Leicester 4-1 Tottenham
Leicester City scored 4 goals for the second consecutive weekend as they stuffed Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium. Tottenham were able to take the lead through Rodrigo Bentancur. I’m still not sure whether the Uruguayan midfielder knew much about it or if it was just instinct. Anyway, Nampalys Mendy leveled the game up for Leicester just 10 minutes later with a beautiful strike. Just two minutes later, Leicester were ahead! Kelechi Iheanacho unselfishly passed the ball to James Maddison who put the ball past Fraser Forster to give the hosts the lead. And then, in the 4th minute of additional time in the first half, Kelechi Iheanacho made it 3-1 to the Foxes. The defender from Tottenham wasn’t great, but the finish from Iheanacho was top-quality. In the 70th minute, Leicester looked to have scored another good goal through Harvey Barnes. However, it was ruled out for a pretty silly offside. VAR is just stupid. However, Harvey Barnes wasn’t to be denied as he finished well to give Leicester the 4-1 victory. Overall, this was as close to perfect as possible for Leicester on Saturday. The win sees them move up into 13th place and they go to Manchester United on Sunday. As for Tottenham, this was a pretty horrendous performance and result. Spurs stay in 5th place and they host West Ham on Super Sunday.
Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa
Manchester City bounced back with a comfortable win over Aston Villa. City were ahead after just 4 minutes through a headed goal from Rodri. Both Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland had good chances to make it two-nil to Manchester City, but neither man was able to find the target. However, it was Haaland’s brilliant pass to Gundogan that saw Manchester City take a two-goal lead. Man City were then awarded a penalty after Jacob Ramsey brought down Jack Grealish. It’s one of those where you’d want it for your club. Surprisingly, Riyad Mahrez stepped up and scored. I don’t get why Erling wasn’t given the ball, but it doesn’t matter too much as City went into the break 3-0 up. In the second half, Ollie Watkins got one back for Aston Villa. It was a nice finish from Watkins, but the defending by City wasn’t great. Riyad Mahrez had a great chance for Manchester City, but he somehow blazed the ball over the bar whilst Jhon Duran smashed the ball onto the bar with just minutes remaining in the game. In the end, this was a result City really needed to pick up. It sees them move within 3 points of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table and they face the Gunners today in a gigantic matchup for both sides. As for Aston Villa, it’s a second straight defeat for them and they stay in 11th place. They host Arsenal on Saturday in their next game.
Southampton 1-2 Wolves
Wolves moved a big step away from the relegation zone with a superb comeback win at Southampton. Southampton took the lead in the 24th minute through a Carlos Alcaraz strike. The ball bobbled around a bit before Alcaraz’s effort hit the post and went in. Mario Lemina was then quickly sent off for Wolves in what was a pretty stupid decision by the referee. In the 72nd minute, Wolves got back on level terms through a Jan Bednarek own goal. Similar to the first goal, the ball was pinging around everywhere before it just went in off Bednarek. And then, in the 87th minute, Joao Gomes scored on his debut to give Wolves all 3 points away from home. In the end, this result was enough to see Nathan Jones lose his job. The Saints stay in 20th place and they play away to Chelsea in their next game. As for Wolves, this was a big win for them and it sees them move up into 15th place. Wolves host Bournemouth next time out.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Liverpool picked up an important win against their big rivals Everton on Monday Night Football. In the 36th minute, James Tarkowski’s headed effort hit the post and Liverpool ended up scoring on the counterattack through Mohamed Salah. I’ve seen bad goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford, but this was just horrendous. Less than 5 minutes into the second half, Cody Gakpo got onto the scoresheet for the first time as a Liverpool player to give the hosts a more comfortable lead. Darwin Nunez then went on to have a few opportunities and miss them all because of course he did. Tom Davies then had Everton’s best chance, but he headed the ball over the bar. Overall, this feels like a big result for Liverpool. Liverpool move up to 9th and they play a big game next time out away to Newcastle. As for Everton, they get back to losing ways and they stay in 18th place. They host Leeds United in another big game this Saturday.
Leeds 0-2 Manchester United
Marcus Rashford scored yet another goal as Manchester United were able to overcome rivals Leeds United. Crysencio Summerville had a great chance for Leeds United in the first half, but he blasted his effort over the bar. Maximillian Wober then made a poor mistake which allowed Bruno Fernandes through on goal. However, the Portuguese midfielder wasn’t able to beat Illan Meslier. In the second half, Leeds had a couple of half chances that they didn’t take whilst Diego Dalot’s effort smashed the crossbar. And then, in the 80th minute, Marcus Rashford headed home to give Manchester United the crucial lead. Things then got better for United as Alejandro Garnacho made it two-nil just 5 minutes later. Meslier will be disappointed that he wasn’t able to keep the effort out. Overall, Leeds just didn’t take their chances in this game and they paid for it. They now sit 17th in the table and they go to Everton in a huge game next time out. As for Manchester United, they needed this win and it sees them stay in third place. They go to Barcelona for a huge Europe League tie on Thursday.
