Match-week 24 arrived at the Premier League, and it did so in style with goals flying in across all the fixtures. From a seven goal thumping in the midlands, to a massive three points to the Saints, the match week just went reminded us of how brilliant the world’s best league really is.
(Photo Credit- Justin Setterfield- Getty Images)
Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton
Forest bounced back from their heavy loss last week with an outstanding performance against a poor Brighton side on Saturday morning. There were doubts about the home side early on after last weeks shock loss, but 12 minutes in the doubts were eased when Gibbs-White sent in a flash delivery with time and space, only to be turned in by Lewis Dunk after stretching a leg out to block it. Not long after the first though and Forest got their second of the afternoon when only 13 minutes after, Morgan Gibbs-White turned from provider to goal scorer by getting on the end of a corner delivery and flicking a header past Verbruggen to put the home side well ahead. Forest weren’t done here and just 5 minutes after the second, they had their third when Wood got on the end of Elanga’s cross and headed down to make it 3-0 to Forest before half time. As the whistle went for the first half, the home side knew it was well and truly in their favour.
After the events of the first 45, it seemed clear that Forest were in full control here, but a stellar second half showing gave Forest something to brag about. Brighton made a flurry of changes at half time to try and limit Forest’s flow, and they managed to quieten the game for a while, but their hope was shattered in the 64th minute when Chris Wood got his second of the game after tapping home Elanga’s low delivery. Things got even better for the New Zealand man when just 5 minutes later Lamptey wrestled Gibbs-White to the floor to concede a penalty, allowing Chris Wood to complete his hattrick. The Seagull’s begun to show some fight as O’Riley’s effort needed a good save from Sels to keep out, but it turned out the be too little, too late. As the game was 89 minutes in and dying off, Neco Williams added a sixth for Forest when the Welshman picked up the scraps of an Awoniyi chance to blast past Verbruggen. Forest were not quite done though, and after a shocking pass out from Verbruggen the ball fell to Jota in the first minute of injury time, allowing the Portuguese footballer to score his first in Forest colours and make it seven-heaven for the home side. The home side went on an outstanding performance for Nuno’s Forest, who stay in 3rd on 47 points, whereas ending a nightmare showing from Hurzeler’s Seagulls who drop to 10th on 34 points. MOTM- Anthony Elanga
Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City
Arsenal well and truly sat down Manchester City after a total offensive thrashing on Sunday night. The match promised action, and only 2 minutes into the game the Gunners took the lead when Havertz robbed Akanji along the left and squared the ball to Martin Odegaard who composed himself and finished smartly past Ortega to elate the Gunners. From here City began to compose themselves more with Gvardiol forcing Raya into a good save, but Arsenal really should have doubled their lead when Havertz had the space of the goal at his mercy, only to send it completely wide. The referee blew for half time on a cagey, but deservedly Gunners-based first 45.
There were clearly more goals written in the stars for this game, but Arsenal managed to wipe the floor with City as the second half progressed. Despite Arsenal’s dominance, City grew back into the tie and were soon enough level when Savio wriggled about the Arsenal box and looped a ball to Erling Haaland who headed back across goal to level it for the away side 55 minutes in. The joy was back again for City, but only for a measly 60 seconds as Arsenal broke forward and a deflected effort off John Stones managed to beat Ortega and sent the Gunners ahead. Quickfire doubles are in Arsenal’s nature, and 5 minutes after the second, the Gunners had a third when Myles Lewis-Skelley picked up the ball and cut inside to send an effort just beyond the diving Ortega to put the home side two ahead. The game simmered down here, but Arsenal’s lust for goals didn’t for long as the home side got their fourth in the 76th minute when Martinelli was released down the wing and gave a ball to Havertz to send across goal and give the Gunners their fourth. The young guns of Arsenal kept shooting, and it was the substitute Ethan Nwanieri who put the cherry on top for Arsenal in the 93rd minute by curling an effort into the far left corner, giving Arsenal their fifth against the champions. The full-time whistle went to start the Arsenal party, keeping Arteta’s title-pursuing Gunners in 2nd on 50 points, whereas sinking Guardiola’s poor Cityzen’s to 5th on 41 points. MOTM- Myles Lewis-Skelley
Everton 4-0 Leicester City
Everton extended their impressive run under the Moyes reunion by trampling Leicester on Saturday afternoon. Everton aren’t one for rapid starts, but Abdoulaye Doucoure scored one of the Premier League’s quickest after bursting forward to latch onto a ball and slot home after just 10 seconds to put the Toffees ahead already. The Toffees had a point to prove in their relegation scrap, and only 6 minutes into the game and they were 2-0 up when Beto burst forward and picked his spot to fire past Hermansen in goal and to give Everton a cushion. From here, the half remained all Everton pressure, and in the second minute of injury time the home side got their third when Garner picked out Beto wonderfully, allowing the Portuguese man to slide a ball in easily and give Everton a three-goal lead going into half time. The half time whistle went on a dominant and purely brilliant half from the Toffees.
