Premier League Review – Matchday 33
Saturday 16th April, 2022
Spurs 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
It was one of those games (perhaps we thought we had seen the last of these this season) when Hugo Lloris was considered our “least worst” player . Here is a selection of your comments:-
"This was a chance to make a top 4 statement and we fluffed it badly. No shots on goal, no crosses put in by our retreating supposed wing backs. No creativity. Conte has a week to get their minds back on the job. Brentford will not be easy!"
"Antonio Conte is too rigid with our tactics and the way that he sets us up. It was clear that we were outnumbered and outplayed in midfield, as we were against Wolves, Villa (1st half) & Southampton. He didn't change anything, and we were punished."
"It’s hope that kills. A passive performance, no threat. You can’t win a game in your own final third, but you can lose it - I thought we’d realised that, but no. Very, very frustrating."
"Timid, slow, complacent performance. Lethargic too. Sloppy possession, kept losing the ball in dangerous positions. Conte doesn't have the players to counter the tactics of teams like Brighton and Wolves."
Harry Winks made his 200th senior club appearance in this game. 125 of these have been in the Premier League which includes 52 as a substitute. Harry’s debut came in a Europa League game at home to Partizan Belgrade in November, 2014. Harry also has 10 full England caps, making his last appearance in November 2020.
Manchester United 3 Norwich City 2
Cristiano Ronaldo had upset Spurs’ progress in March with a hat-trick and today his 60th hat-trick for club(s) and country enabled United to just about see off bottom club Norwich. Before the game United had endured mass protests at both the training ground and at Old Trafford regarding the club’s owner. Some of those protestors were ticket holders, staying outside the stadium for the first 17 minutes, equating to the years of ownership of the Glazer family.
Jesse Lingard made a rare start and he joined Dalot, Pogba and Elanga as one of four changes to the United side. Pogba was later booed off by fans and subjected to abuse when he was substituted. Norwich were unchanged.
Both Pukki and Ronaldo had early chances, but Ronaldo opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Norwich gifted the ball to Elanga, who set up Ronaldo for an easy first goal. Krul saved from Lingard’s close-range effort after another Elanga pass. Ronaldo’s second goal was a header from the resulting corner, taken by Telles in the 32nd minute.
Dowell got one back from Norwich in first half added time, heading in a powerful short cross by Pukki at the Stretford End. It was 2-2 in the 52nd minute as Dowell became provider for Pukki with a pass from the centre. Pukki’s right foot shot hit the net off the inside of De Gea’s left post. Norwich manager Dean Smith had won here with Villa earlier in the season and must have fancied his chances of achieving a rare feat by leading two different sides to such a victory. De Gea saved a Rashica shot with his outstretched right hand.
Ronaldo’s hat-trick goal came in the 76th minute and was scored directly from a free kick after a foul on Elanga. It was his 50th hat-trick in club football, and his 99th Premier League goal. Krul dived to his right and got a touch but could not prevent the goal.
Southampton 1 Arsenal 0
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was Southampton’s hero as he made save after save to preserve his team’s one-goal lead which ended a run of five league games without a win. For Arsenal this was a third consecutive defeat and a failure to take advantage of Spurs’ lapse against Brighton. The race for top four is one of those Premier League issues which could go to the wire. Check out Novibet if you are interested in the odds. Arsenal missed Lacazette through Covid, on top of their injury absentees which include Tierney and Partey. Tavares played at left back, and Nketiah started at the front.
Southampton were glad to have Broja back in the side. Their Chelsea loanee had to sit out last week’s 6-0 home thrashing by his home club. Forster’s first save of note came from a Martinelli ninth minute shot. The keeper made a brilliant close-range right-handed save from Saka after “Saints” had lost the ball and Nketiah then Martinelli provided the opportunity. Southampton had the lead in the 44th minute. The goal followed a corner when a Broja effort had been blocked. After the corner and a clearance, the ball was returned deep into the area where Elyounoussi cut the ball back and Bednarek powered a shot into the net.
Saka curled a left foot shot wide midway through the second half, and substitute Pepe also hit a shot wide, but further Forster heroics followed with saves from Smith-Rowe, Saka, and Xhaka. Odegaard also put a good chance just the wrong side of the keeper’s left post.
Watford 1 Brentford 2
The Roy Hodgson appointment hasn’t worked for Watford. They haven’t won any home game since November, and none since the desperate employment of the former Palace and England manager. Brentford had to win last year’s play-off final to reach the Premier league, but they’ve had a far better Premier League campaign than Watford. A fourth Premier League relegation surely awaits the Hertfordshire club.
