The Premier League is officially full on BACK. The winter break was weird. We were all waking up early and unnecessarily, expecting soccer to be on, but we were sad and disappointed when only one or two games were sprinkled in the mix. But that doesn’t matter, because now we get to see everyone back, VAR is back, manager sideline antics are back, Liverpool dominance is back, and Mourinho is Bald (or shaved-dome if you want to be nice).
Chelsea vs Tottenham (2-1)
Mourinho faced off against his former player Frank Lampard in a North London Derby. The Spurs are playing without Harry Kane and Son because of injuries, and Dele left on the bench to begin the game. The game begins in the 15th minute with Giroud placing a rebound in past Lloris after he had made many saves before while his back line left him no support. The first half is played with the teams playing fairly even. The second goal comes from Marcus Alonso placing a beautiful strike in the bottom corner to put the Blues up 2. Lo Celso comes in on a nasty challenge as he stomps on Azpilicueta’s ankle. The whole stadium was in roars after VAR checks and decides no red card given. The Premier League later comes in after the game to say that it should’ve been a red for the Argentine. Chelsea continue their dominance and put on a barrage toward Lloris who hold his ground. In the 89th minute, the substituted Lamela comes on and shoots one off Rüdiger and its credited as an own goal. The Blues stand strong at Stamford Bridge.
Southampton vs Aston Villa (2-0)
This game gets going early as Long taps in a short cross off his thigh past the keeper at the near post to score one of the weirdest, true goals of the season. The game would remain scoreless even though Southampton registered 28 shots with 9 on target. Pepe Reina stood his ground all game and played well. The one-goal lock would be broken when Villa gain a corner in the dying embers of the game and send Reina himself forward to try and steal a point. The ensuing corner is cleared out, the ball is thrust forward, and Stuart Armstrong places the ball in the empty net to secure three points for the Saints.
Sheffield United vs Brighton & Hove Albion (1-1)
Sheffield is taking the league by storm this year as they sit toward the top six of the table. They host the visiting Seagulls who are flirting with the relegation zone. The scoring starts in the 26th minute as Stevens rockets the ball at the near post. Four minutes later, Maupay uses his head to redirect a redirect into the back of the net to draw even. The Blades continue to dominate the game but can’t put another one in the net. Brighton walk away with a point against a tough opponent away from home as they try and climb away from the bottom three.
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United (1-0)
CPFC haven’t won a game since Boxing Day. Newcastle are coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Arsenal. Surely something must give. The game starts out very back forth. Both temas going at each other lacking the finesse to put anything in the net. The dam is broken in the 45th minute as van Aanholt put in a beautiful left-footed free kick at the top of the box to put the Eagles ahead before half. The game restarts with more of the same. Both teams continue to go back-and-forth without the finishing touch. The game gets very chippy toward the end with many yellows being dealt. A red card is finally shown as Lazaro takes down Zaha in the 90+5th minute while as the last defender. He is sent to the showers early and the game finished 1-0 and Crystal Palace now sit 2 points about Newcastle.
Burnley vs Bournemouth (3-0)
The vising Cherries come to Turf Moor to hopefully game some needed points to climb out of the bottom 5 of the table. Sadly, that was.t what they got. The first half left us goalless with both teams splitting the game fairly even. The second half doesn’t play out that way. Burnley strike in the 53rd minute with Vydra taking a quick counter all the way down to opposing box and cheekily chips the outcoming keeper to break the stalemate. In the 58th minute, the Cherries come roaring back on a counter-attack of their own to draw level. But VAR calls it back on a handball in their own defensive box. The handball makes it a penalty in Burnley’s favor, and Rodrigues converts to complete a full swing of luck for Bournemouth. In the 87th minute, McNeil locks in the three points for the home team as he puts one in the back of the net and catapults Burnley into the top half of the table.
Leicester City vs Manchester City (0-1)
The most anticipated match of the weekend takes place at the King Power Stadium. Pep’s led Manchester City come into the match 4 points ahead of the Foxes. Manchester dawn their Arlo White dubbed, ‘Tequila Sunrise’ jerseys in hope to gain more separation in the race for second. The game is all it is lead up to be, without the goals. Manchester City dominates the possession and Leicester does what they do and attack on the counter-attack. Both teams lacked the finishing touches, along with Schmeichel playing out of his mind good in goal. The stalemate if finally broken by Gabriel Jesus in the 80th minute. He secures the only goal as Man City now sit in 2nd with a 7-point cushion above the Foxes.
Wolves vs Norwich City (3-0)
It’s another story of David vs Goliath. The Wolves have been playing exactly at their expectation this year commanding a solid grip on a top half position. The newly promoted Norwich City are sitting at the very bottom of the Premier League with 18 points through 26 games. The Wolves come out strong early and Jota puts one past Tim Krul 15 minutes into the game and again 15 minutes later. In truth, Norwich never looked defeated, they still shot 4 on goal and dominated the possession with 60%. In truth, after Jiménez put added another goal to his tally in the 50th minute, Norwich played harder. It was the sign of true professionals for the visiting bottom-feeders. But sadly, effort doesn’t determine results.
Manchester United vs Watford (3-0)
The schedule makers waited until Sunday to put the heavy weights against the bottom-feeders. The shear giant Manchester United look to start this half of the season on a better note than they began the season. The expectations were much higher than what United had seen recently. They needed three points from this game. And three points is exactly what they got. New man Bruno Fernandes steeped up and scored his first goal in the Premier League from the penalty spot minutes before half-time. The Red Devils came back out in the second-half and continued to dominate. Martial scored a very impressive goal and baby Mason Greenwood smashes another into the net to cap off a great performance and earn three points for the men in red.
Arsenal vs Everton (3-2)
This was a battle between the 9th and 10th placed teams for a chance to stay in the top half of the table. Everton come out blazing and score within the first minute of the game. But as the ‘Men In Blazers’ team has proven time and time again, you can’t score too early. Arsenal come back and score twice within 6 minutes of each other, giving the home team a lead. Luckily for the Toffees, Richarlison score in the 4th minute of first-half stoppage time to draw Everton even and give the team some hope. But as Everton scored within the first minute of the game, Aubameyang finds the back of the net off of a beautiful header 25 seconds into the second half. The game ends and Sweet Caroline is blaring throughout the Emirates as Everton fall back into the 11th place on the table.
Liverpool vs West Ham United (3-2)
Without a doubt, this game was the most exciting of the weekend. Lowly, lowly West Ham come into Anfield to try and stop the unquenchable kings of the season in Liverpool. Liverpool and West Ham draw quick blows with the game being even at the half. Then, 54 minutes in, Fornals brings the Hammers ahead. The lead was held for 14 minutes before Egyptian Pharaoh, Mo Salah bring the Reds even. Liverpool continue their onslaught, prying and prying for a goal to bring them ahead. And, as they always have, Liverpool find a way to win. Sadio Mané finds the back of the net in the 81st minute. The Reds go on to clinch another victory and continue to look like the next Invincibles. There seems to be no stopping this team.