Premier League Review - Matchday 15
Tuesday 04/12/18
Bournemouth 2 Huddersfield 1
Calum Wilson gave the home side an early lead when he headed home a free kick from the right, and then teed up Fraser after 22 minutes. Huddersfield had one good shot by Mooy well saved by Begovic, before they got a goal back through Kongolo after 38 minutes.
Mooy had another shot saved by Begovic in the second half, but they could not improve their situation, remaining just one point above the bottom three.
Brighton 3 Crystal Palace 1
The "M23 Derby" was a feisty affair and a disappointing result for Palace who had played so well at the weekend when beating Burnley. Brighton's Izquierdo was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by referee Kevin Friend and Glenn Murray made no mistake from the spot for his eighth league goal of the season. Where would Brighton be without him?
Murray and his team-mates thought they should have had a penalty for Tomkins's penalty area challenge. Shane Duffy was sent off for a head butt on a Palace player, and will be a big miss for Brighton's next three games. A corner had been awarded (incorrectly as the ball came off Murray) and substitute Balogun made it 2-0 to the ten men. It was 3-0 before half time when Andone scored a fine individual goal, taking the ball into the area on the left and beating defender Tomkins and goalkeeper Hennessy.
It took Palace until the 81st minute to score. Zaha was brought down by Balogun just inside the area, and captain Milivojevic scored.
West Ham 3 Cardiff 1
West Ham managed back to back Premier League wins for the first time since January 2017. They have also scored three in both those games. Who is to say they won't do the same against Palace on Saturday?
Cardiff were awarded a needless penalty when Arnautovic barged Hoilett, but Ralls' kick was saved by Fabianski at his left post. Lucas Perez opened the scoring for the home side after 49th minute from Snodgrass's ball. It was also Lucas's first goal for his new club, after he had come on late in the first half. He made it 2-0 five minutes later from the left of the area after Masuaku's pass.
Antonio made it 3-0 after a corner on 61 minutes with a header, and the game was won. Cardiff got a quite comical scrambled consolation goal in the final moments after a corner which bounced in front of the goal wasn't cleared with Murphy heading it over the line.
Watford 1 Manchester City 2
Until Watford scored late in the game, this had looked a pretty routine and processional win for City, although they had only scored two goals. Pep Guardiola's nerves were tested in the latter stages. Ben Foster had played very well to keep the score down to two goals against his side.
Sane opened the scoring after 40 minutes, chesting in Mahrez's cross. Mahrez made it 2-0 after 51 minutes after Gabriel Jesus cut the ball back from the left of the area. Watford substitute Deulofeu had an impact and when he crossed from the right Doucoure managed to bundle home the ball, which led to a twitchy closure to the game for City.
Wednesday 05/12/18
Burnley 1 Liverpool 3
Both managers rang the changes for this game with Liverpool's opening front three consisting of Shaqiri, Sturridge and Origi, who was starting for Liverpool for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Joey Gomez did start at the back, but was stretchered off in the first half. A subsequent scan has disclosed a lower leg fracture which will keep Gomez out of action for 6 weeks.
Burnley did have a first half "goal" correctly disallowed for offside. In the second half, Joe Hart pushed Keita's 25 yard shot onto the post and around the corner, before Cork gave Burnley a 54th minute lead after a corner when he prodded home after Alisson had not been able to cleanly save another close range shot.
Normality was restored when James Milner equalised after 62 minutes with a low shot from just outside the area. Firmino and Salah were added to the mix after 65 minutes. Firmino gave Liverpool the lead in the 69th minute after Van Dijk passed a ball to him at close range from the left after a free kick.
Alisson made a good diving save from Mee's header after a corner as the game entered added time. Liverpool secured the points with a Shaqiri goal which resulted with a move via Alisson, Sturridge and Salah. Liverpool remain two points behind Man City. Both are still unbeaten.
Everton 1 Newcastle 1
This was a welcome away point for Newcastle, who played with a back five. Rondon opened the scoring for the visitors with a fine breakaway goal. Murphy ran down the left wing and crossed for Rondon to finish well at the back post. Richarlison equalised on 38 minutes, finishing off a corner at the back post with a shot into the roof of the net. Dubravka made a brave close range save from Tosun before the break. Pickford was required to make a good late second half save from Atsu, but the scores remained level.
Fulham 1 Leicester 1
For the second time this week, Claudio Ranieri was facing a former team as Leicester came to town. Ranieri has brought an element of stability with a win and a draw in his three games, ending a run of seven consecutive defeats for Fulham, who remain bottom of the table.
Leicester were without the injured Vardy, but Iheanacho nearly did a good impression, racing into the area where Fulham keeper Rico advanced and saved well at the former Man City striker's feet. Kamara gave the home side a 42nd minute lead running onto Mitrovic's inelegant flick, beating Schmeichel from the left of the area. Leicester equalised after 74 minutes when substitute Okazaki crossed from the right of the box and Maddison scored on the left of goal.
