Premier League Review – Matchday 29
Saturday 12th March, 2022
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Liverpool 2
Brighton fell to a fifth consecutive defeat, while Liverpool kept the pressure on Manchester City. Brighton played in their third strip, reflecting Ukraine’s national colours. Maupay had an early shot pass just wide of Alisson’s right post. After a slow build-up from the back and a long pass from half-way by Matip, Diaz scored with a brave header in the 19th minute. Sanchez had advanced and slapped Diaz in the face but escaped any form of sanction.
Salah made a run into the area from the left side of goal after a clearance and Bissouma had a hand on his shoulder. Sanchez saved with his legs. Referee Mike Dean and VAR Stuart Attwell saw no offence.
Trossard hit a left foot shot well over the bar in the first minute of the second half when he had the goal at his mercy. Mind you, Maupay handled the ball in the build-up and that was missed by the officials. After a Liverpool throw, Salah had a shot deflected and the ball looped onto the bar, rebounding to safety. Salah later took a pass from Diaz but pulled a shot wide.
Bissouma had his arm raised high when Keita’s effort struck him inside the area and a penalty resulted. Salah hammered home a 61st minute spot-kick for his 20th league goal of the season. Alisson definitely stepped out of his area to retrieve a ball, but neither referee, assistant or VAR thought the ball might be outside the area. The officials definitely had a bad day. Matip also seemed to elbow a ball out of play from just inside his area. Alisson saved a rising glanced shot by Welbeck, and at the other end Sanchez saved from Diaz who had been sent clear.
Brentford 2 Burnley 0
If Burnley want to survive this is surely a game they needed to win, or at least not lose. Brentford’s second consecutive win against relegation-threatened sides puts them a precious eight points clear. Brentford were unchanged, giving Eriksen a first home start. Sean Dyche made one change with Cornet replacing Rodriguez.
Eriksen had a low deflected shot well saved by Pope at his right post after 16 minutes. Tarkowski cleared just in front of his goal-line when Mbeumo’s shot beat the feet of Pope.
Janelt headed a Canos cross just over the bar after 52 minutes. Raya saved from Cornet after an errant Brentford pass by Henry. A shot by Rodriguez from nearly 30 yards had Raya well beaten but bounced out off the bar.
Christian Eriksen clocked his first Brentford assist with a cross from the left and Ivan Toney provided the finishing headed touch in the 85th minute. In added time Eriksen nearly had another assist when he fed a shorter pass to Toney to his right. Toney was fouled by Nathan Collins who was shown a red card for his trouble. That was Burnley’s first red card in 119 Premier League games. Toney scored from the spot to make it five goals in two games. Three of those goals have been penalties.
Manchester United 3 Spurs 2
Dejan Kulusevski was voted Spurs’ best player in this game. Here are a selection of comments received:-
"Sonny, sort your studs out! Far, far too negative from Hugo & defenders/holding players trying to pass to each other across/around the 6 yard box. Far too many mis-placed passes again in a game that Spurs could have won, if final ball/chances taken.”
"Hojberg was outstanding! He eclipsed Pogba. The team did great - getting in United third. 23 crosses not accurate! My Son kept falling over at crucial moments. The effort easily deserved at least point! This season is being consistently inconsistent!"
"Dier completely at fault for first by not closing down Ronaldo. Why do we have 3 centre backs and not one marked Ronaldo for the third. Life is too cosy for them with this system, or we need more attention to detail by Conte."
"This was not a bad performance. We were in it to the end. On another day there was at least a point, but Renaldo today was deadly. And that was the difference."
Thanks for all your comments.
Sunday 13th March, 2022
Chelsea 1 Newcastle United 0
There was controversy on and off the pitch in this game. On the pitch goalscorer Havertz escaped a red card for an elbowing offence and Chalobah escaped a penalty decision. Off the pitch the media chose to focus on Chelsea fans continuing to chant in favour of Roman Abramovich, who is not only sanctioned but now banned as a director of the club. Newcastle were tarred by their Saudi Arabia connection. The match was played on the day when news broke of 81 executions in that country.
Eddie Howe had to make enforced changes due to illness to Shelvey and Willock. Newcastle’s back five included Manquillo and Lascelles. Saint-Maximin was on the bench, as was Ryan Fraser. Although Chelsea now have to play in shirts unadorned by the "Three" logo, after the sponsors severed their ties with the sanctioned club, I did notice the "THREE" name above the entrance where the players entered the arena.
