Match-week 25 has hit the Premier League in dramatic fashion, with drama and goals coming across every match this weekend. Twenty-six goals being scored across the 10 fixtures shows a week of fine margins, and slim pickings, but serving as a consistent reminder of the excellence that the Premier League provides.
(Photo Credit- Simon Stacpoole- Offside- Getty Images)
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea
A stellar home display saw Brighton overturn Chelsea for the second game running on Friday night. The beginning of the match lacked any real conviction from either team, with no real chances to be mentioned, but soon enough the first goal was scored in the way of Kaoru Mitoma when the Japanese forward latched onto a ball by Verbruggen to curl a strike into the corner right on the 27th-minute mark. Shortly afterward the away side thought they had drawn level when Enzo Fernandez headed on the end of Malo Gusto’s cross, however, it was chalked out after a foul on Veltman was awarded by the referee- a let-off for Brighton. The Seagulls could have been rattled after the chance, but they did quite the opposite by going ahead in the 38th minute after Colwill’s failed block fell to Danny Welbeck who squared to Yankuba Minteh for an easy tap in, and to make it 2-0. The referee blew for half time on a dominant Seagulls half, with a mountain left to climb for Chelsea.
The first half was one in which Chelsea would have been quick to forget, but Brighton’s continued excellence ensured that when it rains, it pours for Maresca and his men. It was again a quiet beginning to the half, with the away side still failing to muster a shot on target, but there was a moment of concern as Gusto and Rutter collided which required medical attention for both. In the 63rd minute, the match became dead and buried when Brighton scored their third goal of the game after Welbeck again set Minteh along the wing, only to floor Cucurella and shoot into the path of Chalobah, taking a wicked deflection and looping into the net. Brighton had chances to add a fourth to their tally throughout the rest of the second half, with Joao Pedro coming closest by nearly punishing a loose pass from Jorgensen only to send it wide. The full time whistle went on the south coast to the joy of Hurzeler’s scintillating Seagulls, who go to 11th on 37 points, whereas Maresca’s poor Blues stay in 6th on 43 points. MOTM- Yankuba Minteh
Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle
The rise of a new Egyptian King led to City pasting an out-of-sorts Newcastle side on Saturday. The match started in typical slow fashion for City, with no team being able to make a significant impact in the early stages of the game, but soon enough the first goal came. In the 19th minute, it was Manchester City who forged ahead in the game when Omar Marmoush received a ball from Ederson following a goal kick, who then beat Trippier and lobbed a wonderful effort over Dubravka to get his first of the game. Only 5 minutes later however and City got their second, when Gundogan was allowed time on the ball to pick out Marmoush down the middle, allowing the Egyptian to cut inside and place a shot out of reach and make it 2-0 in quick time. Moments after the away side came close when Isak’s effort needed to be deflected away by Stones, but in the 33rd minute the game was well and truly buried when Savio cut a ball back through the middle reaching Marmoush yet again, allowing the striker to place a high effort into the corner and get his hattrick- an astonishing feat in just 19 minutes. The half time whistle went on a dominant first half for the home side, also highlighting the Geordie’s struggles to grow into the game at all.
The first half was one-way traffic for Guardiola and City, however the second half would prove City still has it when taking a game the whole way. The beginning to the half lacked in action, possibly still letting the dust settle from the first 45. Haaland came close in the middle of the half when his close header needed stopping by Dubravka, but the Magpies also got their best chance so far when Lewis Miley’s effort needed palming away by Ederson. There were flurries of substitutions from here, but there was one that stood out from the rest being James McAtee coming on for the home side. In the 84th minute, shortly after the substitute came on, the youngster got on the end of a flick on by Erling Haaland to poke home from a corner, giving a fourth for City and capping off a wonderful afternoon for those from Manchester. The referee blew for full-time on a very dominant and strong display from Guardiola’s Cityzens who move to 4th on 44 points, whereas Howe’s dreary Magpies stay in 7th on 41 points. MOTM- Omar Marmoush
Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Fulham produced a resilient performance to inflict a rare defeat on Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon. Forest ran out of the traps quickest in the game, causing some problems early on to the Fulham defence through the likes of Wood and Williams, but it was the Cottagers who struck first in this tie. It took only 15 minutes for the home side to go ahead when Adama held up the ball well on the right wing, sending a curling diagonal effort into the box which was met by the head of Emile Smith-Rowe to nod past Sels in goal and gave Fulham a crucial advantage. Fulham continued to bully Forest through the remainder of the half, with Adama Traore causing nightmares along the right wing and giving the home side multiple chances to score another. Against the run of play however it was Forest who got level in the 37th minute when Chris Wood used his physicality to outmuscle two, and place a great shot into the bottom left corner to level the tie. Despite a few more Fulham chances, the referee blew on a generally dominant half for Fulham, but one was that ultimately was level.
