Premier League Notes - Week 11

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 11

The 11th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

26 goals - most by Sheff United and Newcastle = 3 each

261 shots - most by Man City = 26

89 on target - most by Chelsea = 10

119 corners - most by Man City = 17

206 fouls - most by Leicester = 16

34 bookings - most by Bournemouth and Watford = 4

1 red card - Son for Tottenham

1 penalty - 1 scored (Deulofeu for Watford)

#BOUMUN

Former United trainee Joshua King’s great individual goal, a lovely unmarked take, turn and shot from inside the box, just before the break (45’), was the only action of note and quality in an otherwise frustrating, messy, sloppy, slippery Saturday lunchtime kickoff. Three deserved points for Eddie Howe’s men saw them leapfrog the dire Red Devils after their worst starting run since 1986-87. Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side have lost all six Premier League games in which they had fallen behind. 

#ARSWOL

The Gunners just cannot keep hold of a lead! Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was standing in for dropped skipper Granit Xhaka and gave the home side the lead with his 50th goal for the club (21’). But Raúl Jiménez headed in the equaliser (76’) denying Unai Emery’s men their first win in three, keeping them in fifth and boos echoing around the Emirates, whilst the Wanderers stretched their unbeaten run to six games, taking them up to 11th, and deservedly so. 

#AVLLIV

The Reds just never know how to die this season! They looked dead and their unbeaten record buried, gone. But two goals in the last seven-ish minutes turned the game on its head at Villa Park. Andrew Robertson (87’) and from provider to scorer Sadio Mané (90+4’) revived and revelled Jürgen Klopp’s men with two crucial headers late on, after Trézéguet had given the Villans the lead before the break (21’). The game changers kept the gap at the top at a comfortable six points for the league leaders, ahead of their mouthwatering clash with the champions next Sunday.

#BHANOR

The Seagulls are flying high under Graham Potter, up to 8th after recording their third consecutive home win in the Premier League, thanks to two second-half goals by substitutes Leandro Trossard (68’) and Shane Duffy (84’). The struggling Canaries meanwhile, who have lost five of their last six games since beating Manchester City at Carrow Road in September, didn’t record a single shot on target, and remain stuck and miserable in 19th, four points from safety.

#MCISOU

The champions came back, denying the Saints a surprise win, especially shocking it would have been after last week’s record thrash against Leicester! James Ward-Prowse gave the visitors the lead early on (13’) and frustrated the hell out of Pep Guardiola’s men with some exemplary defending. It wasn’t until the 70th minute, none other than Sergio Agüero equalised with City’s first shot on target, and 16 minutes later from provider to scorer Kyle Walker found the winner. Oh so cruel for the visitors, typical for the champions, never down and out, it’s never over till the final whistle. 

#SHUBUR

John Lundstram’s brace (17’, 43’) and John Fleck’s first goal of the season (44’), all before the interval, helped United to a comfortable win against the Clarets. The result saw Chris Wilder’s side shoot up to sixth, but Sean Dyche watched his side struggle especially defensively yet again, and after three consecutive defeats with nine goals conceded, they find themselves falling to 14th.

#WHUNEW

After scoring just once in their last five matches, the Magpies made a smashing start, leading 0-3 at the break, and held on to the lead to bag the three points after the Hammers hit back 2-3. Steve Bruce called it the best half since he’s been boss, pointing out the much-needed support from the fans. The result definitely gives them hope and sees them climb up to 15th, whilst it was difficult to understand for Manuel Pellegrini, his side struggling and sliding down to 13th.

#WATCHE

Ben Foster made a bunch of epic saves to keep it just 0-1 to the Blues before the break. And then the stopper was denied a super-late equaliser by his counterpart Kepa Arrizabalaga. Shame. Christian Pulisic had doubled the half-time lead Chelsea enjoyed (55’), adding to Tammy Abraham’s early goal (5’). Gerard Deulofeu pulled one back from the spot thanks to the VAR awarding the penalty (80’), to make it an interesting and tense last 10 minutes plus stoppage time, but Frank Lampard's side still ending up deserved winners. 

#CRYLEI

The Foxes moved back into third after a quite comfortable victory at Selhurst Park on Sunday, thanks to Çağlar Söyüncü’s header and first goal for the club (57’) and Jamie Vardy sealing the win late on with a fine take (88’). Brendan Rodgers’ side have collected 23 points so far this season, level with Chelsea, but better goal difference, one point better off than at this stage in their title-winning campaign of 2015-16. Can they do the impossible and repeat or even outdo that wonderful season?! 