Havertz escaped with a yellow card when striking Dan Burn quite heavily with a leading elbow. Mendy had to make a very good save to his left in first half added time from Almiron’s 22-yard left-footed shot, following a free kick taken by Targett.
Murphy was clearly having his shirt tugged by Chalobah as he entered the Chelsea area after 51 minutes. Somehow VAR did not intervene with referee David Coote’s decision to give a corner and not a penalty. Havertz had a header saved by Dubravka after a cross from the right by Ziyech. That was after 75 minutes. Newcastle would feel the pain in the 89th minute when Jorginho lifted a ball into the box and Havertz took one touch before firing in the solitary goal. Havertz had another chance deep into added time, but that pushed onto the bar by the Newcastle keeper.
Everton 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Everton’s woes continue. After this result they were ahead of Watford only on goal difference, although they do have games in hand. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was absent through illness. Frank Lampard went with a back three of Kenny, Holgate and Godfrey. Michael Keane was on the bench.
Sa saved from Richarlison who had a shot from an angle on the left with Kilman on his tail. Jimenez tried an audacious overhead kick from a Podence pass, but the ball was yards over the bar.
Early in the second half Conor Coady was up for a free kick taken from the left. He was still in the Everton area when Ruben Neves returned the ball with power from the right and the Wolves skipper scored with a glanced header which used all the power in the cross. This was Coady’s third Premier League goal of the season. (49 mins) Jimenez put a Moutinho free kick just wide of the near post. Podence hit another shot just wide when he had good passing options.
Richarlison hit the outside of Sa’s right post with a header after Gordon’s cross from the right at the Gwladys Street End. Richarlison hit the side netting with a left foot shot after Demarai Gray’s pass from the left. Kenny was booked for a foul on Jonny Otto and then got a second yellow for a foul on Jimenez.
Leeds United 2 Norwich City 1
Leeds scored a late winning goal to give themselves a four point gap above the relegation zone, although their goal difference really makes that a three point gap with regard to safety. The win ended a run of six consecutive defeats, during which 25 goals had been conceded.
Bamford started for Leeds but was replaced at half-time by Harrison. It was another substitute – Gelhardt – who came on in the 92nd minute before scoring the dramatic winner!
Norwich were missing their skipper Grant Hanley due to Covid. Ben Gibson came in next to former Liverpool loanee Ozan Kabak. Norwich were denied an early penalty when James challenged Rashica who fell to the floor in the box. Leeds had a 14th minute lead after a long ball intended for Bamford was only cleared to the feet of James who passed to Rodrigo. Rodrigo’s shot took a slight deflection and beat Krul inside his right post. It was Leeds’ first goal in 410 minutes play.
After 29 minutes, Raphinha hit a long pass to the left for Bamford, who lobbed the ball into the area. Raphinha had made a run and hit the underside of the bar with his shot. Struijk had a headed saved after a corner and put the rebound wide. Bamford put a shot wide a minute before the break, and another Leeds chance had gone begging.
In the second half Raphinha hit a shot through Krul’s legs and Daniel James put the shot into the net but had been offside. James hit a curler from 20 yards on the hour, but Krul punched the ball clear with a two-handed dive to his left. 18-year-old Jon Rowe replaced Sargent and after a concerted Norwich attack with Williams and Pukki to the fore, Rowe hit the bar with a left-footed shot but there had been an offside.
Norwich thought they had a penalty when Rashica went down under Ayling’s challenge following Pukki’s pass inside the area. VAR called Stuart Attwell to the monitor and the decision was reversed as Rashica had trodden on Ayling. Leeds fans greeted the decision like a cup-winning goal.
Harrison was fouled and Raphinha’s free kick landed on top of the bar. McLean scored an equaliser for Norwich in the first minute of added time taking Pukki’s cross from inside the area to his right in his stride. Gelhardt came on for Klich and won a header from Meslier’s long clearance. The headed pass ran to Raphinha who beat a defender and Krul with his run before crossing low for Gelhardt who could not miss to cause absolute pandemonium! There was still time for Krul to go up for Norwich free kick and lift a pass for Pukki, whose shot was saved by Meslier at short range. This had been a terrific game of football.
