Kickoff chronicles

Ipswich Town vs Crystal Palace

The opening fixture of Matchweek 14 saw Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town host Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace at Portman Road on a cold Tuesday night in Suffolk. The first half was closely contested, but finished scoreless, with the Eagles having the best chance after Eberechi Eze saw his effort from close range comfortably saved by Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric. At the interval, the score stood at 0-0 with both sides hoping to improve their 2nd period performance to win a game that would see them climb out of the bottom 3.

After Ipswich got off to a positive start in the 2nd half it was Palace who found the opener in the 59th minute totally against the run of play. Eze played the ball to French centre forward Jean-Philippe Mateta who used his brute strength to out-muscle and out-pace Tractor Boy’s defender Jacob Greaves. Mateta added in a couple of stepovers while progressing into the penalty area before chipping the ball over the outcoming Muric, making for a very professional finish as he scored his 4th goal in the league this season. Ipswich tried to rally and score a late equaliser, but Place were too strong defensively as Glasner’s side held out for a much needed 2nd win of the campaign and a crucial 3 points. Palace jumped out of the relegation zone and into 15th place while Ipswich remained in the bottom 3 after failing to pick up points yet again.

Leicester City vs West Ham United

The 2nd relegation battle played on Tuesday night saw Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City host Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United at the King Power Stadium. Van Nistelrooy got off to a dream start on his King Power debut when Leicester City hero, Jamie Vardy, scored his 141st Premier League goal. Bilal El Khannouss played the ball through to Vardy who had timed his run to perfection. Vardy was through on goal where he placed the ball into the opposite corner beautifully, leaving West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski with no chance of saving it. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal was eventually given by rookie referee Josh Smith. West Ham then continued to dominate the rest of the half, registering a total of 21 attempts, the most they had ever created in a Premier League first half. At half time the score finished 1-0 with Leicester very fortunate not to be down by 2 or 3 given how close West Ham had come. It was worth noting how good Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen was playing to keep out the Hammers forwards on multiple occasions.

West Ham will have felt they were robbed early on in the 2nd period, being denied a blatant penalty after Wilfred Ndidi clearly handballed the cross from Jarrod Bowen and also being denied a goal after a ghost foul on Leicester keeper Hermansen. It was proving to not be West Ham’s day after Leicester found a 2nd, totally against the run of play. Facundo Buonanotte played a lovely ball into the path of Kasey McAteer who had made his way down the left wing. He cut back inside before playing the ball centrally into El Khannouss who slipped when he took his shot, helping the ball on its way into the bottom left corner as he unintentionally tricked Fabianski. West Ham continued to dominate but their incompetence in front of goal resulted in Leicester breaking away to score their 3rd goal. After Bobby De Cordova-Reid just had a goal chalked off for offside, substitute Patson Daka opened his account for the season 6 minutes later. Defender Victor Kristiansen played a lobbed ball over the Hammers defence and into the path of the Zambian. Daka’s first touch to steal the ball from Maxiliamian Kilman was brilliant and it let him progress into the West Ham penalty area. He then composed himself before thrashing the ball into the top left corner, winning the game in style for the Foxes. The Hammer’s did grab a late consolation in the 3rd minute of stoppage time when Niclas Fullkrug scored his first goal in Claret and Blue from Crysencio Summerville’s flick on after Jarrod Bowen’s corner. After spending the season sidelined so far from injury, West Ham fans were able to take a small positive from their big loss. The full time score finished 3-1 with West Ham fans singing to their own manager “you’re getting sacked in the morning” with Lopetegui’s time in East London surely up. They registered a total of 31 shots, their most ever in a Premier League game. The Hammers sit 14th in the table. Leicester picked up a huge 3 points which takes them into 15th in the table, a dream start for Ruud as they sit only 2 points behind West Ham.

Everton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The first game of Matchweek 14 played on Wednesday night saw Sean Dyche’s Everton (who were goalless in their last 4 games) host Gary O’Neil’s relegation threatened Wolves at Goodison Park. The Toffees made the ideal start inside 10 minutes when the veteran, Ashley Young, scored the Premier Leagues latest free kick. From the right side of the penalty area, Young bent the ball around the wall, watching as it crept into the bottom right corner and out of the reach of Wolves keeper, Jose Sa. Ten minutes after James Tarkowski had his headed goal disallowed from a Dwight McNeil free kick, Orel Managal opened his account in the Everton colours when he scored off another free kick, with this goal standing. The ball ricocheted around the penalty area before Mangala ran in and fired the ball into the top left corner, doubling Everton’s advantage in spectacular fashion. At half time the score finished 2-0 in a very meaningful tie down the bottom of the table. 

