Premier League Review - Matchday 16
Monday 26th December, 2022
Brentford 2-2 Spurs (AMAZON PRIME - 12.30PM)
This was Japhet Tanganga's first start in any Spurs competitive game this season. His last start was in our home game against Chelsea in January. It was also Fraser Forster's first Premier League game for Spurs and only his second competitive appearance for the club to date.
Harry Kane scored his 14th goal of the season- 13 in the league. Harry is second on the list of Premier League scorers behind record-breaker Erling Haaland who has now scored 20 goals in only 14 appearances. Ivan Toney is in third place. Harry's total of club goals now stands at 262. Kane passed Robbie Fowler’s tally of nine Boxing Day goals in the Premier League and completed a full house of scoring against all 32 sides he has faced in the division.
Hugo Lloris's run of 101 consecutive Premier League games ended.
Eric Dier's 342nd Spurs appearance put him above Bill Nicholson and level with Peter Baker (28th equal) in the list of all-time Spurs apearances.
Spurs kept up a remarkable record of not losing on Boxing Day since 2004. It’s the second-longest Boxing Day unbeaten run in English football history, stretching to 16 matches.
Crystal Palace 0-3 Fulham (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
Palace had two players sent off and unsurprisingly fell to defeat to Fulham. One of those sent off was James Tomkins, making his first start since last Boxing Day. He was shown a second yellow card after 57 minutes, but Tyrick Mitchell had been shown a straight red for a foul on Tete in the first half by which time Fulham were already ahead.
Guaita made a great save to keep out a dipping free kick by Pereira, and Jordan Ayew hit the top of the bar at the other end. Palace were not defending or clearing effectively and Fulham's 31st minute lead came from a Mitrovic cross and a Decordova-Reid header.
Both Tomkins' cards had been for fouls on Fulham captain Mitrovic. Referee Andy Madley had no hesitation about his decisions.
Palace deployed a 4-3-1 formation. Pereira hit the outside of a post with a shot. Palace held Fulham until the 71st minute when Mitrovic headed down a corner and USA World Cup player Tim Ream fired home his first Fulham goal of the season. Tete lifted a ball from the right from which William's shot hit the ground first and went into the net off Mitrovic's head in the 80th minute.
Everton 1-2 Wolves (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
Frank Lampard's woes continue as Everton fell foul to a 95th minute winner by Wolves being managed for the first time by Julen Lopetegui since his appointment in November. Everton had to play without Coady, who is a player on loan from Wolves this season.
Yerry Mina headed in from a seventh minute corner by Dwight McNeil, but Wolves equalised midway through the first half following a corner at the Gwladys Street end. Moutinho dinked a ball from the back of the area to Podence, who scored with a low shot from the left of the box.
Everton had pressed hard for a late second half winner but suffered defeat when Traore’s cross fr9m the right of the area reached Ait-Nouri who took a touch before scoring and celebrating with the travelling fans.
Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
Newcastle are flying and rose to second place (until Wednesday) with this win. They took an early lead from the penalty spot after Amartey fouled Joelinton. Chris Wood hammered home the spot kick in only the third minute.
Miguel Almiron made it 2-0 after seven minutes after he came inside from the right wing, took a pass from Guimaraes and then slotted home his ninth league goal of the season.
Goal number three was headed home by Joelinton from a Trippier corner and Newcastle were three up inside 32 minutes.
Leicester’s first shot on target didn’t come until the 82nd minute. The home fans were not happy.
Southampton 1 Brighton 3 (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
Brighton were without World Cup winner Mac Allister but still ran out comfortable winners over South coast rivals Southampton who find themselves at the bottom of the table. It was manager Nathan Jones' first home game in charge.
Former Saint Adam Lallana opened the scoring with a 14th minute header from Solly March's cross. Bazunu got a touch and should have done better. Brighton’s second goal was a Perraud own goal in the 35th minute after March had tried to reach a cross into the 6-yard zone from the left of the box.
Solly March scored a cracking left foot goal in the 56th minute to put the game beyond the home side. Even Ward-Prowse's 73rd minute penalty was saved by Sanchez, but the Southampton skipper headed the rebound into the net. The goal was nothing more than a consolation.
Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool (AMAZON PRIME - 5.30PM)
Like Spurs, Aston Villa were missing a World Cup winner as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has yet to return. Olsen covered in goal. Liverpool did have their number one Alisson in goal.
Salah, who had not taken part in the World Cup, opened the scoring after five minutes following a Liverpool corner. Robertson offered the pass from the right of the area and it was fodder for the Liverpool star striker.
A player who did take part in the World Cup - Virgil van Dijk - scored Liverpool’s second goal in the 37th minute. The goal followed another corner from the right with the ball eventually falling to the feet of the Netherlands defender, who scored with a low deflected shot from the left of goal.
Watkins was denied an early second half goal because of offside, but he did get his side back in the game after 59 minutes with a nice header across Alisson after Douglas Luiz's cross from the right.
Nunez was sent clear by Salah and had a run at goal but put his shot wide. Nunez did have a hand in Liverpool’s third goal, scored in the 81st minute after his cross from the bye-line was parried by Olsen and reached 18-year-old Spanish substitute Stefan Bajcetic who scored his first Liverpool goal in only his second league appearance.
Liverpool have since finalised the signing of Netherlands young World Cup star Cody Gakpo from PSV. The move will be effective on New Year’s Day.
