West Ham United @ Sheffield United (0-1)
What better way to start off the weekend than by having a goal disallowed by VAR? Nothing could be more descriptive of this season than that? The game starts with a freak, non-contact injury to West Ham keeper Fabianski to cause a quick switch for David Martin. Poor backup, gives up a howler from a goal-kick straight to the other team in the 53rd minute. The game was fairly back-and-forth until the 92nd minute. West Ham comes down and scores to seemingly rescue a point in stoppage time. But the goal is disallowed from VAR calling a handball. The ball did hit his hand, don’t get me wrong, but it was very “ball-to-hand.” Terrible for West Ham for that to happen and David Moyes. The newly promoted Blades are now 6th PLACE. This outstanding run made the Sheffield Board extend Manager Chris Wilder’s contract to 2024.
Arsenal @ Crystal Palace (1-1)
The Gooners come to Selhurt Part one point behind the Eagles. Aubameyang opens the scoring with a goal in the box with an assist from Lacazette in the 12th minute. Arsenal control the game until the 52nd minute when Jordan Ayew scores a lucky deflection goal. In the 64th minute, Aubameyang comes into a nasty challenge and is given a yellow card. VAR double-checks and decides to give him a red card. The game goes on to end in a draw and now Arsenal will be without their leading scorer for their upcoming game against Sheffield who is four points above in the table.
Newcastle @ Wolves (1-1)
Miggy Almirón scores another goal to shove it to all the haters in the 7th minute. A way to look at this as Americans, is that the MLS can produce products who can transfer their skills to the best league in the world. That fact adds to the hope of the MLS and what they can produce as a ‘developing’ league. I digress. Quickly later, Wolves caught the Newcastle defense sleeping on a corner kick and ties the game. The game goes on to be another 1-1 draw, a disappointment for the Wolves.
Southampton @ Leicester City (2-1)
After the 9-0 embarrassment that Leicester handed Southapmton at their home stadium, the Saint come looking for revenge. Leicester open the score sheet with a quick counter-attack to leave Praet open at the back post to finish in the 14th minute. Only five minutes later, Stuart Armstrong scores a lucky, deflection goal which left Schmeichel no chance. The game was fairly even until Ings picks up a long ball behind the back line to pull ahead and enact revenge and steal three points from the King Power Stadium.
Burnley @ Chelsea (0-3)
The Baby Blues came to play today for Chelsea. Chelsea dominated this game from start to finish. Jorginho opens the goal account with a penalty in the 24th minute. Abraham then leaps above the competition to head home a goal past a keeper who misjudges the shot. Hudson-Odoi tops it all off in the 49th minute to secure three points and an impressive performance again the 15th placed Burnley squad.
Norwich City @ Manchester United (0-4)
Here again we see the young stars of the team step up and preform. The first goal of the game comes from a beautiful Juan Mata ball that finds Marcus Rashfrod at the back post who simply redirects the ball into the net. He then goes on to convert a penalty. The youth stands out again and again as Martial and Mason Greenwod put two more into the net. If you’re United, you have to be loving how you have ridden out of the storm with your youth being the best players on the team. And if you’re Norwich, you are currently sitting at the bottom of the table with 14 points from 22 games.
Brighton & Hove Albion @ Everton (0-1)
As a Toffee, this game was good. Not great, but good. A win is a win and I can’t complain about three points. But it wasn’t the prettiest of wins. Richarlison scores a great finish in the bottom corner. Everton controlled 54% of the possession, 6 shots on goal, and everyone looked good. But I wanted more. Maybe I’m being unrealistic? I don’t know. Currenlty sitting at 11th is not ideal, but I also know it can get better.
Liverpool @ Tottenham Hotspur (1-0)
Liverpool continue their dominance. They controlled 67% of possession, registered seven shots on goal, and they looked head and shoulders above the competition. The Spurs were missing Harry Kane, to their credit, and it did show. Liverpool are now 14 points ahead of second place Manchester City with a game at hand. Again, the race is seemingly over. The only question there is to ask, is can this team lose? Will they go the whole season without losing a single game? If so, they will undoubtedly go down as the best team ever.
Watford @ Bournemouth (3-0)
The first goal comes from the Cherry keeper giving up the ball with his feet while under pressure. Watford just continues their onslaught past a very poor Bouremouth back line. Even with only 44% of the possession, they put six shots on goal. It’s clear that the Bournemouth manager needs to change something as they currently sit at 19th on the table.
Manchester City @ Aston Villa (6-1)
*Insert Simpson’s ‘Stop! Stop! It’s already dead!’ gif* Poor Villa, they were this week’s victim. The score was 3-0 by the 30th minute. There were shots of the Villa fans leaving the stadium to avert their eyes from the slaughter that was about to take place. It was a total embarrassment. City are now ahead in the race for second as they jump above Leicester by two points. A lot of luck needs to go down for City to have a chance at the title, but credit to the for not giving up.
As the week ends, let’s take a look at the table:
Liverppol – 21GP – 61pts
Man City – 22GP – 47pts
Leicester – 22GP – 45pts
Chelsea – 22GP – 39pts
Man United – 22GP – 34pts