Premier League Picks Of The Week 25

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 25

The 25th week of Premier League action saw:

23 goals - most by Chelsea = 5

249 shots - most by Chelsea = 23

84 on target - most by Man City = 12

86 corners - most by Chelsea and Palace = 11 each

209 fouls - most by Cardiff = 17

30 bookings - most by Leicester and Man United = 4 each

0 red cards

5 penalties - 5 scored (Barnes for Burnley, Hazard for Chelsea, Milivojević for Palace, Neves for Wolves, Reid for Cardiff)

What a game! The early(er) Sunday kick-off saw the fifth consecutive away win for Manchester United, nine wins out of ten for Ole Gunnar Solskær, despite Leicester’s dominance in the second half. The referee didn’t cover himself in glory, but in the end, the blunders evened themselves out, more to that below. The Foxes just didn’t get there, despite all their efforts, Marcus Rashford's 10th goal of the season was enough to bank the three points for his side (9'). The Red Devils went up to fifth, before Arsenal’s Super Sunday clash at Manchester City. But the Gunners didn’t help themselves. Sergio Agüero’s hat-trick (1’, 44’, 61’), his 14th for the club, was enough to down the visitors at the Etihad after a promising first but useless second half - although one goal was offside and the other a handball! Laurent Koscielny's header (11') was the only lonely reply for the Londoners. The Citizens must have been glad watching West Ham frustrating the hell out of Liverpool, the officials’ dismal performance not helping neither side in the Monday night match either. It ended 1-1 at the London Stadium after plenty of blunders, misses, muck-ups and giveaways, sloppy stuff on both sides. Sadio Mané's goal was given despite James Milner being obviously offside in the build-up (22'), before Michail Antonio levelled the score with a low finish off the post (28'). The Reds are still top, three points clear, but Pep Guardiola’s side are five goals better off. More below...

What a team! The Huddersfield fans were brilliant at Stamford Bridge! 3-0 down against Chelsea, with just over an hour gone, they could still be heard chanting, cheering and singing over the blue lot! “We’re gonna win 4-3!” made me laugh! There was a fourth and fifth goal - but it all went to the home side, five goals and three points to take Maurizio Sarri's men above Arsenal and back into the top four, whilst the Terriers remain rock-bottom, 13 points from safety.

Crystal Palace won convincingly against Fulham thanks to captain Luka Milivojević's spot kick (pen 25') and Jeff Schlupp's late tap in (87'). The Cottagers were surprisingly flawed and condemned after their convincing comeback win against Brighton last week, but only 2 points from 13 matches on the road this season speak for themselves! 
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock was a very proud and emotional man after watching his side win their first home game since Emiliano Sala’s disappearance. It ended a crucial 2-0 win against Bournemouth thanks to Bobby Reid’s double (5’ pen, 46’). Cherries manager Eddie Howe was left down and wondering what happened after his side had thrashed Chelsea just a few days before. With the win the Bluebirds remain 18th, but five points clear of Fulham in 19th and only two points behind Burnley in 17th. 

What a man! New signing Peter Crouch came on late to make his debut for Burnley and made the difference, involved in the incident that lead to the penalty, their first in 68 games, Ashley Barnes snatching the Clarets a last-gasp goal from the spot and point against Southampton (90’+4’). Barnes was brought down in the first half by Saints keeper Alex McCarthy, it should have been a penalty then, but he was booked for simulation instead! It was an absolute howler by the ref! And what was the assistant doing?! More to the unbelievable refereeing in general above and below. Nathan Redmond gave the visitors the lead against the run of play after the break, but Sean Dyche did get some justice back. A point each it was in the end.

Watford’s keeper Ben Foster did very well with a string of top-notch saves to keep it goalless at the Falmer Stadium and deny Brighton their first win of the year. Hornets boss Javi Gracia was full of compliments for the opposition's stopper in the post-match interview, which says it all really. 

