Premier League Review – Matchday 26
Saturday 19th February, 2022
West Ham United 1 Newcastle United 1
Kurt Zouma was back in the West Ham side, replacing Diop. Ryan Fredericks took over the right back position from Coufal and Benrahma was in for Lanzini. Newcastle were missing both Trippier and Saint-Maximin through injury. This was the first game of the day, but the last to be featured on Match of the Day. Rumour had it that Newcastle’s Chris Wood kept whispering “Meeow” in Zouma’s ear!
West Ham were indecisive at an early Newcastle free kick and as Joelinton crept in beyond the back post, his shot was saved by Fabianski. Bowen had a shot hit the bar from an angle on the right of goal after 28 minutes. Dubravka got a slight touch on the ball. Antonio was fouled by Krafth, and Cresswell’s free kick was headed in by Craig Dawson in the 32nd minute. In first half added time Joe Willock scored his first goal of the season. He had equalled a Shearer record whilst on loan last season, scoring in seven consecutive games. This goal followed a cross by Krafth from the right and touches by Murphy and Fraser before Willock managed to flick the ball over the line across goal despite the attentions of Dawson. Technology confirmed the goal.
There was no addition to the scoreline in the second half.
Arsenal 2 Brentford 1
Arsenal gained revenge for their opening day defeat at Brentford, although “The Bees” won on aggregate! Christian Eriksen has not yet gained enough fitness to be in the Brentford squad.
Raya made an unconvincing save from Saka while Arsenal appealed to referee Jon Moss for two potential penalties against White and Lacazette. They failed on both counts. Lacazette converted a Xhaka cross, but Xhaka had been flagged offside. Cedric had a shot blocked by Wissa’s elbow, but again the referee and VAR wanted nothing to do with a penalty appeal.
Arsenal took the lead three minutes into the second half when Smith-Rowe took a crossfield pass from Lacazette before beating Raya with a well-placed shot across the goal into the far corner. Brentford survived when Janson headed to the feet of Odegaard whose cross/shot was tipped by Raya, leading to substitute Pepe’s shot being blocked.
Arsenal broke forward after 79 minutes and Saka scored a similar goal to that of Smith-Rowe, although this had been struck with more power. Partey had provided the pass from the middle. Brentford felt that Janson had been fouled by Lacazette in the build-up.
Brentford had a consolation goal in added time following a free kick after a Janelt shot was deflected off Ajer in the Arsenal box and fell to Norgaard who was initially adjudged to be offside, but VAR found the goal to be legitimate.
Aston Villa 0 Watford 1
This was one of two surprise results today and a first win for Roy Hodgson’s Watford. “The Hornets” hadn’t managed a win since November 20th.
Danny Ings was denied a penalty appeal after only two minutes, when Samir was at his back. Dennis forced a good save from Martinez after 15 minutes after Sarr had made a good pass following Watford’s break from defence. Ings had a shot hit the wrong side of the post.
Sissoko hit the side netting after another Watford break-out in the second half. Sarr was involved again before King’s final pass to the Watford captain. Villa had a free kick just outside the box after a foul by Cleverley on Coutinho, but Digne’s shot hit the outside of the post. With 15 minutes remaining, Coutinho ran left to right across the edge of the area, but his shot passed just over the bar.
Dennis scored the Watford winner with a headed goal, which seemed to have extra power thanks to the challenge of Ashley Young at his back. Josh King, with an advance from halfway and a crossfield pass, and then Sarr had created the goal, which was Watford’s first in five games. Watford charged from halfway again and this move ended with Martinez having to save a decent effort by Cleverley. The Villa goalkeeper made an excellent reaction save from Josh King’s close-range shot, after Sarr crossed low and hard from the right.
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Burnley 3
Burnley surprised all with only their second league win of the season, and their first since October. The win took them off the bottom of the table. Brighton were short at the back, with Dunk suspended and Webster injured. Selling Dan Burn to Newcastle in January probably didn’t help. Veltman and Duffy played in the middle of the defence. Tarkowski was missing from the Burnley side and Nathan Collins stepped in for his sixth premier League start.