Everton all but sealed the 3 points in the 49th minute when they scored from the 3rd set piece of the afternoon. McNeil whipped the ball in from the right corner flag where the ball deflected in off Wolves centre half, Craig Dawson, with the penalty area very congested and Dawson left with the tricky situation of trying to clear the ball. Dawson then completed his unwanted brace of own goals. Yet again, Everton’s goal came from a McNeil set piece, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin making the first contact, diving to head the ball into the bottom corner before it deflected off the shin of Dawson, rolling into the bottom right corner. It was a much needed win for Everton and it was a relief for their fans to see their players score so many goals at Goodison. The full time score finished 4-0, with the Toffees rising into 15th on the table with 14 points. Wolves continue to leak goals, and this time fail to score, as they sit 19th with O’Neil’s time in the Midlands surely up.

Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

The following game of Matchweek 14 saw Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, in dire need of 3 points, host Nuno Espirito’s high flying Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens made the perfect start to the fixture when Bernardo Silva opened his account for the season. Kevin De Bruyne’s bullet header across the penalty area from Ilkay Gundogan’s cross was tapped in by Silva as he slid in to make the all important final contact. Moments after Chris Wood had put a 1v1 wide for the travelling side, De Bruyne scored his 2nd of the season to give City a 2 goal cushion. Jermey Doku showed great skill down the left wing before he cut in and played the ball off to the Belgian. De Bruyne then took a touch before rifling the ball into the top left. At half time the score stood at 2-0 with City hoping to put an end to their 7 game winless streak. 

The hosts all but sealed the 3 points in the 57th minute when Doku scored a deserved goal. After receiving the ball from Erling Haaland down the left wing, the Belgian dribbled at Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic with real purpose. Doku danced into the penalty area before chopping onto his right foot and curling the ball perfectly around shot stopper Matz Sels and into the far corner. Pep’s side held out for the remaining minutes, with the score finishing 3-0, finally putting an end to their winless run. City jumped back into the top 4 of the table into 4th with only Brighton left to play. Nottingham Forest will be disappointed, but the vibe surrounding the club is still positive as they currently sit 6th in the table.

Newcastle United vs Liverpool

The following game of matchweek 14 saw Eddie Howe’s underperforming Newcastle host Arne Slot’s 1st placed Liverpool at St.James’ Park. After a fairly even first half hour in the highly anticipated tie, the Magpies took the lead after Alexander Isak conjured up what football pundits would know as a screamer. Bruno Guimaraes played the ball to Isak who took a couple of touches before lining up a shot. His strike was quite magnificent, thundering the ball into the top right corner and leaving Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with no chance of keeping it out. At half time the score finished 1-0 with Arne Slot in threat of dropping some of his 9 point gap at the top. 

The Reds made the perfect start to the 2nd period when they levelled the game just 5 minutes in. Mohamed Salah played a lovely trivela pass from the right wing, into both the penalty area and path of Curtis Jones who smashed the ball over Nick Pope and into the roof of the net. Newcastle restored their advantage in the 62nd minute, sending St. James’ into a state of disbelief. Isak played the ball into Anthony Gordon inside the Liverpool penalty area. The ex-Evertonian cut the ball back around Joe Gomez before placing the ball into the bottom right corner, with Kelleher left with egg on his face after he let the ball fly through his wrists. Liverpool equalised 6 minutes later when Salah scored his 12th goal of the season. Trent Alexander-Arnold received the ball on the goalline down the right wing where he immediately cut it back. Inside the penalty area was Salah who very delicately passed the ball into the bottom left corner, with the score now 2-2 and this game shaping up to be a Premier League classic. Liverpool then took the lead for the first time on the night when Salah became the top soccer of the league in the 83rd minute. It was the same duo that combined to score the previous goal, Trent to Salah, when the English full back received the ball down the right wing after a series of intricate passes around the penalty area by Liverpool. Salah took the ball well on his left foot, before spinning around Newcastle centre half, Dan Burn, and drilling the ball into the bottom left corner. In the final minute of normal time, Newcastle levelled the game for the 3rd time. Guimaraes whipped in a free kick from the right wing where Kelleher made his 2nd error of the night, deciding to let the ball travel out for a goal kick. Unfortunately for the Irishman, lurking at the back post was Fabian Schar who somehow slid in and rolled the ball over the line from a ridiculously impossible angle. The full time score finished 3-3, with this tie turning out to be one of the games of the season. Liverpool remain 1st but allow Arsenal and Chelsea to tighten the gap on them. Newcastle drew again and jumped into the top half of the table, 10th.