What a goal! Newcastle worked so hard to keep a clean sheet at Tottenham in the early kick-off on Saturday, and threatened a few times on the counter, just to be broken by non-other than Son Heung-min (83’), off super-sub Fernando Llorente, who has been involved in seven goals in his last eight appearances for the side (5 goals, 2 assists). It was a calamity goal by the keeper Martin Dúbravka, who should have blocked and stopped the goal, but it somehow went through the Czech stopper. One cannot say Spurs didn’t deserve it, they dominated, and are now 29 matches without a draw, a new Premier League record. But the Magpies will still be gutted, more points dropped in the fight for survival, seeing them fall down to 15th, level on points with Southampton and Burnley in 16th and 17th, only two points away from the drop zone.

What the hell?! Everton boss Marco Silva once again watched his side fail and fall 1-3 at home against high-flying Wolves. The only highlight for the home side at Goodison Park was a cat. Yes, A CAT!!! The Toffees have lost three of their last four Premier League home games, as many defeats as in their previous 23, and just won one of their last nine league matches this season against teams starting the day higher in the table (W1 D2 L6), losing the last five in a row. No discrediting the Wanderers, who are doing brilliantly sitting comfortable four points clear in seventh.

The refs were once again absolute shambles! As already ranted above, in nearly every match and category, plenty of decisions were more than dubious, just blatantly wrong, what the hell are they doing?! Offside goals, handballs and plenty of other obvious stuff are being overlooked again and again, not just on Monday night! It's costing sides precious points, that lead to titles or relegations - can the officials be relegated or just disqualified, sent off or substituted like the teams and players when they are doing that bad?! ARGH!!!

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Tottenham 1:2 Newcastle - 1:0

Brighton 2:2 Watford - 0:0

Burnley 2:1 Southampton - 1:1

Chelsea 2:1 Huddersfield - 5:0 

Crystal Palace 3:3 Fulham - 2:0

Everton 2:2 Wolves - 1:3

Cardiff 2:1 Bournemouth - 2:0

Leicester 1:1 Man United - 0:1

Man City 4:3 Arsenal - 3:1

West Ham 1:2 Liverpool - 1:1

Click here for the previous Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 24

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 24

The 24th week of the Premier League action saw:

31 goals - most by Fulham and Bournemouth = 4 each

262 shots - most by Man United = 28

85 on target - most by Wolves and Man United = 9 each

101 corners - most by Man United = 11

184 fouls - most by Arsenal = 14

43 bookings - most by Everton, Wolves and Watford = 4 each

2 red cards - Digne for Everton, Zaha for Palace

3 penalties - 3 scored (Aubameyang for Arsenal, Pogba for Man United, Ritchie for Newcastle)

What a game! It was all about crazy comebacks on Tuesday night! Fulham, Manchester United and Newcastle!!! I have to start with the last, more to the first two below. When Sergio Agüero gave Manchester City the lead after just 24 seconds, everyone expected the worst, a total thrashing at St James’ Park. However, Pep Guardiola was shocked watching his side give the game away, Salomón Rondón netting Isaac Hayden’s header to equalise from close range (66’), before Matt Ritchie converted the penalty (80’) after Fernandinho had fouled Sean Longstaff in the box. It’s an unexpected and crucial result at both ends of the table, relief for Magpies boss Rafael Benítez, disbelief for his blue counterpart. 

And more upsets (less comebacks) followed on Wednesday night! Bournemouth smashed Chelsea! Joshua King’s brace (47’, 74’), either side of David Brooks’ composed finish (63’), and sub Charlie Daniels' injury-time goal, made it 4-0 to the Cherries and two consecutive defeats for the Blues. Maurizio Sarri took the blame, after staying in complete lock-down for nearly an hour after the match - a bit more than just a team talk... Unforgettable win for Eddie Howe, either way, no matter whose fault it is! It was only their second-ever competitive home win against the Londoners, first since September 1988. And it’s just the second time in PL history Chelsea have lost a game by a four-goal margin, after losing 5-1 to Liverpool in September 1996.

