Premier League Notes - Week 19

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 19

The 19th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

28 goals - most by Man United and Liverpool = 4 each 

238 shots - most by Man United = 22

76 on target - most by Man United = 10

98 corners - most by Everton = 10

195 fouls - most by Aston Villa and Everton = 15 each

36 bookings - most by Tottenham, Bournemouth and Arsenal = 4 each

1 red card - Ederson for Man City

3 penalties - 3 scored (Norwood for Sheff United, Milner for Liverpool, Sterling for Man City)

#TOTBHA

Adam Webster headed the Seagulls ahead (37’) after the VAR disallowed Harry Kane’s opener, very close, very harsh, offside (25’). But the record striker couldn’t be denied when he netted the rebound to level the score after the restart (53’) after Mathew Ryan saved his first attempt. And Dele Alli turned the game around with a nice looping take across and into the far corner (72’). Brighton put up a great fight, Spurs were knackered but winners in the end, lucky to not be down to ten, or even nine men though! Graham Potter was gutted to see his hardworking side leave London with nothing. Tottenham boss José Mourinho has never lost in eight PL games on Boxing Day (W6 D2), managing more games without defeat on the day than any other manager in the competition. Chosen.

#AVINOR

Not much to write about until the second half: Villa were unable to clear a corner and Alex Tettey smacked in a low shot but Douglas Luiz did brilliantly to make a sprawling clearance to somehow knock the ball over the crossbar. The home side took the lead after super work by Jack Grealish in the box to set up a fine hit by Conor Hourihane, making sure his team mate’s hard work was rewarded and the opposition punished for their misses (65’). Tom Heaton denied the Canaries any way back into the game, stopping Marco Stiepermann's thumping drive late on. The result ends a four-match losing streak for Dean Smith's side, pushing fellow-strugglers Norwich back down to the bottom. 

#BOUARS

Somehow Dan Gosling was able to find his way through and past four Arsenal players to give the home side the lead at the Vitality stadium (36’). What’s marking for again? And that was after the Gunners were denied again and again at the other end, they were punished for playing and losing the ball at the back. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang passed the ball in unmarked to level the score (64’). Again, I think the defenders need to Google-search marking, man-marking, the basics of defending! Callum Wilson was clearly offside when netting a rebound from close range (82’), keeping the score at a goal and point each and showing Mikel Arteta what job he has on his hands, the Gunners remaining in the bottom half of the table. The Cherries had lost six of their previous seven league matches, the point pulling them down to 16th, two points from the drop zone.

#CHESOU

The Saints broke the Christmas afternoon deadlock with a lovely individual goal, Michael Obafemi’s fine finish into the top corner (32’). And after dozens of passes, a GIF-book Stuart Armstrong jump and pass to Nathan Redmond, a stab-in past keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, made another lovely lovely setup and finish to double the visitors’ lead (73’) and serve much deserved Christmas celebrations for Ralph Hasenhüttl and co, the win taking them up to 14th, three points safe from relegation. Frank Lampard’s side stay fourth after losing consecutive home league games for the first time since 2011. 

#CRYWHU

73% of the Eagles' goals this season have come in the second half. But it was the Hammers who broke the deadlock after the break, Robert Snodgrass out of nowhere with a lovely shot across goal into the far corner (57’). An easy equaliser, low take from inside the box, by Cheikhou Kouyaté got the home side back into the game (68’). And what an extraordinary touch, turn, touch and take past everyone and everything by Jordan Ayew it was to give the hosts a last-minute winner (89’). An unforgettable comeback for Roy Hodgson and his men, Selhurst Park bouncing seeing their side wining and climbing up to ninth, whilst pressure is increasing on Manuel Pellegrini, his side down to 17th, just one point from the drop zone.

#EVEBUR

Everton had 12 shots in the first half - the most they've attempted in the first half of a Premier League game at Goodison Park without scoring since April 2017 (also against Burnley). New boss Carlo Ancelotti had to wait close to 80 minutes to see a diving Dominic Calvert-Lewin find the Toffees’ breakthrough with his header across goal bouncing in off the post. So, a winning start for the new Italian boss, taking the side up to 13th.

#SHUWAT

Chris Basham was flagged offside as he played the ball across for John Fleck to turn it in, the VAR checked and confirmed, no goal for United. It was the visitors who broke through soon after, thanks to a fine run and finish by Gerard Deulofeu (27’), man-marking missing totally, yet again (I seem to be writing that A LOT in the PL). The hosts hit back from the spot, one of the softest of the soft penalties, Will Hughes not doing much wrong on George Baldock, the VAR didn’t dare to overturn, skipper Oliver Norwood made no mistake of converting and equalising (36’). Both sides seemed to be happy to settle for a point each in the end.