Southampton 1 Watford 2
Southampton’s form continues to mystify as they lost a third consecutive game. This time the victors were Roy Hodgson’s Watford, still in the bottom three, but fighting hard with this second win on their travels in Hodgson’s charge. They’ve drawn two more of his away games too.
Elyounoussi had a header cleared off the line by Samir after only two minutes. The chance followed a cross by Kyle Walker-Peters, playing at right back for this game. An attempt by Salisu to clear Dennis’s cross fell to the feet of Joao Pedro, but his shot was cleared by Bednarek. Hernandez took advantage of shocking defending by Forster and his defence, especially Salisu. Hernandez scored from an angle on the left of goal in the 14th minute. Hernandez doubled the lead in the 34th minute after Kucka crossed from the left and the Watford striker was allowed the space to fire home to the left of the keeper. Kucka had a chance himself just before the break, taking a pass from Sissoko, but seeing his shot smothered by Forster.
Southampton’s goal was scored with half-time looming and followed a Ward-Prowse free kick; a touch by Adams and a final shot by Elyounoussi.
Forster saved a second half shot by Kucka after 51 minutes and Ward-Prowse hit a late Southampton free kick just over the target from 20 yards. Foster saved a header by Adams after a Redmond cross, and Watford held onto the three points.
West Ham United 2 Aston Villa 1
There was high emotion at The London Stadium when Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko came off the bench and scored West Ham’s first goal in the 70th minute, falling to his knees and looking to the sky as he celebrated.
There had been little significant action in the first half. Yarmolenko replaced the injured Antonio in the 52nd minute and was received with great affection and acclaim.
Following a Villa corner from the left, Fabianksi saved low from Ings in front of his right-hand post. Martinez made a brilliant save from a Zouma header following a West Ham corner, and Craig Dawson managed to head the rebound over the bar from even closer range. Yarmolenko’s goal gave his side the lead. He took a pass from Benrahma and poked a left foot shot into the far corner, before an emotional and tearful celebration. Even some Aston villa fans applauded him, as they had welcomed his entry to the game.
Fornals made it 2-0 in the 82nd minute. Rice had carried the ball forward and passed to Benrahma to the left, whose cross reached the advancing Fornals who fired home. Jacob Ramsey scored what proved to be a consolation goal in the last minute with a cracking shot from 20 yards after Buendia passed the ball back from the right of the West Ham box.
Arsenal 2 Leicester City 0
It is hard for this Spurs fan to report that Arsenal won a fifth consecutive game to reclaim fourth place with three games in hand over the next three teams. They have just one in hand over Spurs and have yet to play their away game against us. Following Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool and our win at Brighton we are currently three points behind.
You wouldn’t want me to dwell on this game either, so let’s just say Arsenal’s first goal came from an 11th minute corner taken by Martinelli which was headed in by Partey, who hit the post minutes later with a right foot shot from the edge of the area. Ramsdale made a good right-handed save from a Harvey Barnes header.
Schmeichel punched clear a left foot bouncing shot by Saka after 51 minutes, following a lengthy Arsenal move from their own half. Arsenal had a penalty when a Partey headed was touched by the hand of Soyuncu before it was cleared off the line by Thomas. Lacazette made no mistake from the penalty spot in the 59th minute.
Monday 14th March, 2022
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 0
Crystal Palace are one of only two teams to have beaten City in the Premier League this season. The other team, of course, is Spurs. Palace were unchanged from the side which had beaten Wolves. City's side had 6 changes from that which played Sporting last week, but this was a strong City side. It was the same side as that which started against Manchester United last week.
Guaita spilled a shot by De Bruyne, but Bernardo Silva hit the rebound out of play when trying to round the keeper. City dominated the early possession, but Mateta came as close as anyone when his shot was put behind for a corner by Stones after 14 minutes. Stones had a 22 yard shot deflected wide at the other end for a corner. Mateta and Olise threatened on the counter at the other end. Stones found Mahrez with a long cross field pass and Mahrez's shot was held low by Guaita.
De Bruyne got on the end of a lofted pass by Cancelo and forced a save with a clever flick with the outside of his right foot after 25 minutes. After a corner, Cancelo hit the post with a 28-yard shot. The chances were coming more frequently for City. Mahrez had another shot held, and Rodri had another shot deflected wide by Kouyate who needed treatment.
