Kickoff chronicles

AFC Bournemouth vs Everton

The opening game of Matchweek 14 played on Tuesday night saw Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host David Moyes’ Everton at the Vitality Stadium, with both sides hoping for a win which would boost them up the Premier League table. The first half provided minimum action with Everton having a couple of half-chances early on. Antoine Semenyo for Bournemouth drew a solid stop from Jordan Pickford in the 26th minute after his volley from inside the area was saved by the English no.1. With virtually the last kick of the half, Bournemouth thought they’d scored to give themselves a 1-0 advantage. Eli Kroupi knocked the ball in from close range but unfortunately for the home side, Kroupi was marginally offside. The half-time score remained 0-0, with either side yet to get into top gear.

Both sides had big chances early after the restart, with Thierno Barry coming inches away from scoring his first Everton goal after his 1v1 effort was tipped over the bar by Djordje Petrovic before Semenyo forced another save from Pickford after his shot from close range was comfortably saved. Everton finally broke the deadlock in the 78th minute after Carlos Alcarez played the ball over to the left wing to Jack Grealish. Grealish cut into a more central area before unleashing a shot, his effort catching a heavy deflection off Bafode Diakate before spinning into the far right of Petrovic’s net. Everton had a huge chance in the 84th minute to wrap up all three points after Grealish cut the ball back to Iliman Ndiaye from the left wing. Ndiaye’s powerful effort was then parried away by Petrovic to keep the Cherries in the game. The full-time score finished 0-1, with Everton making it back-to-back wins on the road, and a much needed victory after they were humbled by Newcastle at home on the weekend. The Toffees move into 9th on the table with 21 points while Bournemouth drop to 14th on 19 points after their fourth game in a row without a win.

Fulham vs Manchester City

The following game played in Matchweek 14 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Craven Cottage, with Fulham hoping to upset the eight-time champions and win their 3rd consecutive game. Manchester City made a dominant start to the game and took the lead after just 15 minutes when Jeremy Doku whipped the ball in from the left wing. Erling Haaland met the Belgian’s cross with a confident and powerful finish into the top left corner, his 100th Premier League goal in just 111 games as he becomes the fastest player to reach the landmark. City continued their domination and made it 0-2 in the 37th minute after Haaland turned from goalscorer to provider. The big Norwegian brilliantly turned and threaded the ball through to Tijjani Reijnders who took the ball in his stride before chipping Fulham keeper Bernd Leno to score his first Premier League goal since Matchweek 1. City were just too strong in the first half and all but sealed the three points in the 45th minute after Leno cleared Reijnders’ corner only as far as Phil Foden on the edge of the area. Foden took a touch before curling the ball beautifully into the top left corner, the best goal so far. Only a minute after City’s 3rd and with almost the last kick of the half, Fulham pulled one back after Harry Wilson crossed the ball in from the right wing. Emile Smith Rowe met his cross with a wonderful diving header into the top left corner, ensuring Fulham were not out of the game yet. The half-time score stood at 1-3, with both sides looking defensively vulnerable.

Only minutes after the restart, City made it 1-4 when Doku played the ball into the path of Haaland inside the Fulham penalty area again. Haaland was unable to control Doku’s pass but it fell kindly for Foden at the back post who smashed it past Leno to score his 66th Premier League goal. Doku had been one of City’s best players so far and was the catalyst of another goal after he cut in with the ball from the left wing. He unleashed a shot, with his effort catching a huge deflection off the knee of Sander Berge before looping into over Leno and into the Fulham goal (unfortunately it was noted as a Berge own goal and not given to Doku). Against all odds, Fulham pulled another goal back after Wilson’s cross was deflected into the path of Alex Iwobi right on the edge of the area. The Nigerian slotted the ball into the bottom right corner with a brilliant finish, the game well and truly raining goals. Substitute Samuel Chukwueze then gave the Citizens something to think about after he made it 3-5. Fellow substitute Timothy Castagne’s cross was deflected into the path of the Nigerian who hit it first time on the half-volley, watching as it flew past Gianluigi Donnarumma and into the bottom left corner. Chukwueze further fired up the Cottage after scoring for the second time inside six minutes to make it 4-5 in this crazy Premier League tie. Another Fulham corner was punched out by Donnarumma to the sub where he hit it on the half volley once again, with Chukwueze’s effort fizzing through a group of players before finding the bottom right corner. With 10 minutes to play, the Fulham fans truly believed their side could complete what looked like a near impossible comeback. Josh King had Fulham’s last chance of the game late in stoppage time, dribbling through a crowd of City players before his eventual shot beat Donnarumma and looked destined to cross the line if not for a crucial clearance off the line by Josko Gvardiol. The full-time score finished 4-5, an absolutely crazy game and a brilliant advert for the Premier League. Despite folding in the 2nd half, City claimed the three points and remain 2nd on the table with 28 points. Fulham dropped to 15th on the table with 17 points, but were clapped off the pitch by their fans who were so close to witnessing one of the biggest comebacks in Premier League history.

Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur

The final game on Tuesday night in Matchweek 14 saw Eddie Howe’s Newcastle host Thomas Frank’s Tottenham at St. James’ Park, with both sides looking for three points which would see them move into the top half of the table. The game got off to a slow start, with the first real chance of the game coming just after the half-hour mark after Sandro Tonali threaded a ball through to his midfield partner Joelinton. The Brazilian’s strike from a tight angle hit the inside of the post and ricocheted away from goal, Newcastle so unlucky not to go ahead. The half-time score stood at 0-0, with Spurs slowly finding their way into the game despite a terrible start.

Newcastle were once again dominant and finally broke through the resilient Spurs’ defence in the 71st minute. Substitute Anthony Gordon dribbled down the left wing before playing the ball into the feet of striker Nick Woltemade. The big German showed his brilliant hold up play when slotting the ball backwards to captain Bruno Guimaraes where the Brazilian placed the ball into the bottom right corner with a wicked first time finish. It seemed Spurs needed the wake up call as it took them just seven minutes to conjure up a response. Mohammed Kudus whipped the ball in from the right wing where his cross dropped right at the front post. Centre half and captain Christian Romero got down low and knocked the ball into the bottom right corner with a superb diving header. Only minutes after Spurs had equalised, Newcastle were back in front after they won a penalty in the 81st minute. Dan Burn was tugged to the ground by Spurs’ midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur inside the penalty area from a Newcastle corner, resulting in a clear spot-kick. Gordon stepped up and smashed the ball into the top right corner from 12-yards out, a confident penalty. Despite the very slow start to the game, Spurs scored within the final minutes of stoppage time to make it 2-2, with all the goals scored after the 70th minute. A late corner was punched out to the edge of the penalty area by Magpies’ keeper Aaron Ramsdale where Romero jumped up acrobatically to bicycle kick the ball back at goal. His effort bounced in between the two Newcastle centre halves and trickled into the bottom left corner, a woeful goal to concede from a Newcastle perspective as surely Burn or Thiaw should have stuck a leg out to deny the Argentine of his 2nd goal of the game. The full-time score finished 2-2, with Newcastle throwing away two leads in the game. Both sides miss out on the chance to move into the top half of the table as Newcastle sit 13th on 19 points while Spurs sit 11th on 19 points as well.

Arsenal vs Brentford

The first game played on Wednesday night in Matchweek 14 saw Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal host Keith Andrews’ Brentford at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League’s latest London derby. Arsenal were expected to dominate the game and lived up to everybody’s expectations, scoring just after 10 minutes. Noni Madueke picked up the ball down the right wing where he played an intelligent flick into the path of the returning Ben White. White crossed the ball in from the left, with make-shift striker Mikel Merino rising high to head the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher, an assist for White just 10 minutes into his return from injury and debut for the 25/26 season. Arsenal continued to dominate although Brentford came inches away from equalising in the 21st minute. Vitaly Janelt whipped the ball in from the left corner flag where Kevin Schade met his cross with a powerful header, his effort brilliantly saved into the crossbar by ex-Brentford keeper David Raya. The half-time score stood at 1-0, with Arsenal hoping to hold onto a win which would put them five points clear at the top of the table.