Have to mention Tottenham's comeback, with two goals in seven minutes by Son Heung-min (80’) and Fernando Llorente (87’), after Craig Cathcart had given Watford the lead (38') at a very empty Wembley stadium. The win puts Spurs seven points ahead of rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in fourth and fifth, and only two points behind the Citizens.

What a team! Sorry West Ham, it was terrible to watch them, they were just watching themselves as Wolves took them apart 3-0, especially the last goal. Boss Manuel Pellegrini conceded it is impossible to play worse (9-0 attempts on target). The Hammers were swept aside by the Wanderers, Roman Saïss (66’) and Raúl Jiménez (80’, 86’) capitalising on the sleeping and non-existing defence. No discrediting Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, top quality, great team spirit, organisation and play, absolutely smashing the visitors, to complete the double over West Ham for the first time in their history (30th campaign).

Huddersfield’s first match under Jan Siewert ended in defeat, 0-1 against ten-man Everton. Richarlison’s rebound goal early on (3’) was enough for the visitors, despite Lucas Digne’s sending off (66’). David Wagner’s replacement praised Toffee keeper Jordan Pickford, who made some brilliant stops to keep his side ahead. Crucial three points, Marco Silva a very relieved man, finally a win, just their second in the last five league games.

What a man! Sean Dyche has never lost a PL game on a Tuesday as Burnley boss! And they were so close to beat Manchester United as well! The Clarets were two goals ahead thanks to Ashley Barnes (51’) and Chris Wood (81’), but Old Trafford witnessed one of the typical late comebacks by the Red Devils. Paul Pogba from the spot (pen 87’) and Victor Lindelöf with a scramble in injury time (90’+2') pulled a point back for Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side, nicking two from the visitors and denying them their first win at the ground since 1962. First points dropped for the caretaker manager though, but it could have been so much worse!

It was all about Emiliano Sala in Cardiff’s first match since the striker’s disappearance. It ended in a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, neither side producing anything on target in the first half, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty (66’) and Alexandre Lacazette’s fine low finish (83’) changed and ended the match after the break. Neil Warnock was still proud of his side and praised their conduct and performance. The Bluebirds did pull one back late on, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing with a sweet curler (90’+3’). But it was too little too late. Very emotional. Goosebumps. #PrayForSala

What a goal! Fulham’s first and last goal, wow! Individual and team class and finish! I don't know why it was only the sixth game on MOTD!!!!! The Cottagers were trailing Brighton by 0-2 after just 17 minutes, Glenn Murray giving the visitors a comfortable lead with his brace (3’, 17’). Calum Chambers’ superb strike started the dream comeback shortly after the break (47’). Aleksandar Mitrović’s double (58’, 74’) turned the match and Craven Cottage on its head. And Luciano Vietto put the icing on the cake, heading home Fulham’s fourth (79’) after Tom Cairney’s effort from distance had come off the crossbar. Claudio Ranieri was all smiles, praising his side’s fighting spirit. Chris Hughton on the other hand, was gobsmacked and lambasted his team’s second-half collapse. It was an extraordinary game!

Southampton's equaliser against Crystal Palace was a lovely team move and goal! More to that clash below.

What the hell?! Wilfried Zaha was just being an idiot, applauding the referee whilst receiving a booking = asking for a second yellow = sending off (87’)! Fully deserved! The Crystal Palace forward had given his side the lead at Southampton, his first goal since September, four minutes before the interval. But the Saints were level thanks to James Ward-Prowse (77’), an outstanding team goal as mentioned above, despite the visitors’ dominance and number of chances. No other PL side have drawn more games than Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team = eight. Roy Hodgson’s men meanwhile, have dropped 13 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season - only Fulham and Southampton have lost more (15 each).

