Premier League Picks Of The Week 37

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 37

The 37th week of the Premier League action saw:

25 goals - most by West Ham, Crystal Palace and Liverpool = 3 each
295 shots - most by Man United = 23
101 on target - most by Chelsea = 9
114 corners - most by Arsenal = 16
195 fouls - most by Fulham = 15
31 bookings - most by Tottenham and Arsenal = 5 each
2 red cards - Son and Foyth for Tottenham
2 penalties - 2 scored (Aubameyang for Arsenal, Murray for Brighton)

What a game! Liverpool never make it easy for themselves, but never give up either! The Reds can't spell the word boredom, that's for sure! Anyone who thought Rafael Benítez would make it easy for his former side though, got proven wrong on Saturday night: Five goals, plenty of nerves and drama at St James’ Park, substitute Divock Origi with the late winning header against Newcastle (86'), making it 2-3 and taking the Reds back to the top, till Monday at least (see below MNF summary for details). LFC have scored 18 headed goals in the Premier League this season and 12 goals via substitutes, more than any other team in both categories. This Belgian super-sub had replaced Mohamed Salah after the great Egyptian had been stretchered off with a head injury. Worrying for Jürgen Klopp's men ahead of their second-leg Champions League semi-final tie against Barcelona and the final league match of the season next weekend. Crucial.

MNF saw Leicester making it difficult for Manchester City, holding them for nearly 70 minutes at the Etihad. Skipper Vincent Kompany’s wonder-strike from 30 yards out (70'), the Belgian's first goal of the season, made sure Pep Guardiola’s side stayed top, keeping the title race in their hands in the final week of the season, one point ahead of the Reds. The Citizens have now scored 100 goals in all competitions at the Etihad this season; extending their record for most home goals by an English top-flight team in a single campaign. The defending champions have won each of their last 13 Premier League games - it's the fourth run of a team winning 13+ games in a row in the competition's history, with City the only side to have done so twice. Pep’s men have beaten every team they have faced in the league for the second consecutive season; the only other English top-flight team to achieve this were Preston between 1888-89 and 1889-90. Records tumbling. Just wow.

What a team! West Ham secured a Premier League double over Southampton for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign. Marko Arnautović scored twice (16', 69') - his first goals since January - with Ryan Fredericks adding a third with his first Premier League goal (72'), to make it 3-0 and three points for the home side. It moves the Hammers to within a point of the top half of the table - something that looked less likely after they lost their first four games of the season and stood on just eight points after their opening 10 league matches. 

Wolves secured a seventh place finish beating Fulham 1-0 in their last home game of the season. If City beat Watford in the FA Cup final on the 18th May, then Nuno Espírito Santo's side will land a Europa League place, returning to Europe after a 39-year wait. Not bad for their first season back in the top tier! With 57 points in the Premier League this season, it is the most by a newly promoted side since Ipswich Town in 2000-01 (66 points). Much in contrast to that, the relegated Cottagers have lost 25 Premier League games this season, the most by a newly promoted side since Derby County in 2007-08 (29 defeats).

What a man! Neil Warnock has suffered his third top-flight relegation, going down with three different teams in three different decades – Notts County in 1991-92, Sheffield United in 2006-07 and Cardiff City in 2018-19. Cardiff’s relegation was confirmed after their 2-3 defeat against Crystal Palace in their final home match of the season. The boss had no complaints about his side despite relegation and was emotional after the difficult game, talking about what could have been with Emiliano Sala. Shame his club are denying any such signing! The Bluebirds have been relegated from the Premier League, becoming the only team to play in more than one Premier League season and be relegated in every single one (also down in 2013-14). Drop.

