Kickoff chronicles

Brighton Hove & Albion vs Everton

The opening fixture of Matchweek 23 saw Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton host David Moyes Everton at the Amex Stadium in what was Moyes’ 700th game as a manager in the Premier League. Brighton dominated the early exchanges, coming so close to scoring in the 4th minute after Tariq Lamptey drilled the ball across the 6-yard area with no one able to get on the end of the Ghanian’s pass. Everton then found a golden chance to find the opener in the 37th minute when they were awarded a very fortunate penalty. Brighton defender Joel Veltman was attempting to shield Everton striker Beto off the ball with the ball about to bounce out for a goal kick. Unfortunately for the hosts, Beto shoulder barged Veltman so he accidently went down punching the ball out of the path of the Portuguese striker. VAR checked over the incident and awarded what was quite clearly a penalty. Iliman Ndiaye stepped up to take the spot kick which he dispatched professionally, rolling the ball into the bottom left corner. The first half finished 0-1 with Moyes hoping to mark his historic day with a huge win away from home.

The 2nd period for the hosts was increasingly frustrating, with it proving not to be their day. It seemed as though every shot Brighton were able to get off was heroically blocked by an Everton defender. A huge shout out was due to the backline: James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko who all put in a huge shift to keep their clean sheet. The full time score finished 0-1 with Everton putting in their best performance of the season so far, with Moyes marking his 700th game in perfect fashion. The Toffees remain 16th in the table but are now 7 points clear of the drop zone. Brighton remain 9th in the table after a poor showing in front of the Everton goal.

AFC Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest

The following game of Matchweek 23 saw two of the most in form teams in England face off at the Vitality stadium in Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth and Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest. With both sides hoping to win a match which could prove crucial for their own respective European aspirations, Bournemouth made the ideal start when scoring inside 10 minutes. Fresh of scoring a hat-trick at Newcastle last week, Justin Kluivert picked up the ball inside his own half and motored up the pitch with the Forest defenders backing off of him. Kluivert ate up the space awarded to him before smashing the ball into the bottom left corner, punishing a poor defensive error from Nuno’s men. Forest seemed to put their slow start behind them though with skipper Ryan Yates coming inches away from scoring a wonder volley just minutes later. The half time score stood at 1-0 with Bournemouth hoping to make it 12 games in all competitions unbeaten.

Despite Forest attacking the Cherries early on in the 2nd period, Bournemouth flipped the game on its head when Dango Outtara scored to double their advantage. Kluivert chipped the ball up into a dangerous area where Ouattara jumped brilliantly to head the ball over Forest keeper Matz Sels. Only minutes after Kluivert and Ouattara were denied a wonderful 2-man tiki-taka goal, Ouattara secured his brace in the 61st minute to put the game to bed. The Burkina Faso representative received the ball from Tyler Adams in the left side of the Forest 18 yard box. Ouattara squeezed his way through the 2 centre halves before drilling the ball into the far bottom corner. Ouattara then made it 3 after Marcus Tavernier cracked a shot from 25 yards out. Sels was able to parry his initial effort away but only cleared it as far as Ouattara who had made an unmarked run and was free to tap the ball in for 4-0. Number 5 came in stoppage time after Tavernier played the ball into the left side of the penalty area where Antoine Semenyo was waiting. Semenyo faced off with Nikola Milenkovic before very accurately passing the ball into the bottom right corner The full time score finished 5-0 with absolutely nobody expecting such a heavy scoreline. Forest were proving very difficult to beat this season so for Iraola’s men to pick them apart in such fashion was a huge accomplishment. Bournemouth remain 7th, but are just 3 points away from Forest in 3rd, with this season’s battle for European places really heating up.

Liverpool vs Ipswich Town

The next game of Matchweek 23 saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool host Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town at Anfield. After a very positive start to the tie, Liverpool found a deserved opener in the 11th minute. Ibrahima Konate played a very direct pass into the feet of Dominik Szoboszlai just outside the penalty area. The Hungarian took a touch before drilling the ball into the bottom right corner. Liverpool’s 2nd came quite a while after the first, 24 minutes exactly, with Cody Gakpo whipping the ball in from the left wing. The ball very fortunately dropped into the feet of Mohamed Salah at the back post who controlled the ball down before thrashing it into the top corner, taking him to 19 goals for the season as he searches for his 4th Golden Boot. Liverpool essentially wrapped up all 3 points before the interval after Ryan Gravenberch crossed the ball across the Ipswich penalty area. Szoboszlai managed to get on the end of Gravenberch’s first ball where he saw his effort saved by Tractor Boy’s keeper Chris Walton. Gakpo was then quick to tap the ball in off Walton’s initial save, with the English shot stopper so unfortunate. The half time score finished 3-0 with Ipswich in threat of another pasting.