#MUNNEW

Ninth v 10th: Matty Longstaff gave the visitors a deserved lead, a low shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner (17’), after Dwight Gayle missed a couple of not-sitters-but-oh-so-good-chances. Anthony Martial found the equaliser, off Martin Dúbravka’s glove and in (24’), the keeper should have kept that soft shot from inside the box out. A present for Mason Greenwood put the hosts ahead (36’), what was Fabian Schär doing?! His pass back made it too easy for the United youngster, still, a top-quality finish. Marcus Rashford made it three (42’), the Magpies all over the place, easy header. Martial made no mistake of capitalising on yet another defensive giveaway to make it 4-1 (51’). Too easy. The scoreline does not reflect how poor United are, just how wasteful, weak and woeful Steve Bruce’s men were. And it could have been better/worse = 12-1. Ole Ole Ole Ole rang around Old Trafford for the first time in a while. The love/hate relationship with Christmas and Manchester continues for both sides: The Red Devils haven’t lost at home in the league on Boxing Day since 1978 (W16 D3), whilst it's been 89 years since Newcastle last completed a league double over Manchester United. 

#LEILIV

Liverpool had won their previous four Boxing Day matches in the PL, by an aggregate score of 11-0, but never won five consecutive such matches in their league history. Records are there to be broken and the Reds keep doing it! Roberto Firmino headed the league leaders ahead (31’). Since the start of last season, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided 19 assists in the Premier League, more than any other player. The Foxes didn’t record a single shot in the first half. It got more and more tense after the restart, until Çağlar Söyüncü's handball, the VAR checked and confirmed, penalty. Sub James Milner converted with his first touch of the match to double the visitors' lead (71’). Firmino brace (74’) and Trent from provider to scorer (78’) completed the onslaught. Leicester had conceded just five goals in nine home games this season before the Reds arrived. Wow. Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr Jürgen Klopp! Booming into 2020! 

#WOLMCI

Diogo Jota was played in over the top and lifted the ball over Ederson before the keeper took him out. Couldn’t avoid it, red card (12’). Another loooooong VAR check followed for a foul to be given against Leander Dendoncker, after replays showed he tread on Riyad Mahrez’s boot. Raheem Sterling’s penalty take was saved by Rui Patrício, to then get a second chance, because of player encroachment, saved again, but the former Liverpool man netted the rebound to give the Citizens the lead (25’). The crowd was going absolutely bonkers mad, understandably so. Sterling doubled the lead shortly after the restart, set up by Kevin De Bruyne, nice runs and takes by both (50’). Adama Traoré pulled one back for the home side, into the bottom left corner, low whacker, finally and fully deserved (55’). Hungry scorer to even hungrier and stronger provider, beating Benjamin Mendy too easy to set up Raúl Jiménez, easy tap-in equaliser from close range (83’). Game. On. And yes, they did it, Matt Doherty turned the game and stadium on its head with a lovely run, move and low hit, 3-2 (90’). The noise! Sterling hit the woodwork in the 93rd minute, just to top the absolute madness of the match at Molineux. It ended 3-2, a fully deserved win. Pep Guardiola can have no complaints, Nuno Espírito Santo can be very proud of his side's mad fightback, taking them up to fifth.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Tottenham 3:1 Brighton - 2:1

Aston Villa 2:1 Norwich - 1:0

Bournemouth 1:2 Arsenal - 1:1

Chelsea 2:1 Southampton - 0:2

Crystal Palace 1:1 West Ham - 2:1

Everton 2:0 Burnley - 1:0

Sheff United 2:0 Watford - 1:1

Man United 2:2 Newcastle - 4:1

Leicester 1:2 Liverpool - 0:4

Wolves 1:2 Man City - 3:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 1

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 1 

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

27 goals - most by Man City = 5
228 shots - most by Tottenham = 31
78 on target - most by Man City = 9
91 corners - most by Tottenham = 14
34 offsides - most by Norwich/Burnley = 5 each
359 tackles - most by Aston Villa = 29
225 fouls - most by Sheff Utd = 19
28 bookings - most by Chelsea = 4
1 red card - Schneiderlin for Everton
2 penalties - 2 scored (Agüero for City, Rashford for United) 

VAR Stats 
Average of 7 checks per game 
3 overturned decisions: 
2 disallowed goals (City and Wolves) and Agüero’s penalty retake

The first game of the season was Liverpool's convincing win against Norwich on Friday night, thrashing the newly promoted side in the first half, and keeping them at bay after the break. An injury to Red keeper Alisson didn't help Jürgen Klopp's men, his replacement and LFC debutante Adrián did a good job under the circumstances. VAR went totally unnoticed, surprisingly. Click here for my ByTheMin Twitter live match coverage. 