What a goal! "We scored a goal" the Huddersfield fans were singing, watching their bottom club equal Man City's ten goals at home from 2006-07, so, they did not break the record for lowest total in a season. Keeper Jonas Lössl provided the assist, for Montpellier loanee Isaac Mbenza to run clear and beat David de Gea to level the score (60') after Manchester United youngster Scott McTominay's early opener (8'). Too easy. Man Who?! The Red Devils haven’t won their last away league game of the season since the 2011-12 campaign (0-1 at Sunderland), drawing five and losing one since then. Paul Pogba is the first United player to hit the woodwork twice in a Premier League game since Antonio Valencia against Cardiff in January 2014. Ole Gunnar Solskjær's men will have to settle for Europa League football next season after being held by the Terriers. It means United have now gone five games without a win, their worst sequence since they went eight games without a victory under Louis van Gaal between November and December 2015. 
Elsewhere, Watford paid for three mad minutes of defensive blackout, two corners, two goals for Chelsea (Loftus-Cheek 48', David Luiz 51'). Harsh. Arsenal went ahead thanks to a softer than soft penalty against Brighton (Aubameyang pen 9'), but the visitors got a soft one back (Murray pen 61'), 1-1 the final score. The Gunners need a miracle = a lot of goals and Tottenham to lose if they want to grab the fourth spot in the last Premier League week. Less likely.

What the hell?! A crazy few minutes for Tottenham at Bournemouth saw a man sent off each side of the break - yes, you read right, TWO straight reds in the early kick-off at Dean Court on Saturday! Son Heung-min was sent off for a daft tackle and the pushing and fighting in the aftermath (43’), then sub Juan Foyth was just super-daft with a dangerous and late challenge (48’), just a couple of minutes after coming on (two minutes and 13 seconds to be exact). And it could have been more dismissals with all the bust-ups at the end! Booking points galore! Man of the match Mark Travers did well in his first game as Cherries’ stopper, making impressive saves and good cover, even his counterpart Hugo Lloris congratulated him after the match. Nathan Aké scored the winner in stoppage time (90'+1'), all the pressure finally paid off and made the nine men of Spurs leak and pay for it. Please mind the gap, Eddie Howe’s men are up to 12th on 45 points, 14 points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Mauricio Pochettino’s side went down to fourth, 25 points behind the league leaders, after Chelsea overtook them with their win mentioned above. Spurs have lost 13 (THIRTEEN) matches in the Premier League this season. And they are still fourth with 70 points. Crazy. 

My Predictions - Actual Results
Everton 1:0 Burnley - 2:0
Bournemouth 1:1 Tottenham - 1:0
West Ham 2:1 Southampton - 3:0
Wolves 2:0 Fulham - 1:0
Cardiff 1:3 Crystal Palace - 2:3
Newcastle 1:4 Liverpool - 2:3
Chelsea 2:1 Watford - 3:0
Huddersfield 1:2 Man United - 1:1
Arsenal 2:1 Brighton - 1:1
Man City 2:2 Leicester - 1:0

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 32

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 32

The 32nd week of the Premier League action saw:

22 goals - most by Man City, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Leicester, Man United, Everton, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal = 2 each
237 shots - most by Man City = 24
67 on target - most by Everton = 9
96 corners - most by Man City = 11
191 fouls - most by Man United, Everton and Chelsea = 14 each
20 bookings - most by Chelsea = 3
0 red cards
1 penalty - 1 scored (Milivojević for Crystal Palace)

What a game! Manchester United ended up 2-1 winners at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, but the result definitely doesn’t reflect the game! Watford looked like the home side, dominating, controlling and creating much more (EIGHT shots on target, pulling SEVEN saves from David de Gea, most produced by a visiting side at the ground since 2014). The opener and Marcus Rashford's 10th Premier League goal of the season (38’) came against the run of play, after a superb through-ball from Luke Shaw. And after the Hornets wasted more chances, Anthony Martial made them pay midway through the second half, doubling the Red Devils’ lead from close range (72’). Abdoulaye Doucouré scored a late goal which Javi Gracia’s men more than deserved, but it was too little too late (90’). The result ended a run of successive defeats for new/finally permanent boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and took United level on points with third-placed Tottenham, who travelled to Liverpool on Sunday, before Arsenal's home game against Newcastle on Monday. More to both clashes below.