Southampton vs Chelsea

The next game of Matchweek 14 saw Russell Martin’s rock bottom Southampton host Enzo Maresca’s free flowing Chelsea at St. Mary’s Stadium. The Blues found the lead inside 10 minutes when Axel Disasi headed home Enzo Fernandez’s inswinging corner delivery. It was a dream start to the game but their opener was soon cancelled out when the Saints levelled the tie in the 11th minute. Kyle Walker-Peters showed brilliant skill to dance his way around Fernandez on the goal line before passing the ball onto the penalty spot for Joe Aribo to slot home. Only 6 minutes later, Chelsea restored their lead after the Saints gave yet another goal away due to an error from trying to play the ball out from the back. Goalkeeper Joe Lumley played the ball right into the path of Noni Madueke who then knocked it to Christopher Nkunku. Nkunku was then left with the easy task of passing the ball into an empty net, scoring his 12th of the season in all competitions. After Chelsea had hit the bar twice in quick succession, they found their 2 goal cushion when Madueke added his name to the score sheet. He dribbled down the left wing before cutting into the penalty area and eventually slotting the ball into the bottom left corner, making for a superb individual goal. Things then got even worse for the Saints when Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 39th minute. It was a clear send off and a ridiculous action from Saints captain Stephens. At half time the score stood at 1-3 with Southampton left with no route back into the game after going down to 10 men.

After coming so close to a 4th goal that would seal the victory, Chelsea finally found it in the 76th minute when “Cold” Palmer scored his 9th of the season. Fernandez played Nkunku into the Southampton area where he chopped onto his left foot before scraping a shot away after being fouled. It was hard to tell if the ball would have made it over the line, but Palmer put any doubts to bed when he passed the rolling ball into the back of the net. No.5 came in the 87th minute when Jadon Sancho finally scored his first Premier League goal for the Blues after registering 3 assists already this season. The Manchester United loanee received the ball inside the right area of the 18-yard box before drilling it into the top right corner, putting the cherry on top of a dominant Blues performance. The full time score finished 1-5 with Chelsea putting out quite the statement, taking them into 2nd place only 7 points shy of leaders Liverpool. Southampton stay rock bottom, conceding 5 goals as well, leaving them with just 5 points this season.

Arsenal vs Manchester United

The next game on Wednesday night was the most anticipated of the week with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal hosting Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium with both teams fresh off big wins last weekend. The first half was a very closely fought battle of tactics and possession, with United dominating the ball but Arsenal clearly creating more chances. At half time, it finished 0-0 with either side capable of snatching all 3 points in an even game in North London

Arsenal finally scored the opener in the 54th minute when they bagged their 21st set piece since the start of the 23/24 season. Declan Rice’s delivery was pin point and all Jurrien Timber had to do was apply the littlest of touches to guide the ball past travelling keeper Andre Onana. After more domination in the second half, Arsenal scored yet again from the corner in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka crossed in their latest from the right flag. Thomas Partey powerfully headed the ball back across goal from the back post where the ball actually deflected in off the backside of Gunner’s centre half, WIlliam Saliba. Arsenal saw out the remaining quarter of an hour successfully, proving defensively too strong for Amorim’s United who had asked no meaningful questions of the host’s backline. The full time score finished 2-0 with Arsenal picking up a huge 3 points taking them within 7 points of the summit. Mikel Arteta’s side have now also earnt the name “Set Piece FC” given the amount of crucial goals they are scoring now from corners and free kicks. Manchester United failed to score for the first time under Amorim as they dropped into 13th place in the table with the Portuguese manager still left with major work to improve the Red Devils.

Aston Villa vs Brentford

The final game played on Wednesday night saw Unai Emery’s underperforming Aston Villa host Thomas Frank’s high scoring Brentford at Villa Park. Aston Villa scored a much needed opener in the 21st minute after Morgan Rogers found Ollie Watkins following his driving run through the centre of the pitch. Watkins played it back to Rogers who took a touch before beautifully curling the ball into the top right corner. The hosts were then gifted a golden chance for a 2 goal lead when Watkins was grappled down inside the penalty area by Bees centre half Ethan Pinnock. Watkins stepped up to take the spot kick and just managed to pass it into the bottom right corner, with Brentford keeper Mark Flekken only getting a wrist to it as the striker’s effort just trickled in. Villa were starting to run away with the game when Matty Cash scored in the 34th minute to make it 3-0. Rogers’ deflected cross from the left wing stood up perfectly for the Pole who smashed the ball on the volley, watching as it crept in on Flekken’s near post. At half time the score was 3-0 with the Villains in a prime position to end a 8 game winless run. 