The first goal was all too easy for Brentford. Pinnock took a long throw from the right. Ajer headed the ball on deep inside the Watford area and Norgaard fired into the net in front of the dismayed Rookery Stand. (15 mins) The closest Watford came to a first half goal was when Ajer nearly put a long free kick into his own net.
Toney put a shot wide in the second half after Eriksen’s floated free kick. Watford had a 55th minute equaliser after Sissoko’s cross was flicked on by Sarr and converted beyond the back post by top scorer Dennis. The assistant had raised his flag, but VAR found Sarr to have been onside when he made the goal.
Toney hit an instinctive 30-yard shot just wide of the post. Raya got a touch to an angled free kick by Dennis late in the game and somehow Louza put a chance wide in added time after King’s shot had rebounded of the post. Watford’s agony was completed in the fifth minute of added time when Mbeumo was fouled, Eriksen swung in a free kick and Jansson headed into the net. That’s five wins in six games for “The Bees.”
Sunday 17th April, 2022
Newcastle United 2 Leicester City 1
Newcastle’s January signing Bruno Guimaraes was the hero of this game with both their goals. His winner was scored in the fifth minute of added time and Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester side felt unlucky. Ayoze Perez started against his old club, with James Maddison reverting to the bench.
Referee Jarred Gillett showed his first yellow card after only 35 seconds when Amartey fouled Almiron. Shelvey’s 28-yard free kick was easy for Schmeichel. Lookman opened the scoring in the 19th minute after the first corner of the game, taken from the right at The Gallowgate End. The kick was low and hard and pushed back by Perez into Lookman’s path, whose shot hit the net, despite Dubravka getting a touch.
Kaspar Schmeichel was aggrieved as he felt Guimaraes’ equaliser had been a foul. Guimaraes had needed two touches to hit the ball into the net from close range following a corner, but a monitor review convinced the referee that Schmeichel did not have control of the ball (which was loose between his legs) and the 30th minute goal was allowed.
Stout defending by Krafth and Burn in the second half denied Lookman and Maddison scoring chances. Guimaraes’ winning goal was a spectacular diving header as he flung himself forward to meet Willock’s cross from inside the box on the left, after the ball had been half blocked into mid-air. St. James’ Park went wild!
West Ham United 1 Burnley 1
West Ham and their fans were on a high after beating Lyon 3-0 away to reach their first European semi-final since 1976, when they beat their next opponents (Eintracht Frankfurt) 4-3 on aggregate. Burnley, on the other hand, had on Good Friday announced the departure of Sean Dyche, who had been the longest serving manager in the Premier League. I wonder if they’ll re-name “The Royal Dyche” which stands near Turf Moor. Burnley’s interim manager is Mike Jackson – who was previously in charge of their U-23 side.
Burnley’s Ashley Westwood suffered a distressing and serious ankle injury which led to a considerable delay, after which the relegation strugglers not only took a first half lead, but had the chance to extend it, but Maxwel Cornet failed from the penalty spot.
The Burnley manager started with McNeil and Cork in place of Lennon and Brownhill. Bowen had one shot blocked after an early West Ham corner, then when he smacked the rebound, Nick Pope made a strong save. Cresswell’s shot was blocked on the line by Charlie Taylor with Bowen very close. The incident which led to Westwood’s injury occurred midway through the first half. Vlasic’s challenge for the ball seemed innocuous but led to a lengthy delay.
Burnley’s goal was scored in the 33rd minute and came from a corner (taken by Cornet) which was first chested against the bar by Rodriguez, then headed home by Weghorst. Cornet’s penalty opportunity came at the end of the first half after he was sent free and fouled by Fabianski. Cornet paused during his run-up, then pulled his shot wide. It had been Burnley’s first penalty award of the season.
Rodriguez put a shot wide in the second half after taking a Cornet pass from the left. It was a foul by Cornet on Antonio that led to West Ham’s equaliser. Lanzini took the free kick from the right and Soucek bundled the ball into the net. Burnley had paid for their profligacy and had Pope to thank for getting his fingertips to Antonio’s 87th minute shot. Pope then made an outstanding save on the stretch from Diop’s header after a Fornals cross. There was still more work for the England goalkeeper as he blocked another Antonio shot to at least enable Burnley to take a point away from The London Stadium.
Tuesday 19th April, 2022
Liverpool 4 Manchester United 0
Cristiano Ronaldo had been United's hat-trick hero on Saturday in their 3-2 win against Norwich, but tragedy had since struck he and his partner as they lost a baby twin son at birth. Their daughter survived. Ronaldo was given leave of absence by his club.