Everton were comfortable and in control here, and an astute second half meant that the Toffees could build on an already strong performance in the second 45. Despite the dominance of Everton in the first half, the match became very open from here and Leicester began to grow into the game. Daka tested Pickford about mid way into the half after being allowed far too much space to shoot, but Everton also hit right back with Ndiaye coming close with a shot that went just wide of the right hand post. Ndiaye’s efforts weren’t in vain for too long in the half, as in the 90th minute as the game died off the Senegalese forward capitalised on some poor Leicester defending which gave the ball straight to him, providing for an easy finish and a fourth for Everton. The full-time whistle went on yet another win for Moyes’s rejuvenated Toffee’s, who stay in 16th on 26 points, whereas piling on the misery for Van Nistelrooy’s dire Foxes who sit in 18th place on 17 points. MOTM- James Garner
Newcastle 1-2 Fulham
Fulham showed resilience to come back from a goal down against a defensively poor Newcastle side. The match began in the way you may expect, with the Geordies hitting the ground running in chances, and it was the Brazilian duo Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes who came closest early on by testing Leno and just missing the crossbar. Newcastle continued to pile on the pressure, and really should have gone ahead after Schar was sent through one-on-one, however Leno was there again to deny the Swiss centre back the goal. Fulham despite being generally passive managed to gain some half chances, such as when Jimenez flashed a tight shot dangerously across goal, but ultimately the home side were the ones who went ahead first. Only minutes after Tonali hit the bar from distance, the ball fell to Jacob Murphy on the inside of the box and, with time and space, picked his spot to put Newcastle ahead, 37 minutes in. It remained 1-0 going into the half as the whistle went, and deservedly so by the Magpies.
Fulham were way behind the level of the home side in the first half, but a battling and resilient performance meant all three points went back down to London in the second half. Despite their poor first half, Fulham came flying out of the traps as the second half went as they racked up all of the chances, coming close through Adama and Jimenez causing issues for Dubravka in goal, but it wouldn’t be long until the Cottagers had their reward. As the second half reached the 61st minute mark, Robinson did his usual twisting and turning along the left flank, and he found Raul Jimenez inside of the box, who struck a low strike that took a deflection off of a Newcastle body to completely wrongfoot Dubravka, and bobble in to bring the scores level. Newcastle sought a response from here, with Isak and Willock narrowly missing the goal net to put the Magpies ahead. Ultimately though, Fulham got their well-deserved second late on as in the 81st minute, Pereira swung a free kick into the box that Rodrigo Muniz flicked on and wheeled off in celebration, giving Fulham a crucial lead. The full time whistle went in Tyneside to disappoint the home crowd and Eddie Howe again, who sees his Magpies sit in 6th place on 41 points, whereas sending the three points and cheers home with Silva’s Cottagers rising to 9th on 36 points. MOTM- Antonee Robinson
Ipswich 1-2 Southampton
Southampton shocked Ipswich to pick up only a second Premier League win of the season and boost their slim relegation hopes on Saturday afternoon. The match began as expected between the two teams, with a real lack of quality offensively, but it was the Saints who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when a bobbled effort fell to Joe Aribo on the edge of the box who cannoned it back in, taking another nick on the way, but beating Muric in goal to put Southampton ahead. Ipswich immediately began to find their feet, and after a missed attempt by Liam Delap, the English forward broke forward after beating Bednarek to put himself against just Ramsdale, coolly slotting past him and giving Ipswich an equaliser 31 minutes in. The Tractor Boys continued their pursuit of a second from here, and Broadhead nearly delivered only being stopped by the stretched Ramsdale on the edge of the goal. The referee blew for half time on an entertaining, yet even first half here in Suffolk.
