Premier League Review -Matchday 11
Saturday 2nd November, 2019
Bournemouth 1 Manchester United 0
The game was played in very wet conditions and United had the best of the early play. James came closest after 20 minutes following a United free kick, hitting a half cleared ball just wide of Ramsdale's left post. Martial was after a penalty after 32 minutes, when put through by Rashford, which led to a melee, after which Lerma and Fred were booked. United were awarded a corner.
Against the run of play, Bournemouth took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Calum Wilson had pushed the ball out to Harry Wilson on the right. Harry Wilson and Fraser had touches before Adam Smith's final ball was controlled by Josh King, and chipped over Wan-Bissaka before he fired home from close range. It was Bournemouth's first goal in five hours and 59 minutes.
Bournemouth started the second half brightly, but it was Pereira who forced a save from Ramsdale after 56 minutes. Both Josh King and Harry Wilson had half-chances for Bournemouth after 62 minutes, but an uncertain United defence managed to clear.
Bournemouth withstood a little United pressure with only an off-target shot by Fred to concern them, before Calum Wilson teed up Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson for a shot which De Gea pushed around his post. Fred floated a ball to the back post after 81 minutes and substitute Greenwood's shot rebounded off the outside of the post. McTominay had a shot saved too.
Fred had another shot saved comfortably by Ramsdale as the game entered added time, and Bournemouth held onto a valuable win. Captain Steve Cook and Ake had led Bournemouth's stout defence, whilst United lacked potency. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might have paid a penalty for fielding a strong side in the midweek League Cup game at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal 1 Wolves 1
Following last week's controversy Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka was not involved in this game and Aubameyang wore the armband. Ozil made only his second Premier League start of the season. Aubameyang scored Arsenal's goal in the 21st minute, following a throw on the right, a cross by David Luiz and a final pass by Lacazette. It was Aubameyang's fiftieth Arsenal goal. The goal came against the run of play. Leno saved well from Doherty's shot after a cross by Jota.
Leno made another good save in the second half - this time from Neves' shot. Wolves equalised after taking a quick throw on the right AND throwing the ball forward into space where Moutinho crossed and Jimenez rose to head home. How I wish Spurs would act so swiftly and advance from attacking throws!
The crowd figure was given as over 60,000, but empty seats were seen around the stadium. It looks like the gooners are still counting non-attenders.
Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 2
Both the Premier League front runners had nasty shocks today. Liverpool left it till the very end of the game to redeem their situation. Trezeguet gave the home side the lead in the 21st minute. McGinn had been fouled out on the left and swung in a free kick for the Egyptian to score his first goal for Villa. Firmino soon had the ball in the net from Mane's pass, but he had been flagged offside. VAR supported the decision, but by a whisker, or perhaps by a bit of Firmino's arm.
Mane had a header saved by Tom Heaton and Villa blocked two shots by Oxlade-Chamberlain in quick succession. Alexander-Arnold hit a left foot shot just wide of the far post, but Liverpool's other full back (Robertson, of course) headed home an 87th minute equaliser from Mane's cross.
Villa's agony was complete in the fourth minute of added time. Alexander-Arnold had won a corner with a deflected free kick. He took the corner and Mane flicked in a neat header across Heaton's goal.
Brighton 2 Norwich 0
Brighton climbed to eighth place with this win. Stiepermann hit the bar for Norwich in the first half, and Brighton's Alzate had a shot saved by the leg of Tim Krul after 18 minutes.
Brighton took a 68th minute lead when substitute Trossard turned in a Montoya cross from in front of the near post. Trossard was instrumental in Brighton's second goal, when he swung in a free kick from which Duffy scored with a close range shot. Norwich remain in the doldrums of the bottom three.
Manchester City 2 Southampton 1
After their disgraceful 9-0 home defeat last week, the "Saints" gained some respect not only because this was a narrow defeat at the home of the Champions, but also because they took a 13th minute lead which they held until the 70th minute.