#EVETOT

The Toffees’ later than late equaliser by sub Cenk Tosun (90+7’) and crucial point gained after they had trailed thanks to Dele Alli’s clinical finish (63’), was overshadowed by André Gomes’ horrendous injury. The reaction of the fans and players said it all, Goodison Park was in shock. Post-match discussions continued about some other controversial VAR calls and whether it should have been yellow instead of red for Son Heung-min and/or Serge Aurier as the ankle twisted and leg broke between both tackles/fouls. Both were dangerous challenges, but could not have stopped or changed or avoided the injury. Either way, it’s horrific, all the best to Gomes and his way back from this. Goosebumps. 

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Bournemouth 2:2 Man United - 1:0

Arsenal 2:1 Wolves - 1:1

Aston Villa 1:2 Liverpool - 1:2

Brighton 2:0 Norwich - 2:0

Man City 4:1 Southampton - 2:1

Sheffield United 1:1 Burnley - 3:0

West Ham 2:1 Newcastle - 2:3

Watford 1:3 Chelsea - 1:2

Crystal Palace 1:2 Leicester - 0:2

Everton 2:2 Tottenham - 1:1

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 10

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 10

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

38 goals - most by Leicester = 9

272 shots - most by Leicester and Man City  = 25 each

118 on target - most by Leicester = 15

113 corners - most by Man City = 13

201 fouls - most by Arsenal = 18

38 bookings - most by Watford = 5

3 red cards - Bertrand for Saints, Fernandinho for City, Longstaff for Newcastle 

6 penalties - 4 scored (Vardy for Leicester, Maupay for Brighton, Milivojevic for Palace, Salah for Liverpool)

#SOULEI

It started bad enough at St Mary’s, rain bashing, smashing, blowing down and around on Friday night. Initially a good save by Angus Gunn against Jamie Vardy, but Ben Chilwell netted the rebound (10’) to open the scoring. It went from bad to worse and crashed totally to bits from there for the Saints with Ryan Bertrand sent off as VAR spotted a really bad tackle on Ayoze Pérez (12’) in the buildup to the goal. The Foxes pressed and pounced and never stopped, to record their first win on a Friday, equalling the biggest PL win with the biggest top flight victory on the road. Youri Tielemans (17’), Pérez (19’, 39’, 57’), Vardy (45’, 58’, pen 90+4’) and James Maddison (85’) all added up and on to the home side’s misery, with FIVE goals scored before the break alone! It ended NINE-nil (in case you lost count). The ground emptied very quickly with every goal added in the torrential rain! I loved the songs of the leftover Saints faithfuls though, records tumbling all over the place. Wow. Just wow. Brendan Rodgers has produced wonders, seeing his side flourish and climb up to second before the weekend's matches kicked off.

#MCIAVL

The Villans frustrated the hell out of the champions in the goalless first half of the Saturday lunchtime kickoff at the Etihad. But that changed 20 seconds after the restart, Raheem Sterling breaking the deadlock (46’), David Silva (65’) and İlkay Gündoğan (70’) sealing the win and three points to take Pep Guardiola’s men back up to second, three points behind the Reds before their Super Sunday clash against Tottenham, see below for my notes on that clash. VAR played it’s part again, a lot of close calls, handball and offside decisions that could have gone either way, Dean Smith’s lads will feel hard done by, all their hard work for nothing. 

#BHAEVE

Two own goals, a VAR penalty, plenty of twists and turns, but despite a promising comeback from 1-0 down to 1-2, the Toffees threw it away and suffered yet another defeat. The Marco Silva curse of no comeback-wins continues. Lucas Digne's injury-time own goal (90+4') just added salt to the very deep wound, dragging the visitors down to 16th, whilst Graham Potter's side climbed up to 12th. Tough luck.

#WATBOU

The bottom side were left waiting for their first win, held to a goalless draw at home after both sides were denied by the woodwork, the visitors having failed to score in their last three games, Ben Foster denying them with five top-notch saves. Hornets boss Quique Sánches Flores feels his side are getting closer to their first league victory after ten games, a run stretching back to April and keeping them rock-bottom, four points from safety.

#WHUSHU

Lys Mousset was the hero again (69'), like last week, this time nicking a point, levelling the score after Robert Snodgrass had given the home side the lead shortly before the interval (44'). The super sub kept the Blades unbeaten on the road, whilst the Hammers were left ruing missed chances and dropped points once again. Both side climbed up to ninth and seventh respectively thanks to the shared point. 

