Premier League Review – Matchday 19
Sunday 26th December, 2021
Liverpool v Leeds (Match Postponed – Covid)
Both this game and that at Wolves were called off on Thursday due to the number of Covid cases.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Watford (Match Postponed – Covid)
Burnley v Everton (Match Postponed – Covid)
This game was officially postponed on Christmas Eve due to the number of injuries and cases of Covid in the Everton camp. Burnley have now had three consecutive games postponed due to Covid plus their snow-affected scheduled game in late November against Spurs. Burnley’s last game was on December 12th.
Manchester City 6 Leicester City 3
In an incredible Boxing Day feast, City had been 4-0 up at half-time, before they allowed Leicester to get the score back to 4-3. Pep’s men went on to add two goals to secure the win and top place in the table with Liverpool’s match falling victim to the ongoing Covid pandemic. Leicester were weakened and included Vestergaard in defence and Iheanacho up front. Vardy was on the bench.
City were one up inside 4 minutes after Fernandinho lifted a ball into the box, after which De Bruyne turned and scored with his left foot inside Schmeichel’s right post. Goal number two followed a VAR and monitor review of Laporte being hauled down by Tielemans following a City corner. A penalty was eventually awarded, and former Leicester man Riyad Mahrez did the necessary in the 14th minute.
Maddison had a 22-yard free kick pushed onto the crossbar by Ederson, but City went three up in the 21st minute after a good move which ended with Cancelo’s cross, and a failure to hold by Schmeichel allowing the ball to run to the feet of Gundogan, who scored. There was another penalty after Sterling was tripped by Tielemans and this time referee Chris Kavanagh did not hesitate to point to the spot. Sterling took this kick and scored high to the left of Schmeichel. (25 mins) Schmeichel did subsequently make a magnificent save from Sterling’s shot after a short pass by Bernardo Silva.
Maddison got the first goal back for Leicester in the 55th minute, advancing alongside Iheanacho who made the final pass before the midfielder placed his shot inside Ederson’s right post. The “Foxes” added another just four minutes later, following good play in his own half by Maddison, and a pass to Iheanacho who this time picked out the run of Lookman, who scored.
City had a corner from which Fernandinho’s header was cleared by Amartey. Leicester broke forward in numbers from the ensuing corner and Maddison’s 22 yard shot was pushed onto his bar by Ederson, but the ball fell to former Manchester City man Iheanacho who made it 4-3 in the 65th minute. City regained a two-goal lead when LaPorte headed home from a corner four minutes later.
Leicester took a quick free kick at the other end with Maddison slipping the ball to Iheanacho, whose shot was saved by the advancing Ederson. City scored a sixth goal three minutes from time after another corner – taken by Mahrez. This was headed down by Dias and converted at short range by Raheem Sterling.
This was a ninth consecutive Premier League win for City. They have scored 30 of their 50 goals in these games.
Norwich City 0 Arsenal 5
Arsenal managed this convincing fourth consecutive Premier League win, whilst Norwich were woeful and are rooted to the bottom of the table. Tim Krul had tested positive for Covid and was replaced by Angus Gunn, making his first Premier League appearance since October 2019. Tomiyasu was out for Arsenal and Holding made a first league start since August.
Saka scored the first goal in the sixth minute. It was a left foot shot at the end of a good passing move, but the ball beat Gunn’s dive too easily. Lacazette should have made it 2-0 twenty minutes later when Saka crossed from the right, but the Arsenal (current) captain headed wide. Tierney made it 2-0 a minute before the interval, receiving a pass by Odegaard before scoring inside Gunn’s left post.
Martinelli had the ball in the net after 59 minutes but had been offside. Saka did score a legitimate goal in the 67th minute with a left foot shot from the edge of the Norwich area. He got round left back Williams too easily and his shot hit the net inside Gunn’s right post. Arsenal had a penalty after Kabak clattered Lacazette, who took the kick and scored to make it 4-0 with six minutes remaining.
In added time substitute Pepe’s pass from inside the area took a deflection and fell to another sub – Smith-Rowe, who scored with ease in the fourth league game running.
Spurs 3 Crystal Palace 0
Spurs are now unbeaten in 15 Boxing Day games.