The second half seemed like there would be another goal in it after the active first half between the two teams, but it was ultimately Southampton’s resilience that shone through late on as the second half commenced. The half began in slow fashion, with chances being sparse between the teams for a good thirty minutes, but Ipswich mustered the best of them such as when Delap struck a hard shot at goal, needing Ramsdale to be alert and get down to it. There proceeded to be not much to shout about between both of the teams, but that was changed in the 87th minute when Paul Onuachu pounced on a shot from Sulemana that was parried away, firing well into the net and giving Southampton the lead again. The Saints saw it out from here, and the away end erupted at full-time, seeing McKenna’s disappointing Tractor Boys stay in 19th place on 16 points, whereas Juric’s Saints stay in 20th on 9 points. MOTM- Joe Aribo
Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace
A Jean-Philippe Mateta brace for Palace piled more misery on Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. United began the first half strongly, and the Red Devils really should have gone ahead inside of 10 minutes when Garnacho was denied on the goal line by Hughes and Richards, as well as Mainoo hitting the frame of the goal after a deflected effort beat Henderson. It wasn’t entirely easy for United though, and Palace had chances to take the lead themselves such as when Munoz somehow headed Mitchell’s effort wide of the post following a delivery. Kamada flashed an effort that somehow missed both Sarr and Mateta in the box, before Mateta’s chipped effort just went wide of an open goal, but the scores were level as the referee blew for half time in Manchester.
The Red Devils usually show their best in the second half of games, but the Eagle-eyed prowess of Mateta was determined to sink the spirits of those in red as the second half kicked off. United’s dominance wore off towards the end of the first half, and the cagey affair returned again for the second half as both teams had chances to get the first goal early into the second. Guehi tested Onana in goal from a corner that quickly broke to Diallo but Fernandes couldn’t convert from his cutback, and Ugarte caught a strong half volley needing a Henderson intervention, but there still was no goal. The dynamic changed in the 64th minute though when Jean-Philippe Mateta pounced on Lacroix’s looping header from close range, putting the Eagles in front at Old Trafford. Palace continued threatening for the remainder of the half, with United failing to get into the game at all, and Mateta made them pay again as late in the 89th minute, the Frenchman received a selfless cutback from Munoz to tap into an empty net and double their lead. The full time whistle went to stop the pain of those in red and Ruben Amorim, seeing his Red Devils stay in 13th place on 29 points, whereas lifting Glasner’s spirited Eagles to 12th on 30 points. MOTM- Daniel Munoz
Chelsea 2-1 West Ham
Chelsea came from behind against a strong West Ham side to keep up their top-four hopes on Monday night. The home side may have been the favorites before the match started, but the first half started strongly in the way of the Hammers, with Bowen testing Jorgensen, as well as Irving, firing just over the bar. Chelsea started to grow into the game from here, and they really should have gone ahead at the half-hour mark when Enzo Fernandez was sent through on goal only to skew a shot just wide of the post. The Hammers had lost a bit of their early spark from the start, but closing in on half time they took the lead, as on the 42-minute mark Bowen capitalised on a poor backpass from Levi Colwill to go through on goal and slot confidently home to give the away side a fair advantage. Although Chelsea tested Areola in response to the goal, it remained the only goal of the half as the referee blew on an action-packed, yet split half in West London.
The resilience of Chelsea was enough to overturn the arias against West Ham as the second half began. There was a first half rife with action, but the second really lacked chances for the majority of the early stages. Action side, it is the goals that count and in the 64th minute the home side got their equaliser when Fernandez’s shot was parried out to Pedro Neto who smashed home emphatically to give Chelsea a deserved equaliser, despite there being a lengthy VAR check. West Ham were determined to not be bullied from here, and they nearly managed to retake the lead with a few chances when Kudus pulled the strings to rattle the crossbar and test Jorgensen on separate, occasions. Chelsea were poor really, but they got their second in the 74th minute when Palmer’s, shot deflected wickedly off Wan-Bissaka for an own goal, but one that gave Chelsea their lead. The home side was a lot more comfortable from here, and they saw their lead last all the way until full-time with all three points going to Maresca’s men, who sit in 4th on 43 points, whereas seeing Potter’s Hammers drop to 16th on 27 points. MOTM- Cole Palmer
Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa
Wolves bagged a massive three points after overturning a poor Aston Villa side on Saturday afternoon. Wolves were on the hunt for three points here, and 12 minutes in they got their first goal of the game when Pablo Sarabia set Jean-Ricner Bellegarde through on the wing, allowing the Frenchman to pick his spot and fire past Martinez to get the home side on the front foot. The home side continued to best Villa in the first half, and they had chances to double their lead towards the end of the half when Guedes missed a sitter of a chance not once but twice firing beyond both posts from close range. The half time whistle went on an entirely Wolves-orientated half, and a deserved lead for the home side.
