Premier League Notes - Week 21

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 21

The 21st week of the 2019-2020 Premier League football season saw:

25 goals - most by West Ham = 4

241 shots - most by Burnley = 21

85 on target - most by Leicester = 9

99 corners - most by Tottenham and West Ham = 9 each

209 fouls - most by Southampton = 21

34 bookings - most by Norwich = 5

1 red card - Kabasele for Watford

1 penalty - 1 scored (Noble for West Ham) 

#BHACHE

Tammy Abraham’s take after Kurt Zouma headed on a corner was blocked by Aaron Mooy, but only as far as César Azpilicueta, who was left with an easy take to give the Blues the lead unmarked from close range (10’). But the Seagulls didn’t go down from there, quite the opposite, they kept going and pushing, pulling a great low save out of Kepa Arrizabalaga, just before Alireza Jahanbakhsh equalised with a stunning Rooney-esque overhead kick (84’). Kepa couldn’t stop that one! Having failed to score in any of his first 26 appearances for Brighton in all competitions, the Iranian winger has now netted in consecutive appearances for the Albion. The Chelsea stopper denied Neil Maupay a late winner, the home side tried their best, ending a cracking contest on top, it was nearly a shame they had to share a point each. 

#BURAVI

Jack Grealish had the ball in the back of the net for the Villans after Charlie Taylor had messed up his clearance, but the VAR chalked the goal off deeming Wesley was offside in the buildup (14’). He wasn’t. All the lines and dots didn’t clarify or confirm anything. Shambles. It’s the 22nd goal disallowed by the vid ref. Grealish and Wesley worked well together again to give the visitors the lead after all, the latter taking the prior’s fine pass on his chest and hitting it in through keeper Nick Pope’s legs (27’). Grealish got his name on the board all right as well, with a whacker into the back of the net (41’). The Clarets were nowhere. Until the second half, where they finally fought back, throwing everything at Villa. First shot on target = goal, Chris Wood free after some penalty box pinball to head home powerfully from Ashley Westwood's cross. The VAR checked something (don’t ask what) but the goal stood (80’). But it was not to be any more than a consolation goal, Villa holding on to the win to take them out of the relegation zone, fully deserved. It wasn't a good day for Sean Dyche and his men, blown further back and down by this defeat and more injuries, to 15th.

#NEWLEI

The Foxes came out firing, Jonny Evans walloping the ball off the Magpies keeper Martin Dúbravka in the opening minutes, it echoed through St James’ Park. Ayoze Pérez took advantage of some awful play at the back by Florian Lejeune to give the visitors the lead, finding the back of the net despite being challenged and tumbling in the box (36’). James Maddison doubled their lead with a cracker from the semi-circle into the top right corner (39’). And Kelechi Iheanacho hit the woodwork before the break (43’), the home side scrambling. The struggle got worse after the restart, Steve Bruce had already made all changes when Fabian Schär went down injured and unable to continue, reducing the home side to ten men shortly after the restart (53’). Hamza Choudhury had time and space to take a run up and take the ball in from the semi-circle with a perfect shot to make it 0-3 and three points sealed for Brendan Rodgers' men (88’), keeping them second, ten points behind the league leaders (before their match the following night).

#SOUTOT

The Saints were so close to opening the scoring after just 17 seconds! It was Danny Ings’ shot that was blocked, and seconds later Cédric Soares wasted another golden opportunity wide (2’). At the other end, Alex McCarthy denied Harry Kane with a super high spring save (6’). Ings with a great run, touch and take through the Spurs defence and past Paulo Gazzaniga, Gascoigne-esque, gave the home side the lead at St Mary’s and made it nine goals in ten games for the former Red (17’). Toby Alderweireld’s handball in the box was checked by the VAR, replays showed yes, handled, but the screen said no pen (52’). I give up understanding this video mess. Kane’s leveller was flagged offside, the VAR confirmed it correctly for a change, I have to say (74’). During that chance, the England striker pulled his hamstring, things going from bad to worse for José Mourinho and his men. 

#WATWOL

A giveaway by the Wolves back line, Ismaïla Sarr was gifted the ball by Leandre Dendoncker, to pass it to Gerard Deulofeu on the left side of the box, who made no mistake with a nice low curl around and in to give the home side the lead (30’), Henry-esque. Abdoulaye Doucouré doubled the hosts’ lead after the break, diagonal bang from the centre of the box into the top corner (49’). Pedro Neto pulled one back, an evil but cracking deflection into the top corner, unstoppable (60’). With 19 years and 298 days, he’s the first ever teenager to score a Premier League goal for Wolves. One thing the VAR got right for a change, deeming Christian Kabasele pulling back Diogo Jota, who was running clear on goal, was worth a red, correcting the ref’s yellow (71'). It stayed 2-1. Nigel Pearson is working wonders yet again, seeing the Hornets to their fourth win of the season and move to just two points away from safety. 

