Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal
Arsenal picked up a huge win away to Aston Villa to boost their confidence and move back to the top of the Premier League table. It didn’t take Aston Villa too long to take the lead as Ollie Watkins fired them in front after just 5 minutes, but the game was soon level through Bukayo Saka’s smashing strike. In the 31st minute, the hosts were back in front through Philippe Coutinho. This was a really nice team goal. In the second half, Eddie Nketiah came close, but his headed effort hit the bar and went over before Oleksandr Zinchenko scored in the 61st minute to make it 2-2. It was another good finish. And then, in the 93rd minute, Arsenal got the luck they needed to take the lead. Jorginho’s effort smashed off of the bar and hit Emiliano Martinez’s head before it went into the back of the net. It then got better for Arsenal as Gabriel Martinelli made it four for the Gunners by kicking the ball into the empty net in the 98th minute. Overall, this will be a disappointing result for Aston Villa given what happened. Villa stay in 11th place and they go to Everton next time out. As for Arsenal, this is the sort of luck you need if you’re going to end the season as champions. The Gunners move back up into top spot and they go to Leicester in their next match.
Manchester United 3-0 Leicester
Marcus Rashford scored yet again as Manchester United continue to keep tabs on the top 2 in the league. Harvey Barnes came close to putting Leicester in front early on, but he was denied by an excellent save by David De Gea. Kelechi Iheanacho then thought he’d put the Foxes ahead, but he was also brilliantly denied by De Gea. In the 25th minute, Manchester United took the lead through Marcus Rashford. This guy’s unplayable at the moment! Diego Dalot then proved why he’s a fullback with a terrible miss before, in the second half, Lisandro Martinez’s headed effort hit the bar and went over. In the 56th minute, Marcus Rashford placed the ball past Danny Ward, but he was ruled to be offside. After checking with VAR, the goal was given. I have no words. Things then got better for United as Jadon Sancho scored 5 minutes later to seal all 3 points. Overall, this was a great result for United and it sees them stay in 5th place, just 5 points off the top. Their next game sees them welcome Barcelona to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League First Knockout Round Stage. As for Leicester, it was a disappointing day for them and they now find themselves in 14th place. They host Arsenal this Saturday.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool picked up a win that firmly puts them in the fight for Champions League places. Alisson denied Miguel Almiron well early on before Darwin Nunez found the back of the net in the 10th minute! It then got even better for Liverpool just 7 minutes later as Cody Gakpo scored to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead. The pass from Mo Salah was excellent. It then got even worse for Newcastle as in the 22nd minute, Nick Pope was given a straight red card for handling the ball outside the box. I have no idea what he was doing, it was a stupid decision that he didn’t need to make and it now means that he’s going to miss the Carabao Cup Final as a result of it. Allan Saint-Maximin’s effort was knocked onto the crossbar by Allison before Dan Burn missed a superb chance by heading the ball off of the bar. In the end, this was a pretty bad day for Newcastle United. They’ve dropped out of the Champions League places (5th) and they will be without their goalkeeper for this weekend’s Carabao Cup Final against Manchester United. As for Liverpool, this was a big win for them and it sees them move up into 8th place. They host Real Madrid in a huge Champions League clash tomorrow.
