Leeds 1-6 Liverpool
Liverpool put 6 past Leeds United in a rampant display. Junior Firpo’s poor touch allowed Trent Alexander Arnold to play the ball across to Cody Gakpo who scored to give Liverpool the lead. However, the goal really should’ve been ruled out as Trent clearly used his arm to win the ball. Liverpool were then two-nil up just 4 minutes later as Mohamed Salah scored a nice goal after more poor play from Leeds United. Inside the first two minutes of the second half, Leeds had a goal back through Luis Sinisterra. Ibrahima Konate will and should be furious with himself because the mistake he made to allow Sinisterra in was criminal. However, Diogo Jota bailed his teammate out 5 minutes later to restore Liverpool’s two-goal advantage. It’s now Meslier turn to be questioned as I really don’t get why he decided to come out. In the 64th minute, Mo Salah got his second and Liverpool’s 4th before Jota got his second of the night in the 73rd minute to make it 5-1. In the 90th minute, Darwin Nunez wrapped up Liverpool’s brilliant day by getting on the act with a goal of his own. Overall, Leeds United should be appalled with themselves. Leeds stay 16th in the table and their next game is away to Fulham. As for Liverpool, this was exactly what they needed. The Reds stay 8th and they host Nottingham Forest next time out.
Tottenham 2-3 Bournemouth
Bournemouth picked up a huge 3 points in their fight to avoid the drop as Tottenham stay outside the Champions League places. Tottenham took the lead after 14 minutes through Heung-Min Son (Son’s effort deflected off the Bournemouth defender and in). Both Hugo Lloris and Neto pulled off good saves to keep the game at 1-0 before Matias Vina leveled the game up for the visitors in the 38th minute. 6 minutes into the second half, it was 2-1 to Bournemouth as Dominic Solanke found the back of the Tottenham net. I have to say, the defending from Tottenham for both goals was really poor. In the 88th minute, it looked like Tottenham were going to nick a point as Arnaut Danjuma scored against his old club. Once again, Tottenham’s goal took a deflection. However, in the 95th minute, Dango Ouattara scored to send the Bournemouth fans into a frenzy. In the end, this was a terrible result for Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs stay 5th in the table and they play away to Newcastle in a huge clash next time out. As for Bournemouth, this was a brilliant result for them as they climb up into 14th place. The Cherries’ next game is at home to West Ham in another important matchup.
Manchester City 3-1 Leicester
Manchester City move to within just 4 points of league leaders Arsenal after beating Leicester City at home. Manchester City took the lead inside 5 minutes through a great strike by John Stones. In the 13th minute, Man City were awarded a penalty for a clear handball by Wilfred Ndidi. Erling Haaland stepped up and scored to give City a two-goal lead. In the 25th minute, City made it 3 as Kevin De Bruyne played Haaland in and the Norwegian was never going to miss. This was a brilliant goal. In the second half, Dennis Praet had a good chance for Leicester, but his effort was way too soft to beat Ederson. However, Kelechi Iheanacho managed to get one back for the visitors in the 75th minute. The defending from Kalvin Phillips was really poor. James Maddison then found himself in on goal, but he couldn’t beat Ederson in the City goal. Kelechi Iheanacho then hit the post as the Foxes created more chances for themselves. In the end, it’s a positive result for City, but they need to play much better than they did in the second half in future games. City stay second in the table and they play against both Bayern Munich and Sheffield United before they face Arsenal in their next league match. As for Leicester, it’s another loss for them as they stay 19th in the table. The Foxes’ next game is a big one at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Everton 1-3 Fulham
Fulham finally got back to winning ways as Everton missed out on an important 3 points. In the 22nd minute, Harry Wilson’s effort hit the post and came out and due to poor defending from Everton, the ball fell to Harrison Reed who scored to give Fulham the lead. Everton were level less than 10 minutes later though through a really nice goal by Dwight McNeil. 6 minutes into the second half and Fulham were back in front through Harry Wilson. Once again, Everton made this far to easy for their opponents. More comical defending from Everton allowed Andreas Pereira a really good opportunity, but he poorly blasted his effort over the bar. In the 68th minute, Daniel James made it 3-1 after guess what, more terrible defending by Everton Football Club! Overall, this was a really bad performance from Everton as they stay in 17th place and only outside of the relegation zone due to goal difference. The Toffees’ next game is going to be tough as they play away to Crystal Palace. As for Fulham, this was exactly the result that they needed as they stay in 10th in the table. The Cottagers’ next game is at home to Leeds United.
West Ham 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal let another two-goal lead slip as West Ham United picked up a huge point. It didn’t take Arsenal too long to strike as Gabriel Jesus tapped the ball home from close range to give the Gunners the lead after just 7 minutes. Arsenal then made it 2-0 inside 10 minutes as Martin Odegaard finished well after a beautiful cross from Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal then made a mistake which resulted in Gabriel fouling Lucas Paqueta inside the penalty area. Said Benrahma stepped up and scored and suddenly, West Ham were back in the game. Early on in the second half, Arsenal were awarded a penalty of their own after the ball hit the arm of Michail Antonio. Bukayo Saka stepped up and shockingly put his penalty well wide of the goal. West Ham quickly punished Arsenal as just two minutes later, Jarrod Bowen scored on the volley to make it 2-2. With less than 10 minutes to go, Antonio had a great chance to put the Hammers in front, but his headed effort hit the top of the post/side of the bar and went out. In the end, this was a good point for West Ham, but they have dropped down to 15th in the table. The Hammers’ next game is at home to KAA Gent in the UEFA Europa Conference League before they play away to Bournemouth on Sunday. As for Arsenal, this was a disappointing result for them as they now find themselves only four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners host Southampton next time out.
Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle
Aston Villa continued their brilliant run of form as they breezed past Newcastle United. Ollie Watkins nearly put Aston Villa ahead in under 30 seconds, but his effort could only hit the post. In the 11th minute, Aston Villa took the lead through Jacob Ramsey. The headed pass by Ollie Watkins was great and Ramsey finished off well. Nick Pope then denied Ollie Watkins before Jacob Ramsey smashed the bar just seconds later. Ramsey really should’ve scored. In the 61st minute, Ollie Watkins thought he’d made it 2-0 after some poor goalkeeping by Nick Pope. However, the England goalkeeper got away with it as Watkins was offside. However, Watkins was determined to get on the scoresheet so he scored just a few minutes later to give Villa a nice cushion. In the 83rd minute, Ollie Watkins got his second and Aston Villa’s third after some questionable goalkeeping from Nick Pope. Overall, this has got to be Aston Villa’s game of the season! Villa stay 6th in the table and they go to Brentford next time out. As for Newcastle, this was a pretty poor performance from them as they drop to 4th in the table. The Magpies’ next game is a big one as they welcome Tottenham to St. James’ Park.
Chelsea 1-2 Brighton
Brighton continued their really impressive run as Chelsea once again failed to win a game under Frank Lampard. Evan Ferguson nearly put Brighton in front early on, but his effort hit the bar and came out before Chelsea took the lead in the 13th minute through Connor Gallagher. Gallagher’s effort took a big deflection off of Lewis Dunk and there was nothing that Robert Sanchez could do about it. Kaoru Mitoma then brilliantly skipped past multiple Chelsea defenders, but his effort was saved well by Kepa Arrizabalaga. Kepa then pulled off another good stop to deny Evan Ferguson, but he wasn’t able to keep Danny Welbeck’s header out in the 42nd minute. Right before halftime, Christian Pulisic had a great chance for Chelsea, but his headed effort could only hit the post. In the second half, Julio Enciso smashed the post before Danny Welbeck poorly blasted the ball over the bar on the rebound. However, Julio wasn’t to be denied as in the 69th minute, Enciso scored an absolute belter to fire Brighton and Hove Albion into the lead at Stamford Bridge. In the end, it’s another bad result for Chelsea as they stay in the second half of the table in 11th. The Blues host Real Madrid in a big Champions League game tonight before they welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge in just over a week's time. As for Brighton, this was another terrific result for them as they stay 7th. The Seagulls’ next game is against Manchester United in the FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley before they play away to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes came close for Manchester United, but his deflected effort was met with a strong hand from Keylor Navas. Nottingham Forest then nearly managed to score, but the ball came back of the post before Manchester United took the lead in the 32nd minute. Forest poorly gave the ball away and even though Navas denied Anthony Martial, Antony was there to tap home on the rebound. In the second half, Bruno Fernandes was once again denied by Keylor Navas as this time, the former Champions League winner was able to tip the ball onto the crossbar. Unbelievably, Navas then denied Fernandes again as he tipped the Portuguese’s effort onto the post! Anthony Martial then missed a golden opportunity to put United two ahead and they should’ve been punished as Felipe missed a really good opportunity for Notts Forest. Diogo Dalot then scored for Manchester United in the 76th minute to wrap up the game for them. The play from Antony to set up this goal was fantastic. Overall, it’s another loss for Nottingham Forest as they remain in the drop zone (18th). Forest’s next game is away to Liverpool. As for Manchester United, this was a solid result for them as they move up to third in the table. Man United play away to Sevilla in a crucial Europa League tie on Thursday, Brighton at Wembley in the FA Cup on Sunday and Tottenham in a huge Premier League game next Thursday.
Southampton 0-2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace made it 3 wins from 3 under Roy Hodgson as Southampton’s woes continue. Joe Aribo had a good chance for Southampton in the first half, but he blasted his effort over the bar before Theo Walcott also blasted a good chance wide of the target. In the second half, Eberechi Eze was there on the rebound to give Crystal Palace the lead after 54 minutes. 14 minutes later and it was 2-0 to Crystal Palace thanks to another goal from Eze. This strike from the Palace star was particularly good. Carlos Alcaraz nearly got one back for Southampton, but his effort could only hit the post. Michael Olise then nearly scored a great freekick, but his effort hit the outside of the post and went behind for a goal kick. Overall, this wasn’t what Southampton wanted or needed. The Saints stay bottom of the Premier League and their next game is away to league leaders Arsenal on Friday Night Football. As for Crystal Palace, it’s another good display for them as they stay 12th in the table. The Eagles’ next game is at home to Everton.
Wolves 2-0 Brentford
Wolves picked up their second successive win as Brentford suffered their third successive loss. It was a little bit lick football pinball outside the Brentford box before David Raya pulled out a great stop to deny Mario Lemina from opening the scoring. In the 27th minute, Diego Costa finally scored his first goal for Wolves after a bit of luck. This now means that I can no longer say that I’ve seen Diego Costa score more goals at the Molineux than (nearly) all of my family. Wolves then had two different shouts for a penalty, but neither of them were given. I agree with this decision. In the 69th minute, Hwang Hee-Chan made it 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers after some bad luck for Brentford. Ivan Toney nearly got one back for Brentford, but his effort came off the woodwork and out. Overall, this was a positive day for Wolverhampton Wanderers as they bridge a gap to the bottom 3. Wolves remain 13th in the table and they play away to Leicester City next time out. As for Brentford, they’re starting to struggle a bit as they stay 9th. The Bees’ next game is at home to Aston Villa.
Comments