Kickoff chronicles

Everton vs Arsenal

The opening fixture of Matchweek 31 saw David Moyes’ Everton host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. Everton made a rare slow start to the fixture which saw them concede some early chances from the Gunners. After a dominant half from Arsenal, they finally broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. Everton lost the ball in a dangerous area which saw Raheem Sterling drive through up the Goodison turf on Arsenal’s latest counter attack. Sterling played the ball to Leandro Trossard in the left side of the penalty area where the Belgian fired the ball into the bottom right corner leaving Jordan Pickford with no chance of keeping it out. Trossard had another huge chance moments before half time, taking a heavy shot before sliding to poke the ball past Pickford. Pickford was able to block Trossard’s first effort with James Tarkowski blocking Declan Rice’s rebound effort. The score at the interval stood at 0-1 with Arsenal hoping to close the gap between themselves and Liverpool on the table. 

The Gunners made the worst possible start to the 2nd half when they conceded a very controversial penalty. Myles Lewis-Skelly was running back to prevent Everton winger Jack Harrsion from getting a shot away inside the penalty area where the full back leant too far into Harrison and tripped him up. It was a very soft penalty given by referee Darren England but VAR agreed with his call as Iliam Ndiaye stepped up to take the penalty. Ndiaye slotted the ball with great composure into the bottom right corner to claim his 7th goal of the season. Arsenal clearly dominated the rest of the game, with Rice, Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli all seeing their efforts parried away by the reliable Pickford. The full time score finished 1-1, with the Arsenal players left furious that Everton were awarded such a controversial penalty which pretty much hands Liverpool the title. Arsenal remain 2nd, 11 points behind Liverpool while Everton jump into 14th on 35 points.

Crystal Palace vs Brighton Hove & Albion

The following game of Matchweek 31 saw Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace host Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton at Selhurst Park in what has become one of the most underrated rivalries in the recent Premier League era. Palace made an electric start to the fixture when Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his 13th of the campaign inside three minutes. Eberechi Eze played a brilliant direct pass into the feet of Mateta where the Frenchman took one touch before thrashing the ball into the top right corner to give the Eagles the lead in spectacular fashion. This was a major wake up call for Brighton who fired up after the opener. In the 14th minute, Palace keeper Dean Henderson was forced into a huge double save to keep the score at 1-0. Finally in the 31st minute, the Seagulls tied the game when Danny Welbeck scored his 8th of the season. Yankuba Minteh whipped in a cross from the right wing where Welbeck lunged in to poke the ball past Henderson and into the bottom left corner. The score at the interval stood at 1-1 with the full time result unpredictable.

The Eagles made another quick start to the half, scoring inside 10 minutes of the restart. Eze made a stellar run down the left wing before cutting into a more central position. Eze then rolled the ball off to his right where Daniel Munoz cracked a shot first time from outside the penalty area, watching as his effort flew into the bottom left corner. Twenty minutes after the Eagles had restored their advantage, they were reduced to 10 men. Substitute Eddie Nketiah, who had already been booked, was shown a 2nd yellow card for a shockingly high foot challenge on the head of Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Palace then went down to nine in the 90th minute after skipper Marc Guehi was shown a 2nd yellow for a challenge, much like Nketiah, on Brajan Gruda. A 3rd red card of the evening was then produced by referee Anthony Taylor in the 3rd minute of stoppage time after Van Hecke clearly fouled Daichi Kamada who was through on goal. With just seconds to play, Henderson produced one last match winning save, brilliantly parrying Yasin Ayari’s volley away from danger with his knee to heroically win the game for Palace. The full time score finished 2-1, with Palace picking up a huge 3 points against their biggest rivals to do the double over them. The Eagles jump into 11th on the table while Brighton remain 8th, only 4 points higher than Palace.

Ipswich Town vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The next game of Matchweek 31 saw Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town host Vitor Pereira’s Wolves at Portman Road in what was a huge game; if Ipswich win the relegation battle could still be on but if Wolves win, Ipswich’s relegation is all but confirmed. The Tractor boys made a superb start to the game, scoring after just a quarter of an hour. Axel Tuanzebe crossed the ball into the penalty area from the left where Dara O’Shea headed the ball across the 6-yard box. Delap then lunged in to poke the ball into the back of the net to give Ipswich a priceless lead. Wolves were then gifted a rare and huge chance to equalise in the 36th minute after O’Shea played a backpass to his keeper Alex Palmer. Palmer failed to control the pass and was forced to clear the ball off the line with his hand, resulting in an obvious indirect free kick from the 6-yard box. In the end, Emmanuel Agbadou’s powerful effort from 6 yards was heroically blocked by Ipswich captain Sam Morsy to keep the score at 1-0. At half time, Ipswich remained in front with Wolves slowly finding their way into the game.