Burnley right back Connor Roberts hit the top of the bar with a left-footed shot after 9 minutes. Burnley took the lead in the 21st minute. It was an excellent move, started by Aaron Lennon with a ball down the right for Roberts whose cross was converted by Weghorst for his first Burnley goal. Brownhill scored five minutes before the break after Weghorst took down a high ball from Pieters and passed to Brownhill to his right. He scored with a deflected shot.
Brighton could not hit the target with their chances. Aaron Lennon scored an excellent right-footed goal in the 69th minute, taking a short pass from Jay Rodriguez before hitting the net off the underside of the bar.
Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1
The World Club Champions returned to the bread and butter of domestic football but had to wait until one minute from the end of normal time for their solitary goal and a win. As a result, Palace were without a Premier League win in six attempts since the New Year.
Olise had a shot go just wide after 7 minutes after Zaha collected a long clearance and passed to Olise to the right of the Chelsea area. Guaita made an excellent one-handed save from a long range effort by Rudiger. Sarr picked out Kante on the edge of the Palace area and Guaita saved well again. Zaha had a shot from a sharp angle to the left of the six-yard area, but that passed wide of the far post.
In the second half, Schlupp hit a shot well over the Chelsea bar. Lukaku had a shot well saved by Guaita but converted by Ziyech. However, VAR intervened and Lukaku had received the ball in an offside position. Ziyech did score the winner though after a cross from the left by Alonso and the failure of Tyrick Mitchell to pick up Ziyech lurking beyond the back post. He scored with a low shot into the net.
Zaha had another shot go wide across goal and the game was up for Palace.
Liverpool 3 Norwich City 1
Jurgen Klopp’s side had a nasty scare against a side which fell back to the bottom of the table by the end of the day. The “Canaries” held a surprise lead for 16 minutes until Mane, Salah and Diaz came to the rescue. After the Manchester City defeat to Spurs, Liverpool were back in the title race, bearing in mind they had a game in hand, and they still have to play at The Etihad.
Liverpool made seven changes to their side which included a first Premier League start for Joey Gomez since November 2020 – against Manchester City, as it happens. Normann was back in the Norwich side after an injury-forced absence from the starting line-up since November.
Tsimikas was playing at left back and he should have scored from Salah’s cross after 5 minutes. Pukki subsequently had a clear chance but shot wide across Alisson’s goal in front of The Kop Stand. Luis Diaz fired just over the bar at the other end. Salah won a corner after a typical mazy run and a blocked shot. From the corner his on-target header was cleared just in front of the goal-line.
Norwich’s goal came in the third minute of the second half from Rashica. The Kosovo international had hit a long pass to Sargent who returned a pass once Rashica reached the Liverpool area. His shot on goal took a cruel deflection off Matip to lave Alisson beaten.
Mane scored a spectacular overhead equaliser in the 64th minute. Henderson hit a pass to Tsimikas who crossed from the left for Mane to do the rest. It was 2-1 three minutes later, and Alisson got the assist for his long direct ball to Salah who twisted and turned the Norwich goalkeeper one and the other before placing a right foot shot inside the bottom right corner of Angus Gunn’s goal. Salah became the tenth player to score 150 goals in Liverpool’s colours. It wasn’t long before Salah had Gunn beaten, but his curled shot passed the wrong side of the post.
Ten minutes from time Luis Diaz was put through by an excellent Henderson pass and the Colombian had his first Liverpool goal with a left-footed shot across the keeper.
Southampton 2 Everton 0
Everton are on a cycle of win one, lose one so far under Frank Lampard, while Southampton are unbeaten in four Premier League games and in good form. Lampard went with a side unchanged from their home win over Leeds.
Everton were denied an early penalty appeal for handball by Romeu, before Pickford’s first touch was to save at the feet of Broja, who had been put through by Adams’ pass to his left. Stuart Armstrong was fouled by Allan after 16 minutes and Ward-Prowse’s free kick was pushed around his right post by the Everton keeper. Livramento got ahead of Gordon and won a corner, and when that was taken the right back was inside the 6-yard box to get a touch which Pickford managed to save. Walker-Peters played at left back today, but he went close after a run into the box and a shot which was only just wide, glancing the outside of the post.