What a team! Huddersfield’s relegation was confirmed on Saturday after falling to their 24th defeat of the season, 2-0 at Crystal Palace, equalling the record for earliest relegation from the Premier League of Derby County in 2007-08 and Ipswich Town in 1994-95. The Eagles have scored nine penalty goals in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. Luka Milivojević has scored all of those nine spot kicks, including the opener in this match against the Terriers (76’); only four players have scored more in a single season, with Steven Gerrard being the last player to do so in 2013-14 (10). Patrick van Aanholt doubled the lead and secured the win late on (88’), putting Roy Hodgson’s men eight points clear of the drop zone.

Fulham look like they will be the next side to follow the Yorkshire club down after losing 0-2 against Manchester City, their 23rd loss keeping them in 19th, 16 points away from safety, just three points better off than the bottom team. The managerless side failed to direct a single shot on target for the first time in their last 188 home league games, since April 2010 against Wolves in the Premier League. The Citizens could not have had it any easier, the win keeping them that decisive little edge/corner/step ahead in the title race (second, but only two points behind Liverpool, with a game in hand).

What a man! Brendan Rodgers was a very happy man after watching his side shine in a comfortable win against Bournemouth, recording their third consecutive win under the Northern Irishman. The Foxes were under control for most of the match after taking an early lead thanks to Wes Morgan’s flick going in off the post (11’). Jamie Vardy’s header went in off the crossbar to seal the victory for the home side (83’), making it five goals in his last five league appearances. The woodwork helped the 2016 champions move up to eighth, four places better off than when they sacked former boss Claude Puel. The result means the Cherries have lost 10 of their last 11 away games - the only positive result in that run being a win in their last game on the road against now relegated Huddersfield. Eddie Howe was left conceding defeat, disappointed. The Bournemouth boss is winless in eight away league visits to Leicester City during his managerial career (W0 D4 L4).

Unai Emery is not doing bad in his first season as Arsenal boss, watching his side record their 10th home league victory in a row, their best run since a similar sequence from December 1997 to May 1998, under former manager Arsène Wenger. MNF saw the Gunners comfortably beating Newcastle 2-0 at the Emirates, Aaron Ramsey (30’) and Alexandre Lacazette (83’) with deserved goals, bagging the points after a dominant show which saw two goals disallowed for the home side as well. Rafael Benítez still feels the Magpies will be safe, the result just moving them one place down to 14th, seven points clear from the drop zone. Emery’s side overtook rivals Spurs, moving up to third, two points ahead of Manchester United in fifth, Champions League football looking more and more likely next season after a two-year absence.

What a goal! A couple of crucial own goals this weekend: Wolves captain Conor Coady scored his third own goal of the season after Chris Wood’s shot came back off the post (2’), opening the scoring for Burnley. Only two players have registered more own goals in a Premier League season - Liverpool's Martin Škrtel in 2013-14 and Brighton's Lewis Dunk in 2017-18, both with four. Nuno Espírito Santo’s men’s four own goals in the league this campaign is the most of any side. 19-year-old Dwight McNeil had set up the early opener and sealed the win with a lovely strike of his own (77’), a low drill into the bottom-right corner, the only shot on target for the visitors. It was a crucial win for Sean Dyche’s men, ending a run of four straight defeats, recording their first clean sheet in nine league games, and moving them five points clear of the relegation zone.

The other own goal went to Toby Alderweireld at Anfield, handing Liverpool an injury-time winner against Tottenham, after watching his keeper Hugo Lloris spill Mohamed Salah’s shot, for the ball to ricochet off the Belgian defender and into the net. The Reds had taken the lead early on thanks to Roberto Firmino’s header (16’), set up by a brilliant Andrew Robertson cross from the left into the box. Lucas Moura levelled the score (70’) and deservedly so after the visitors had improved, dominated and created a lot more after the break. But Jürgen Klopp was the one celebrating at the final whistle, seeing his side return to the top thanks to that last-gasp own goal. It doesn’t matter how you win them, three points is what is important. Liverpool have scored three winning goals in the 90th minute or later in the Premier League this season, their second-most in a single campaign after 2008-09 (four).