Alex McCarthy took over from Angus Gunn in the Southampton goal. The shock lead came after Redmond passed inside to Armstrong, whose 20 yard shot was not held by Ederson. James Ward-Prowse eagerly took the gift of a goal.
The pattern of the game was for City to try and break through the barrage of Southampton defenders. When they did manage to avoid the defence, City were too often off target. The breakthrough finally came when Kyle Walker got to the bye-line on the right, and crossed low and hard for Aguero to finish. This was actually City's first shot on target!
McCarthy made a very good save from Bernardo Silva's rising shot, but after he flapped out Angelino's cross, the goalkeeper could not stop Kyle Walker's shot. McCarthy did save Jesus's added time shot, but with an assist and a goal, Kyle Walker had won the game for City.
Sheffield United 3 Burnley 0
Sheffield United climbed to sixth place overnight with a fourth win and their biggest margin so far. All the goals came in the first half.
The first goal came after 17 minutes, scored with a shot by Lundstram after a cross from the left by McGoldrick. Lundstram scored again after 43 minutes, snapping up the chance at the back post after Stevens crossed from the left. Burnley lost the ball in their own half and goalkeeper Pope was poorly beaten by Fleck's shot.
Pope did save a shot by Billy Sharp in the second half after he had been set up by McGoldrick. Sharp broke forward after 90 minutes and gave Lundstram a hat-trick chance, but the shot was wide across the goal. The "Blades" looked very sharp!
West Ham 2 Newcastle 3
West Ham had a nasty shock too, going three down at the London Stadium to lowly Newcastle. Ciaran Clark gave the "Toon" a 16th minute lead with a header which followed a free kick by JonJo Shelvey which was headed back into the centre of the area. Newcastle were playing towards their fans, who were both shocked and delighted!
Six minutes later it was 2-0 and West Ham keeper Roberto was beaten by another header, this time by Fernandez, following a cross by Willems. It was the first time Newcastle had scored two goals in a game this season. Roberto did make a save from Saint-Maximin, who had been released for a breakaway run by another good pass by Willems. Saint-Maximin was released again by a long ball out of defence. His shot was saved and Almiron tried to pounce on the loose ball, but that too was saved. Shelvey hit the bar with a shot from 22 yards.
West Ham finally had a chance when Balbuena headed goalward from a corner, but Dubravka saved. Willems and Saint-Maximin combined again just before the break, with Roberto having to push Saint-Maximin's shot round the corner.
Shelvey scored direct from a free kick after 51 minutes, from over 25 yards out, placing his shot just inside Roberto's left post. Shell-shocked "Hammers" fans were starting to leave. They missed Balbuena's 73rd minute goal, bundled in following a corner, and Snodgrass's 90th minute goal with a left foot shot. It was all too late for West Ham.
Watford 1 Chelsea 2
Chelsea took the lead after only four minutes when Jorginho swung a long pass into non-man's land between Watford's central defenders and goalkeeper Ben Foster. Tammy Abraham pounced and lifted a shot over Foster into the net in front of the Rookery Stand. Chelsea were dominating possession and it was nearly 2-0 after 17 minutes when a shot by Mount was half blocked but fell into Abraham's path. Foster made a good save, and a minute late saved well from Pulisic.
Mason Mount hit a spectacular 25 yard shot after 42 minutes, which was matched by another excellent save by Foster, who managed to push the shot onto the bar and over for a corner.
Willian was allowed to advance after 48 minutes and passed to Mount, towards the left of the box. Another shot was saved and led to a corner. It was 2-0 to Chelsea in the 55th minute. Willian laid off a nice pass to Abraham, who was on the right side of the area. Abraham crossed low and Pulisic was in the 6-yard area to finish. Foster saved again from Pulisic who had a shot from an angle on the left after Kovacic's pass. Kovacic had a shot himself a few minutes later, but this was one of the easier saves for Foster.