#BURCHE

Christian Pulisic’s perfect hat-trick, left, right and header (21’, 45’, 56’), helped beat Burnley comfortably, despite a couple of late goals spoiling the perfect Blue picture, but too late to turn the game on its head completely. Frank Lampard can be a very happy after watching his side records their seventh consecutive win in all competitions, keeping them in the top four, four points clear of the Gunners before their Sunday derby.  

#NEWWOL

So close but yet so far... Both sides dropped points yet again. It was clumsy footy, that's the best way to summarise it. Sean Longstaff can have no complaints after his high boot was punished with a straight red card (82'). The visitors could have nicked the three points late on, with the man advantage after fighting back from behind, but it was not to be. The battle ended a goal and point each, keeping the Magpies in 17th, just a point separating them from the relegation zone, whilst Nuno Espírito Santo's side climbed up to 12th.

#ARSCRY

Good old derby drama! And add the new technology to it, you have an even hotter spicy dish! Two goals off two corners in two minutes settled the derby nerves for the Gunners early on, Sokratis (7’) and David Luiz (9’). But Palace hit back, VAR overturning the ref to give a penalty and retract Wilfried Zaha’s booking for diving. But then the video assistant denied the hosts three points: After Jordan Ayew’s equaliser (52') and skipper Granit Xhaka’s brainless antiques as he was subbed (61'), the tech ref disallowed Sokratis' late winner (83') for a foul on Calum Chambers. WTF?! There were more pushes on red shirts than vice versa! Absolute shambles! Boos all round at the Emirates, for the players and the refs, all as bad as each other, they should all be ashamed of each other but most for themselves!

#LIVTOT

48 seconds is all it took to open the scoring! The ball came from a great Son Heung-Min pass, pinged off Dejan Lovren and the post, before the rebound was headed in by Harry Kane! Spurs' replacement keeper Paulo Gazzaniga made save after save after that, it could have been 6-1 at the break, the Reds firing on the target but not into the back of the net thanks to the Argentinian stopper (13 shots on target in total!). But the hosts hit and came back after the break, skipper Jordan Henderson levelling and making up for the early error (52'), and Mohamed Salah hitting his 50th to make it 2:1 from the spot (75'). Son was denied a couple of times, once by the woodwork, and by Alisson as well. Jürgen Klopp’s unstoppable men keep their unbeaten home run going and six-point lead at the top of the table, whilst Spurs drop down to 11th.

#NORMUN

The Red Devils missed TWO spot kicks, the Canaries' keeper Tim Krul starred, saved and denied Marcus Rashford (29') and Anthony Martial (44'), but was he off the line? VAR? However, the visitors still enjoyed a comfortable lead by then thanks to Scott McTimonay (21') and Rashford (30'). With or without question marks over the VAR decisions, Ole Gunnar Solskjær's men stayed in control and ended the game 1-3 and with the three points, taking them up to seventh, whilst the hosts remain in the relegation zone. 

My Predictions - Actual Results

Southampton 1:2 Leicester - 0:9

Man City 4:1 Aston Villa - 3:0

Brighton 2:1 Everton - 3:2

Watford 1:3 Bournemouth - 0:0

West Ham 2:2 Sheff United - 1:1

Burnley 1:3 Chelsea - 2:4

Newcastle 1:1 Wolves - 1:1

Arsenal 2:1 Crystal Palace - 2:2

Liverpool 3:1 Tottenham - 2:1

Norwich 2:1 Man United - 1:3

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 9

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 9

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

18 goals - most by Villa, City, Everton and Leicester = 2 each

240 shots - most by Aston Villa = 24

78 on target - most by Everton and Man City = 10 each 

111 corners - most by Arsenal = 12

211 fouls - most by Brighton and Saints = 17 each

40 bookings - most by Spurs, Blades and Gunners = 4 each

1 red card - Mooy for Brighton 

1 penalty - 1 scored (Jiménez for Wolves)

#EVEWHU

The Toffees’ much-needed win after four consecutive league defeats lifted some pressure off under-fire manager Marco Silva. And it would have been a much worse thrashing than 2-0 if it weren’t for Spanish stopper Roberto and some top saves and a bit of help from the woodwork. Their third victory of the season lifted the Portuguese’s side out of the relegation zone and up to 15th. The disappointing Hammers suffered their first defeat on the road of the season, seeing them slip down three places to 11th.

#AVLBHA

The Villans ended a run of 50 winless Premier League games after trailing, Matt Targett with the last-minute winner in injury time (90+4’) making it 2:1 against ten-man Seagulls. Aaron Mooy’s sending off after two daft yellow cards in the space of five minutes turned the game around (35’), the visitors were ahead and dominant at that stage. The hosts didn’t have it easy and had a goal harshly disallowed thanks to VAR as well, but never gave up, kept going and got there and punished their opponents for their late lapse. The game saw 44 shots, the most in the PL since Manchester United v Burnley in October 2016!