What the hell?! West Ham’s toothless display saw a total of just three attempts on goal in the game, their lowest tally in a home Premier League game since the 2005-06 season. Everton ended up comfortable 0-2 winners at the London Stadium, Marco Silva's side dominating and winning the game in the first half thanks to goals from Kurt Zouma (5’) and Bernard (33’). The Hammers have already drawn level with their points total from last season (= 42), but, with games against Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham to come next month, Manuel Pellegrini’s men face dropping, falling and failing to a disappointing end to the season.

And last but definitely not least, what were the officials on at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday?! A certain Russian billionaire’s pay check?! Victor Camarasa’s curling opener gave the home side a deserved lead shortly after the break (46’), as Chelsea were playing a painfully slow and wasteful game. With five minutes left, César Azpilicueta nodded in an equaliser from a clearly offside position and then, in added time, substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek headed in the winner for the Blues to break the Welsh hearts. Throughout the match, the officiating was dubious, obvious free kicks and cautions not given. And how and why Antonio Rüdiger was not sent off after bringing down last man Kenneth Zohore shortly after the equaliser, only they know. How Neil Warnock stayed so calm after the final whistle, I do not know, shouting his face off on the sidelines and to players, but not to the officials, who cost his side three crucial points. Other managers would have been in the refs’ faces, like Mauricio Pochettino did a few weeks ago (Premier League Week 27 to be exact). Warnock's post-match interview says it all, what I have been blogging and shouting my face off about week in, week out. Ridiculous. Disgusting. Outrageous.

My Predictions - Actual Results:
Fulham 1:3 Man City - 0:2
Brighton 0:0 Southampton - 0:1
Burnley 1:1 Wolves - 2:0
Crystal Palace 2:0 Huddersfield - 2:0
Leicester 2:0 Bournemouth - 2:0
Man United 3:0 Watford - 2:1
West Ham 2:2 Everton - 0:2
Cardiff 1:2 Chelsea - 1:2
Liverpool 2:1 Tottenham - 2:1
Arsenal 4:2 Newcastle - 2:0

Click here for the previous Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 19

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 19

The 19th week of the Premier League action saw:

32 goals - most by Tottenham and Everton = 5 each

249 shots - most by Crystal Palace = 31

94 on target - most by Man United = 10

94 corners - most by Crystal Palace = 12

177 fouls - most by Everton = 19

27 bookings - most by Everton = 4

1 red card - Delph for Man City

3 penalties - 3 scored (Sigurdsson for Everton, Salah for Liverpool, Hazard for Chelsea)

So, halfway through the season, how much better/worse is your side off? 
Click here to see the main gainers (and losers) in the comparison table. 

What a game! Manchester City lost again! After the shock home defeat against Crystal Palace last week, Pep Guardiola’s side could not keep hold of a lead again and ended up failing and falling 2-1 at Leicester. Bernardo Silva had opened the scoring for the champions (14’), but just five minutes later Marc Albrighton headed in the equaliser (19’). Ricardo Pereira’s blasting strike (81’) put the Foxes ahead, before Fabian Delph’s sliding tackle ended the afternoon early for the Bradford-born and any chance back into the match for his side, the defeat seeing City slide down to third. Their Spanish boss doesn’t like December, seeing six of their 11 league defeats in the month of Christmas. Claude Puel meanwhile, will be thinking he is dreaming, his change of formation was spot on. The 2016 champions are up to seventh after taking max points against top sides, when the Frenchman was being doubted and under fire most. 