Zaha hit a right foot shot wide across goal after 38 minutes. Ederson had no cause for concern. Just before the break after a long ball aimed for De Bruyne had been half-cleared, Mahrez had another shot on goal, but this passed wide.
After 56 minutes Grealish pushed a pass to De Bruyne whose left foot shot rebounded off the far post. Guaita made an excellent follow-up save of Mahrez's shot, but an offside flag was then raised. Palace were getting 10 men behind the ball at the back, but also threatened the City defence with clever lofted passes over the City defence for a runner.
Mateta and Olise were replaced by Edouard and Ayew with 25 minutes remaining. De Bruyne fed Grealish on the right and he crossed from near the bye-line with the ball flashing across the goalmouth and Bernardo Silva only managing to get a slight touch. There was another offside flag against Foden running onto another wonderful De Bruyne ball after 76 minutes.
Edouard nearly got through to a shooting position after 82 minutes but was blocked off. Zaha had a right foot shot saved by Ederson two minutes later.
In the last minute of normal time De Bruyne delivered a free kick which Laporte tried to force over the line, but Guaita saved. Gallagher sprinted forward to pick up a weak back header but fired just over the bar.
Palace had been the last team to have prevented City from scoring in the Premier League when they beat them in October. (Spurs did it too in August). They did it again today and might even have snatched a win themselves. City went just four points ahead of Liverpool, and the two teams have yet to play each other. We have a title race!
Wednesday 16th March, 2022
Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Spurs 2
Harry Kane was the Spurs Odyssey man of the match, although Rodrigo Bentancur won the plaudit on the official site vote. Kane has been our man of the match in five of the last ten games.
Arsenal 0 Liverpool 2
In-form Arsenal, who had been unbeaten in their last six games, were unable to prevent the march of Liverpool to within one point of their Premier league title rivals Manchester City. This was despite the absence of Mo Salah from Liverpool’s starting line-up, although Salah did come on for Diaz after 56 minutes. Both goals were scored in the second half at a packed Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool started brightly and had three early corners. From one of those a header by Van Dijk was pushed around the post by Ramsdale. The game was even without clear chances on goal at either end. One of the better scoring opportunities fell to Mane just before half-time as he ran onto a long ball by Alexander-Arnold but hit his shot over Ramsdale’s bar.
There were no changes by either side at the start of the second half. Mane took an early pass from Henderson and put the ball in the net but was clearly offside. Martinelli showed great skill on the left and ran along the bye-line with three players in his wake, but his cross into the 6-yard box was cleared. Arsenal’s beat chance of the game came in the 51st minute. The move had been started by an Ederson-like long ball by Ramsdale to Martinelli, who was in an advanced position down the left flank. That attack was stemmed, but then Thiago’s back pass was short and after Lacazette laid a pass to Odegaard, Alisson made a great close-range save with his right arm. The Liverpool keeper slapped away the corner and then saved Partey’s shot low to his right.
Jurgen Klopp had Salah and Firmino getting ready to come on when Jota out his side into the lead in the 54th minute. The goal came at the end of a patient build-up with a brilliant final through pass by Thiago Alcantara. Jota scored with a left-footed shot from the left of the area. Ramsdale should have saved at his right-hand post.
Despite the goal, Jota was one of those (the other was Diaz) who made way for Salah and Firmino. Liverpool’s second goal was not long in coming (62 mins) and was scored by one of the subs – Firmino. It came at the end of a concerted attack where a couple of shots had been blocked. However, Robertson got away down the left wing and crossed low into the middle where Firmino turned the ball into the net across Ramsdale.
There was no way back for Arsenal, but they did have a good chance three minutes from time. Martinelli took Xhaka’s pass and side-footed a shot across goal, but just wide of the far post.
Thursday 17th March, 2022
Everton 1 Newcastle United 0
Everton were already sliding down the table, but when this game was originally scheduled for 30th December, "The Toffees" were 8 points ahead of relegation-threatened Newcastle. Since then, the two clubs have had a change of fortunes, and there has been a 17 point swing in favour of a happy "Toon". This game was crucial to Frank Lampard's team. Apart from the opening day of the season, this game was remarkably the first game where Newcastle were playing a team below them in the league!
To add to Lampard's woes, Jordan Pickford was out, and replaced by Begovic, who played for Eddie Howe whilst at Bournemouth. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was just fit enough to sit on the bench. Newcastle were without Shelvey but had Joelinton available. Joelinton was part of a midfield three behind Wood, flanked by Almiron and Fraser. Saint-Maximin was again on the bench.