Fulham deserved to be maybe three goals ahead after the first-half showing, and they did not disappoint in the second half as it kicked off. Forest again started the half quickly with a chance coming the way of Elliot Andersen only for him to unleash a wild effort over the crossbar. Fulham then refound their spark from here, and soon enough as they pounded on the door, they went ahead again in the 62nd minute when Jimenez’s flick on from a corner found the head of Calvin Bassey who looped a header back over Sels in goal to put the home side deservedly in front. Fulham continued their de-forestation from here cutting the away side apart, but ultimately the home side would comfortably see the game out. The full time whistle went on a thoroughly Fulham orientated game, seeing Silva’s relentless Cottagers move to 8th on 39 points, whereas keeping Nuno’s uncharacteristic Forest in 3rd on 47 points. MOTM- Adama Traore
Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton
Everton managed to capitalise on Palace’s missed opportunities to keep the Moyes’s revolution going on Saturday night. Palace have been strong from home this season, and they came out flying in this game with a number of chances they really should have put to bed. Mateta forced a strong save out of Pickford before Guehi nearly found the bottom corner of the goal from a header, again needing Pickford to palm away. Jefferson Lerma thought he had scored from a corner after looping a header into the corner, however VAR deemed Mateta to have held Pickford in the build-up, leading to it being disallowed. Sarr hit the crossbar moments later for Palace, leading them to rue their missed chances, but towards the end of the half the Toffee’s made them pay. In the 42nd minute, Mitchell failed a throw in which Alcaraz picked up and, spotting Beto running ahead, picked out the striker allowing him time to lob Henderson and give Everton a relatively undeserved lead. Still however, it remained 1-0 to the away side as the referee blew for half time.
Palace felt like they deserved something from this game, but Everton matched them well enough as the second half commenced. Just two minutes after the restart and Palace found themselves level when a pinball inside the final third led to Guehi heading to Mateta, allowing the in-form Frenchman to pick his spot and equalise for the Eagles immediately after the restart. Everton managed to compose themselves from here, and Beto very nearly got his second after picking up the ball in the box and shooting from close range, being denied by Henderson as the Englishman smothered it. Soon enough however, Everton’s improved pressure paid off in the 80th minute when Ashley Young took a shot that was saved, only for it to fall to Carlos Alcaraz who smashed into the right-hand part of the net, giving Everton a crucial lead. Palace failed to muster anything from here, and the full time whistle went as music to Moyes’s ears, seeing his Toffees leapfrog to 13th on 30 points, whereas dropping Glasner’s unclinical Eagles to 14th on 30 points aswell. MOTM- Carlos Alcaraz
Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth
Bournemouth battled back against a tricky Southampton side to get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon. The Cherries were expected as the clear favourites here, and they managed to prove their worth 14 minutes into the game when Dango Ouatarra got on the end of a wonderful whipped delivery by Ryan Christie to nod into the far corner and get the first for the Cherries. Southampton are known for their shaky defence, and they were exposed yet again just two minutes later when Kluivert set up Christie to shoot on the edge of the box, to which the Scotsman curled a wonderful effort beyond the reach of Ramsdale and double the away side’s lead in rapid time. Southampton weren’t without their chances in the first half, and they nearly pulled one back just before half time when Onuachu just missed out on a delivery from Walker-Peters. The whistle went for half time giving Bournemouth a comfortable, and well deserved lead.