#BOUNOR

A hard-earned and deserved clean sheet and away point for the hard-working Canaries despite injuries at the back, both a first for them on the road this season, keeping them 19th, one point from safety. A disappointment and two dropped points for the misfiring Cherries, but they stay in the top half despite the lackluster performance. 

#CHENEW

The Magpies frustrated the hell out of the Blues, until former Sunderland loanee Marcos Alonso broke the deadlock (73’) and bagged the three points and fifth successive win in all competitions to Frank Lampard’s relief, taking his side into the top four, whilst Steve Bruce’s men fall back into the relegation zone.

#LEIBUR

Another harsh and controversial VAR moment as the Clarets’ late leveller was disallowed as Chris Wood was deemed to have tripped Jonny Evans beforehand (82’). The Foxes got their comeback win after Jamie Vardy (45’) and Youri Tielemans (74’) had overturned Wood’s opener (26’), the three points taking them up to third and marking the anniversary of former owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s death at the King Power Stadium.

#TOTWAT

More VAR farce, as Dele Alli’s late leveller (86’), which came off his shoulder before he took the shot, was awarded, although the big screen showed “no goal”. After all that confusion, the goal stood for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, the game ended a goal and point each. The home side avoided their fifth defeat in six games, whilst the bottom side are harshly left waiting for their first league win of the season. 

#WOLSOU

Raúl Jiménez had the ball in the net THREE TIMES for the dominant visitors, but only the spot kick counted (61’ pen), cancelling out Danny Ings’ opener (53’), after the other two were disallowed for handball and offside before the break. It’s the Saints’ first league point in five weeks, when they drew against the Red Devils (week 4), leaving them hovering above the relegation zone in 17th, level on points with Newcastle in 18th, just two goals better off.  

#CRYMCI

The first half an hour was competitive, and after City’s surprise results of last week (week 8) and last season (week 18), an interesting encounter was expected. But two goals in 93 seconds changed that very quickly. Gabriel Jesus (39’) and David Silva (41’) put the Citizens in control at Selhurst Park. It ended up a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola’s side, taking them back up to second, five points behind league leaders Liverpool before their match against arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

#MUNLIV

VAR was in the limelight again after Marcus Rashford’s opener stood (36’) despite replays showing Victor Lindelöf’s foul on Divock Origi in the buildup. But Sadio Mané’s equaliser was disallowed for handball (44’) although not much contact showed on the screen. Sub Adam Lallana saved a point and the unbeaten run for the Reds with his first league goal in over two years (85’). Jürgen Klopp’s men only showed up and really pushed for the last 20 minutes, not enough to bag all points at Old Trafford, giving the Red Devils way too much space. Frustrating, but hey, it could be worse, the Reds are still top, six points clear of the Citizens, whilst Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s men drop down to 14th, only two points away from the relegation zone, 15 points behind their arch rivals. Five of the past seven Premier League meetings between the two have ended level (one win each) - just four of the previous 36 between the sides had been drawn. How times have changed...

#SHUARS

It was a miserable Monday night for the Gunners. The Blades showed what they are made of, taking the lead thanks to Lys Mousset (30’) and closing the game and denying the visitors a way back in, to earn and fully deserve a superb three points. The result takes Chris Wilder’s side up to ninth, whilst Unai Emery’s men drop out of the top four into fifth, two points behind Chelsea. 

My Predictions - Actual Results

Everton 2:2 West Ham - 2:0

Aston Villa 2:0 Brighton - 2:1

Bournemouth 3:0 Norwich - 0:0

Chelsea 3:1 Newcastle - 1:0

Leicester 2:1 Burnley - 2:1

Tottenham 4:0 Watford - 1:1

Wolves 2:1 Southampton - 1:1

Crystal Palace 2:1 Man City - 0:2

Man United 1:3 Liverpool - 1:1

Sheff United 1:2 Arsenal - 1:0

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 8

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 8

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

25 goals - most by Aston Villa = 5

234 shots - most by Aston Villa = 22

77 on target - most by Aston Villa = 12

114 corners - most by Arsenal = 14

112 fouls - most by Leicester and Aston Villa = 17 each 

39 bookings - most by Man City = 5

1 red card - Coleman for Everton 

3 penalties - 2 scored (Milner for Liverpool, van Aanholt for Crystal Palace)