Jürgen Klopp blamed the snow for Liverpool’s draw at Anfield against Leicester. It’s a point gained in the title race after City’s defeat, but was a frustrating display and two points dropped on the night. And the result could have been so much worse! Keeper Alisson had some iffy moments again, but also made some crucial stops, including a sublime ping-pong block against his own team mate Roberto Firmino! The Brazlian stopper and star defender Virgil van Dijk looked uncharacteristically clumsy throughout. The Reds were ahead early on thanks to Sadio Mané (3’ - after 121 seconds to be exact), but the rest of the match stayed slow, slippy and clumsy, the home side unable to take control. Harry Maguire equalised in front of the Kop just before the break (45’+2’). The German boss had a point about the weather and the officials didn't help his side either. Referee Martin Atkinson made a couple of questionable calls and decisions, on both sides. Clear penalties not given after Mané and Mohamed Salah were clearly fouled in the box, a couple of cards not shown, that could have added up to more against certain players... But, United got a penalty whilst these players just always pretend, right?! As I wonder every week: Who needs VAR?! Claude Puel was a happy man with the result. Of course. Leicester are the first team outside the top six that Liverpool have failed to beat in the Premier League this season. The Reds have conceded in their past three home league games, after only conceding in two of their opening nine league matches at Anfield this season. Still, going into February five points clear at the top is not too bad, ey?

My Predictions - Actual Results

Arsenal 3:1 Cardiff - 2:1

Fulham 1:2 Brighton - 4:2

Huddersfield 1:2 Everton - 0:1

Wolves 2:1 West Ham - 3:0

Man United 3:1 Burnley - 2:2

Newcastle 1:2 Man City - 2:1

Bournemouth 1:2 Chelsea - 4:0

Southampton 2:1 Crystal Palace - 1:1

Liverpool 1:0 Leicester - 1:1

Tottenham 2:0 Watford - 2:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 23

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 23

The 23rd week of the Premier League action saw:

33 goals - most by Wolves and Liverpool = 4 each

236 shots - most by Man United = 20

79 on target - most by Liverpool = 9

112 corners - most by Cardiff and Tottenham = 10 each

201 fouls - most by Chelsea = 15

27 bookings - most by Wolves, Leicester and Tottenham = 3 each

1 red card - Milner for Liverpool

1 penalty - 1 scored (Pogba for United)

What a match! The first match of the weekend, the early kick-off on Saturday at the Molineux, was the craziest! Jota scored a hat-trick for Wolves (4’, 64’, 90’+3’), their first in the top flight since 1977, to make it 4-3 to the hosts against Leicester. The 22-year-old is only the second Portuguese player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League after former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Boss Nuno Espírito Santo was sent off for taking part in the celebrations on the pitch after the injury-time winner. Claude Puel was not happy, his side still ending up losers despite their second-half comeback and it looked like captain Wes Morgan had grabbed a late point for the visitors (87'). "Sacked in the morning" chants were directed at the Frenchman after a dire first half, the result seeing the Wanderers overtake the Foxes, the prior rising to eighth, whilst the latter fall to ninth.

What a team! League leaders Liverpool didn’t make it easy for themselves in the Saturday crunch match against their bogey team Crystal Palace at Anfield, but still got there in the end. The Reds were better after the restart, trailing thanks to some poor defending handing Andros Townsend the opener (34’), the first real break ending up in a goal for Roy Hodgson’s men. The second half was absolute madness, the home front trio all on the scoreboard, but the visitors not giving up that easily, it ended up a nerve-wrenching 4-3 home-victory. Mohamed Salah starred with a brace (46’, 75’), calming the nerves shortly after the break, including his 50th Premier League goal. Team mates Roberto Firmino (53’) and Sadio Mané (90’+3’) joined the great Egyptian on the scoreboard to seal the win for the league leaders. James Tomkins (65’) and Max Meyer (95’) found the gaps on the other side, and James Milner was sent walking by his former PE teacher Jon Moss after seeing two yellow for two late and daft tackles (89’). Boss Jürgen Klopp could breath a sigh of relief after the full-time whistle blew, with the rest of the Reds. The German hailed his world-class striker after celebrating the difficult win against the last side to beat his team at home in the league back in April 2017, jumping and punching into the air with the Kop.

Manchester City kept the gap at the top to four points after their comfortable 0-3 win at managerless Huddersfield on Sunday, including their 100th goal of the season already! 