Now that Chelsea have reached the FA Cup Final and their game against United has been brought forward to next Thursday they face Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in consecutive games. This does not please the United management and executive.
Phil Jones was a surprise starting inclusion for United for only the second time since January 2020. Jones was part of a back three/five. Wan-Bissaka, Matic and Rashford also started. Liverpool made two changes with Henderson for Keita and Matip for Konate. Jota started on the bench and Diaz joined Salah and Mane in the front three.
Having dealt with one or to United forays forward, Liverpool caught an over-committed United side on the hop with a long ball from midfield (by Mane) which was chased and collected by Salah, whose sharp cross was converted by Luis Diaz. (5 mins)
There was applause ( and a rendition of "You'll never walk alone") around the ground after 7 minutes for Cristiano Ronaldo, and of course his family.
An injured Paul Pogba hobbled off and was replaced by Lingard after only 9 minutes.
Goal number two was a thing of beauty. Liverpool were passing sharply and quickly to marked players and the final touches came from a wonderfully placed right-footed lifted pass by Mane to Salah, who did the rest from the right of the area. (22 mins)
Thiago Alcantara was pulling strings in the middle and another cross field pass to Salah led to a deflected shot for De Gea to hold. United struggled to clear and a loose ball from Fernandes led to Diaz putting a Fabinho pass into the net, but he had been clearly offside.
Marcus Rashford did have a chance, but mis-controlled a long ball over his shoulder hitting the ball to the feet of Alisson, who cleared.
Phil Jones did not make it to the second half when he was replaced by Sancho and United reverted to a back four. United certainly looked more lively at the start of the second half, whilst Liverpool were not so sharp. Shots on goal were a rare commodity for the first fifteen minutes. Sancho was certainly offering more of a threat.
Liverpool extended their lead in the 68th minute. Diaz advanced outside Robertson, who passed to the man on the wing. He passed inside across the edge of the area and Mane scored with a first-time left footed shot inside De Gea's left post in front of The Kop. Luis Diaz, already a favourite with the fans, was soon replaced by Jota.
Salah scored Liverpool's fourth goal in the 85th minute. This time Jota was the provider with a low diagonal pass from the left, which Salah lifted into the net, although Wan-Bissaka's touch deflected the ball slightly.
Liverpool had won the away game 5-0 and now United had been out-classed again. Liverpool went top of the league overnight. United remain three points and 14 goals behind Spurs.
Despite the respect shown to their player, United fans sang offensive chants about Hillsborough late in the game and were condemned by their club the next day.
On Thursday 21st April, United formally announced the appointment of Ajax’s Erik ten Hag as their new manager. He will take over in the summer.
Wednesday 20th April, 2022
Chelsea 2 Arsenal 4
Thomas Tuchel blamed the pitch among other things for contributing to his club’s second home defeat in their last three league games. They’ve conceded four goals in both those defeats too. Arsenal were at risk of losing four consecutive Premier league games for the first time since 1995. They ended up upsetting the form book and Spurs fans with this win which puts them level on points with Spurs in what is becoming a tense race for a Champions League spot. Mind you, on this form, Chelsea will be looking over their shoulders now. The game was played in front of a reduced crowd of 32,249 due to the government’s sanctions upon the club following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tuchel made four changes from his FA Cup semi-final winning side. He went with a back three of James, Christensen and Sarr. Lukaku and Werner were up front. You’d almost think the West London side were conspiring to deny Spurs a Champions League place! Tavares was at left back again for Arsenal with Elneny making a rare start. Nketiah was leading the line.
Chelsea had a little early pressure with an Alonso shot blocked for a corner, but Nketiah gave Arsenal a 13th minute lead after being gifted the ball by a soft back pass by Christensen. It was Nketiah’s first Premier League goal for a year. Werner scored a soft equaliser four minutes later. He hit a shot, which carried little power from 20 yards and that took a deflection which beat Ramsdale’s right hand. Xhaka displayed skill on the ball, bringing it out of defence starting a quick move forward which ended with Smith-Rowe’s well-placed 20-yard shot beating Mendy to his left. (27 mins) It was 2-2 five minutes later when Azpilicueta met Mount’s cross with a left-foot shot at the near post. Arsenal complained about a foul when Mount and Werner had challenged for the ball, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.