Armstrong scored the first goal in the 52nd minute, taking Adams’ pass before scoring inside Pickford’s left post with a low shot from 16 yards. Pickford berated his defence, but arguably should have reached the ball. Elyounoussi somehow managed to head over a Ward-Prowse free kick from very close range. Shane Long had only just come off the bench when he headed home a cross by Livramento in the 84th minute. It was 35-year-old Long’s first Premier League goal for two years.
There was no way back for “The Toffees” who are still in a relegation fight.
Manchester City 2 Spurs 3
I went to this game with great doubts about our ability to get a result, let alone win the game. In recent years, the games I remember most are the December, 2007 League Cup win, and of course the stand-out win was on May 5th 2010. This comes close though, and tonight we saw a very dramatic game. if it wasn't for VAR, we would have won 4-1 and Harry Kane would have had a hat-trick!
Yes, there were mistakes, but today ladies and gentlemen (and boys and girls) we saw every one of our players put their bodies on the line, defending stoutly (generally) against a City side that was camped in our half most of the time. This was all part of Antonio Conte's game plan though, drawing the City side into our half before we would break away with dramatic effect. Kane, Son and Kulusevski demonstrated that within four minutes. What a debut goal for Dejan Kulusevski! What a game Harry Kane gave us! What a night we had.
This performance; this game, and this result demonstrated more than anything how you can never count on the result. All I can tell you is that being there was very, very special.
I have room for just one of your comments which refers to Harry Kane’s astounding man of the match performance:-
“An absolute master-class from Kane. Unplayable is a word I've heard used many times on his performance. If there's a better striker/provider in world football, I don't know who that is.”
Harry’s 9.5 was the best grade awarded since Lucas Moura’s 9.6 in the historic 3-2 win at Ajax in 2019.
Sunday 20th February, 2022
Leeds United 2 Manchester United 4
In his last game, Marcelo Bielsa substituted Raphinha and today left him out of the starting line-up in favour of midfielder Adam Forshaw. Daniel James was in the Leeds front line against his former club. Jesse Lingard made his first League start of the season for United. Elanga dropped to the bench. Paul Pogba and Wan-Bissaka started the game, which was played in increasingly wet conditions.
Harry Maguire was upset with referee Paul Tierney's decision to allow Klich's challenge on Wan-Bissaka before the Leeds midfielder advanced and crossed to Harrison, whose shot passed over the bar. Pogba hit a low driven shot straight at goalkeeper Meslier after 9 minutes.
Robin Koch needed lengthy treatment after a clash of heads with McTominay but was able to continue after changing his bloodstained shirt and shorts. It was feisty game being played in a hot atmosphere. Bruno Fernandes was particularly upset with the treatment he was getting, and the lack of sympathy from the referee.
Forshaw tested De Gea with a shot after 21 minutes. The goalkeeper parried the ball into the clear space. After 25 minutes, Pogba crossed from the left and it looked as if Ronaldo had a tap-in, but Meslier managed to save. Koch went down and needed treatment and assistance off the field after half an hour and was replaced by Junior Firpo.
United had a corner after Meslier saved from Fernandes and Maguire headed home. (34 mins) Shaw delivered the cross and Maguire had his first Premier League goal of the season.
There were six minutes of first half added time and in the fifth of these Manchester United scored a second goal. Lindelof did well to carry the ball forward, passing to Sancho on his right. Sancho lifted a short cross and Fernandes headed into the net.
Bielsa made his final two substitutions at half time with Raphinha and Gelhardt on for Harrison and Llorente. Leeds could have claimed a concussion substitution for Koch but chose not to do that.
The wet surface was holding up the ball more and more. Leeds scored two goals in very quick succession 8 minutes into the second half. Firstly, Rodrigo hit an intended cross from deep on the left which deceived De Gea and hit the net inside the back post. Immediately after kick-off Forshaw stole the ball from the feet of Fernandes before passing to James, who crossed from the left. Raphinha converted at the back post. There was a VAR review for a possible foul by Forshaw on Fernandes, but the goal stood.