What a man! And it’s seven wins out of seven games for Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær - a record maker with six out of six victories in the league! Paul Pogba (pen 27’) and Marcus Rashford (42’) were the match-takers-and-makers again, a penalty and superb goal respectively, sealing the win for the Red Devils against Brighton at Old Trafford. Pascal Groß halved the deficit later on (72’), but Chris Hughton’s side continued their miserable record, making it five defeats in their last eight league matches, keeping them in 13th, whilst United remain in sixth.

Everton’s miserable run on the road continued at Southampton. Wonder-man Ralph Hasenhüttl has won four of his eight games since replacing Mark Hughes (who won three of his 22 matches) at St Mary's. It was a nice opener for James Ward-Prowse (50’), cheeky one for Nathan Redmond - a Lucas Digne own goal in the end actually, the French left-back toe-poking it past his own keeper Jordan Pickford (64’). A Toffee horror show! Gylfi Sigurðsson pulled one back in injury time (90’+1’), but it was too little too late. A tense finish to the fourth victory, the Austrian master taking his team up to 15th, three points clear of the drop zone. Marco Silva on the other hand, is not happy, conceding the Saints deserved three points, his side failing and falling to eleventh.

What a goal! What a run and fine guided goal it was from Fabian Schär, opening the scoring against Cardiff (24’)! It was the Swiss defender’s first goal for Newcastle, helping his side to a crucial win in the relegation battle. And he doubled the lead from close range off a corner (63’). It was the Magpies’ first home win since November, an absolute nightmare for the Welsh visitors. Some brilliant sportsmanship was shown by Ayoze Pérez, kicking out the ball with his side on the attack after defender Joe Bennett looked like he was knocked out cold. The Spanish midfielder tapped in the third in injury time (90’+3’), which sealed the win and points for the home side and a much happier Rafa Benítez with his side climbing out of the drop zone, up to 17th, two points ahead of the Bluebirds.

The late disallowed Burnley goal at Watford, a tap-in by Chris Wood, looked in line = onside! Crucial, cruel - both keepers did well though, Tom Heaton for the visitors and Ben Foster for the hosts, to make sure both sides kept clean sheets and their 2019 unbeaten start intact. Clarets boss Sean Dyche made a good point and his frustration clear on that decision after the match. Still, unbeaten in the last four is not too bad. And only one defeat in eight for the Hornets as well.

It was a deserved victory for the home side at the Vitality stadium after Andy Carroll’s point-blank miss, Callum Wilson’s one-touch smacker (53’) and Joshua King’s tap in (90’+1’), great balls, superb finishes, sealed West Ham’s misery, sweet win and huge points for Eddie Howe, the Hammers falling down to 10th, whilst Bournemouth remain 12th.

What the hell?! Chelsea were below par in the Saturday evening kick-off, no discrediting Arsenal, great result for them to get closer to breaking into the top four. The Gunners fired themselves ahead thanks to Alexandre Lacazette (14’) and on top before the break through captain Laurent Koscielny (39’). The three points keep the East London side in fifth, ahead of United in sixth on goal difference, three points behind the Blues in fourth. It was an extraordinary post-match rant by boss Maurizio Sarri after watching his side struggle and fail to record a single shot on target after the interval - surely, having a go at his team like that, the Italian won’t last much longer?! Reminds me of a certain jobless Portuguese...

Tottenham’s injury-time winner at Fulham, what was the on-loan keeper Sergio Rico thinking?! Taking a short free kick in the box in the dying seconds is asking for trouble, and handed Harry Winks the chance on a golden plate to make it 1-2 at Craven Cottage (90’+3’). Poor Claudio Ranieri, watching his side playing much better, but then still falling and failing to record a point, staying stuck in 19th, seven points from safety. Lucky Spurs. And Mauricio Pochettino couldn’t believe it himself, the win keeping Tottenham in third, five points behind City in second, four points ahead of Chelsea in fourth.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Wolves 0:1 Leicester - 4:3