Tottenham 2-0 West Ham
Tottenham picked up an important win to move back up into the Champions League places. Tottenham weren’t given a penalty in the first half after the ball hit Thilo Kehrer’s hand. I give up with these refereeing decisions because they’re just awful. The first real chance of the game fell to Harry Kane in the first half, but he terribly hit it well wide of the goal. However, Tottenham were able to take the lead as fullbacks Ben Davies and Emerson Royal combined for a simple goal. Jarrod Bowen then had a decent chance for West Ham, but his effort was saved before Heung-Min Son scored in the 72nd minute to seal all 3 points for Tottenham Hotspur. Overall, this was a good result for Spurs and it sees them move back up into 4th place. They host Chelsea in a huge Super Sunday clash next time out. As for West Ham, they weren’t good enough and they’ve dropped into the relegation zone as a result of it (18th). Their next game sees them host Nottingham Forest in a must-win game for the Hammers.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester City
Manchester City dropped a big two points in their title fight with Arsenal here at the City Ground. Rodri had a great chance for Manchester City early on, but he poorly headed wide before Bernardo Silva smashed the ball into the back of the net in the 41st minute to put the Champions in front. In the second half, Man City were in two-on-one, but Phil Foden failed at both shooting and passing the ball to Erling Haaland. What a wasted opportunity to go 2-0 in front. Aymeric Laporte then should’ve scored for Manchester City, but he missed before Kevin De Bruyne smashed the ball wide. It then got even worse from City’s point of view as Erling Haaland’s miss-kicked effort hit the bar before he smashed the ball over the bar from about 3 yards out. City then paid the ultimate price as in the 84th minute, Chris Wood tapped home from close range to earn a point for Nottingham Forest. In the end, what a result for Nottingham Forest. They’ve moved up to 13th place and they go to West Ham next time out. As for Manchester City, what a terrible result, I cannot believe how many amazing chances they missed. City drop back down to second in the table and they play in Germany against RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace
Brentford scored late to deny Crystal Palace their first win in 8 games. Christian Norgaard came close for Brentford early on whilst Bryan Mbeumo also put his effort wide of the post. In the second half, Michael Olise’s cross was met by the head of Eberechi Eze and he fired Crystal Palace in front with “20” minutes to go. And then, in the 96th minute, Vitaly Janelt headed home to rescue Brentford a point. Overall, this still wasn’t a good result for Brentford even with the last-gasp goal. The Bees drop down to 9th in the table and their next game is at home to Fulham in a few weeks. As for Crystal Palace, they would’ve taken a point beforehand, but they’ll be gutted not to have come out of this game with the 3 points. The Eagles stay 12th and they host Liverpool this Saturday.
Everton 1-0 Leeds
Everton picked up a big win to move above Leeds and out of the relegation zone. Everton created a few chances from corners in the first half, but they weren’t quite able to find the back of the net, but in the second half, Seamus Coleman was able to put the hosts in front. Fair play to Coleman for finding the back of the net, but the goalkeeping by Illan Meslier was shocking. In the end, Everton didn’t play particularly well, but it doesn’t really matter as they picked up a vitally important 3 points. The Toffees have moved up into 16th place and they host Aston Villa in their next game this weekend. As for Leeds United, it’s another bad loss for them. Leeds now find themselves in 19th place and they find themselves hosting the only team below them in Southampton in a must-win game next time out.
Brighton 0-1 Fulham
Fulham picked up a big win over Brighton to move back into the top 6. After nothing happened in the first half, Lewis Dunk really should’ve put Brighton ahead. He met a corner with his head and his effort narrowly went wide of the target. Brighton then thoughted they’d got the opener through Facundo Buonanotte, but it was ruled out for offside before Deniz Undav missed a golden chance. All of Brighton’s missed chances then came to haunt them as in the 88th minute, Manor Solomon finished brilliantly to steal all three points for Fulham. In the end, this was a bit of a disaster for Brighton. How they didn’t win the game I don’t know, but how they lost it is even more of a mystery. The Seagulls drop down to 7th in the table and they go to Stoke for their next match (FA Cup). As for Fulham, this was a huge 3 points for them and it sees them move up into 6th place. Their next game sees them host Wolverhampton Wanderers on this week’s Friday Night Football.
Chelsea 0-1 Southampton
Southampton picked up a massive 3 points away from home as yet more pressure piles on Graham Potter’s shoulders. In additional time in the first half, James-Ward Prowse stepped over the freekick for Southampton and he found the bottom corner to give his team the lead and silence the Stamford Bridge crowd. In the second half, Raheem Sterling had three really good chances for Chelsea, but all of his efforts were denied by excellent blocks from the Southampton defence. Chelsea continued to pile the pressure on Southampton, but the Saints held on to take an amazing victory. Overall, what a terrible, terrible result from/by Chelsea. The Blues stay in 10th place and they go to Tottenham this Sunday. As for Southampton, this result should give all the players a big confidence boost. The Saints are still sitting bottom of the table, but they play Leeds United next time out in a very winnable game.
Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth
Bournemouth picked up an excellent win to move outside of the relegation zone. Wolves created a few half chances in the first half, but early in the second half, they were behind as Marcus Tavernier scored to put Bournemouth one-nil up. It was both simple and effective. Wolves continued to not create a single clear-cut opportunity meaning Bournemouth held on to take a brilliant win. Overall, this was a really disappointing result from a Wolves point of view. It’s seen them drop down to 15th and they play away to Fulham in their next game. As for Bournemouth, this was exactly the result that they’d been looking for. The win means the Cherries have climbed up into 17th place and they host Manchester City in this weekend’s Saturday Night Football.
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