Fred and Elanga were summoned from the bench for Pogba and Lingard, with 25 minutes still to be played. Fred soon gave United the lead again (70 mins) following a good move after Leeds lost the ball and Fernandes, Ronaldo and Sancho were involved before Fred scored past Meslier's narrow side with a left foot shot. It appears coins were thrown at United players celebrating in the corner near both sets of fans.
McTominay had been booked and there was a melee because Leeds wanted him booked again. Raphinha’s protests saw his name go into the book. De Gea made a save from Klich's shot from the edge of the box. Ronaldo was replaced by defender Varane with five minutes remaining.
Fernandes took advantage of poor defending by Struijk and set up Elanga to make it 4-2 in the 88th minute. That was the 50th goal conceded by Leeds this season. There was time for one more melee after Firpo went in hard on Elanga. After the skirmish, Firpo and Shaw were shown yellow.
Leeds have conceded more goals than any other team and are not out of the relegation woods at this stage.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Leicester City 1
Wolves' one change from the team that beat Spurs last week was Moutinho for Cundle. Pedro Neto was on the bench, having last played in April last year. There was no Harvey Barnes in the Leicester squad, which has now missed Jamie Vardy for two months. Barnes has a tight hamstring after Leicester’s midweek European match. James Maddison was on the bench for this game.
Tielemans had an early shot go wide after Lookman crossed from the left, and Ricardo defended well to prevent a Dendoncker cross reaching Jimenez. After 9 minutes Jimenez touched a ball back to Neves who fired home from 20 yards.
Sa made a good save, diving to his right, to push away another shot by Tielemans. The game had started brightly.
Wolves won a corner following a good run by Podence for a long ball, and the resulting shot. The corner was delivered from the right and Jimenez headed downward, but Schmeichel made a comfortable save. Ait-Nouri hit a left foot shot just wide of goal after 23 minutes following a couple of Wolves corners.
Leicester equalised in the 41st minute. Tielemans gave Albrighton a beautifully measured pass inside the area, and Albrighton's low cross was poked in by Lookman from close range.
Leicester were enjoying more of the possession early in the second half. Sa saved a snap shot by Daka after 56 minutes before Hwang Hee-chan replaced Moutinho. Tielemans curled another shot just over the Wolves goal. Wolves took the lead again in the 66th minute and it came at the end of a good move. Ait-Nouri was in the box and fed the ball back to Dendoncker who passed inside to Podence. Podence beat Schmeichel from 22 yards with a powerful right-footed shot just inside the keeper’s right post.
It was time for Brendan Rodgers to put on Iheanacho for Daka, and Maddison for Ndidi. Maddison hit a free kick from 25 yards which was deflected over the bar by the Wolves wall.
Neto made his entrance (for Podence) after 80 minutes. Maddison had another chance after Albrighton managed to get a difficult ball down and lay off the pass, but the right foot shot passed wide. In the last of four minutes of added time, Sa saved a Tielemans shot, pushing it to his right. The corner came to nothing, and Wolves had a win which took them back above Spurs.
Wednesday 23rd February, 2022
Burnley 1 Spurs 0
This was a re-arranged date for the fixture which was snowed off only an hour before kick-off on 28th November.
Eric Dier was voted our best player by those who responded. Comments received included the following:-
"What a comedown! Once again, I fell in the trap of believing that Spurs could perhaps keep the momentum! Instead, Burnley were gifted their THIRD win of the season. Gutted beyond words & yet again it seems barring a miracle, Spurs will fall short."
"Conte was pessimistic post-match. Were the players recovered from Saturday? The blame game starts? Sessegnon blundered a free kick that led to set piece goal. He had been playing well. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of form must not see Conte running away"
"Unlucky to lose this. Burnley have a tough defence. Teams like this always get chances in a game and we switched off and got punished"
Watford 1 Crystal Palace 4
Watford slipped below Burnley and deeper into relegation trouble whilst Palace managed their first league win of 2022. Watford were unchanged from the team which had surprised Aston Villa. Patrick Vieira made four changes, including the insertion of Jack Butland in goal.