Wolves 2 Chelsea 1
This was a massive result for Wolves, for whom this was a first win in seven games. Equally it was a disappointment for Chelsea, who lost a second game three Premier League matches.
18 year old Morgan Gibbs-White who made quite an impression when he came on against Spurs last month, made his full Premier League debut. Chelsea included Fabregas and also Ruben Loftus-Cheek. It was Loftus-Cheek who gave Chelsea an 18th minute lead with a deflected goal from 20 yards.
Willian had a shot tipped over the bar by Rui Patricio and was also stopped in his tracks by Bennett in the first half, and Morata was denied a penalty shout in the second half. Wolves bounced back with two goals in four minutes. Firstly Gibbs-White threaded a ball for Jimenez who scored through Arrizabalaga. It was Wolves' first shot on target.
Four minutes later Jota made it 2-1 from Doherty's cross, after Chelsea had twice given the ball away in their own half. Sarri will have his work cut out to beat Man City on Saturday tea-time.
Manchester United 2 Arsenal 2
It was an eventful game at Old Trafford with Arsenal twice taking the lead, only to be pegged back by the home side. Arsenal's first goal was scored by Mustafi, from a corner. The defender headed down and the ball bounced up through De Gea's hands going over the line before Herrera cleared. Goal-line technology confirmed the goal.
"1-0 to the Arsenal" was the chant, but it didn't stay that way for long. Martial was fouled and Rojo took the kick which was pushed out to Herrera by goalkeeper Leno. Herrera returned the ball to the middle where Martial finished it off.
In the second half, Rojo gave the ball away to Lacazette who exchanged with Mkhitaryan before Rojo caught up with him (Lacazette) and tried to stop the goal. The ball rolled into the United net and went down as a Rojo own goal, with Lacazette injured on the ground. United equalised from the kick-off after a long ball aimed at Lukaku was gifted to Lingard by Kolasinac for an easy finish.
De Gea made three good saves in the second half, and Arsenal returned to fifth place. United are 10 points behind Spurs and 8 points off the top four.
Arsenal's Rob Holding has been ruled out for up to 9 months with an ACL knee injury. Holding had started 9 of Arsenal's Premier League games, including last Sunday's derby win.
Spurs 3 Southampton 1
Hugo Lloris was voted our man of the match for the second time this season. The other occasion was also a win, but that was by a tighter 1-0 margin in the league game away to West Ham. Hugo scored 8+ on both occasions. You can see the spursometer here in full.
Quote of the week, taken from your responses to the Spurs Odyssey post-match survey - "Hugo made a MOTM performance with Son finding that smile & form for excellent performance. The squad bounced back well after the Arse loss! Their tempo was quick enough to undo Southampton who will take points off other big boys. Lucas was equal to Son and Harry was again superb as also was Christian! This squad have a brilliant team spirit which the fans don't always appreciate! 33,000 attendance does show our fans' weakness at giving full support!!"
Fixtures/Results 04-05.12.18
Tuesday
B'mouth 2-1 Hds'field
Brighton 3-1 C. Palace
West Ham 3-1 Cardiff
Watford 1-2 Man City
Wednesday
Burnley 1-3 Liverpool
Everton 1-1 Newcastle
Fulham 1-1 Leicester
Wolves 2-1 Chelsea
Man Utd 2-2 Arsenal
Spurs 3-1 S'hampton
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 15 13 2 0 45-7 38 41
2. Liverpool 15 12 3 0 30-6 24 39
3. Spurs 15 11 0 4 28-16 12 33
4. Chelsea 15 9 4 2 31-13 18 31
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5. Arsenal 15 9 4 2 34-20 14 31
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6. Everton 15 6 5 4 21-17 4 23
7. B'mouth 15 7 2 6 25-22 3 23
8. Man Utd 15 6 5 4 24-25 -1 23
9. Leicester 15 6 4 5 21-18 3 22
10. Brighton 15 6 3 6 19-21 -2 21
11. Watford 15 6 2 7 18-21 -3 20
12. Wolves 15 5 4 6 15-18 -3 19
13. West Ham 15 5 3 7 20-23 -3 18
14. Newcastle 15 3 4 8 12-20 -8 13
15. C. Palace 15 3 3 9 11-20 -9 12
16. Cardiff 15 3 2 10 14-30 -16 11
17. H'dsfield 15 2 4 9 10-26 -16 10
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18. S'hampton 15 1 6 8 13-29 -16 9
19. Burnley 15 2 3 10 14-32 -18 9
20. Fulham 15 2 3 10 15-36 -21 9