After a slower start to the 2nd period, Liverpool made it 4 on the 65 minute mark. Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball in from the right wing, as he so often does, where Gakpo rose high to head the ball past Walton and secure his brace. After another poor performance by the Tractor Boys, they finally gave their very loyal fans something to cheer about in the 90th minute when they scored a consolation. Centre Half Jacob Greaves dived bravely to head the ball past Alisson in goal after Julio Enciso’s inswinging corner delivery. The full time score finished 4-1, with Liverpool showing no signs of slowing down as they remain 1st on the table, 6 points clear of Arsenal, still with a game in hand. Ipswich take another heavy hit to their goal difference as they stay in the relegation zone thanks to a total of 6 goals conceded as they are level on points with 17th placed Wolves.

Southampton vs Newcastle United

The following game of Matchweek 23 saw Ivan Juric’s Southampton host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at St. Mary’s Park. Southampton made a very unexpected start to the tie when they took a shock lead inside 10 minutes. James Bree curled in a ball from the right wing where giant centre half Jan Bednarek jumped up well to head the ball past Martin Dubravka in the Newcastle goal. After a sluggish start, the Magpies found themselves back on level pegging after Bruno Guimaraes played a neat ball into the penalty area to Alexander Isak. Isak took a touch before inevitably being brought down by Joe Aribo, resulting in a clear penalty. Isak then stepped up to take the spot kick, passing the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 15 goals in his last 15 games, taking his season tally to 16. The Swedish striker then secured his brace after Jacob Murphy played a brilliant ball into him. Isak’s first touch was sublime, taking the ball away from defender Bednarek before he coolly slotted the ball into the far corner. Isak and Murphy now have the best goal scoring partnership in the Premier League this season, assisting each other on 7 different occasions. At half time, the score stood at 1-2 with Newcastle hoping to make amends for their poor showings last weekend.

The travelling side all but wrapped up the 3 points early on in the 2nd period when Sandro Tonali scored 6 minutes after the restart. It was a wonderfully crafted goal, Isak chesting Lewis Hall’s lofted pass onto the foot of Anthony Gordon who then cushioned the ball over the Saints’ defence and into the path of Tonali who was through on goal. With no one tracking his run, the Italian drilled the ball into the bottom left corner with ease to seal the 3 points. They had multiple chances to make it 4 and were almost punished when Matues Fernandes scored in the 87th minute. His goal was unfortunately chalked off though as he was offside when the lobbed ball over the Magpies’ defence came to him from keeper Alex McCarthy. The full time score finished 1-3 with Newcastle going back to their winning ways and into 5th place on the table, just 3 points away from Nottingham Forest in 3rd. Southampton lose their 6th home game in a row, a new and unwanted record, as they stay on track to be the worst team the Premier League has ever presented.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal

The next game of Matchweek 23 saw Vitor Pereira’s Wolves host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in what looked to be an interesting matchup at the Molineux Stadium. Arsenal made a positive start to the tie and came close on many occasions, the biggest chance of them all when Kai Havertz leapt up to head Leandro Trossard’s cross at goal, missing the far corner by a whisker. Minutes before the interval, Arsenal made a horrible and potentially costly error, which they had been doing so often this season, going down to 10 men just before halftime. On this occasion, it was Lewis Myles-Skelly who was shown his marching orders after he brought down Matt Doherty with a nasty and calculated foul, a clear attempt to play the man and not the ball. The score at the break remained 0-0, but with Wolves now favourites after Lewis-Skelly was sent off. 

After attacking at Arsenal for the first 25 minutes of the 2nd period and coming close to scoring a priceless opener, Wolves blew away their advantage of an extra man after Joao Gomes was shown a 2nd yellow for a poor attempt to play the ball on Jurrien Timber. After a 2nd half of struggle and grit from the Gunners, they found a fully deserved goal in the 74th minute through Italian centre half Riccardo Calafiori. Gabriel Martinelli’s cross in from the right wing was headed clear by Nelson Semedo but only as far as Calafiori. Calafiori stretched out to volley the ball across the floor and into the bottom right corner, scoring what could prove to be Arsenal’s most crucial goal of the campaign. The Gunners defended heroically for the remaining minutes to hold out for a 0-1 away from home. The gap between them in 2nd and Liverpool in 1st still remains 6 points but the determination and spirit Arteta’s men showed is surely a sign of what is to come from Arsenal. Wolves lose again and drop to 18th in the relegation zone, on a drab 16 points.