Manchester United thrashed Chelsea in the Super Sunday clash. But the scoreline is very harsh and doesn’t reflect the game at all. It was much more competitive, cagey and close in the first hour, just fell to bits with two quick goals. Same with Tottenham against newly promoted Aston Villa, Harry Kane making the crucial difference with two goals in the final four minutes (86', 90').

Manchester City took West Ham apart, making my prediction look more ridiculous with every goal. I honestly thought the Hammers could surprise us after having a very active and positive summer. Pf. Fool me. Dream starts for Burnley and Brighton went pretty unnoticed with all the focus just on the top teams, both sides recording convincing 3-0 wins against Southampton and at Watford respectively.

Raheem Sterling starred for the champions with a hat-trick (51', 75', 90'+1'), Kane and Marcus Rashford (18' pen, 67'), as mentioned above, helped their sides to opening wins with a brace each. Mohamed Salah scored and provided (19', 28') in an explosive first half at Anfield. Same old names at the top, ey?
Billy Sharp’s last-minute equaliser for Sheffield United broke Bournemouth hearts (88'). In only his third PL appearance, the local lad scored with his first top-flight shot. One to remember. Tanguy Ndombele’s leveller for Spurs against Villa was a cracker as well.

As mentioned above, it has been confirmed and was quite clear from the offset, Alisson went down and will be out for a while! It looked like the Brazilian stopper was hit by a ghost?! He looked and searched for the culprit behind him  But it was obvious, he had pulled something. Worrying for Klopp and co. The Schadenfreude of the opposition fans was all over the social media afterwards.

And last but definitely not least, the beloved, VAR! See stats above. It has finally arrived in the Premier League and of course still needs getting used to. But I expected worse to be honest. The interruptions weren't half as long and bad as in the trials. And the reviews and overturned decisions were clear. I am sure especially Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo and also City manager Pep Guardiola see it differently, the prior's disallowed goal costing his side two points. It is just impossible to get everything right, but everything can at least be double-checked now. In the end, there is still human beings sitting in front of the screens, so, the decisions are, though more objective, still subjective. So we can and will still curse the officials. Same old. Even with the new technology.

My Predictions - Actual Results
Liverpool 5:1 Norwich - 4:1
West Ham 2:1 Man City - 0:5
Bournemouth 2:1 Sheff Utd - 1:1
Burnley 1:0 Southampton - 3:0
Crystal Palace 0:1 Everton - 0:0
Watford 0:0 Brighton - 0:3
Tottenham 3:1 Aston Villa - 3:1
Leicester 2:1 Wolves - 0:0
Newcastle 0:1 Arsenal - 0:1
Man United 1:1 Chelsea - 4:0

Click here for my previous Premier League Picks Of The Week.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, PL app, Sky Sports News and RMC Sport live 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 22

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 22

The 22nd week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Leicester & Man City = 3 each
269 shots - most by Bournemouth = 26
89 on target - most by Bournemouth = 8
118 corners - most by Bournemouth = 12
202 fouls - most by Brighton = 13
28 yellow cards - most by West Ham, Stoke & Arsenal = 3 each
0 red cards
0 penalties

What a game! I got out of breath watching Brighton against Bournemouth on New Year's Monday lunch time, neither side holding back, end-to-end stuff, brilliant to watch, 41 shots attempted between the two, the most in a single Premier League match so far this season. It ended 2-2 at the Falmer Stadium, a couple of beautiful team goals by the home side, Anthony Knockaert converting José Izquierdo's unselfish pass nicely and Glenn Murray with a smashing shot, Steve Cook heading in the equaliser in-between, lots of close chances for both sides and a scruffy second leveller by Callum Wilson to finish it off for the visitors. Great entertainment, the sides finishing 12th and 13th respectively.
Wednesday night's London derby was a thriller-and-a-half too at the Emirates, it all happened in the second half. Arsenal and Chelsea shared out 33 chances between each other, but it was Héctor Bellerin's injury-time strike that decided the result, a 2-2 draw, a point each. Gunners boss Arsène Wenger was not happy with the Blues' penalty that got them back into the match, Eden Hazard with the spot-kick a couple of minutes after Jack Wilshere had given his side the lead with a stunning high-fired strike. Antonio Conte's men must have thought they had nicked the perfect comeback when Marcos Alonso netted Davide Zappacosta's low cross to make it 1-2 in the 84th minute. But Bellerin spoilt that show with a superb half-volley to grab a point for the home side. Zappacosta saw a shot bang off the crossbar in the dying seconds, but it stayed 2-2. Breathtaking end.