Everton played towards the Gwladys Street End in the first half and the home fans' passion was high. After four minutes Godfrey headed a Gray corner goalward, but Dubravka claimed the ball. Newcastle had a couple of great chances when Bruno Guimaraes started pinging the ball about from behind the front line. One dangerous cross passed across the goalmouth and Chris Wood had a back post header saved by Begovic after a cross from the left by Fraser.
Newcastle had three successive corners with no return midway through the first half and after another in the 28th minute Chris Wood headed a Fraser corner a couple of feet over the bar. The game was being played at high tempo. Most attacks were being stemmed around the edge of either area - mostly that of Everton. Home fans were frustrated by the lack of progress by their team.
The first half could be described as frantic, but unproductive.
There was a delay early in the second half when a protester used a cable tie to attach himself to a goalpost. I have to admit it was quite humorous to see someone marching to the scene with massive bolt croppers! About 8 minutes of play were lost.
Emile Krafth had a 25 yard shot on target after 65 minutes, but the ball ran straight to Begovic. Almiron got away down the right side and forced his way past Godfrey in the box. He cut the ball back to Guimaraes, whose shot was saved. There was an offside somewhere. Saint-Maximin replaced Almiron, and we had the chance of some excitement with quality. Everton replaced Gray with Calvert-Lewin.
Everton had a free kick when Richarlison was fouled on the edge of the box by Krafth who was booked. Gordon took the kick, which was blocked, and after a corner he had a powerful left foot shot pushed over the bar by Dubravka. Calvert-Lewin just failed to make contact with a Richarlison cross in the middle of the area. VAR (Stuart Attwell) had a long look at an Allan challenge upon Saint-Maximin, for which he had been booked. After viewing the monitor referee Craig Pawson upgraded the card to red. Allan gave fourth official Mike Dean a mouthful as he stomped off. Mr. Dean had nothing to do with the decision. The home fans (who are usually shown replays of VAR issues) were duly riled.
Just before 14 minutes added time was announced, Willock took a shot inside the area on the right and Begovic saved. From the corner Krafth's shot on goal was blocked by Keane. Everton wanted a penalty when Gordon stepped across Guimaraes and went to ground.
Everton grabbed a vital winner in the 99th minute when Iwobi advanced and took a one-two pass with Calvert-Lewin before despatching a low left foot shot past Dubravka. In total, 17 minutes were added, but Everton had a massive three points.
Fixtures and results - 12-17.03.22
Saturday 12th March, 2022
Brighton 0-2 Liverpool
Brentford 2-0 Burnley
Man Utd 3-2 Spurs
Sunday 13th March, 2022
Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
Everton 0-1 Wolves
Leeds 2-1 Norwich
S'hampton 1-2 Watford
West Ham 2-1 A. Villa
Arsenal 2-0 Leicester
Monday 14th March, 2022
C. Palace 0-0 Man City
Wednesday 16th March, 2022
Brighton 0-2 Spurs
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
Thursday 17th March, 2022
Everton 1-0 Newcastle
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 29 22 4 3 68-18 50 70
2. Liverpool 29 21 6 2 75-20 55 69
3. Chelsea 28 17 8 3 57-19 38 59
4. Arsenal 27 16 3 8 43-31 12 51
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4. Man Utd 29 14 8 7 48-40 8 50
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6. West Ham 29 14 6 9 48-36 12 48
7. Spurs 28 15 3 10 44-35 9 48
8. Wolves 29 14 4 11 29-23 6 46
9. A. Villa 28 11 3 14 41-39 2 36
10. S'hampton 29 8 11 10 36-45 -9 35
11. C. Palace 29 7 13 9 39-38 1 34
12. Leicester 26 9 6 11 40-45 -5 33
13. Brighton 29 7 12 10 26-36 -10 33
14. Newcastle 29 7 10 12 32-49 -17 31
15. Brentford 29 8 6 15 32-45 -13 30
16. Leeds 29 6 8 15 31-65 -34 26
17. Everton 27 7 4 16 29-47 -18 25
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18. Watford 29 6 4 19 29-54 -25 22
19. Burnley 27 3 12 12 22-38 -16 21
20. Norwich 29 4 5 20 18-63 -45 17