#MCIEVE

Phil Foden’s opener from close range was chalked off by the good old VAR, this time a quite obvious one, provider Riyad Mahrez offside in the buildup (13’). Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring with a cracker that could only curl and bounce in off Jordan Pickford’s glove (51’). The Brazilian doubled the score squeezing the ball in between keeper and near-post (58’). Nice move and take by the Citizens, the Toffees beaten, too soft and easy. Jesus has scored more Premier League goals against Everton (7) than he has against any other team in the competition. Oh Claudio Bravo, messed up totally with the ball in the box, leading to Richarlison netting one back, a lovely cross by Dominic Calvert-Lewin to set him up (71’). Jesus hit the woodwork looking for a hat-trick late on (80’). A nervy finish ended with the fifth consecutive win for the Citizens against the Toffees by an aggregate score of 13-4, but it was the first time Pep Guardiola beat Carlo Ancelotti (their previous meetings as managers - two Real Madrid wins versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final of 2014).

#NOWCRY

The home side took an early lead. Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendía exchanged a couple of passes before a blocked Buendía shot landed into the path of Cantwell, who made no mistake of netting it (4’). Palace had to wait a loooooong time for the VAR to confirm the equaliser, sub Connor Wickham sliding the ball in off Wilfried Zaha’s low cross (85’), ONSIDE, his 50th career goal, but first in the Premier League for 1,138 days since he netted against Manchester City in November 2016 - also assisted by Zaha. This time it ended a goal and point each, keeping Norwich bottom and seven points from safety, whilst Palace remain ninth. 

#WHUBOU

Mark Noble with the breakthrough, deflecting in the opener for the home side (18’) to make him the first player to score a Premier League goal in each of the 14 years since 2007. A flashy jump and bicycle kick by Sebastien Haller doubled the Hammers’ lead (25’). The skipper won a soft penalty and converted it to make it 3-0 (35’), 6 out of 6 spot kicks for the captain, and perfect start for new boss David Moyes. The last time West Ham scored three goals in a game was on 24 August against Watford in a 3-1 win (week 3). The last time they did that in the opening 36 minutes of a game was in May 2007 against Bolton, Noble also scoring their third that day. Felipe Anderson made it four (67’). The Moyes effect. It didn’t end perfect for the home side though, with Aaron Cresswell sent walking for a silly late and high tackle on Ryan Fraser - for the VAR to revise it to just yellow (77’). Why?! WTF?! It was reckless, dangerous, pointless in the end to argue anything anymore. No sense. VARce!!! The result ended Bournemouth's six-game unbeaten run against West Ham in the Premier League (W3 D3) and sees them drop down to 18th, whilst the Hammers climb up to 16th, two points ahead of their opposition.

#ARSMUN

Nicolas Pépé was totally unmarked in the centre of the box to net an easy opener (8’). And he hit the woodwork with a low curl shot on to the left post after David de Gea passed the ball to him (38’). The Spanish stopper punched away Alexandre Lacazette’s chance off a corner, onto his own defender who deflected it straight to Sokratis Papastathopoulos who pounced on it and banged it in to double the Gunners’ lead from a couple of yards out (43’), fully deserved. United created more chances in the second half, but Arsenal never looked in grave trouble. The Red Devils stay fifth, the gap between them and the top four is still five points. Arsenal climb up to 10th, nine points away from Chelsea in fourth. The Gunners had not won in their previous seven home games. And it’s their first Premier League win this season against a team currently in the top half of the table (D4 L5). Manchester United have taken 39 points from their last 30 league games. That's fewer than Crystal Palace and Everton and the same amount as Newcastle United. Ole at the whee...

#LIVSHU

It didn’t even take four minutes for Andy Robertson’s cross from the left to find Mo Salah, who nutmegged Man United loanee keeper Dean Henderson to open the scoring at Anfield. On the break, Sadio Mané did well to find Salah, the Egyptian pulling a world class save out of the United keeper, for his Sengalese team mate to power in the rebound (64’). The controlled victory is their 18th consecutive Premier League win at Anfield and put the Reds 13 points clear at the top with a game in hand. With 19 wins and 1 draw from their first 20 Premier League games, Liverpool have matched Man City's 2017/18 record. They've kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league for the first time in over 12 years (Pepe Reina the last Red stopper to do so in 2007-08). Salah's opening goal was his 50th left-footed strike for the club in the PL - only Robbie Fowler (85) has netted more for the club in the competition. And last but definitely not least, under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool have won all 12 of their home league games against promoted sides by an aggregate score of 35-4. The league leaders haven't lost a league game at Anfield when they've been winning at half time since 2009 and have now gone unbeaten in the league for a whole calendar year. If they win their next game, it would be the best start to a top flight season... EVER! 