Chelsea came close again after 64 minutes. Willian fed the ball back to Kovacic, whose shot/through ball was almost met by Abraham. Willian, now 31, did not start Chelsea's early games, but he is the architect of a lot of their threatening play. Speed, coupled with youth and not a little skill are the prime attributes of Frank Lampard's armoury. The right blend of experience helps too.
After long deliberation by VAR Mike Dean, a penalty was awarded when Deulofeu went down under Jorginho's challenge. Deulofeu scored himself from the spot in the 80th minute. Arrizabalaga did make a last ditch save from a Watford free kick, headed goalward by Watford keeper Ben Foster, who had joined the attack for a corner. Watford had put all their efforts into the five minutes of added time, but the points belonged to Chelsea, who are secure in the top four.
Sunday 3rd November, 2019
Crystal Palace 0 Leicester City 2
Leicester’s march continues, and I’ve even seen the question being asked as to whether they might challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the title. The current top four have certainly created a gap above fifth placed Arsenal, and with this win, Leicester regained third place. Brendan Rodgers is benefitting from a lack of injuries, and a lack of current involvement in the European programme.
Leicester had a good attack following Barnes’ pass to Maddison and a great forward pass for Vardy. The end result was a corner where Evans headed over the bar. At the other end Schmeichel had to make a save, pushing former Leicester man Schlupp’s deflected dipping shot over his bar.
Evans had another good header from a Leicester corner in the second half which goalkeeper Guaita managed to push over his bar. After another corner, also taken by Maddison, Soyuncu stooped to head home in the 57th minute.
Jamie Vardy had been taking stick from the Palace fans over the Rebekah/Coleen saga, and he was happy to celebrate in front of those fans, flapping his arms in “Eagle” style after slotting a shot past Guaita from Gray’s pass. Now 32, Vardy is at the top of the Premier League scoring chart with 10 goals. In added time a Chilwell shot beat the Palace keeper and hit the inside of the back post, but bounced back out, when you’d think the law of physics would have led to a different result.
Everton 1 Spurs 1
It is good to know that Andre Gomes' operation was a success and that he is expected to make a full recovery. It is also good to know that Spurs are appealing the red card shown to Son Heung-min, and that "Sonny" is expected to travel to Belgrade.
Paulo Gazzaniga was voted our best player, with goalscorer Dele Alli deemed our best outfield player. Check out the spursometer in full.
Inevitably, most comments made this week related to VAR. Not many are repeatable!
Fixtures & Results 02-03.11.19
Saturday
B'mouth 1-0 Man Utd
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves
A. Villa 1-2 Liverpool
Brighton 2-0 Norwich
Man City 2-1 S'hampton
Sheff Utd 3-0 Burnley
West Ham 2-3 Newcastle
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
Sunday
C. Palace 0-2 Leicester
Everton 1-1 Spurs
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Liverpool 11 10 1 0 25-9 16 31
2. Man City 11 8 1 2 34-10 24 25
3. Leicester 11 7 2 2 27-8 19 23
4. Chelsea 11 7 2 2 25-17 8 23
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5. Arsenal 11 4 5 2 16-15 1 17
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6. Sheff Utd 11 4 4 3 12-8 4 16
7. B'mouth 11 4 4 3 14-13 1 16
8. Brighton 11 4 3 4 14-14 0 15
9. C. Palace 11 4 3 4 10-14 -4 15
10. Man Utd 11 3 4 4 13-11 2 13
11. Spurs 11 3 4 4 17-16 1 13
12. Wolves 11 2 7 2 14-14 0 13
13. West Ham 11 3 4 4 14-17 -3 13
14. Burnley 11 3 3 5 14-18 -4 12
15. Newcastle 11 3 3 5 9-17 -8 12
16. A. Villa 11 3 2 6 16-18 -2 11
17. Everton 11 3 2 6 11-17 -6 11
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18. S'hampton 11 2 2 7 10-27 -17 8
19. Norwich 11 2 1 8 11-26 -15 7
20. Watford 11 0 5 6 6-23 -17 5
