn’t help. Carlo Ancelotti and Goodison Park ended up very happy, the win taking them up to 7th on the day.

#BHAWAT

Lovely finish by Abdoulaye Doucouré, body and feet, perfect movement, to put the ball in past four defenders and the keeper to give the visitors the lead (19’). I could watch that move in slower motion again and again. Exemplary. The equaliser hurt to watch, Adrian Mariappa, under no real threat, put a cross from the right by Alireza Jahanbakhsh into the back of his own net (78’). Nightmare of every defender. Watford have scored six Premier League own goals since the start of 2018-19, more than any other side in the competition. Crueler than cruel. The point sees the sides remain in 15th and 19th respectively.

#SHUBOU

A beautiful team move was finished off by Callum Wilson, making no mistake of netting the rebound off Harry Wilson’s blocked smash-hit, to give the visitors a deserved lead (13’) after a strong start. The home side took a while to get into the game, but ended the first half on top, chance after chance, ping pong, Billy Sharp finally converting, tapping in the equaliser just before the break (45+1’). And sub John Lundstram snatched the lead, with a fine move and low finish into the corner of the net (83’). The winners end just two points away from the CL places, whilst the losers are just two points clear of the drop zone. Contrast. 

#MCIWHU

Match postponed because of storm Ciara. Rearranged for February 19, see below.

#WOLLEI

Home side took the lead just before the break thanks to Willy Boly's header, or so they thought, it was disallowed by VAR, for offside in the buildup. Where?! What?! How?! Who?! Why?! Not clear at all! Lots of boos and chants and understandably so, it would have been fully deserved. Wolves felt robbed, it's their fourth goal to be disallowed by the VAR this season, only Sheffield United have had more (5). But the Foxes worked hard and defended well, definitely ended up the happier of the two with the clean sheet and the point, especially after being down to ten men for the last 15 minutes thanks to Hamza Choudhury's two stupid yellows.

#SOUBUR

Ashley Westwood's bizarre corner-goal after just 93 seconds is the earliest away goal Burnley have ever scored in the Premier League. He was helped by the wind and Danny Ings not dealing with the ball but letting it turn into the goal instead (2’). But the former Liverpool man made up for his earlier screw-up and levelled the score at St Mary’s, with a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner (18’). Lovely turn, control and then a cracking smacker into the back of the net by sub Matěj Vydra, who came on after 22 minutes for an injured Chris Wood, to make it 1-2 and ending his 18-month goal-drought (61’). It was enough to bag Sean Dyche’s men the three points, frustrating for the Saints, boos rang around St Mary’s at the FT whistle and understandably so.

#NORLIV

Norwich worked hard, but Jürgen Klopp’s men found the breakthrough eventually. A brilliant turn and shot in the box by sub Sadio Mané (78’) was enough for the league leaders to continue their enormous run. Liverpool have gone 43 top-flight matches unbeaten, just six matches behind Arsenal's invincible record of 49 games (2003-04). They have earned 103 points from the last 105 available to them in the Premier League, winning 34 of their last 35 matches. Their 76 points from 26 matches this season is a top-flight record. And they stay at the top, 25 points clear of the Citizens, who have a game in hand (see above and below for details).

#AVITOT

Villa lost at home to Spurs, 3-2, despite scoring first. Son Heung-min scored injury-time goals in each half (45+2', 90+4'), taking Spurs up to fifth what might be but probably won't be a Champions League place after Man City's ban, which they will definitely fight against. The Villans stay a point and place above the drop zone. It was an intense game, both keepers were kept busy, Pepe Reina starring, including a penalty save against Son, but the rebound went in just before the break, and all in all, the defenders were struggling. In the end, Björn Engels gave it away in stoppage time, letting Son through to net the winner, the club's latest PL winner since 2009. Dean Smith wasn't happy with the VAR, but the Villa boss cannot ignore his side's leaks and weaknesses at the back. 

#ARSNEW

After a frustrating first half, both sides missing chances, the Gunners bossed the game. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pépé scored in quick succession (54', 57' respectively), before Mesut Özil and Alexandre Lacazette got in on the fun late on (90', 90+5' respectively). The result doesn't affect the table too much, Newcastle slip to 13th due to goal difference, seven points above the drop zone, Arsenal into the top half, seven points off fourth.