Bournemouth 1:2 West Ham - 2:0

Liverpool 3:1 Crystal Palace - 4:3

Man United 2:1 Brighton - 2:1

Newcastle 1:1 Cardiff - 3:0

Southampton 2:3 Everton - 2:1

Watford 3:2 Burnley - 0:0

Arsenal 1:2 Chelsea - 2:0

Huddersfield 0:4 Man City - 0:3

Fulham 1:1 Tottenham - 1:2

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 22

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 22

The 22nd week of the Premier League action saw:

20 goals - most by Man City = 3

252 shots - most by Man City = 24

77 on target - most by Tottenham = 11

118 corners - most by Man City = 12

186 fouls - most by Everton = 17

28 bookings - most by Everton = 5

2 red cards - Valery for Southampton, Boly for Wolves

3 penalties - 3 scored (Ward-Prowse for Southampton, Salah for Liverpool, Jesus for Man City)

What a game! There was no real cracker this weekend, there were not many goals, action nor controversies, few and far between... Tottenham had loads of chances against Manchester United on Sunday, but blew them all, so did Leicester against Southampton on Saturday, more to both clashes below. 
Man City had it too easy on Monday night after Wolves had Willy Boly sent off after just 19 minutes. It was just one-way traffic after that at the Etihad, the visitors failing to land a single shot on target in a Premier League game for the first time since May 2012 against Everton. Man of the match Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring after just ten minutes, sliding in Leroy Sané's fine pass, and doubled the Citizens' lead from the spot at the end of the first half (39'), making it seven goals in the last three games for the Brazilian. It was just damage limitation after that for Nuno Espírito Santo's men. Skipper Conor Coady could only deflect Kevin De Bruyne's wicked cross into the back of his own net to add to the travelling fans' misery and make it 3-0 and three points to the champions (78'). With this win, Pep Guardiola's side kept up with Liverpool, maintaining the four-point gap to the Reds at the top. Wolves meanwhile, drop down to eleventh, one point behind Everton in tenth.

What a team! As mentioned above, Liverpool stayed top, winning even if and when they were not impressing at Brighton, thanks to Mohamed Salah's penalty (50'). Of the last 10 Premier League penalties taken by left-footed players, six have failed to score - the other four have all been scored by the great Egyptian. The Reds dominated throughout the match with over 70% possession at the Amex Stadium, manager Jürgen Klopp insisting his side deserved the win and mean the real deal this season. The German has more than a point: Only four sides in English top-flight history have ever had more than the 57 points Liverpool have accumulated at this stage of the season (if league tables are adjusted to three points for a win). And only Chelsea's 2004-05 side have leaked fewer goals (8) than the Reds' 10 after 22 games. Boom..

What a man! Ben Foster starred for Watford and David de Gea for Manchester United, gloving, punching, blocking and kicking away chance after chance at Crystal Palace and Tottenham respectively, keeping their sides ahead to bag the three points in the end. It was ridiculous at Wembley on Sunday, the home side seeing 21 shots, 11 on target, but none of them going in thanks to the Spanish keeper's string of saves. It could have been a very different afternoon and result otherwise. To add to the home side's misery, star striker Harry Kane got injured and looks like he's going to be out for weeks. With yet another win, Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær has equalled Sir Matt Busby's all-time record of winning his first five league games in charge of Manchester United. They still remain in sixth, but are now level on points with Arsenal in fifth after their shocking defeat in the early kick-off on Saturday. The Gunners failed miserably at West Ham, but Hammer youngster Declan Rice will never forget that winner two days before his 20th birthday, banging the ball in being in the right place at the right time inside the box (48')!

What a goal! There were not many goals on Saturday, but plenty of own goals! Burnley beat Fulham without recording a single shot on target, Sean Dyche couldn’t believe his luck! A stunning André Schürrle volley had seen the visitors take the lead early on (2') before defenders Joe Bryan (20') and Denis Odoi (23') both diverted the ball into their own net, two goals in three minutes turning the game on its head. The Cottagers are the first side to score at least two own goals in the first half of a Premier League match since Everton did so against Southampton back in April 2014. Craig Cathcart also scored an own goal (38') for Watford at Palace in the clash mentioned above, but made up for it equalising in the second half (67'), before Tom Cleverly's stunning volley won it later on (74'). 