Lucas Moura was your clear man of the match.
Here are two of the comments received:-
"Nicholson,Burkinshaw,Rowe with Pochettino are our greatest managers! Antonio is changing things so incredibily fast that it takes your breath away! I truly believe this man will turn out to be our greatest manager! Harry Kane is going fantastic."
"Moura MOTM! Spurs as a squad are making excellent progress. Love the happy looks on players faces! Excellent one-touch football. Sanchez deserves praise really excellent and might have scored."
West Ham United 2 Southampton 3
West Ham’s form continues to suffer as they missed three of their first choice back four. The lack of depth in their squad is being tested to the full, as they slipped beneath Spurs with this fourth defeat in five games in all competitions. Antonio did not start but replaced Vlasic at half-time. Fraser Forster was fit so emergency keeper Caballero was demoted to the bench. The London Stadium was not the only venue missing fans, due to Covid and transport problems.
Southampton took then lead after only 8 minutes following a short cross by Walker-Peters from the left along the edge of the area from where Elyounoussi scored with a low left foot shot. It did look as if Southampton fans had travelled in good numbers. Vlasic had a left foot shot well saved by the left hand of Forster.
Antonio scored West Ham’s equaliser four minutes into the second half. Bowen took a corner from the left which was headed back by Dawson for Antonio to head in at close range. Rice hit a right-footed shot just wide from 20 yards. Broja broke forward for “The Saints” and there had been contact by Dawson outside the area, but Broja fell inside the area after further contact. Referee Kevin Friend initially gave a corner but was persuaded by a monitor review to award a penalty. Ward-Prowse made no mistake to make it 2-1 in the 61st minute. Benrahma equalised three minutes later with a right foot shot inside the area, following Bowen’s shot cross.
Walker-Peters was fouled out on the left and Ward-Prowse hit a deep free kick which was headed in by Bednarek. (70 mins)
Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 3
Steven Gerrard was absent due to Covid, and Thomas Tuchel is not the first, nor will he be the last, foreign coach to moan about the festive schedule in England. Gary McAllister took charge of Villa who were missing a couple of players, leading to Sanson getting a start in midfield and Danny Ings playing up front.
Mason Mount hit the top of the bar with a long cross/shot from the left, but Villa had a 28th minute lead when a cross by Targett looped into the net across goal off the head of the unfortunate Reece James’. Chelsea had a penalty after Cash caught the heels of Hudson-Odoi and of course, Jorginho scored. (34 mins).
Lukaku came off the bench at half-time and he made it 2-1 in the 56th minute, heading in Hudson-Odoi’s cross from the left. Mount had Martinez beaten 10 minutes later but fired wide from just inside the area where the Villa keeper had over-committed. Martinez saved well, low to his left from a Hudson-Odoi shot after 87 minutes. In added time Chelsea broke out of their half and Hudson-Odoi fed the run of Lukaku who had Targett beaten but was then fouled by Konsa inside the area. Jorginho had another penalty conversion to add to his considerable collection.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Brentford 0
Graham Potter’s men got a welcome first win in 13 games in league and cup in this late evening game. They welcomed Neal Maupay back after injury too. Toney was back for Brentford after his bout of Covid.
Brighton took the lead in the 34th minute. Trossard met Mwepu’s through ball beautifully to chip a shot over Fernandez in the Brentford goal. It was 2-0 three minutes before the interval when Maupay received from Moder and hammered a right foot shot into the net from the edge of the area.
In the second half a shot by Baptiste from 22 yards took a wicked deflection but somehow Sanchez saved with his leg. After the corner, Sanchez had to dive to his right to save from Pinnock, but an offside flag had been raised anyway. Pinnock had another header on target, after a Brentford long throw and with Sanchez having committed to punching a clearance, it was Cucurella who cleared from under his bar.
Fernandez made a double punch clearance of a Maupay shot two minutes from time. The crowd was reported at around 30,000, but I think a lot of Brighton fans had stayed home.
Monday 27th December, 2021
Newcastle United 1 Manchester United 1
Manchester United had not played since 11th April. They needed a win to claim fifth place from Spurs. Newcastle made 6 changes, three of which were in defence. Eddie Howe's team included Callum Wilson and Saint-Maximin. United welcomed back Varane to partner Maguire whilst Greenwood replaced Sancho behind Ronaldo and Rashford.