After a half of close encounters for the travelling side, they finally found a deserved equaliser in the 72nd minute thanks to super sub Pablo Sarabia. The Spaniard received the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Jorgan Strand Larsen where his initial shot was blocked by Jens Cajuste. He then picked the ball up again, rolled it over onto his left , and smashed the ball into the bottom right corner. In the 84th minute, Wolves broke the hearts of the 30,000+ Ipswich fans in Portman Road when they flipped the game on its head. Andre played a long ball out to the right wing where Sarabia registered his 2nd goal involvement of the game, volleying the ball across the 6-yard box. Strand Larsen then peeled away from his marker to bundle the ball over the line, his 4th goal in 3 games. The full time score finished 1-2, with Wolves picking up their 3rd win in a row to all but confirm their safety and Ipswich’s relegation. Pereira’s Wolves sit 17th on 32 points while Ipswich sit one place below in 18th, 12 points separating the two sides with only seven games left in the season.

West Ham United vs AFC Bournemouth

The following fixture of Matchweek 31 saw Graham Potter’s West Ham United host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at the London Stadium. Bournemouth made a far superior start to the game, coming close to scoring inside a minute after Evanilson headed Dango Ouattara’s cross narrowly wide of the post. The Cherries eventually found a deserved opener just before the interval when winger Antoine Semenyo drilled a shot at the West Ham goal. Keeper Alphonse Areola spilled the shot where Evanilson was quick to pounce on the Frenchman’s error, smashing the rebound in. Bournemouth went into half-time with a 0-1 advantage, West Ham so fortunate that it was not two when Cherries’ centre half Illia Zabarnyi rattled the crossbar with a header in the 43rd minute.

Only a quarter of an hour into the 2nd period, West Ham equalised thanks to super substitute, Niclas Fullkrug. The German striker, who has been having injury troubles all season, jumped up powerfully to head James Ward-Prowse’s corner forcefully past Bournemouth keeper Kepa. Seven minutes later, West Ham flipped the game on its head when captain Jarrod Bowen netted his 8th of the season. Mohammed Kudus chipped the ball into the penalty area where Bowen brilliantly out jumped all four Bournemouth defenders to head the ball into the far right of Kepa’s goal. Just as it looked like the Hammers were holding out for a much needed win, Bournemouth levelled the game yet again after David Brooks crossed the ball over into the West Ham penalty area. Young Spanish centre half, Dean Huijsen headed the ball right across the 6-yard box and over Areola for Evanilson who smashed the ball into the back of the net from a metre out. The full time score finished 2-2, with the result helping neither side although it was a very entertaining Premier League encounter. West Ham remain 16th in the table on 35 points while Bournemouth remain 10th on 45 points.

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

The final game of Matchweek 31 played on Saturday afternoon saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest at Villa Park. The first half was surprisingly dominated by the hosts who found the opener in the 13th minute. Youri Tielemens played a wonderful ball over the Forest defence to Morgan Rogers where the Englishman’s first touch was exquisite. This then allowed Rogers to bury the ball into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0. Just two minutes later, Villa doubled their advantage when Donyell Malen scored his 2nd goal in as many games. Ian Maatsen made a brilliant run down the left wing, twisting and turning around Forest midfielder Ryan Yates before drilling the ball across the 6-yard box. Malen ran onto the cross and smashed it past Forest keeper Matz Sels. Forest had one big chance before the interval when Anthony Elanga attempted to recreate his solo effort against Manchester United earlier in the week. He charged through the Villa half, chopping and churning through their defenders before just brushing his effort wide of the far post. At half time, the score stood at 2-0 with Villa eyeing up a 7th win in a row in all competitions.

Forest found an early lifeline in the 2nd period when half-time substitute Jota Silva scored in the 56th minute. Neco Willams crossed the ball in from the left wing where Silva stole the ball off his teammate Elliot Anderson before smashing it into the bottom right corner. Forest were so unlucky for the remainder of the 2nd half, with Anderson having a shot of his own brush off the woodwork and out for a goal kick. Centre half Murrilo then had to watch in agony as his rocket of a strike from 25 yards rattled off the upright in stoppage time and over the crossbar. The full time score finished 2-1, with Villa picking up a huge 3 points in the race for a European spot while Forest had a rare loss. Villa jump into 6th, only 2 points away from the top four while Forest remain 3rd with 57 points.