What a team! Liverpool thrashed Newcastle 4-0 to extend their lead at the top to six points. Cheers were even louder at Anfield after hearing the result mentioned above come through from the King Power Stadium. An unmarked Dejan Lovren had opened the scoring with a belter from the centre of the box (11’). Mohamed Salah doubled the score from the spot (47’) after being pulled back in the penalty area by Paul Dummett. Xherdan Shaqiri (79’) and Fabinho (85’) doubled the score to complete the comfortable win, their 16th in 19 games, and secure their 12th clean sheet. It was Jürgen Klopp’s 100th win as LFC boss in his 181st match and the Magpies’ heaviest league defeat at Anfield since December 1987. The Reds are only the fourth Premier League team to be unbeaten at the halfway stage of a season after Arsenal 2003-04, Manchester United 2010-11 and Manchester City 2017-18. Each of those sides went on to win the title.

Tottenham are the closest chasers at the moment, moving up to second after they hammered Bournemouth 5-0 at Wembley. Boss Mauricio Pochettino remained humble though, pointing to Liverpool and City as “the real contenders”.

What a man! Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær was all smiles after watching his side make it back-to-back wins under him with a convincing 3-1 win against Huddersfield, making Old Trafford bounce again. The Red Devils were on fire, much more open, positive, liberal and riveting, with ten shots on target. Paul Pogba scored twice, a nice sweeper (64’) and 30-yard rocket (78’), after Nemanja Matić poked one home earlier on (28’). The French world champion has been directly involved in four goals in two league games under the Norwegian (2 goals, 2 assists), the same total he registered in his last 12 matches under The Sacked One (José Mourinwho).

Eden Hazard became only the tenth Chelsea player to reach the landmark of 100 goals for the club, his brace (45’+1’, 58’ pen) was enough to secure a win at Watford and keep his side in fourth. 

What a goal! Everton shook off the 2-6 home embarrassment against Tottenham last week by thrashing Burnley to bits 1-5 at Turf Moor. Lucas Digne’s long-range effort gets the pick, a smacker to complete his brace (13’, 71’) and add to man of the match Yerry Mina’s early opener (2’) and Gylfi Sigurðsson’s spot kick (22’). Ben Gibson had pulled one back for the home side before the break (36’), but Richarlison came off the bench to add a late goal to the Clarets’ misery (90’+3’). The win takes the Toffees up to eighth, whilst Sean Dyche watched his side trying hard but suffering and failing harder, the defeat keeping them stuck in 18th, having conceded 41 goals after 19 games, two more than they shipped in the whole of last season (39).

What the hell?! Crystal Palace had 31 shots against Cardiff, their highest number since 2003-4, including last week's hero Andros Townsend and Luka Milivojević hitting the crossbar and post respectively, but it somehow stayed goalless. Frustrating for manager Roy Hodgson, who was left rueing all the missed chances. But the former England boss can be more than happy with four points from the two last to games after beating the champions last week. Neil Warnock can still be satisfied as well, watching his side staying stubborn, keeping a clean sheet and collecting only their second point on the road this season. The sides remain 14th and 17th respectively. This was the first-ever Premier League meeting between two managers aged over 70 (Warnock 70y 25d, Hodgson 71y 139d on the day of the game).

Three goals in nine minutes decided the only clash left on the day after Boxing Day. Southampton went ahead against West Ham thanks to Nathan Redmond scrappy finish (50), before Felipe Anderson’s brace decided the encounter, one low strike (53’) and a powerful shot (59’). Injury-hit Hammers held on to the lead to secure their fifth win in six games, taking them up to ninth, whilst the Saints remain 16th.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Fulham 0:1 Wolves - 1:1

Burnley 1:2 Everton - 1:5

Crystal Palace 2:1 Cardiff - 0:0

Leicester 1:1 Man City - 2:1

Liverpool 3:0 Newcastle - 4:0

Man United 4:0 Huddersfield - 3:1

Tottenham 3:1 Bournemouth - 5:0

Brighton 2:2 Arsenal - 1:1

Watford 2:2 Chelsea - 1:2

Southampton 0:0 West Ham - 1:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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