Fulham 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Fulham got back to winning ways in the league with a good performance against Nottingham Forest. Fulham were ahead after 17 minutes through a brilliant goal by Willian. There’s a reason why he was one of Chelsea’s best players when they won the league. Aleksandar Mitrovic then did really well and was unlucky to not make it 2-0 to Fulham as Keylor Navas made a good save to deny him. Bobby Reid then struck from a long way out and his effort smashed off the bar and went over. In the second half, Willian came close to scoring another really good goal for Fulham, but his effort hit the post and went out. Andreas Pereira then became the next Fulham man to hit the woodwork before Serge Aurier’s header was saved well by Bernd Leno. In the 88th minute, Manor Solomon sealed all 3 points for Fulham with a good finish. Overall, this was a really positive day for Fulham and it sees them move back into the top 7. They go to Brighton in an exciting matchup next time out. As for Nottingham Forest, they really didn’t do anything in this game and they were lucky that they only lost by 2. Forest have dropped down to 14th place and they host Manchester City this Saturday.
Arsenal 1-1 Brentford
Arsenal suffered another blow as they failed to beat Brentford at the Emirates. Rico Henry had a great chance for Brentford early on, but he poorly put his effort well wide. Ivan Toney then couldn’t believe that he failed to put Brentford in front as his effort smashed the bar and went over. Midway through the second half, Leandro Trossard tapped in from close distance to give Arsenal the lead. However, their lead didn’t last as in the 74th minute, Ivan Toney headed in from close range to get Brentford back on level terms. In the end, it was a frustrating day for Arsenal. The Gunners now only lead the rest of the field by 3 points and they host Manchester City today in a massive match. As for Brentford, they’ll feel like they could’ve won that game. The Bees have dropped down to 8th in the table and they host Crystal Palace in their next league game.
West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea took lead in the 16th minute through Joao Felix. It was a lovely finish from Felix who opened his account at the Blues. Just over 10 minutes later, Emerson was there at the back post to tap home against his former club and level the game up at one all. Lukas Fabianski then went on to make a few good saves to deny Chelsea from taking the lead again before Tomas Soucek thought he had put the Hammers in front with less than 10 minutes to go. However, it was ruled out for offside against Declan Rice. And then, in the 88th minute, Chelsea were claiming for a penalty after the ball clearly struck the hand of the West Ham defender. I don’t understand how Chelsea weren’t awarded a penalty. In the end, it’s a solid point for West Ham United. They find themselves in 16th place and they go to Tottenham next time out. As for Chelsea, it’s another frustrating result as they drop down to 10th in the table. They play Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park tonight.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton
Alexis Mac Allister had a couple of good chances for Brighton early on, but his efforts were denied by Vicente Guaita before Pervis Estupinan put the ball into the back of the net for Brighton and Hove Albion. However, it was ruled out due to Estupinan being offside. All I can say is VAR is crap. In the second half, Solly March got on the end of a cross to put his side 1-0 in front against their rivals. However, the lead didn’t last too long as Robert Sanchez’s horrendous mistake allowed James Tomkins to level the game up for the hosts. Alexis Mac Allister then had another really good chance, but he somehow headed the ball wide. In the end, it’s a positive point for Crystal Palace and they stay in 12th place. The Eagles go to Brentford on Saturday. As for Brighton, they’ll be really disappointed that they didn’t win this game. The Seagulls stay in 6th place and their next game is at home to Fulham.
Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle
30 minutes in, Bournemouth were ahead through Marcos Senesi. The corner was flicked on by a Bournemouth player and Senesi was there to tap home from the back post. In additional time in the first half, Neto pulled off a great save to deny Sean Longstaff, but Miguel Almiron was there to score on the rebound and send both teams into the break on level terms. Unbelievably, Kieran Trippier then cleared the ball off the line to deny what looked like a certain Dominic Solanke goal. In the end, this was a pretty good point for Bournemouth, but they’ll wonder if they could’ve and maybe should’ve won this game. The Cherries stay in 19th place and they have a big game against Wolves at the Molineux on Saturday. As for Newcastle, it’s another frustrating 1-all draw for them. The Magpies stay in 4th place and they host Liverpool in a huge game on Saturday.
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