Manchester City vs Chelsea 

The final game played on Saturday in Matchweek 23 was the most anticipated of the week, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City hosting Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea in what looked a brilliant fixture at the Etihad Stadium. City’s latest wonderkid, who had only signed for the club a matter of days ago (the first Uzbekistanian to ever play in the Premier League), Abdukodir Khusanov, made the worst possible start to his life in Manchester. The young centre half attempted to play a fairly routine headed pass back to his goal keeper, but his pass back was weak allowing Nicholas Jackson to intercept. Jackson played the ball across the penalty area for Noni Madueke to tap into an uncontested net, with Chelsea showing the young Uzbekistan international the reality of playing in the most competitive league in the world. After a slow start to the game, Manchester City eventually found their feet, with fellow new signing Omar Marmoush thinking he’d levelled things in the 33rd minute after he was quick to tap in the rebound from Ikay Gundogan’s long effort, only to turn around and see the assistant’s flag raised. City then finally found an equaliser that stood just before the interval when Gundogan played a ball over the Chelsea defence into the path of Mathues Nunes who was through on goal. Marc Cucurella was able to track back and actually tackled the Portuguese international. Unfortunately for Cucurella, after he tackled Nunes, the ball fired off his own keeper Robert Sanchez and into the path of Josko Gvardiol who was unmarked and had an empty net to tap the ball into. The half time score finished all square at 1-1 with the full time score unpredictable.

After a positive start to the 2nd period, City flipped the game on its head after scoring in the 68th minute. City keeper Ederson wrote his name in the history books, providing the pass to Erling Haaland with a long ball into the Chelsea half. Haaland beat Chelsea keeper Sanchez to the ball and from just outside the penalty area, Haaland curled the ball around the Spanish keeper and into the near corner. It was also Ederson’s 5th assist in the Premier League, making him the goalkeeper with the most assists in the Premier League. City wrapped up the 3 points in the 87th minute when Phil Foden continued his recent run of good form, making it 7 goals in as many games. Yet again, Ederson was involved, clearing the ball out to Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne flicked the ball onto Haaland who showed great strength on the half way line to hold up the ball before prodding it through the Chelsea backline and into the path of Foden who was through on goal. Foden progressed into the area before slotting the ball through the legs of Sanchez to cap off a brilliant display by the Citizens. The full time score finished 3-1, with the Champions climbing back into the top 4 with a much needed win, especially after they threw a 2 goal lead in Paris away just days ago. Chelsea continue to drop points, as they now sit in 6th, a huge fall given they were 2nd in December.

Crystal Palace vs Brentford

The opening game on Sunday afternoon in Matchweek 23 saw Oliver Glasner’s in from Crystal Palace host Thomas Frank’s tricky Brentford side at Selhurst Park. The first half was fairly actionless, with the best chance coming Brentford’s way in the 22nd minute after Yoanne Wissa’s effort from outside the penalty area was brilliantly saved by Palace keeper Dean Henderson who dove down to his right to keep out a certain goal. The first half ended 0-0 with Palace fans left demanding more of their players in the next 45 minutes.

The Eagles made a woeful start to the 2nd period when giving away a spot kick in the 61st minute. It was a scrappy section of play, Will Hughes blocking a clearance with his hand before referee Tony Harrington finally blew his whistle after Maxence Lacroix made a horrible challenge on Nathan Collins. Bryan Mbeumo hit the post with his first penalty attempt but VAR alerted Harrington that the spot kick needed to be retaken with a breach in the 18 yard box before Mbuemo struck the ball. The Cameroonian’s 2nd effort from 12 yards out was much better, placing the ball into the top right corner. The Bees then all but wrapped up the 3 points when they found a 2 goal cushion in the 80th minute. Mikkel Damsgaard whipped the ball into the penalty area where Kevin Schade jumped up superbly to head the ball past Dean Henderson, hurting himself in the process as he clashed heads with Chris Richards. Palace’s newest signing and wonderkid Romain Esse scored 5 minutes later to give Brentford something to think about, tapping Daniel Munoz’s ball across the penalty area from close range. The hosts were unable to stage a comeback in the end, with the Bees putting their unbeaten run to bed as they came out 1-2 victors. Brentford remain 11th in the league, now on 31 points, while Palace drop into 13th on 27.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City

The following fixture of Matchweek 23 was a huge game in terms of the relegation zone, with Ange Postecoglou’s 15th placed Tottenham Hotspur hosting Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 19th placed Leicester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham’s injury filled side made an electric start to the tie and forced some acrobatic saves from Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk early on. After a dominant half an hour from Spurs, they found a deserved opener in the 33rd minute after Richarlison marked his first start of the season with a goal. Pedro Porro whipped in the ball from the right wing where Richarlison put his body on the line, diving in to head the ball past Stolarczyk but clattering into the post afterwards. The score at the interval stood at 1-0 with Ange hoping that his side could pick up a much needed 3 points which would see them go 10 points away from the drop zone.