The Gunners had two huge chances in the 2nd half through an unlikely source, Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal’s left back. Calafiori’s first opportunity came right on the edge of the penalty area where he received the ball from Declan Rice before his low-driven effort forced a brilliant save from Kelleher to stop the ball from nestling into the bottom left corner. The Italian then had another huge opportunity in the 89th minute after he seemed to dribble past every Brentford defender before his shot was saved again by Kelleher before Bukayo Saka was unable to score from the rebound. Merino registered another goal contribution late in stoppage time to win the game for the Gunners after he played a wonderful through ball to Saka. Saka progressed into the penalty area before chopping back onto his left foot before unleashing a strike. Kelleher was able to fling a hand up to Saka’s shot, but it was not enough to send it over the bar with the ball looping into the back of the Brentford net. The full-time score finished 2-0, with Arsenal claiming a huge three points leaving them 1st on 33 points. Brentford drop to 13th on 19 points.

Brighton Hove & Albion vs Aston Villa

The following game on Wednesday night in Matchweek 14 saw Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium in what was a huge game in the fight for Champions league football. Unfortunately for Villa, their goalkeeper and star player Emiliano Martinez received an injury in training which meant Marco Bizot was given the start between the sticks. Less than 10 minutes into the game, Bizot made a huge mistake, coming out to claim a corner and completely missing the ball, with Brighton centre half Jan Paul van Hecke bundling the ball over the line into an empty net. Villa had not been at their best in recent weeks and were exposed again in the 29th minute after local-lad Jack Hinshelwood made a bursting run down the left wing for Brighton. His pass across the penalty area intended for Yankuba Minteh deflected off the shin of Villa centre half Pau Torres and into the bottom corner for 2-0, a poor start to the game for the travelling side. Villa finally halved the deficit and broke through the Brighton defence in the 37th minute after Ian Maatsen’s ball across the penalty area was tapped in from close range by Ollie Watkins’, who finally ended his mini goal drought. Just as both sides thought the half-time whistle was about to be blown, Morgan Rogers played the ball over the Brighton defence and into the path of Watkins with the last kick of the half. Watkins took a couple of touches before smashing the ball into the bottom right corner, a brilliant finish by Watkins although all the credit was due to Rogers and his quick thinking to seal a first half come-back from the Villains. The half-time score stood at 2-2, with both defences looking very vulnerable and exposed.

Just 15 minutes after the break, Villa had completed the turn-around. Matty Cash whipped in the travelling sides’ latest corner where Amadou Onana rose highest at the back post, heading the ball into the bottom corner to score his 2nd of the season. Villa all but sealed the win in the 78th minute after Watkins headed the ball across the 6-yard box from a free kick. Evan Guessand was then denied his first Premier League goal after a brilliant save from Bart Verbruggen before Donyell Malen smashed the rebound home with his first touch after being substituted on just 35 seconds prior. With only minutes left to play in normal time, Van Hecke scored his 2nd of the game to give Villa something to think about. He made a driving run up the pitch from centre half before receiving the ball just outside the penalty area from Hinshelwood and slotting the ball brilliantly into the bottom left corner. Danny Welbeck had two huge chances in stoppage time to earn the Seagulls a point at the death. His first was a brilliant reaction header, drawing a world class save from Bizot before his 2nd header from the corner was just inches wide of the bottom left corner. The full-time score finished 3-4, with the Premier League continuing to provide the fans with dramatic, high-scoring and entertaining matches. Villa complete a huge comeback which takes them into 3rd on the table with 27 points while Brighton drop down to 7th on 22 points.

Burnley vs Crystal Palace

The next game in Matchweek 14 saw Scott Parker’s Burnley host Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace at Turf Moor, with Burnley in need of a victory at home if they were to climb out of the bottom three. Both sides had huge chances inside the early stages, with Jean-Philippe Mateta’s effort saved at the near post by Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka before Jaidon Anthony’s effort was brilliantly stopped by Palace keeper Dean Henderson. The Eagles finally broke the deadlock in the final minute of the half after skipper Marc Guehi crossed the ball over to the back post. Right-back Daniel Munoz, who is no stranger to the odd goal, dove in brilliantly to head Guehi’s header into the bottom left corner to score his 3rd of the season. The half-time score finished 0-1, with Burnley needing a big 2nd half performance.

