It was another captivating weekend in the Premier League table, and for a long time on Saturday it looked like there may have been a twist in the title race.
However, in the end, both Manchester City and Liverpool were able to take maximum points. Meanwhile, the chasing pack – Chelsea and Leicester – also grabbed the 3 points, cementing the different of the top 4 to the remaining teams.
However, this weekend there was an unfortunate situation that resulted in an awful injury at Goodison Park.
Aston Villa 1 X 2 Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp would have been forgiven for thinking that VAR was attempting to cost Liverpool the three points at Villa Park on Saturday, as the visitors had a goal disallowed in the first half for half time.
However, replays showed just how tight the call was, and Roberto Firmino’s goal should have stood.
The decision didn’t matter in the end however as the Reds were able to compose themselves and take all three points with the final kick of the game.
Sadio Mane was the match-winner in the closing stages as he latched onto a loose ball to fire past Tom Heaton in the Villa goal.
The winner came just four minutes after Liverpool had tied the scores as Andrew Robertson scored his first goal of the season and his first away Premier League goal for the Reds.
Aston Villa was competitive throughout and would have felt that they deserved at least a point from the game. Summer signing Trezeguet opened the scoring midway through the first half when he tucked the ball into the near post.
The three points would have been a welcome side for Klopp, as he sees his side restore their six-point lead.
Manchester City 2 X 1 Southampton
Manchester City had looked to have closed that gap to four points when they scored the winner four minutes from time. Kyle Walker was the unlikely hero in their victory, as they came from behind to get all three points.
Southampton took an early lead in the game through James Ward-Prowse. Sergio Aguero leveled the scores with 30 minutes remaining.
It was an excellent response by the Saints following their record-breaking defeat last time out against Leicester. They also played with City twice in the same week, following a 3×1 defeat in the Carabao Cup.
However, it is now six without a win in the league for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side.
Everton 1 X 1 Tottenham Hotspur
It’s fair to say that the result was very much an afterthought in the final game of the Premier League weekend. The fixture will be forever remembered for the gruesome leg injury picked up by Andre Gomes.
The Portuguese international and Euro 2016 winner was moving forward with the ball when he was brought down by Heung Min-Son. The follow-up tackle from Serge Aurier caught Gomes as his studs were planted in the turf.
Son was sent off in the following minutes, but the South Korean looked visibly upset by the injury. Aurier escaped without a card, and Gomes will now be set for an extended period on the sidelines.
The club confirmed that the player has suffered a fracture of the ankle and will be subjected to surgery.
Our thoughts at SoccerAntenna are with Gomes so that he can recover as soon as possible and get back on the pitch.
About the result, it was another disappointing one for both coaches, who are still under pressure to be sacked soon. Dele Ali had put Spurs ahead mid-way through the second half. Cenk Tosun scored a late equalizer in the 12-minutes of added time.
Crystal Palace 0 X 2 Leicester City
Leicester City moved back up to third with a hard-fought win at Selhurst Park in the early game on Sunday. The Foxes had previously only beaten the Eagles away from home during their title-winning success.
The visiting side went ahead in the early stages of the second half when Caglar Soyuncu scored his first goal for the club.
Jamie Vardy added the late second as the Eagles attempted to chase the equalizer. The Foxes now sit two points behind Manchester City and eight behind Liverpool.
More importantly, they have 6 points advantage to 5th place Arsenal, which means the possibility of fighting for a top 4 finish is a reality for Leicester City.
Watford 1 X 2 Chelsea
Watford’s winless run in the Premier League continued as they were beaten at Vicarage Road by Chelsea. This means they have 0 wins in 11 games and they look like they need a miracle to escape relegation.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s success means that the Blues have set a new club-record of seven away wins in a row.
Tammy Abraham put the Blues ahead before Christian Pulisic added a second after the break. The American, who scored a hat trick last weekend, seems to finally have got the hold of the Premier League.
Watford pulled a late goal back through Gerard Deulofeu. They nearly rescued a point with the final action of the match when goalkeeper Ben Foster climbed to the box and saw his header saved by Kepa.
In a moment of fair play, both keepers hugged each other out after the final whistle.
Arsenal 1 X 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Unai Emery’s mood wouldn’t have been lifted with more dropped points on Saturday afternoon as Wolves came from a goal down to salvage a point at the Emirates.
The Gunners went ahead in the first half when cute link-up play was finally finished off by Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. With the goal, the Gabonese striker reached the 50 goals mark faster than Thierry Henry. Considering Arsenal’s poor form recently, it is even a more noteworthy achievement.
However, Wolves continued to look menacing and got their deserved equalizer with 15 minutes remaining through Raul Jimenez.
With this result, Arsenal is now 3 matches straight without a win (2 draws and 1 loss).
Bournemouth 1 X 0 Manchester United
Manchester United’s recent good run of results on the road was brought to a swift end on Saturday lunchtime. After a draw against champions Liverpool and a win away to Norwich, they were humbled by Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe’s side got themselves in front through Joshua King. The Norwegian forward scored the only goal of the game on the brink of half time, and United offered once again very little in the attacking third.
Bournemouth did not win a game since September. Now, they are in the 7th place though.
Sheffield United 3 X 0 Burnley
Chris Wilder’s Blades moved up to seventh in the Premier League table with a big win at home against Burnley.
A brace from midfielder John Lundstram and a third from John Fleck did all the damage, as they went into the break with a three-goal advantage.
They were unable to add any more goals in the second half, but Wilder would have been delighted with his side. This also adds another clean sheet to Sheffield’s record and to Dean Henderson.
The goalkeeper, who we highlighted in a recent article, has now 5 clean sheets and he is tied with Ederson (Manchester City). They only have 8 goals conceded in the 11 games so far, something remarkable for a team that just got promoted and has not done crazy investments in Summer.
West Ham United 2 X 3 Newcastle United
Steve Bruce would have been delighted to have got a first away win of the new season. For the opening 50 minutes, they were as dominant as they haven’t been for many years.
Ciaran Clark put the Toon ahead, before Federico Fernandez and Jonjo Shelvey added further goals. West Ham attempted to come back and pulled two back through Fabian Balbuena and Robert Snodgrass.
As for West Ham, their last win was on the 22nd of September against… Manchester United. They are 5 matches without a victory and they dropped to 12th.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Norwich City
Brighton inflicted a fifth defeat in six on Norwich City with two quickfire goals in the second half. The Canaries lacked cutting edge in the final third, and Brighton were deserving winners.
Leandro Trossard put the Seagulls ahead before Shane Duffy added a second six minutes from time.
Norwich had a positive season start, but their striker Teemu Puuki has not scored for the Canaries for over a month. Manager Daniel Clarke might get the sacking soon as they are only 2 points above Watford in the relegation zone.
The Premier League schedule returns next weekend, with Manchester City visiting Anfield for a match that might decide the fate of the league.
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