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Brighton 1:2 Chelsea - 1:1

Burnley 1:1 Aston Villa - 1:2

Newcastle 1:2 Leicester - 0:3

Southampton 1:2 Tottenham - 1:0

Watford 1:2 Wolves - 2:1

Man City 2:1 Everton - 2:1

Norwich 1:0 Crystal Palace - 1:1

West Ham 2:1 Bournemouth - 4:0

Arsenal 2:2 Man United - 2:0

Liverpool 2:0 Sheffield United - 2:0

Click here for the previous Premier League Notes.

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

Premier League Notes - Week 20

Sports - Football - Premier League Week 20

The 20th week of the 2019-2020 Premier League season saw:

25 goals - most by Watford = 3

249 shots - most by Everton = 22

79 on target - most by Everton = 9

108 corners - most by Southampton = 12

212 fouls - most by Chelsea = 19

43 bookings - most by Arsenal = 5

1 red card - Mariappa for Watford

3 penalties - 2 scored (Deeney for Watford, Kane for Tottenham)

#BHABOU

Only three minutes into the early kickoff, Alireza Jahanbakhsh opened his account for the home side with a lovely low finish across into the bottom right. It was end-to-end stuff, no sign of Christmas fatigue early on, the hosts on top. Dan Burn hit a Messi-esque beauty to double the lead (58’), only for the VAR to spoil the show and disallow the goal for one of those annoying offsides (60’), it was not even an inch of an arm, and so much happened after that, ping pong in the box, it’s farcical. Aaron Mooy controlled and smashed it in to make sure his side’s lead was doubled and couldn’t be disallowed (79’). Lovely lovely football and a deserved three points, the Seagulls were all over the falling Cherries. F-£< VAR!

#NEWEVE

Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the breakthrough at St James’ Park after early Toffee dominance, keeping Martin Dúbravka busy (13’). The Magpies tried their best to hit back, including an offside and handball against Andy Carroll. There were 22 shots in the first half of this game, the second most in the first half of a PL game this season (after 28, Villa at Norwich in Week 8). Fabian Schär finally found the equaliser from close range off Carroll (56’). The number seven provided three assists in his last five Premier League games, as many as he registered in his previous 89 combined. A slide over the line completed the brace for DCL after Carroll lost the ball, and put the visitors back ahead (64’), to make it five goals in his last five appearances in the PL, as many as in previous 28. Over 40 shots between the two, great contest, but only one scorer and winner for the visitors in the end. 

#SOUCRY

The first goal of the season for Max Meyer - was disallowed! Wilfried Zaha was deemed offside by the VAR as he jiggled past two defenders on the left and drilled it low into the box. Meyer was on hand to blast it in and gutted to see it chalked off. By a hair. Or breath as the BBC put it. Pf. James Tomkins headed the visitors ahead off Luka Milivojević’s free kick (50’). Danny Ings equalised for the Saints with their first shot on target, making no mistake of Martin Kelly’s cockup (74’). The point lifts Southampton four points clear of the drop zone, whilst Roy Hodgson's side remain ninth, 

#WATAVI

Troy Deeney gave the home side the lead just before the break, his low hard hit palmed back by Tom Heaton, the rebound squeezed into the far corner (43’). Adrian Mariappa was sent off, second yellow (59’), despite that the ten men doubled their lead and Deeney doubled his total from the spot (67’). Ismaila Särr finished the tie off with a blast in from close range (71’). Villa were nowhere, Nigel Pearson's side rolling over them, on- and upwards, just three points away from safety. 

#NORTOT

Four changes each side, the hosts started on top and took a deserved lead thanks to Mario Vrančiç run through and in, side-footing the ball past everything and everyone, Paulo Gazzaniga beaten too easily to his right (18’). The VAR disallowed Teemu Pukki’s controlled finish (33’), replays showing he was onside?! Great cross and counter goal, the defender’s foot ahead of everything - even the arm of the attacker they kept marking and drawing from. What are the officials watching/taking/doing up there?! Christian Eriksen levelled the score after the restart (55'). Harry Kane equalised again from the spot (83’) after Serge Aurier’s own goal had put the home side ahead for a second time, diverting Pukki’s take (61‘). Only Alan Shearer (145) and Sergio Agüero (138) have scored more Premier League goals in their first 200 appearances in the competition than Kane (136). Lucky point for one side, hard one to take for the other, as it should have been a home win, VARcical! 