Tottenham made a polar opposite start to the 2nd half compared to the 1st when Jamie Vardy scored inside a minute of the restart. Bobby De Cordova-Reid received the ball down the left wing before he drilled it across the 6 yard box. Vardy then managed to scrap the ball across the line, reminding Spurs of his Premier League trophy tally as he wheeled away in celebration. Leicester then flipped the game on its head when completing a 4 minute turn around. De Cordova-Reid was involved again, playing the ball to Bilal El Khannouss who had space to run into outside the Spurs penalty area. The Moroccan ate up the space awarded to him before brilliantly curling the ball into the bottom right corner, making for a superb Leicester 2nd. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium atmosphere then turned very toxic, with Spurs missing every chance they got in the final 3rd. The decision making from Ange’s men inside the penalty area was also very poor, opting to shoot on a number of occasions when a pass would be a much better option. The full time score finished 1-2 with Tottenham losing yet another game against a team in a rotten run of form. Spurs remain 15th in the table while Leicester jump out of the relegation zone by a point and into 17th after a brilliant performance away from home.

Aston Villa vs West Ham United

The next game on Sunday afternoon in Matchweek 23 saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Graham Potter’s West Ham at Villa Park. After a sluggish start to the afternoon by West Ham, it was cruelly punished by Villa as they opened the scoring inside 10 minutes. Ollie Watkins found the ball at his feet where he immediately looked to play in fellow countryman Jacob Ramsey into the West Ham penalty area. Watkins played a brilliant ball into Ramsey where he showed great strength to shove off Vladimir Coufal before drilling the ball into the bottom right corner. Villa dominated for the rest of the half and thought they’d found a 2 goal cushion when Morgan Rogers tapped the ball in from close range minutes later but it was chalked off as Watkins was offside before he played the ball. Youri Tielemans and Watkins went on to both miss big chances before the break but West Ham defended well to keep the score to 1-0 at the interval. 

With all 3 their strikers out with long term injuries, it was always going to be hard for Potter’s men to find that attacking presence up front, but after all their hard work in the early stages of the 2nd period, left back Emerson popped up with a goal that both West Ham forwards, Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio, would have been very proud off. Edson Alvarez whipped in a brilliant cross from the right wing where Emerson jumped up brilliantly and cushioned the ball into the far corner with a wonderful header at the back post. After conceding to make it 1-1, it was clear the energy tanks were running low in Villa’s midfield after their Champions League action in midweek. With quite literally the last kick of the game, West Ham thought they’d won it after Scottish substitute Andy Irving cracked a shot from outside the penalty area. Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez made a right mess of it, attempting to catch the ball but letting it slip out of his hands and into the path of Tomas Soucek. Soucek then rounded the keeper before squaring it to Lucas Paqueta who tapped the ball into an empty net. Paqueta thought he’d made it 3 goals in 3 games against Villa this season, only to be met by the assistant’s flag as he turned in celebration. The full time score finished 1-1 with a draw a fair result overall. Villa remained 8th in the table after they dropped 2 points against a resilient West Ham side. West Ham’s position in the league also remains unchanged as they sit 14th on 27 points.

Fulham vs Manchester United

The curtain closer of yet another entertaining Premier League Matchweek saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at Craven Cottage. Fulham dominated the early exchanges, with United keeper Andre Onana forced into some crucial saves. It was a frustrating first half for Fulham, with the hosts just unable to find that poacher-like touch in the 6 yard area. The half time score remained 0-0 with United yet to offer up anything to their travelling fans.

Both sides missed huge chances in the opening stages of the 2nd period, with Bruno Fernandes firing a free kick under the wall and just wide of the post of United before Adama Traore blasted his effort from inside the penalty area just over the bar for Fulham. Then, in the 77th minute, United found the lead thanks to a fortunate deflection. Alejandro Garnacho received the ball at the goal line in the Fulham area before playing the ball into a dangerous position. The pass meant for Toby Collyer was cut out by Sander Berge before the ball fell to Lisandro Martinez. The tiny centre half cracked a shot from 25 yards out and watched as his effort flew off Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic and into the top right corner. Fulham then came millimeters away from equalising after Joachim Andersen headed Andreas Pereira’s corner at goal. Young academy graduate, Collyer, was then present to save the day, brilliantly heading the Dane’s effort off the line to win the game for United. Manchester United’s best player Amad Diallo thought he’d scored with the final action of the game to make it 0-2 when slotting the ball past Bernd Leno to wrap up the 3 points but VAR chalked it out for an offside in the build up. The full time score finished 0-1 with United picking up a huge 3 points on the road. Amorim’s side remain 12th in the league on 29 points while Fulham remain 10th on 33 after a frustrating performance.

Written by Ollie Wade