Christensen was replaced by Thiago Silva at half-time. Arsenal scored a third goal in the 57th minute after some poor defending by Chelsea. Azpilicueta mis-placed a pass by hitting the ball to Tavares who crossed to Nketiah. Chelsea had two chances to clear but ended up presenting the ball again to Nketiah who had a second goal.
Alonso had another shot blocked after a Reece James cross had only been parried by Ramsdale, but Arsenal had a fourth goal from the penalty spot after referee Jon Moss called out Azpilicueta for a foul on Saka. The Chelsea captain was livid, but the decision stood, and Saka scored with his left footed spot kick as the game entered added time. Arsenal had scored from each of their four shots on target. Chelsea had lost a third consecutive home game (one in the Champions League) for the first time since 1993.
Everton 1 Leicester City 1
At a tense Goodison Park, Everton rescued a point in added time which gave them a four point lead over Burnley. Richarlison was their saviour. Yerry Mina was back in the side after injury, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s foot injury kept him out of the side. Wesley Fofana started a second Premier League game since his recent long absence.
Leicester took the lead inside 5 minutes after a move down the right which ended with Maddison’s cut-back from the bye-line, followed by a touch by Iheanacho, deflected by a defender into the path of Harvey Barnes who scored from close range. Leicester’s neat passing was dominating the home side in the early stages, frustrating the Goodison park faithful.
Richarlison somehow missed a golden opportunity to equalise after Gordon crossed, but the Brazilian hit his shot wide, back across the goal which beckoned. Demarai Gray had a good attempt against his former team with a right foot shot just wide of the far post following a left-side corner.
Richarlison had a shot saved by Schmeichel midway through the second half at The Gwladys Street End after a header to his feet by substitute Rondon. Leicester responded with a sharply hit shot by Maddison, which was strongly parried away by Pickford. Maddison won a corner with another shot to the right of goal after 78 minutes. Fofana headed wide from that corner.
Schmeichel saved comfortably when Mina headed down towards the keeper’s right post. Richarlison had another good chance from a corner but headed wide. With five minutes remaining Maddison had Pickford diving but his shot took a deflection and went for a corner.
Time was running out for Everton. If they lost, they risked Burnley overtaking them with a win over Southampton. Seamus Coleman had an added time shot blocked after a move started by Richarlison’s ball from the left. Dele Alli had come off the bench after 58 minutes and he had a part in the dramatic equaliser. He crossed from near the corner flag on the right. Rondon got a touch before Richarlison finally scored (with a deflection) from close range to the obvious delight of the home fans.
Newcastle United 1 Crystal Palace 0
With this ninth win on 13 games (and a sixth consecutive home win), Eddie Howe’s men have climbed to eleventh place and could now even finish in the top half, having looked mathematically doomed at Christmas. With their new-found financial resources, the club and its fans can look optimistically to their future. Understandably the team was unchanged from the win against Leicester. Conor Gallagher had had to sit out the FA Cup semi-final defeat to his home club Chelsea but returned for this game.
The decisive goal was scored in the 32nd minute. It was an excellent goal scored by Almiron who raced onto Guimaraes’ long pass down the right side before coming inside and hitting a powerful high shot into the net from 15 yards. It was his first club goal since February last year. Almiron had another shot saved by Guaita later in the first half.
Zaha came closest to equalising after 65 minutes, taking a pass from Edouard before hitting a low right-footed shot just outside Dubravka’s right post. Zaha had another shot deep into added time but curled it past the far post.
Manchester City 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Brighton must be looking forward to going home on Sunday. Having dented the Champions League hopes of both Arsenal and Tottenham, they held out against title-chasing City for 53 minutes before succumbing to this defeat. City regained top position in their nip and tuck race with Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola made 6 changes to the side after Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool. His team included Kevin de Bruyne. Cancelo played at right back, whilst Ake was on the left. Graham Potter’s 3-5-2 included Solly March for Trossard (illness), and Danny Welbeck started due to Bissouma serving a two-match suspension.
City had little to show for the first 25 minutes apart from an early shot going wide by Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne’s 25-yarder passing just outside Sanchez’s right post. Brighton were defending well, and Sanchez did not have to stretch far to save Bernardo Silva’s effort. Lewis Dunk blocked a shot by Gundogan.
De Bruyne was instrumental in Mahrez’s 53rd minute goal. The Belgian made a strong run before his pass rebounded kindly off Veltman for Mahrez whose shot was not a clean strike but still hit the net. Goal number two followed a Mahrez corner and a 25-yard shot by Foden. This too was deflected and hit the net inside Sanchez’s right post (65 mins).