Bournemouth were confident in their football in the first half, and they continued their strength as the second half got underway, albeit to some more Saints resistance. Semenyo came closest early into the half for the Cherries when the Ghanaian went along the left wing causing issues, however, Ramsdale was equal to the effort and made a good save. Southampton held up their end in the second half, and they soon got their reward in the 72nd minute when Onuachu played a pass to Kamaldeen Sulemana who smashed it into the corner leaving Kepa no chance at the save. In the 83rd minute, any hope of a Saints resurgence was quelled when Semenyo ran with the ball and gave it to Marcus Tavernier on the edge of the box, to which the Englishman took no time to hammer an effort into the left corner and make it 3-1 to the away side. The full-time time whistle went on yet another dire afternoon for Juric’s men who sit in 20th place on 9 points, whereas Iraola’s flying Cherries sit in 5th place on 43 points. MOTM- Ryan Christie
Liverpool 2-1 Wolves
Liverpool’s first-half showing was enough to extend their title tenure against a strong Wolves side on Sunday afternoon. Immediately the Reds looked to threaten Wolves in the opening minutes with Diogo Jota getting on the end of a Trent cross, however his volleyed effort ended up just wide of the post. Just 15 minutes into the half however and Liverpool went ahead when Salah’s failed attempt went through all in the Wolves defence, only to meet Luis Diaz who chested the ball into the net in an unorthdox fashion, however it was just what the Reds needed as they went ahead. Liverpool had some more chances to go further ahead from here, as Szobozslai worried Sa in the net through a bursting run, however it amounted to nothing. Wolves would undo themselves in the 36th minute when Diaz was brought down by Sa inside of the box, allowing Mohamed Salah to confidently dispatch from the spot to give Liverpool a deserved two-goal lead going into half time. The referee blew on a comfortable first-half display for the Reds, leaving Wolves with a mountain to climb.
Liverpool may have been dominant in the first half, but a reduced second half display meant their victory was one of fine margins. Wolves raised some alarm bells when Munetsi was through on goal, however Alisson was equal to it and smothered the shot by getting off his line quickly. Salah thought he had a third mid-way through the half when he beat Sa to find the bottom corner, however it was rightfully flagged offside. The Reds also thought they had a second penalty when Jota was brought down inside of the box, but VAR deemed the challenge to be lawful and it was thus overturned. Wolves were let back into the game from here and in the 67th minute, they got their reward when Bellegarde teed up Cunha on the edge of the box, letting the Brazilian cut inside and curl a great effort past Alisson to half the margin and raise some eyebrows. Doyle tested Liverpool in the dying stages of the game, however it finished 2-1 as the full-time whistle went, keeping Slot’s steam engine in 1st place on 60 points, whereas keeping Pereira’s spirited Wolves in 17th on 19 points. MOTM- Luis Diaz
Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich
10-man Ipswich survived a Villa onslaught to gain a vital point on Saturday afternoon. The Villans nearly managed to forge ahead mid-way through the half after a period of quiet play, when Axel Disasi’s long ball fell to Watkins who beat O’Shea, but the striker couldn’t direct his shot into the back of the net as it went just wide of the post. Shortly after the missed chance, Ipswich shot themselves in the foot when formed Villa player Axel Tuanzebe picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon by bringing down Ramsey who looked to break, making the away side’s afternoon a lot more difficult. Just before the half Rogers was inches off putting Villa in front by unleashing a powerful effort onto the left of the goal, however Palmer got a vital touch to send it over the bar. The half time whistle went on a goalless, but very entertaining first half in Birmingham.
Ipswich were very much against it going into the second half, however the away side fought valiantly to pick up a huge point. Straight after the half Villa nearly managed to forge ahead when Rashford curled a shot towards goal, but Palmer was there again to save well and keep Ipswich in it. In the 56th minute, the 10 men of Ipswich got their reward for resilience when Hutchinson sent a low cross into Liam Delap inside of the box, to which the forward nicked a touch and sent it into Martinez’s far corner to give Ipswich a valuable lead. Shortly after though, and Villa managed to find themselves level as in the 69th minute, Rashford struck a strong free kick towards goal that cannoned off the crossbar, only to meet Ollie Watkins on the rebound who tapped home to make it 1-1. From here it was all Villa, but Alex Palmer performed a stellar debut display by denying everything from Asensio and Rogers especially. The full-time whistle went to a dissapointed Villa crowd, seeing Emery’s side sit in 9th on 38 points, whereas McKenna’s resilient Tractor Boys move to 18th on 17 points. MOTM- Alex Palmer
Leicester 0-2 Arsenal
An unlikely striker was the hero for Arteta as Arsenal overpowered a fickle Foxes side on Saturday afternoon. The first half generally lacked in all action, but it was the home side and Ndidi in particular who came closest to opening the scoring. The Nigerian first came close after catching an effort on the volley needing Raya to claim it, however the best chance of the half came for Ndidi in the 4th minute of injury time when the midfielder got on the end of Kristiansen’s cross by beating Lewis Skelley, heading an effort just wide of the right hand post. It remained 0-0 as the referee called for half time, with the home side having all of the shouts at goal.