Brentford vs Chelsea

The first game of Matchweek 31 played on Sunday afternoon saw Thomas Frank’s Brentford host Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the Gtech Stadium in the Premier League’s latest London derby. The first half was even on paper but Brentford had the better chances. Mikel Damsgaard had his close range effort saved by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez before Bryan Mbeumo saw his effort from the right wing fly past Sanchez’s near post. Keane Lewis-Potter also had a huge chance denied by Sanchez just before the interval, watching as his glancing header from Mbeumo’s corner bounced off the Gtech turf before Sanchez leapt to his right to parry the ball away from goal. The half time score finished 0-0 with Brentford unlucky not to be ahead.

Chelsea dominated the opening minutes of the 2nd period, with Brentford keeper Mark Flekken the only reason the hosts stayed on level terms with the Blues. Brentford then came so close to winning the game late on after Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa linked up brilliantly, playing a string of passes through the Chelsea half before Mbeumo eventually saw his effort parried away by Sanchez. Brentford should have snatched all three points in the 81st minute after Lewis-Potter crossed the ball in for Sepp van den Berg where the defender headed the ball into the turf where it somehow bounced over the crossbar. The full time score finished 0-0, with both sides disappointed not to walk away with more. Brentford drop to 12th on 42 points while Chelsea remain 4th on 53.

Fulham vs Liverpool

The following game of Matchweek 31 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Arne Slot’s Liverpool at Craven Cottage. After a shaky start from Liverpool, they eventually found the lead in the 14th minute thanks to a brilliant strike from Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine picked the ball up on the halfway line before motoring through the Fulham half showing great strength. Mac Allister then rifled the ball into the top left corner scoring his 4th of the season. Less than 10 minutes later, Fulham equalised thanks to Ryan Sessegnon. Andreas Pereira crossed the ball in from the right wing where his cross wasn’t properly cleared by Curtis Jones, allowing Sessegnon to smash the ball into the bottom right corner. Just after the half hour mark, Liverpool left back Andy Robertson had a series of errors which saw Fulham take a shock lead. He first played a terrible pass across his backline which saw Alex Iwobi intercept it. Iwobi’s initial shot was then blocked by Ryan Gravenberch, only for Robertson to head the ball back to the Nigerian. Iwobi’s 2nd shot then caught a deflection off the hand of Robertson which saw it divert into the back of the net, an ugly goal to concede for the travelling side. To the shock of the away end, Fulham took a two goal lead just before the interval after Iwobi leant back when attempting a volley from outside the penalty area This resulted in his shot causing much aerial confusion outside the Liverpool penalty area allowing Rodrigo Muniz to brilliantly control the ball down despite the presence of star defender, Virgil van Dijk. Muniz then took a few more touches before firing the ball through the legs of Liverpool keeper Coaimhin Kelleher. The score at half time was 3-1, the first time ever in the Premier League Liverpool had scored first in the opening 45 minutes but then went into the break 3-1 down.

Liverpool were looking much sharper in the 2nd half and almost scored inside three minutes of the restart after Diogo Jota’s shot from close range was spectacularly saved over the bar by Bernd Leno. The Reds then halved the deficit in the 72nd minute after Conor Bradley slipped the ball through to Luis Diaz inside the penalty area. Diaz took a touch before poking the ball into the bottom left corner, a brilliant double substitution made by Slot to get his side back into the game. With just 10 minutes to play, Liverpool came so close after Harvey Elliot saw his shot from inside the penalty area rattle the crossbar and fire away from danger. Fulham defended the dying moments strongly and held out for a superb 3-2 win against the team top of the league. Fulham move into 8th on the table with 48 points while Liverpool’s 27-game Premier League unbeaten run comes to an end as they lose just their 2nd league game of the season. Slot’s side still sit comfortably in 1st, with Arsenal 11 points away.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton

The next game of Matchweek 31 saw Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham host Ivan Juric’s Southampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It didn’t take long for Ange’s side to carve apart Juric’s rock bottom Saints, scoring inside 13 minutes. Djed Spence made a brilliant run down the left wing, taking the ball to the bi-line before cutting back across the penalty area. Brennan Johnson then arrived at Spence’s cross first, smashing the ball into the top left corner of Aaron Ramsdale’s net. Tottenham were clearly the more dominant side in the first period, and thought they’d scored a 2nd goal in the 33rd minute after Pedro Porro whipped in their latest set piece. Christian Romero headed the ball back across goal to Lucas Bergvall who lunged out to poke the ball into the bottom left corner. Unfortunately for the Swede, his goal was disallowed as Romero was offside when he headed the ball back. Tottenham’s 2nd eventually came just before the interval when Johnson registered his brace. Rodrigo Bentancur whipped the ball in from the right wing where his shot was cleared into the London air. The cross was causing much confusion before James Maddison headed the ball over the Southampton defence to Johnson who very intricately poked the ball into the bottom right corner. At half-time, the score stood at 2-0, with Southampton now staring down what would now be a mathematically confirmed relegation from the Premier League.