City were three up after 82 minutes. Brighton lost the ball after a short ball by Sanchez was robbed by substitute Zinchenko. De Bruyne took the ball on and crossed into the area from the left where Bernardo Silva did the rest with a left foot shot.
Thursday 21st April, 2022
Burnley 2 Southampton 0
Burnley made two changes. One was enforced due to Ashley Westwood's injury, and Josh Brownhill took his place while Connor Roberts came in for Lowton. Southampton were unchanged after their win over Arsenal.
Dwight McNeil started on the right-hand side as opposed to his normal left wing position. Dead ball fiend James Ward-Prowse had an early free kick and corner for "The Saints" and Romeu came closest to scoring from the corner. Burnley had the first goal though in the twelfth minute. McNeil had already had a shot blocked before Brownhill slipped a pass to Roberts, who scored his first Burnley goal with a curled left-footer hitting the net inside Forster's right post.
Forster was getting busy, blocking one shot by Weghorst before a good close-range save from Rodriguez shot. Burnley were clearly the more threatening team, and midway through the first half Forster was again required to save a Rodriguez header from a Brownhill corner. In the following play, Weghorst hit the outside of Forster's left post with a free header.
Romeu had another great chance from a Southampton corner but put his header wide. Burnley's football was certainly more positive than of late and they regularly made progress on the right side. Forster had more work to do when McNeil hit a shot on target low to the left of the keeper.
Burnley had another corner after 43 minutes, won by Cornet and taken by Brownhill. Centre-back Nathan Collins rose and headed into the net. There was tension while VAR considered whether the ball had touched Jack Cork on its way into the goal, but the goal stood, and Burnley celebrated twice. (44 mins)
Burnley had the ball in the net in the 63rd minute after Forster fumbled a Tarkowski header into the advancing Rodriguez. The ball went forward off Rodriguez and into the net off Cork, but he had been offside when Rodriguez pushed the ball forward.
Che Adams had replaced Stuart Armstrong and latched onto a cross from the left after 67 minutes, but Pope made a good reaction save, pushing the ball over his bar. Aaron Lennon had come on for Cornet and he won a corner on the left. Pope had to save again, this time from a James Ward-Prowse free kick, and Charlie Taylor made a vital clearance from the feet of Adams who had hesitated over an excellent scoring opportunity.
Burnley went close with a well-worked free kick after which Rodriguez's cross from the right passed just behind the advancing Collins and passed through the goalmouth out of danger. After a late corner, a shot by Tarkowski hit the arm of Ward-Prowse, but there was no penalty. In their next attack, Burnley's McNeil went close with a dipping shot.
Burnley’s win took them to within a point of Everton, who they could overtake at the weekend. Burnley play Wolves at home before Everton have the little matter of a Merseyside Derby to negotiate.
Fixtures and results - 16-21.04.22
Saturday 16th April, 2022
Spurs 0-1 Brighton
Man Utd 3-2 Norwich
S'hampton 1-0 Arsenal
Watford 1-2 Brentford
Sunday 17th April, 2022
Newcastle 2-1 Leicester
West Ham 1-1 Burnley
Tuesday 19th April, 2022
Liverpool 4-0 Man Utd
Wednesday 20th April, 2022
Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal
Everton 1-1 Leicester
Newcastle 1-0 C. Palace
Man City 3-0 Brighton
Thursday 21st April, 2022
Burnley 2-0 S'hampton
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 32 24 5 3 75-20 55 77
2. Liverpool 32 23 7 2 83-22 61 76
3. Chelsea 31 18 8 5 66-27 39 62
4. Spurs 32 18 3 11 56-38 18 57
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5. Arsenal 32 18 3 11 49-39 10 57
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6. Man Utd 33 15 9 9 52-48 4 54
7. West Ham 33 15 7 11 52-43 9 52
8. Wolves 32 15 4 13 33-28 5 49
9. Leicester 31 11 8 12 47-51 -4 41
10. Brighton 33 9 13 11 29-40 -11 40
11. Newcastle 33 10 10 13 37-55 -18 40
12. Brentford 33 11 6 16 41-49 -8 39
13. S'hampton 33 9 12 12 38-54 -16 39
14. C. Palace 32 8 13 11 43-41 2 37
15. A. Villa 31 11 3 17 42-46 -4 36
16. Leeds 32 8 9 15 38-68 -30 33
17. Everton 31 8 5 18 34-53 -19 29
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18. Burnley 32 5 13 14 28-45 -17 28
19. Watford 32 6 4 22 30-62 -32 22
20. Norwich 32 5 6 21 22-66 -44 21