Arsenal may have been completely out of action in the first half, but their second half showing proved that they give it their all until the end. The Gunners had the best chance of the second half earliest when Ethan Nwanieri burst forward and picked up the ball, however the youngster couldn’t keep his effort down and curled a shot just over the top left corner of the goal frame. The youngster came very close again in the 77th minute by rattling an effort onto the right-hand post, however nothing could be made of the rebound. The Gunners were threatening, and they soon enough found the breakthrough in the 81st minute when the towering Mikel Merino got on the end of a Nwanieri cross to head past Hermansen and put Arsenal in front. Just 6 minutes later though and Merino got his second when the Spaniard found space on the right wing, and tapped an easy finish home following Trossard’s cross to seal all three points for the Gunners. The full-time whistle went on a great afternoon for Arteta’s men, who stay in 2nd on 53 points, whereas being more misery for Van Nistelrooy’s foxes who drop to 19th on 17 points. MOTM- Mikel Merino
Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United
An early goal was enough to get keep up Spur’s reparation form against Manchester United on Sunday. The away side started best in this game, and Hojlund tested Vicario early on after picking up the ball from Maguire, forcing the Italian keeper to parry his shot away from danger. Davies was shortly after called into action by needing to clear Dalot’s second shot off the line to save Spurs. 13 minutes into the game though, and Spurs managed to forge ahead after a pinball inside of the box led to Bergvall’s shot being parried away by Obama, only for the ball to fall to James Maddison on the edge of the goal to poke home for 1-0. United really should have equalised 28 minutes in, when Porro failed to intercept a pass allowing Garnacho to have time and space to shoot, however the young Argentine blazed his shot wildly over. The half time whistle went on an action packed, but Spurs-led 45.
If the first half was anything to go by, the second half promised fireworks, however a half of missed United chances ensured Spurs prevailed in North London. The half generally lacked in chances overall, but of the ones made it was United orientated all the way. Garnacho pulled the strings for United through the half forcing Vicario into to strong saves either side of the post to preserve their lead. Zirkzee also came close for United by getting on the end of a Mazaroui cross, however his header flashed wide of the left hand post despite beating Vicario in goal. Ultimately it remained the one goal in the game as the full time whistle went, relieving Ange’s pressured Spurs as they rise to 12th on 30 points, whereas sinking Amorim’s lacking Red Devils as they sink to 15th on 29 points. MOTM- James Maddison
West Ham 0-1 Brentford
An early Kevin Schade goal was enough to hand Brentford all three points as they beat a lacklustre Hammers side on Saturday afternoon. The Bees are known for their quick starts, and they got their goal just 4 minutes into the game when Mbuemo set Schade away, allowing the German a strike that was saved by Areola twice, but the forwards was there again to get the rebound as it snuck just over the line. Brentford could have had more before the break, as Mbuemo’s shot was saved well by Areola as well as Schade hitting the post from the break, however it would just stay the one goal. Wissa broke forward and scored just before half time, however VAR deemed the Congolese forward to be offside as the whistle went to an angry home crowd.
West Ham were out of it in the first half, and although they fared better against the Bees in the second, it was too little, too late. The Hammers were the only side with the meagre chances in the half, however Kudus really should have scored for them mid way through when the Ghanaian forward received a cut back ball yet blasted the ball way over the bar. Ferguson also had a half chance as he broke beyond the Bees defence, however Flekken held the ball well to keep their lead. It finished 1-0 in East London with Frank’s astute Bees taking all three points, moving to 11th on 34 points, whereas Potter’s disappointing Hammers stay in 16th on 27 points. MOTM- Kevin Schade