#WHULEI

Nine changes for the Foxes after their Boxing Day thrashing against the Reds! A poor penalty from Demarai Gray was easily saved by Łukasz Fabiański, the keeper making up for his foul on Kelech Iheanacho. The Nigerian’s header gave the visitors the lead just before the break, the Hammers’ defence shambolic (40’). Unmarked Pablo Fornals surprised himself with the equaliser, a nice drive into the bottom corner (45’), West Ham’s 151st different goalscorer in the Premier League, more than any other team. A cool clip by Gray finished a breakaway nicely to give Brendan Rodgers’ men the lead (56’) and a comfortable win for the Foxes in the end. The Hammers equal their club Premier League record of four consecutive home defeats, set from November 2005 to January 2006 at Upton Park. Surprise surprise, the late match was still going when Manuel Pellegrini’s departure was announced. More surprising he lasted this long!

#BURMUN

The Red Devils dominated, but Burnley coped well and kept solid, including Phil Bardsley’s goal-line clearance (34’). Until Anthony Martial converted an absolute gift (44’), Charlie Taylor giving the ball away needlessly to Andres Pereira who made no mistake of setting up his team mate. Too easy. All hard work undone for Sean Dyche and his men. Marcus Rashford sealed the win in the last seconds (90+5’), Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his men ending up on top of an otherwise dire match, not much else to shout about. The home side looked like they could and should have snatched and grabbed something back, but just weren’t good enough in the end. Not that their opposition was much better. Still, the win sees United up to fifth, just one points separating them from the top four.

#ARSCHE

After a bright start for the home side, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headed the Gunners ahead totally unmarked (13’). The Blues were struggling for the whole first half. The visitors dominated after the restart. Bernd Leno handed Jorginho the equaliser off Mason Mount’s free kick (83’), an easy punch away, but the keeper somehow missed it. The German stopper has made more errors leading to goals than any other player in the Premier League since August 2018 (seven). And Tammy Abraham completed the perfect counter and turnaround through Leno’s legs (87’). Frank Lampard was ecstatic, no wonder, after his side didn’t form much of a threat for most of the match. Mikel Arteta will be gutted after his side bossed it for so long - and should Jorginho have been sent off? This is the first time Arsenal lost against the Blues after being ahead at the break, winning 12 games and drawing three before. And it’s the Gunners’ first defeat after winning all other 68 home Premier League games where they led at half-time. Only one league win since the first weekend of October for the one London side, whilst the other is only three points behind third-placed Manchester City!

#LIVWOL

The Reds dominated, but didn’t quite click, couldn’t get the final touch right. It took more VAR drama to overrule the officials' judgement of handball against Adam Lallana, setting up an onside Sadio Mané for an easy tap in to give the home side the lead (42’). Pedro Neto squeezed in the equaliser into the bottom left corner to level the score before the break (45+3’) - Nuno Espírito Santo was booked as he was going absolutely mental on the sideline whilst VAR checked and disallowed Neto's equaliser, for offside in the buildup, it was Joao Moutinho’s arm! Replays showed it was the tip of his toe as well actually... 1-0 it stayed and remained at the break, still, madness! Mané is only the second player to be directly involved in 30 Premier League goals during 2019 (24 goals, 6 assists), after Jamie Vardy (34). It ended a tense win for the Reds to put them 13 points clear at the top, with a game in hand. 

#MCISHU

Lys Mousset thought he had put the visitors ahead in the first half (29’), but not for long as VAR chalked it off for offside - theme of the weekend. Sergio Agüero gave the home side the lead (52’) after the referee got in the way of the United defence trying to clear the ball. Controversial. Kevin De Bruyne doubled the Citizens’ lead with a low finish (82’). Chris Wilders' side's first away defeat of the season (10 games) and they still out-created the champions. Big chances: Man City 1-3 Sheffield United (with Man City’s big chance coming as a result of a refereeing deflection). Phenomenal first half of the season from the Blades, finishing the year in eighth, whilst the Citizens remain third after their first clean sheet since 26 October, 14 points behind the league leaders, six points ahead of Chelsea in fourth.

My Predictions - Actual Results 

Brighton 2:2 Bournemouth - 2:0

Newcastle 2:1 Everton - 1:2

Southampton 2:1 Crystal Palace - 1:1

Watford 2:2 Aston Villa - 3:0

Norwich 1:2 Tottenham - 2:2

West Ham 1:3 Leicester - 1:2

Burnley 1:1 Man United - 0:2

Arsenal 2:2 Chelsea - 1:2

Liverpool 2:1 Wolves - 1:0

Man City 1:1 Sheffield United - 2:0

Click here for my previous Premier League Notes.

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

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.