#BHATOT

The first match and upset of the weekend saw French forward Neal Maupay (3’) and Irish youngster Aaron Connolly (32’, 65’) capitalise on both Spurs keepers’ giveaways. First Hugo Lloris after a couple of minutes, and after the Frenchman’s serious injury saw him subbed off early on in the match, his replacement Paulo Gazzaniga failed to keep hold of the ball as well. The third goal was just a lovely finish, an icing on the super sweet cake for Graham Potter’s side. The Seagulls fly high into the international break, up to 14th, whilst Mauricio Pochettino and his men are left staring down the dumps in 9th, having lost 17 games in all competitions in 2019, more than any other Premier League side, with no wins in the last 10 away league games. Gloom.

#BUREVE

Seamus Coleman’s sending off (56') didn’t help his side, the cracking winner by Jeff Hendrick (72’) condemning the visitors to their fourth consecutive league defeat, sending the clumsy Toffees further downhill, and into the relegation zone by the end of the weekend, and Marco Silva top of the bookies' sacking chart. Doom.

#LIVLEI

The Reds were on top, had chance after chance, should and could have been 3-0 up at the break. The hosts finally went ahead thanks to Sadio Mané's fine run and take (40’). But the Foxes hit back with their first shot on target, James Maddison with a strong low finish (80’). The last-minute winner from the spot was VAR at its best. It was soft, but Marc Albrighton stood on Mané's foot = contact and foul in the box = penalty. Simple as that. And James Milner (pen 90+5') made sure Jürgen Klopp’s men kept their 100% record going and headed into the international break EIGHT points clear at the top. It's the 34th time Liverpool have scored a stoppage time winner in the Premier League era, more than any other side. Boom.

#NORAVL

Thrash. Shambolic defending. No competition. No question about it. Since beating the champions (week 5), Daniel Farke's men have fallen to bits. Not helped by a long list of injuries of course, but that wasn't different in their impressive win. So, what has gone wrong since?

#WATSHU

Not much to write about on this goalless draw, apart from it means a point and clean sheet each and a bit of a redemption for keeper Dean Henderson after last week’s howler against Liverpool (week 7). On the other hand, still no win for the bottom side though. 

#WHUCRY

There was some late VAR drama as well at the London Stadium, Jordan Ayew with a late winner (87'), initially ruled offside. But both Palace players weren’t offside = onside = goal = first win against West Ham for Roy Hodgson. Close but simple, again, I don’t get all the fuss. That's what VAR got introduced for, to double check and correct those crucial, decisive calls.

#ARSBOU

The Gunners ground out a win, David Luiz's header (9’) enough to edge past the Cherries, taking Unai Emery's side back into the top four. 

#MCIWOL

Surprise of the weekend?! The visitors stayed in control at the Etihad, had more chances, despite being dominated, especially in the second half. The goals, Adama Traoré’s brace (80’, 90+4’), and the result, the Wanderers' first away win against the Citizens in the top-flight since 1979 and only their second victory of the season, were nicely worked and fully deserved. Pep Guardiola had no excuses. His side have dropped five points at home this season already (compared to three in the whole of last season, seven the year before that). Had a bad day. Week. Month. Season. So far so bad. 

#SOUCHE

It was an easy win, again, but still not the most impressive football by the Blues, their boss Frank Lampard concurred in the post-match interview. But the three points takes his side up to fifth, level on points with Leicester in fourth and Palace in sixth. 

#NEWMUN

Steve Bruce’s first win over the Red Devils in over two decades of his managerial career was just shocking to watch. What a debut goal for Matthew Longstaff (72’). What a debut win. Credit where credit is due. But it was less of a surprise as the play, form and team all round was absolute shambles of Ole and co. No coordination. No organisation. They deserve every dig and blow they get, and the Magpies made sure they did on Sunday. The result lifts the hosts up out of the relegation zone to 16th, whilst the visitors slide down to 12th on nine points, TWO points away from the drop, their worst after eight games since 1989-90. Shocking how the great have fallen. 

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Brighton 1:2 Tottenham - 3:0

Burnley 2:1 Everton - 1:0

Liverpool 2:1 Leicester - 2:1

Norwich 3:1 Aston Villa - 1:5

Watford 1:2 Sheff United - 0:0

West Ham 2:0 Crystal Palace - 1:2

Arsenal 2:1 Bournemouth - 1:0

Man City 4:1 Wolves - 0:2

Southampton 1:2 Chelsea - 1:4

Newcastle 0:1 Man United - 1:0

Click here for last week’s Premier League Notes.

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