Shane Long’s first goal in nine months earned Southampton a hard-fought win at Leicester despite playing the second half with only ten men. Ralph Hasenhüttl continues his wonders.
Willian's curler (57') spared Chelsea any blushes/dropped points against Newcastle, the disappointing (but not surprising) result seeing the Magpies drop into the bottom three.

What the hell?! Huddersfield were frustrated as well in their goalless draw at Cardiff. The visitors thought they got a penalty after Bluebird Joe Bennett brought down Terrier Florent Hadergjonaj with 14 minutes to go, for assistant referee Stuart Burt to intervene and change referee Lee Mason's mind, saying it was vice versa, the latter fouled the prior. If this was a clash at the top of the table, all hell would have broken loose!!! The officials have to give more explanations, to the players and the watching public, please!!! It was very unclear and confusing watching the situation and decision unravel. The news of David Wagner's departure on Monday night was no real surprise, the side rock bottom, eight points from safety, after nine successive defeats, but it's such a shame after what the German-American had achieved at the club in the four years he was manager.

Leicester boss Claude Puel’s post-match reaction following the boos all round at the King Power Stadium after his side's defeat against Southampton mentioned above was gob-smacking! It's not his business (the boos, the pressure, the results)?! It's not his concern?! What is then?! I think the Frenchman is walking on very slippery and super-thin ice there, the Foxes dropping down to eighth.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

West Ham 3:3 Arsenal - 1:0

Brighton 1:3 Liverpool - 0:1

Burnley 2:1 Fulham - 2:1

Cardiff 1:0 Huddersfield - 0:0

Crystal Palace 1:1 Watford - 1:2

Leicester 2:0 Southampton - 1:2

Chelsea 2:0 Newcastle - 2:1

Everton 2:1 Bournemouth - 2:0

Tottenham 3:1 Man United - 0:1

Man City 3:1 Wolves - 3:0

Click here for last week’s Premier League Picks.

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

Premier League Picks Of The Week 21

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 21

The 21st week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Arsenal = 4

250 shots - most by Bournemouth = 25

95 on target - most by Bournemouth = 12

77 corners - most by Crystal Palace = 10 

181 fouls - most by Watford = 15

33 bookings - most by Watford, Wolves and Man City = 4 each

2 red cards - Schindler for Huddersfield, Brady for Burnley

0 penalties

What a game! Six goals in 26 first-half minutes, four of them in just six minutes, it was absolute madness at Dean Court on the second day of the new year! The reporters all round, online, on telly, all of them couldn’t keep up. The frantic encounter somehow ended 3-3 between Bournemouth and Watford, with no goal after the break, leaving the Cherries in 12th after blasting 25 chances, whilst the the visitors moved to eighth making the most out of their 11 chances. Eddie Howe felt hard done by, but hey, what are defenders there for again???

The biggest game was the only game left on Thursday night (the third day of the new year, if you can't keep up), in which second-placed Manchester City ended league leaders Liverpool’s 20-game unbeaten run and opened up the title race after reducing the Reds’ lead at the top to four points with their 2-1 win at the Etihad. It was an intense game, but not of many chances. Pep Guardiola’s side didn’t give their opponents much space to play nor breath. Although the visitors looked more reluctant and less attacking throughout anyway, trying to keep play restricted and tied similar to the goalless draw between the two in October, which made the job easier for the champions. Roberto Firmino's header had levelled the score (64') after Sergio Agüero had given the home side the lead earlier on (40'). Sadio Mané had hit the woodwork and John Stones had to scramble the ball off the line earlier on in the first half. Leroy Sané netted the winner, firing in Raheem Sterling's fine pass eight minutes after the equaliser (72'). It was the first time Jürgen Klopp’s men conceded more than one goal in the league since their 2-2 draw at West Brom in April 2018 (PL Week 35). It was only the Citizen’s second win in their past 12 matches against against the Scousers. Crucial.