What a team! 38 seconds into the game, Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock unmarked. After the fastest goal in the Premier League this season, Watford had no chance at Manchester City! Marco Silva's side have lost four out of the last five, whilst Pep Guardiola's men made it 20 wins out of 22 league games, 15 points clear at at the top. End of the crises after last week's dip.
At the other end of the table, West Brom are now 20 games without a win as Andy Carroll's double, his first two goals of the season, including the last-minute winner completed a dramatic turnaround for West Ham. Hammers boss David Moyes went mad celebrating the escape out of the drop zone. Baggies manager Alan Pardew was heart-broken by another late defeat, blaming his side's tired minds after only two days rest compared to the opposition's week off. That does not excuse their long miserable run though, which sees them drop down to 19th, level on points with bottom side Swansea.

What a man! Mark Hughes saved some of his players in the thrash against Chelsea on Saturday, to then go on and lose at home against Newcastle a couple of days later, thanks to Ayose Pérez's goal, and their keeper Karl Darlow with some spectacular saves. How much longer will he be Stoke manager as they are sliding down further and further with their worst run in over three decades?! And this result could have been even worse if Ciaran Clark wouldn't have missed a sitter from a couple of yards out... (And as I am editing and publishing this belatedly, my question was answered and the inevitable happened, Hughes sacked after Potters got kicked out of the FA Cup third round at League Two side Coventry City.)
And Crystal Palace are in form with only one loss in the last 11 after they made a great comeback at St Mary's beating Southampton 1-2. Shane Long's first goal in 11 months was not enough as James McArthur and Luka Milivojević replied to turn the game around with a gutsy response and performance. Saints slip down to 17th after nine games without a win whilst Palace are booming. Is Mauricio Pellegrino the right man for the Saints? Roy Hodgson certainly is for Palace! Wow!

What a goal! It was a great right-footed take by Riyad Mahrez to give Leicester the lead against Huddersfield, some sloppy defending beforehand helped though, too. Islam Slimani doubled the lead for the Foxes with his first goal for the club. And Marc Albrighton made it three goals and three points for Claude Puel's men.
Liverpool's Sadio Mané broke the deadlock at Burnley with a smacker from the edge of the box, left-footer on the turn, after a very frustrating hour of football in the pouring rain. There was some late drama with two goals in the last few minutes, but the German boss Jürgen Klopp ended up all smiles. Click here for my full match report.
Antony Martial's opener for Manchester United at Everton was also a great individual unstoppable hit from the edge of the box. Jesse Lingard doubled the Red Devils' lead with a similar smacker into the right top corner of the net. Two great goals, three points for José Mourinho's side, leaving Big Sam loud and fuming, his side not even recording a shot on target, his record against the Red Devils remaining miserable with only one win in the last 22 meetings.

What the hell?! The linesman at Swansea must have his eyes and/or football knowledge tested. Spurs took the lead thanks to Fernando Llorente - who was clearly offside. The visitors had another chance, headed high - with a group of Mauricio Pochettino's men offside! But no flag was in sight. It didn't get any better after the break. Dele Alli, who doubled Tottenham's lead and sealed the three points late on, should have been booked for diving. Davinson Sánchez should have been sent off for a second bookable offence. Referee Bobby Madley and his colleagues had a stinker!!! What a nice welcome to the Premier League it was for new Swans boss Carlos Carvahal in his first home game in charge!!! The pouring rain certainly fit the mood in Wales!!!

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

Tottenham 2:1 West Ham - 1:1 postponed from week 21, Son Heung-min and Pedro Obiang with two stunning long-range strikes. 31-3 shots, 8-1 on target, 7-1 corners, 10-6 fouls, 0-2 yellow cards, Spurs will have been left wondering how the hell they did not get more out of that game!!!

Click here for my previous Picks Of The Week.

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