The majority of the 2nd period saw much less action, with Spurs seemingly happy with a 2-0 victory. The Saints did give the hosts something to think about in the 90th minute when Matues Fernandes scored his 2nd of the season to make it 2-1. Kamaldeen Sulemana crossed the ball in from the left wing where Fernandes was given time to chest the ball down. The midfielder then volleyed the ball through the legs of Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario to half the deficit. In the end, Spurs restored their two goal cushion with the last kick of the game after Wellington fouled Johnson inside the Saints penalty area. Winter signing Mathys Tel stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it brilliantly, smashing the ball into the far right of Ramsdale’s goal to bag his 1st ever Premier League goal. The full time score finished 3-1, with Spurs picking up an easy 3 points which sees them jump into 14th on the table. Southampton’s relegation is now statistically confirmed as they become the quickest side to ever be relegated.

Manchester United vs Manchester City

The final game on Sunday afternoon of Matchweek 31 saw Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Premier League’s latest Manchester derby. The first half was even for the most part, with City dominating possession but United having the more clear cut chances. In the end, both keepers (Andre Onana for United and Ederson for City) were the stand out players in the opening 45 minutes, saving everything that was shot at them. At half-time, it remained goalless with both managers hoping for a big 2nd half performance from their players. 

City had a huge chance to find the opener just moments into the 2nd period when Omar Marmoush threaded the ball through to Phil Foden. Foden took one too many touches, allowing Noussair Mazraoui to make a brilliant challenge, denying the Englishman from what seemed like a certain goal. Marmoush was the man looking to make a real difference for City, forcing Onana into two brilliant saves from two of his own wonder efforts, a free kick from 25 yards out and a wicked volley from just outside the penalty area. After soaking up all of City’s pressure, United went on a few rare ventures forward and came so close to stealing the game at the end. Patrick Dorgu drilled the ball across the penalty area from the left wing where Joshua Zirkzee did brilliantly to get a shot away. His effort was saved by Ederson as the rebound effort from Mason Mount was heroically blocked by Rico Lewis. The full time score finished 0-0, this being the first Manchester derby in over four years to finish goalless. United remain 13th on the table with 38 points while City fail to jump into the top four and sit 5th on 52 points.

Leicester City vs Newcastle United

The curtain draw for Matchweek 31 saw Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Monday night. Leicester got off to their usual woeful start, conceding inside two minutes. Ex Leicester academy product, Harvey Barnes, received the ball down the left wing from Joelinton where he intelligently flicked the ball into the path of Tino Livramento who had made the overlapping run. Livramento then crossed the ball over to the back post where Jacob Murphy was unmarked and free to tap the ball into the back of the host’s net. Newcastle then made it 0-2 just after the 10 minute mark when Newcastle centre half Fabian Schar dispossessed Leicester skipper Jamie Vardy inside his own half. Schar then had a quick glance up and saw Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen off his line. The Swiss international then fired the ball at the goal, watching agonisingly as it dipped over Hermansen, only to rattle the crossbar and bounce back into play. With all the Leicester defenders caught ball-watching Schar’s wonder strike, Murphy was free to take as many touches as he wanted before smashing the ball into the top corner to secure his brace. Leicester made it 0-3 just after the half hour mark when Barnes intercepted a pass just outside his own penalty area before he dashed up the King Power Turf. He then played the ball to Alexander Isak just outside of the Leicester penalty area where Isak saw his shot take a deflection, with Joelinton picking up the second ball. Joelinton’s effort was brilliantly saved by Hermansen, but the Danish keeper was once again left vulnerable thanks to his useless centre halves. Barnes was left unmarked and free to score on his return to his former employer’s stadium, with the young man showing respect to his former club by not celebrating his goal. The half-time score stood at 0-3, with the last 21 goals recorded at the King Power Stadium scored by the Leicester opposition, proving just how woeful they have been this campaign.

The 2nd half saw much less action, with Newcastle dominating but not as hungry knowing the job was done and it would be beneficial to rest some legs for more challenging games in the coming weeks. The full time score finished 0-3, taking Newcastle into 5th on the table with 53 points as they hope to secure a Champions League position for the 2nd time in three seasons. Leicester’s relegation is all but confirmed as they remain 19th on 17 points, 15 points away from safety.

Written by Ollie Wade