What a team! After their shock defeat against Wolves last week, Tottenham travelled to Wales a bit shaken, but ended up easy 0-3 winners at Cardiff, taking them back up to second and keeping them in the race before the big clash at the top on Thursday night mentioned above. With Harry Kane (3’), Christian Eriksen (12’) and Son Heung-min (26’) all on the scoreboard early on, the second half was just like a training kick-about. Next on the league fixture list for Tottenham, a bit more of a test: Manchester United.

Chelsea meanwhile had a miserable evening against Southampton, a goalless draw, which saw the Blues fail to score for the third time in the last five league matches at Stamford Bridge, as many as in their previous 22 games. The result opens up the race for the top four, with Arsenal breathing down their necks. See more about the Gunners' win below.

What a man! Huddersfield boss David Wagner sounded surprisingly positive after his side lost the crucial relegation clash against Burnley 1-2, where both sides were reduced to ten men in a true good old-fashioned battle. With only 10 points after 21 games and eight points from safety following their eighth successive league defeat, the Terriers will need a miracle-and-a-half. No team has stayed up with as few points after 21 games. The German-American called it exciting. The fans and followers wouldn't put it that way, worrying more like. Sean Dyche’s men meanwhile are up to 16th after their first successive win since September.

Caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær is only the second manager in Manchester United’s history after the great Matt Busby in 1946 to win his first four league games in charge after beating Newcastle 0-2 at St James’ Park. Hold your horses Red Devils. The four wins have come against four struggling sides/bottom half of the table (current positions = week 21) = Cardiff (17th), Huddersfield (20th), Bournemouth (12th) and the Magpies (15th). As mentioned above, next week will be a bit more of a challenge against Mauricio Pochettino's men. 

What a goal! Jamie Vardy’s 58th minute winner from a tight angle for Leicester completed a very miserable New Year’s Day at Goodison Park and Everton’s fourth defeat in the past five Premier League games (W1). It’s the Foxes’ third win in the last four (L1), one more than in their previous ten matches combined, taking them above Wolves into seventh, after their defeat against Palace, whilst the Toffees slumped down to 11th after the other matches were played the following day.

Marko Arnautović scored twice in two minutes (66’, 68’ - 131 seconds between the two) to make it 2-2 and salvage a point for West Ham against Brighton. But manager Manuel Pellegrini was not happy, after the Seagulls were ahead thanks to two goals in two minutes also, both coming from corners (Stephens 56’, Duffy 58’ - 125 seconds between the two). Similar to the match above, what is marking and defending again??? And how did the ref miss Lewis Dunk's elbow on Andy Carroll?! Frustrating. Mind-boggling. VAR anyone?!?!?!

What the hell?! Boos rang around the Emirates Stadium when Arsenal boss Unai Emery decided to take off Alexandre Lacazette 20 minutes after the French striker had doubled the Gunners’ lead, finishing off a lovely team move (55’). But Fulham had pulled one back (Kamara 69’), and soon after coming on, sub Aaron Ramsey restored the two-goal cushion (79’), before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it 4-1 (83’), sealing only their second win in six games. Claudio Ranieri’s defensive worries continue, his side tied to 19th, whilst Emery’s men reduced the gap to Chelsea in fourth to three points. Still booing the Spanish manager's decisions = doing his job?!

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Everton 0:1 Leicester - 0:1

Arsenal 3:0 Fulham - 4:1

Cardiff 1:4 Tottenham - 0:3

Bournemouth 0:0 Watford - 3:3

Chelsea 3:1 Southampton - 0:0

Huddersfield 0:0 Burnley - 1:2

West Ham 2:1 Brighton - 2:2

Wolves 2:1 Crystal Palace - 0:2

Newcastle 0:3 Man United - 0:2

Man City 1:3 Liverpool - 2:1

Click here for the previous Premier League Picks.

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