Palace played the first half towards their fans and took the lead in the fifteenth minute. Gallagher had crossed from the right and the ball was deflected to Mateta, whose left foot shot also took a deflection to beat the wrong-footed Ben Foster. Watford responded within three minutes after a Dennis shot was blocked and from Femenia's corner Moussa Sissoko headed into the net from close range in front of the Rookery Stand.
Palace regained the lead three minutes before the break. Mitchell had two goes at crossing from the left. The second was more powerful and reached Gallagher who shifted to his right and powered home a right foot shot.
Palace did not increase their lead until the 85th minute. Jordan Ayew lifted a cross from the right of the area and on the other side, Wilfried Zaha took control, then scored with a low left footed shot. Zaha scored again five minutes later, taking a long pass from McArthur before coming inside to unleash a right foot shot. Many Watford fans had already given up the ghost.
Liverpool 6 Leeds 0
Liverpool took full advantage of Marcelo Bielsa's naivety in continuing to play "Gung-Ho" football. Jurgen Klopp had Alexander-Arnold and Robertson back in a strong side whose front line was Salah, Mane and Luis Diaz. Leeds' defence was diminished by injuries to the likes of Cooper, Llorente, Koch, and Phillips.
Leeds held their own for the first fifteen minutes but fell behind to a Salah penalty after Stuart Dallas handled a short cross by Robertson. Meslier dived to the right. Salah slotted the penalty inside his left post for his 18th Premier League goal of the season.
Diaz made a good run down the left flank and after he came inside, Meslier saved a low shot with his left hand. The Leeds goal came under siege. Firstly, Jones had a right-foot shot comfortably held, before Meslier had to save from Robertson low to his right. Between those chances, Raphinha had a "goal" disallowed for offside. Matip added a second goal after half an hour, advancing from halfway before taking a pass from Salah and finishing nicely with his right foot.
Liverpool had a third goal five minutes later and a second penalty for Mo Salah after VAR decreed that Mane had been clipped by Ayling, after taking another Salah pass. Ayling was booked. Meslier went the right way, but Salah hammered an unstoppable shot. Four of his 19 league goals have been penalties.
It took Liverpool until the last ten minutes to double the score. Salah had a shot parried then held by Meslier on the hour, before hitting another hat-trick chance over. Forshaw had a shot comfortably saved by Alisson, who was slightly more tested by Raphinha’s shot after taking a pass from Tyler Roberts.
Curtis Jones hit a powerful shot straight at the Leeds keeper from an angle on the left, but it wasn't long before Liverpool had their fourth goal. Substitute Henderson had collected a poor clearance by Meslier, passing to Salah who returned the ball to Henderson who had advanced to a position inside the box on the right. Henderson’s pass was smashed high into the net by Mane. (80 mins)
Origi came on for Diaz and after his shot was smothered by Meslier, the ball ran to Mane who had a simple shot for his second and Liverpool’s fifth goal. (90 mins) Mane now has 11 goals and Liverpool have the top three scorers in the Premier League. (Jota also has 11 goals) The rout was completed in added time by Virgil van Dijk, following a corner by Robertson and a powerful header by the defender.
Liverpool moved to within three points of League leaders Manchester City.
Thursday 24th February, 2022
Arsenal 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Raul Jimenez was returning for the first time to the scene of his horrific head injury in November 2020. The two teams know each other well, as the reverse fixture was played only two weeks ago. This game had been postponed due to Covid issues. I personally hoped for a draw so that both teams would lose two points. Mind you, Spurs had not helped their own cause with defeat at Burnley on Wednesday night.