#CHEMUN

A lot of questionable decisions once again in this match! How was Harry Maguire’s kick out not a red card? And Willian was booked for diving when there was contact, outside the box, so, no pen, but should have been a free kick. Anthony Martial gave the visitors the lead against the run of play, the Blues made to pay for all their misses, just before the break (45’). Play had resumed after Andreas Christensen got his nose busted, great outswinger of a cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, brilliant header down into the bottom corner from Martial to put the Red Devils ahead. Then to spread the VAR love even more, Kurt Zouma’s equaliser was disallowed for a push (57’), and they call themselves men! And to add salt onto the wound, Maguire doubled the Red visitors’ lead (66’). Sub Olivier Giroud thought he had pulled one back, but the VAR chalked it off for offside, the good old toe (78’). Two injuries, topped by two disallowed goals. What a mess. The Blues robbed, just one point separating them from Spurs in 5th; Ole Ole Ole's side's up to 7th, just three points away from the top four.

#MCIWHU

So, the match eventually took place on Wednesday, in a half-empty Etihad, with zero atmosphere, even the French commentators were taking the mick. City bossed it, making the Hammers work hard, giving their all. Rodri broke the deadlock after half an hour. 15-1 shots, 5-0 on target in the first half alone. Pf. That dominance continued after the break, Kevin De Bruyne bashing in the second goal for the home side (62’). It stayed just 2-0, even though it could have been 12-0. No competition. David Moyes has to be very worried, his side stuck in 18th, one point from safety, and facing the league leaders next, at Anfield.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Everton 1:1 Crystal Palace - 3:1

Brighton 1:2 Watford - 1:1

Sheff United 1:0 Bournemouth - 2:1

Man City 2:1 West Ham - P:P

Wolves 1:2 Leicester - 0:0

Southampton 1:2 Burnley - 1:2

Norwich 0:3 Liverpool - 0:1

Aston Villa 1:2 Tottenham - 2:3

Arsenal 2:1 Newcastle - 4:0

Chelsea 1:1 Man United - 0:2

Man City 2:1 West Ham - 2:0

Click here for my previous Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 5

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 5

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

32 goals - most by Chelsea = 5

267 shots - most by Watford = 31

98 on target - most by Watford = 10

116 corners - most by Man City = 16

200 fouls - most by Tottenham = 19

32 bookings - most by Tottenham and Everton = 4

2 red cards - Sharp for Sheff United and Masuaku for West Ham

2 penalties - 2 scored (Rashford for Man United, Pereyra for Watford)

#LIVNEW

Liverpool set a new club record of 22 consecutive Premier League matches unbeaten (W18, D4, L0), after coming back from behind at St. James' Park. This is also the Reds’ longest top-flight unbeaten streak since March to November 1990 (23). Newcastle’s shock lead came thanks to Jetro Willems’ (7’), the first goal for the Eintracht Frankfurt loanee. Jürgen Klopp’s men are the first team in PL history to win 14 consecutive matches while scoring more than once. Sadio Mané is the first player to play 50 PL games at Anfield without losing a single one. The Senegalese’s brace (28’, 40’) was helped by sub Roberto Firmino’s masterclass! Mohamed Salah was also part of the dance (72’) to make it 3-1 and a jolly front trio! Class, class and class, three goals and three points, helping LFC stay at the top with five wins out of five. In the last 16 months, the Reds have had more CL finals than PL defeats!!! BOOM!!!

#BRIBUR

Substitute Jeff Hendrick fired in an injury-time equaliser from 20 yards out to earn Burnley a point with their only shot on target, denying Brighton their first home win since 2 March and keeping the Clarets' unbeaten run down South going, not having lost in their last seven Premier League games on the South coast (W4 D3).

#MUNLEI

David de Gea made a great save against James Maddison early on! The penalty that was given after not even eight minutes, really? Marcus Rashford ran across and fell, the Leicester defender Çağlar Söyüncü didn’t have much say or play in it! Pf! The early goal spoilt the encounter straight away. De Gea saved and Maddison was close again after the break. Manchester United held on and scraped through, ending Leicester's unbeaten start to the season and bagging three points for the first time since the opening day. Ole Gunnar Solskjær's men have had 40% of the penalties in the Premier League so far this season. The Foxes have lost nine of their last ten league matches at Old Trafford (W0 D1 L9). Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has conceded more goals from penalties (16) in the Premier League in 176 appearances than his dad former United stopper Peter Schmeichel conceded in 310 appearances (15).