In front of a roaring St. James' Park crowd, Newcastle took a seventh minute lead when Saint-Maximin took a cross-field pass from Sean Longstaff before beating De Gea with a smashing right foot shot from the edge of the area. Varane had lost the ball to Longstaff, allowing the move. Four minutes later Joelinton had a shot go just wide from 25 yards after Fraser returned a ball from Saint-Maximin to the central area.
Shelvey went on a run from his own half and tested De Gea from over 20 yards with his shot midway through the first half. Callum Wilson had the ball in the net after 37 minutes but had been offside. Dubravka’s biggest test so far came after a United free kick was chipped over the defence and the goalkeeper had to rush forward to clear from two advancing red shirts. Ronaldo was one of those players and might have been offside.
Callum Wilson needed treatment after going down in a non-contact situation but hobbled through most of the four minutes of added time, before having to be replaced by Murphy. Saint-Maximin and Joelinton gave the right of the United defence problems before Saint-Maximin's shot was blocked.
Rangnick made two half-time changes with Sancho replacing Fred and Cavani taking the place of Greenwood. Saint-Maximin had a huge chance in the second minute of the half, receiving a cross at close range in the 6-yard zone, seeing his shot saved by De Gea. The Newcastle player had already received a good ball on the break, losing out to Varane before getting a shot on goal. Rashford then had a pop at goal from 22 yards. His shot was pushed over his bar by Dubravka.
Fernandes hit a long ball across field to Sancho, whose centre gave Cavani a shot, but that was pushed wide. Fernandes made the same pass after 70 minutes, this time to Dalot who delivered to Cavani. Cavani had one shot blocked but did not fail when the ball rebounded to his feet. Saint-Maximin had a chance at the other end from 20 yards, but this was saved by De Gea.
Cavani had yet another chance, this one from close range after a Telles cross from the left. Lascelles managed to clear in front of the goal line. Newcastle lost Saint-Maximin to a muscle injury 8 minutes from time, making their task harder again. Murphy had De Gea beaten after 87 minutes but saw the ball rebound off the far post, before Almiron hit a shot from the edge of the area and De Gea made a brilliant one-handed save.
Dubravka had a nervous moment in added time when he dropped a ball giving Sancho a chance, but the Newcastle defence cleared. This was an exciting game and a battling performance by Newcastle that might yet see them drag themselves away from trouble.
United failed to overtake either Spurs or West Ham.
Fixtures and results - 26-27.12.21
Sunday 26th December, 2021
Liverpool P Leeds
Wolves P Watford
Burnley P Everton
Man City 6-3 Leicester
Norwich 0-5 Arsenal
Spurs 3-0 C. Palace
West Ham 2-3 S'hampton
A. Villa 1-3 Chelsea
Brighton 2-0 Brentford
Monday 27th December, 2021
Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 19 15 2 2 50-12 38 47
2. Liverpool 18 12 5 1 50-15 35 41
3. Chelsea 19 12 5 2 42-13 29 41
4. Arsenal 19 11 2 6 32-23 9 35
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5. Spurs 16 9 2 5 21-19 2 29
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6. West Ham 18 8 4 6 30-24 6 28
7. Man Utd 17 8 4 5 27-25 2 28
8. Wolves 18 7 4 7 13-14 -1 25
9. Brighton 17 5 8 4 16-17 -1 23
10. Leicester 17 6 4 7 30-33 -3 22
11. A. Villa 18 7 1 10 24-28 -4 22
12. C. Palace 18 4 8 6 24-27 -3 20
13. Brentford 17 5 5 7 21-24 -3 20
14. S'hampton 18 4 8 6 19-28 -9 20
15. Everton 17 5 4 8 21-29 -8 19
16. Leeds 18 3 7 8 18-36 -18 16
17. Watford 16 4 1 11 21-31 -10 13
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18. Burnley 15 1 8 6 14-21 -7 11
19. Newcastle 19 1 8 10 19-42 -23 11
20. Norwich 18 2 4 12 8-39 -31 10