There was drama in the first minute when Martinelli went down in the box under a Semedo tackle, but referee Martin Atkinson said, "No foul", and VAR supported that decision. Saiss had the ball in the net following a corner and Neves' lofted ball, but the offside flag was raised. VAR took a while to ratify that decision. Gabriel made a shocking pass intended for Ramsdale, but Hwang intercepted and put the ball in the net from a narrow angle (10 mins)
Only two minutes later, Podence slipped a pass to Jimenez, but he pulled his shot wide. Saka got away down the right flank and passed inside to Odegaard, whose shot was well blocked by Saiss. Wolves goalkeeper Sa missed a cross from the right which was returned by Tierney to the feet of Lacazette whose shot was blocked. Lacazette got the better of Neves after 31 minutes, but Sa saved his 20-yard shot comfortably.
Martinelli exchanged passes with Lacazette but skewed a shot that was always going off target. Odegaard lifted a ball into the Wolves area for Martinelli, who tried to chip the keeper, but Sa saved with his hands high. With half time approaching Jimenez headed wide from a Podence cross after good determination from Neves to win back a ball on the right wing.
In the second minute of the second half, Podence threaded a ball to Hwang whose shot from the right of goal took a deflect and passed wide of the far post.
Semedo suffered a hamstring injury, and it took an age to treat and remove him from the pitch, after which he was replaced by Jonny Otto. Wolves were defending their lead well, but Sa had to make a good save after 70 minutes after a Saka-Lacazette combination.
Arsenal substitutes were involved in Arsenal's 82nd minute equaliser. Odegaard lifted a ball deep into the right side of the Wolves area. Nketiah pulled it back for Pepe who scored after a clever touch, turn and shot from close range. The game was set up for a grandstand finish. Ait-Nouri made good ground down the left and pulled the ball back to Wolves sub Neto, but he pulled his shot wide. Odegaard clipped the top of the crossbar with a shot at the other end.
Wolves had frustrated the home team and their fans with some of their time-consuming techniques which included a long-winded substitution of Podence by Dendoncker. Jimenez was thought to be the player to be substituted and was booked for the time he took, when perhaps he knew he was not the player to be replaced. Six minutes of added time were displayed.
Sa had to make a good low save to his left in the fifth minute of added time from Saka, before Arsenal scored a dramatic winner with a Lacazette shot that went into the net off the Wolves keeper. Both Nketiah and Pepe had been involved in a triangular move with Lacazette from the right side. The win gave Arsenal the advantage in the hunt for a Champions League place.
Fixtures and results - 19-24.02.22
Saturday 19th February, 2022
West Ham 1-1 Newcastle
Arsenal 2-1 Brentford
A. Villa 0-1 Watford
Brighton 0-3 Burnley
C. Palace 0-1 Chelsea
Liverpool 3-1 Norwich
S'hampton 2-0 Everton
Man City 2-3 Spurs
Sunday 20th February, 2022
Leeds 2-4 Man Utd
Wolves 2-1 Leicester
Wednesday 23rd February, 2022
Burnley 1-0 Spurs
Watford 1-4 C. Palace
Liverpool 6-0 Leeds
Thursday 24th February, 2022
Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 26 20 3 3 63-17 46 63
2. Liverpool 26 18 6 2 70-20 50 60
3. Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49-18 31 50
4. Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44-34 10 46
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5. Arsenal 24 14 3 7 38-27 11 45
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6. West Ham 26 12 6 8 45-34 11 42
7. Wolves 25 12 4 9 24-20 4 40
8. Spurs 24 12 3 9 31-32 -1 39
9. Brighton 25 7 12 6 25-28 -3 33
10. S'hampton 25 7 11 7 32-37 -5 32
11. C. Palace 26 6 11 9 36-37 -1 29
12. Leicester 23 7 6 10 37-43 -6 27
13. A. Villa 24 8 3 13 31-37 -6 27
14. Brentford 26 6 6 14 27-42 -15 24
15. Leeds 25 5 8 12 29-56 -27 23
16. Everton 23 6 4 13 28-40 -12 22
17. Newcastle 24 4 10 10 26-45 -19 22
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18. Burnley 23 3 11 9 21-29 -8 20
19. Watford 25 5 3 17 25-47 -22 18
20. Norwich 25 4 5 16 15-53 -38 17