#SHUSOU

Southampton’s summer signing Moussa Djenepo scored the deciding goal beating Sheffield United’s defence with a brilliant move and take (66’). The Blades had a goal ruled out for offside by the VAR when Oliver McBurnie thought he had put them in front shortly after the break. Chris Wilder was not happy with a handball decision given against his side, who have now won just one of their opening five games on their Premier League return. Tough luck.

#TOTCRY

Son Heung-Min has scored in all four of his Premier League home games against Crystal Palace (four goals), with Tottenham going on to win each of the previous three. The South Korean's brace (10’, 23’) helped Mauricio Pochettino’s men thrash Crystal Palace 4-0 and take them back into the top four. It’s their biggest league victory over the Eagles, as well as their joint-biggest against them across all competitions (also 4-0 in January 1987 in the FA Cup fourth round).

#WOLCHE

Stunning skill from Tammy Abraham on the edge of the box, to drive the ball in past Rui Patrício for a superb hat-trick (34', 41', 55'). The 21-year-old England striker is now the Premier League‘s leading goalscorer, the youngest ever Chelsea player to score a PL hat-trick, and the youngest Englishman to do so in the competition since Raheem Sterling (v Bournemouth) in October 2015. He joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Dele Alli in becoming only the third PL player aged 21 or younger to score two or more goals in three consecutive appearances. Outstanding, oh, and he is the first player in PL history to score a hat-trick and an own goal in the same game. It ended Wolves 2-5 Chelsea btw. Goals and action galore in the Wanderers' boss Nuno Espírito Santo's 300th match as a manager.

#NORMCI

ELEVEN players out injured vs ONE, newly promoted against defending champions, it ended 3-2! How many millions of pounds worth of difference between the two as well?! Good old footy won! Daniel Farke’s men kept marking, pressure on the ball, running, surrounding, pushing non-stop, both ends of the pitch and match! Thrilling win! Shocker for Manchester City! Especially playing from the back, the Citizens were absolute shambles! Hopefully everyone watched and learned! The rare defeat, their first since January, leaves Pep Guardiola's side five points behind Liverpool. The Canaries registered only their second win in their last 15 Premier League meetings with the reigning champions (W2 D1 L12) - their other win was also against the Citizens in May 2013.

#BOUEVE

It was too easy for Bournemouth, defensive shambles by Everton, no discrediting Callum Wilson’s brace (23’, 72’), his first Premier League goals since January. Having lost their previous two league home games, against Leicester and Manchester City, the Cherries kick-started their campaign with a thoroughly deserved first home league win, lifting them to eighth in the table. The Toffees meanwhile, were left reeling, having conceded seven goals in their past three league games, as many as they had in their previous 13 Premier League fixtures, and dropping down to 11th. 

#WATARS

It was a game of two halves at Vicarage Road. All started so well for Arsenal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace (21’, 32’), but bottom-side Watford took over after the break, Tom Cleverley (53’) and Roberto Pereyra (pen 81’) hitting back to make it 2-2. The Gunners faced 31 shots, a club record for the home side and the most their opponents have ever faced in a Premier League fixture since Opta began collecting such data in the division in 2003-04. Unai Emery’s men also hold the record of most errors leading to goals since the start of last season = 14, and failed to win seven of the last ten league games across two seasons. This was the first time in 22 meetings across all competitions that the Hornets and Arsenal have drawn against each other, having last done so in December 1984 (1-1). New Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores has only lost one of his eight managerial meetings with Emery in all competitions (W3 D4 L1).

#ASTWHU

Eight of the 41 Premier League meetings between Aston Villa and West Ham have ended goalless, the highest proportion (19.5%) of any fixture in the competition that's been played 30-plus times. So what did we expect? It was a physical but disappointing encounter, the final touch missing, so bad, that even team mates clashed in frustration.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Liverpool 3:0 Newcastle - 3:1

Brighton 1:1 Burnley - 1:1

Man United 1:1 Leicester - 1:0

Sheff United 1:2 Southampton - 0:1

Tottenham 1:0 Crystal Palace - 4:0

Wolves 1:2 Chelsea - 2:5

Norwich 1:4 Man City - 3:2

Bournemouth 1:1 Everton - 3:1

Watford 0:2 Arsenal - 2:2

Aston Villa 1:2 West Ham - 0:0

Click here for last week's Premier League Notes.

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