Premier League Review
Matchday 14
Friday
Cardiff 2 Wolves 1
Neil Warnock's side hauled themselves out of the bottom three with this third win of the season, whilst Wolves' bad run of results continues. Wolves are now without a win in 6 games, 5 of which have been lost.
Wolves did take the lead though, despite being put under some pressure by the home side in the first quarter of an hour. The goal came from a corner, headed by Jimenez and saved by Etheridge, but only to the feet of Doherty who fired into the roof of the net.
It took until the second half for Cardiff to score. They first equalised in the 65th minute when Rui Patricio seemed to be blocked by Paterson and Gunnarson scored from close range after Morrison nodded the ball down. Arter had previously come close to scoring twice for Cardiff, hitting the post with one shot.
The winning goal was a cracker scored after 77 minutes by Junior Hoilett with a curler to the top corner of the net from the edge of the Wolves area. It was Hoilett's first Premier League goal in 6 years. Warnock's could celebrate his 70th birthday on Saturday with a smile. Hoilett's goal, scored on the last day of November, won Match of the Day's goal of the month vote, with Son's goal against Chelsea in second place.
Saturday
Crystal Palace 2 Burnley 0
Crystal Palace dominated this game and deservedly won their first home game of the season. McArthur opened the scoring after 16 minutes with nothing more than a cross with which Meyer failed to connect, confusing Joe Hart as the ball bounced and went into the net at the far corner.
It was a mystery how the scoreline was not increased as Palace had so many chances. Hart had already saved from Zaha before the same player hit the bar with another shot. Andros Townsend sealed the game with a stunning left footed shot, after cutting in from the right, beating Hart all ends up.
Burnley look a pale reflection of the side which qualified for Europe this year, and they still seem to be paying for their extended pre-season qualifying games, which ultimately led to elimination from the Europa League at the play-off stage.
Huddersfield 1 Brighton 2
Huddersfield scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season so far after only 54 seconds when Jorgensen headed home an overhead ball into the middle by Brighton defender Bruno.
You would have fancied the "Terriers" to go on to win. However, they were not helped when Mounie was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver for a foot-up challenge on the shin of Bissouma. Pritchard thought he should have had a penalty, but did then win a free kick, which he took himself with Ryan saving just inside his right post.
Bruno redeemed himself to a certain degree by athletically winning his side a first half added time corner from which Duffy powerfully headed home the equaliser. Andone scored a fine headed goal from March's cross after 69 minutes to win the game. David Wagner felt very hard done by, and may be in trouble for his post match criticism of the referee.
Leicester 2 Watford 0
Leicester are unbeaten in their last five league games, although this is only their second win of this run. During the week they beat Southampton in the delayed Carabao Cup game, which had been put back as Leicester dealt with the recent helicopter crash tragedy. Watford's fans gained the heartfelt thanks (and free half-time refreshments) from the son of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha after they unfurled a huge banner paying tribute to the deceased club Chairman.
As for the game, Vardy won and scored a penalty given for a foul by Ben Foster, and James Maddison scored a great goal in the 23rd minute. Maddison had been sent off last week for two yellows, but redeemed himself here when he received a long ball from the right, taking a couple of good touches in the middle as he entered the box and fired home.
Etienne Capoue was shown a red card by referee Graham Scott late in the game, when replays show that his foot rolled up after contacting the ball before what was deemed a dangerous tackle. I suspect he will win an appeal.
Manchester City 3 Bournemouth 1
Eddie Howe's side were hardly likely to stop City, but they did surprise them by getting an equaliser after Bernardo Silva's 16th minute goal. Bournemouth had already threatened through Wilson, who did head home just before half time from Francis's cross.
Guardiola had made several changes, with Walker rested and Aguero not taking part due to a muscular injury. Sterling had gone close for City after a scintillating run after 54 minutes, before he did make it 2-1 after a Danilo shot was blocked and fell into Sterling's path.
Gundogan made it 3-1 after 79 minutes following a City corner from the left and Sane's final pass from near the bye-line.
Newcastle 0 West Ham 3
Despite a run of three successive wins, some Newcastle fans were apparently staging a delayed walk-in protest against Mike Ashley, who has been at the club for 11 years. West Ham made sure it was a rotten day all round for "The Toon".
Hernandez scored the first goal for the visitors when Snodgrass's ball found the little Mexican in acres of space in the middle of the Newcastle area. That was on the 11 minute mark. Perez headed over from a Newcastle corner and Rondon's threat was snuffed out by Zabaleta.
Hernandez was given two good chances by Arnautovic and Anderson before he did make it 2-0, running onto Arnautovic's header and hitting a good shot past Dubravka. Anderson made it 3-0 deep into added time with a low shot past the keeper.
Southampton 2 Manchester United 2
Southampton fans must have thought Christmas had come early when their team took an early two goal lead over Manchester United. Jose Mourinho's squad apparently had a number of injuries which meant that Phil Jones was their only recognised centre back. Jones has rarely played this season.