Villa were expected to come out flying in the second half, but Wolves held them off to keep all three points in the West Midlands. Despite that, the away side thought they had taken the lead in the 54th minute when McGinn squared to Malen inside of the box who fired home, only to be immediately flagged offside. VAR checked the goal and controversially disallowed it, therefore preserving Wolves’s lead. Minutes later Wolves thought they should have had a penalty, but it was less-controversially not given by the referee and VAR after review. Late on Malen had a chance to level, but ultimately Matheus Cunha would be the difference in the 97th minute when the Brazilian rifled a fabulous shot past Martinez to make it 2-0 and seal all three points for the home side. The full-time whistle went to start the Wolves party, to which Pereira’s side rise to 17th on 19 points, whereas Emery’s Villains stay in 8th on 37 points. MOTM- Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Brentford 0-2 Totteham Hotspur
Tottenham boosted their relegation battle hopes against a flat Brentford side on Sunday afternoon. Brentford started in their typical fast fashion, and they should have gone ahead within 15 minutes when Schade and Mbuemo took turns to bully the Spurs defence, however the away side held strong and preserved themselves. Despite the early pressure, Spurs managed to get themselves into the game and soon found themselves ahead when, in the 29th minute, Son’s inswinging corner couldn’t be kept away by Janelt who turned into his own net to give the away side a narrow lead. Brentford sought to respond quickly, needing Kinsky to be alert and make saves, but ultimately the half-time whistle went on a cagey, but Spurs-favoured half.
Brentford knew the vulnerabilities of Spurs, however the away side proved there is still quality in them as the second half continued. It was the Bees who controlled the early stages of the second half best, and Wissa really should have made it 1-1 shortly after the restart when the Congolese forward found himself 6 yards from goal yet blazing a wild effort over the crossbar. Brentford really should have took their chances, as from here the match went well in Spur’s favour, with birthday-boy Bergvall and Richarlison raising the alarm bells again for the Bees defence. Just after Spence cleared an effort off the line brilliantly, Spurs got their second in the 87th minute when Son broke and set away Pape Matar Sarr through the middle for the midfielder to finish neatly past Valdimarsson and make it 2-0. The full-time whistle went to the relief of Ange Postecoglou and Spurs who see themselves go to 14th on 27 points, whereas Frank’s disappointing Bees stay in 11th on 30 points. MOTM- Heung-Min Son
Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool
The Mohamed Salah show was enough to maintain Liverpool’s grip on the title after beating a fighting Bournemouth side on Saturday afternoon. Bournemouth have been in great form before this game, and they very nearly got themselves ahead throughout the course of the first half when Semenyo pulled the strings to hit the post agonisingly mid-way through. Liverpool capitalise on mistakes, and it was Mohamed Salah who put the away side ahead in the 30th minute from the spot when Gakpo was cut down by Cook inside of the box, allowing the Egyptian to step up to add to his tally for the season. The Cherries thought an equaliser was theirs in the 38th minute when David Brooks smashed a wonderful effort into the bottom corner, however the referees and VAR quickly agreed upon an offside against Kerkez. The half-time whistle went on a competitive half, which the away side profited best from.
The second half definitely showed promise of another goal in the tie, but it was the Reds of Arne Slot who battled hardest as the second half began. The beginning to the second half was feisty, with 5 yellow cards being given out in 10 minutes, but there were no clear-cut chances to separate the sides. The best chance for the Cherries came in the 70th minute when Tavernier’s effort hit the post, only to fall to Kluivert who uncharacteristically skewed an open-goal wide. Liverpool made the Cherries pay for their misses, and it was Mohamed Salah yet again in the 75th minute who did so when an exchange play saw Jones head a ball to Salah, allowing him to curl a left-footed effort wonderfully into goal and putting the away side 2-0 up. Semenyo was unlucky not to grab one right at the end, but the full-time whistle went like music to Slot’s ears, seeing his title-chasing Reds stay in 1st on 56 points, whereas Iraola’s spirited Cherries stay in 7th on 40 points. MOTM- Mohamed Salah