Arsenal 3-1 West Ham (AMAZON PRIME - 8PM)
Despite going one down and also missing injured striker Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal came back to beat lowly West Ham, and to increase their lead at the top of the table, pending Manchester City's Wednesday night game. Nketiah stood in up front for Arsenal.
West Ham's lead came through a Benrahma penalty after Jarrod Bowen was clipped by Saliba. World Cup referee Michael Oliver awarded Arsenal an added time penalty when Odegaard's shot was blocked, but the ball had hit Cresswell on the head and the decision was reversed.
It took the home side until the 53rd minute to equalise. What looked like a miscued shot by Odegaard ran to Saka who scored. Martinelli added a second goal five minutes later, with a low shot from an angle left of goal.
Nketiah added the third goal in the 69th minute from the right of goal, after Odegaard’s intentional pass, and Arsenal’s joy was complete.
Arsene Wenger was in the stadium for this game. Most West Ham fans had left the stadium by the time Ramsdale dived to his left to save from Fornals late in the game.
Tuesday 27th December, 2022
Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth (AMAZON PRIME - 5.30PM)
Chelsea were not troubled by Bournemouth and both goals were scored in the first half. Reece James made a return, but was withdrawn early in the second half and will be out of action again with a knee injury.
Chelsea's first goal came in the 16th minute when Sterling crossed from the right and Havertz met the ball at the back post with a low shot inside the post. Havertz provided the final pass for a right-footed goal by Mount from 22 yards in the 24th minute.
Manchester United 3-0 Nottingham Forest (AMAZON PRIME - 8PM)
There was heavy rain at Old Trafford but that didn't stop United beating Forest convincingly, although they had to wait till late in the game for their third goal. Marcus Rashford's good form continues with one goal scored as well as an assist.
Rashford's goal was scored in the 19th minute from an Eriksen corner on the right which was directed to the near cornerof the penalty area where Rashford hit a right-footed goal. Think Anderton/Sheringham here for those old enough to remember that regular corner move.
Hennessy was in goal for Forest as Henderson is a United loanee, and the stand-in keeper failed to hold Martial's low shot from the edge of the area after a good move down the left wing by United wth Rashford collecting a long ball before passing inside to set up Martial. (23 mins)
Forest had the ball in the net through Yates, but there had been an offside from Lingard's free kick. United's third goal came at The Stretford End in the 87th minute when Casemiro hit a pinpoint pass to Fred who scored at the left-hand post.
Wednesday 28th December, 2022
Leeds 1-3 Manchester City (AMAZON PRIME - 8PM)
Erling Haaland made the headlines yet again and has now scored 20 goals in only 14 Premier League appearances. Haaland had a great chance to score inside the first minute when he latched onto Ake's ball forward, but Meslier was well-positioned and saved the shot. Meslier saved again when Haaland was put through by De Bruyne after half an hour.
The young Norwegian superstar, whose National side had not qualified for the World Cup, had to wait till the second half for his two goals. It was Rodri who gave City the lead in first half added time after Meslier could not hold Mahrez's shot, allowing the midfielder to score.
After taking advantage of poor defensive work high in the Leeds half, Grealish raced forward with the ball and teed up Haaland for his first in the 51st minute. Goal number two for Haaland followed 13 minutes later. Grealish had the assist again, receiving De Bruyne's pass on the left of the Leeds area before passing inside for Haaland to score from 10 yards.
Struijk scored a 73rd minute consolation when he headed in a corner taken by Greenwood.
City reclaimed second place, five points behind Arsenal.
Fixtures & results - 26-28.12.22
Monday 26th December, 2022
Brentford 2-2 Spurs (AMAZON PRIME - 12.30PM)
C. Palace 0-3 Fulham (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
Everton 1-2 Wolves (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
Leicester 0-3 Newcastle (AMAZON PRIME - 3PM)
A. Villa 1-3 Liverpool (AMAZON PRIME - 5.30PM)
Arsenal 3-1 West Ham (AMAZON PRIME - 8PM)
Tuesday 27th December, 2022
Chelsea 2-0 B'mouth (AMAZON PRIME - 5.30PM)
Man Utd 3-0 Nott'm F'st (AMAZON PRIME - 8PM)
Wednesday 28th December, 2022
Leeds 1-3 Man City (AMAZON PRIME - 8PM)
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 15 13 1 1 36-12 24 40
2. Man City 15 11 2 2 43-15 28 35
3. Newcastle 16 9 6 1 32-11 21 33
4. Spurs 16 9 3 4 33-23 10 30
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5. Man Utd 15 9 2 4 23-20 3 29
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6. Liverpool 15 7 4 4 31-18 13 25
7. Brighton 15 7 3 5 26-20 6 24
8. Chelsea 15 7 3 5 19-17 2 24
9. Fulham 16 6 4 6 27-26 1 22
10. Brentford 16 4 8 4 25-27 -2 20
11. C. Palace 15 5 4 6 15-21 -6 19
12. A. Villa 16 5 3 8 17-25 -8 18
13. Leicester 16 5 2 9 25-28 -3 17
14. B'mouth 16 4 4 8 18-34 -16 16
15. Leeds 15 4 3 8 23-29 -6 15
16. West Ham 16 4 2 10 13-20 -7 14
17. Everton 16 3 5 8 12-19 -7 14
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18. Wolves 16 3 4 9 10-25 -15 13
19. Nottm F 16 3 4 8 11-33 -22 13
20. S'hampton 16 3 3 10 14-30 -16 12