Armstrong gave the "Saints" the lead with a low drive from the right of the area to add to his two goals scored last week at Fulham. That was after 13 minutes and seven minutes later Cedric's made it 2-0 with an exquisite free kick that dipped over the wall and just beneath De Gea's bar in the top right corner.
Lukaku got one back for United after 33 minutes, after Rashford had got the ball to his feet. It was Lukaku's first Premier League goal since September. It was 2-2 before half-time and Rashford was the provider again, cutting the ball back from the right allowing Herrera to score at the near post.
There were no goals in the second half although De Gea had to save well from Redmond's shot after Pogba had weakly surrendered the ball. The result leaves United 8 points off the top four (good luck to them against Arsenal on Wednesday) and Southampton still in the bottom three.
On Monday Southampton announced that Mark Hughes had been sacked after 8 months in charge. First team assistant coach Kelvin Davis will take charge at Wembley on Wednesday night, whilst the club said that the search for a new manager was under way.
Sunday
Chelsea 2 Fulham 0
It was Derby Day today, and the first on the agenda was Chelsea v Fulham and their former manager Claudio Ranieri. Giroud got the nod over Morata and Pedro took Willian's place. Andre Schurrle, once of Chelsea, was unavailable due to a hamstring injury, but the "Tinkerman" refreshingly did not make any other changes after last week's win over Southampton.
Chelsea had the lead within 4 minutes. Seri was robbed of the ball by Kante, and Pedro scored from the right of the area. Fulham were under pressure in the first half but had a spirited spell in the second when they had a couple of good chances. Morata came on and hit row Z with a shot after Hazard's attempt had been defected into his path, before another substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired home after a passing move in the 82nd minute.
Fulham remained at the bottom of the table, whilst Chelsea regained third place.
Arsenal 4 Spurs 2
Thus ended Spurs' chances of equalling a Premier League record run of 8 consecutive London Derby wins. Son was voted your best Spurs player (with only 6.1) and you can see the spursometer in full here.
Quote of the week:- "I think that Poch chose the wrong match to leave Alderweireld out and play Foyth. He has some talent but made crucial mistakes, one of which directly led to the Arsenal equaliser. Aurier is also prone to mistakes. Vertongen had a day to forget as well, never recovering from his early handball, although he was somewhat unlucky to be sent off. But we were beaten by a better side on the day."
Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Everton have had just one Anfield win in 19 years, but they only lost this one thanks to a 96th minute freakish goal by Liverpool substitute Origi. Origi spent most of last season on loan with Wolfsburg and this was his first Liverpool goal since May 2017.
In the first half Mane fired a good chance over the bar, and Everton's Andre Gomez firstly had a header saved by Alisson, then had the follow-up cleared off the line by Liverpool's Joey Gomez. Shaqiri had a good effort saved by Pickford.
Salah and Mane had second half chances go wide. Origi was one of three substitutions made by Jurgen Klopp and had already had one chance hit the bar before the winner came. Liverpool had a free. Kick in their own half, pushed on for Alexander-Arnold by goalkeeper Alisson. The cross was met by Van Dijk who hit an "up and under" shot which Pickford somehow brought back into play from above his bar. That gave Origi a gift headed win in front of the Kop. Klopp apologised afterwards for running onto the pitch to embrace his goalkeeper to celebrate the win.
Fixtures/Results 30.11-02.12.18
Friday
Cardiff 2-1 Wolves
Saturday
Hds'field 1-2 Brighton
Leicester 2-0 Watford
Man City 3-1 B'mouth
Newcastle 0-3 West Ham
S'hampton 2-2 Man Utd
Sunday
Chelsea 2-0 Fulham
Arsenal 4-2 Spurs
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 14 12 2 0 43-6 37 38
2. Liverpool 14 11 3 0 27-5 22 36
3. Chelsea 14 9 4 1 30-11 19 31
4. Arsenal 14 9 3 2 32-18 14 30
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5. Spurs 14 10 0 4 25-15 10 30
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6. Everton 14 6 4 4 20-16 4 22
7. Man Utd 14 6 4 4 22-23 -1 22
8. Leicester 14 6 3 5 20-17 3 21
9. B'mouth 14 6 2 6 23-21 2 20
10. Watford 14 6 2 6 17-19 -2 20
11. Brighton 14 5 3 6 16-20 -4 18
12. Wolves 14 4 4 6 13-17 -4 16
13. West Ham 14 4 3 7 17-22 -5 15
14. C. Palace 14 3 3 8 10-17 -7 12
15. Newcastle 14 3 3 8 11-19 -8 12
16. Cardiff 14 3 2 9 13-27 -14 11
17. H'dsfield 14 2 4 8 9-24 -15 10
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18. S'hampton 14 1 6 7 12-26 -14 9
19. Burnley 14 2 3 9 13-29 -16 9
20. Fulham 14 2 2 10 14-35 -21 8