Brentford gave the hosts something to think about in the 54th minute when Mikkel Damsgaard netted his 2nd of the Premier League season. Bryan Mbuemo’s cross from the right wing floated all the way to the back post where the Dane controlled it down. Damsgaard chopped and churned before eventually smashing the ball into the roof of the host’s net. The Bees never really looked like scoring after Damsgaard’s goal and it was Villa who dominated the remaining 90 minutes. At the full time whistle, the score finished 3-1 with Villa picking up a much needed 3 points seeing them soar from 12th in the table to 7th. Brentford will be disappointed in their first half showings as they sit 9th in the table.

Fulham vs Brighton Hove & Albion

The first game to be played on Thursday night in Matchweek 14 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham who were hosting Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers got off to a dream start inside 5 minutes when Fulham’s star man, Alex Iwobi, scored to give them an early 1-0 lead. It was a gift of a goal, Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen needlessly giving the ball away to the Nigerian with his goal left unguarded. Iwobi was quick, stealing the ball from the feet of Carlos Baleba before using his quick feet to pass the ball into an empty net. Brighton dominated the rest of the 1st half but failed to break down the resilient Fulham defence. At half time the score stood at 1-0 with Hurzeler needing a big 2nd half performance from his players if they were to jump back into the top 4.

Brighton made an ideal start to the 2nd period when Baleba scored a wonder goal in the 56th minute. Joao Pedro played a lovely volleyed backpass to the Cameroonian after Jan Paul van Hecke’s lobbed pass. Baleba hit the ball first time, his strike not as clean as he would’ve liked but it was enough to find the bottom left corner, making for a wonderful goal. After an evenly contested next 20 minutes, Fulham snatched back the lead after scoring a corner in the 79th minute. Andreas Pereira whipped the ball in from the left flag, watching as it was flicked on via the head of Rodrigo Muniz before diverting on off the back of Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley. It was an unfortunate last touch for the Dane which saw him substituted off immediately afterwards. Brighton were pushing for a late leveller but in the end it was Fulham who would score the 4th goal of the night, capping off a brilliant performance. Alex Iwobi received the ball from Antonee Robinson inside the penalty area where he danced around the challenge of Evan Ferguson before hitting the ball on the turn and watching it settle perfectly into the bottom right corner. The full time score finished 3-1 with Fulham picking up a huge 3 points at the Cottage against a top Premier League side. Silva’s team sit 6th in the league on 22 points, 1 point shy of Brighton who are 5th. It was a disappointing and rare result for the Seagulls which luckily doesn’t impact them too much in the league standings. 

AFC Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur

The closing fixture of Matchweek 14 saw Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur at the Vitality Stadium. Despite Spurs dominating possession for the majority of the first half, it was the Cherries who took a shock lead in the 17th minute. Marcus Tavernier’s delivery was on the money when 19-year-old Dean Huijsen made an untracked run around the congested penalty area. The Dutchman was then free at the back post to head the ball past Spurs keeper Fraser Forster and put the Cherries into the lead. Huijsen wasn’t even in Iraola’s plans to start the match, it was only after Marcos Senesi’s injury that he was placed into the Bournemouth starting 11. The Cherries found the back of the net again just before the interval, with Tavernier scoring this time, only for him to look across his shoulder and see the assistant referee’s flag raised. At half time the score finished 1-0, with ex-Bournemouth turned Spurs striker, Dominic Solanke, failing to convert any of the chances Tottenham had created.

Ange thought his side had gotten back on level terms inside the opening 10 minutes of the 2nd period when super sub, Son Heung-Min, tapped the ball into the back of the net after Dejan Kulusevski’s initial effort was parried into his path by Cherries’ keeper, Kepa. Unfortunately for the traveling fans, the South Korean was in an offside position. Spurs were not doing themselves any favours, continuing to make errors attempting to play out from the back. Evanilson thought he’d scored in the 71st minute after Tyler Adam’s intercepted a terrible back pass from Fraser Forster before shooting. Evanilson then tapped in the rebound but for the 3rd time in the night, the goal was ruled out due to offside, with Forster left thanking his lucky stars. Bournemouth were unlucky not to have scored 2 or 3 as the final score finished 1-0. Bournemouth defeat yet another big 6 team at home (Arsenal, Manchester City and now Tottenham) as they rise to 9th in the table. Tottenham sit just 1 place below them in 10th with their fans starting to get tired of how inconsistent their side is.

Written by Ollie Wade