Once again, both sides had huge chances in the early stages of the half, with Mateta denied once again by Dubrakva before Jacob Bruun Larsen’s close range effort for the Clarets was somehow tipped onto the crossbar by Henderson to keep the score at 0-1. With only stoppage time left to play, Burnley had one final chance after Hannibal Mejbri lobbed the ball into the penalty area. Henderson came out to punch the ball away from the penalty area but completely missed, with centre half Chris Richards forced to clear the ball off the line after his keeper had left Palace’s goal unguarded. The full-time score finished 0-1, with Palace securing a huge three points away from home, taking them into 5th on the table with 23 points. Burnley remain 19th with just 10 points, and relegation looking more certain every week as they have now lost five consecutive games.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Nottingham Forest

The following game in Matchweek 14 saw Rob Edwards’ Wolves host Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest in what was a huge relegation six-pointer at Molineux Stadium. Both sides made a nervy start, with the first chance coming in the 22nd minute after Dan Ndoye headed Omari Hutchinson’s cross wide for Forest. The travelling side thought they’d broken the deadlock just before the break after Igor Jesus headed home Hutchinson’s cross from close range but the goal was later disallowed by VAR as Ndoye was clearly obstructing Wolves’ keeper Sam Johnstone’s view from an offside position. The half-time score finished 0-0, with Wolves once again offering up nothing from an attacking sense.

Only minutes after the restart, Wolves finally carved out a big chance after Jackson Tchatchoua whipped the ball into the Forest penalty area from the right wing. Jhon Arias leapt out to attempt to head the ball into the bottom left corner but his effort fizzed just wide of the post. Johnstone was then forced into two big saves for the hosts, denying Neco Willams from a free kick before he parried away a close range effort from Hutchinson. Forest finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute after Hutchinson whipped the ball in from the right wing, arguably their best player all game. Jesus then rose higher than everyone in the penalty area, heading the ball into an uncontested net after Johnstone was unsuccessful in claiming the cross. The hosts had a few half chances late on but Forest were resilient defensively, holding out for a huge three points and a 0-1 away win. Dyche’s side remain 16th on 15 points although they are now four points clear of the bottom three. Wolves remain rock bottom on just two points, now the equal worst start ever to a top flight season as they are yet to score under Edwards.

Leeds United vs Chelsea

The next game on Wednesday night in Matchweek 14 saw Daniel Farke’s Leeds host Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at Elland Road in what was a huge game for both the top and bottom of the Premier League table. Against all odds, Leeds shocked the Club World Cup champions and sent Elland Road into celebration after scoring inside five minutes. Anton Stach whipped the ball in from the left corner flag where centre half Jaka Bijol met the German’s cross with a thumping header into the top left corner. Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez was able to get a hand to his effort but the Slovenian’s header was just too powerful. Despite Chelsea dominating possession in the majority of the first half, Leeds went on and scored a 2nd just before the break. Jayden Bogle intercepted the ball just outside the Chelsea penalty area before playing the ball into the path of Ao Tanaka. The midfielder took a touch before rifling the ball into the bottom right corner with a world class strike from 20-yards out, a goal which saw Leeds go into the break brandishing a 2-0 lead which would see them rocket out of the relegation zone.

Only minutes into the 2nd half, Leeds almost made it 3-0 after Lukas Nmehca’s effort from Stach’s cross was brilliantly kept out by Sanchez in the Chelsea goal. Only moments after Sanchez’s save, Chelsea had halved the deficit after Jamie Gittens displayed some brilliant wide play down the left wing. He chipped the ball across the Leeds’ 6-yard box where the ball fell into the feet of Pedro Neto at the back post who was clearly not expecting it. Neto’s reaction was brilliant, taking an unnecessary touch before quickly smashing the ball into the near corner with his second touch. Chelsea should have equalised in the 69th minute after Alejandro Garnacho went on a brilliant run down the left wing. He cut the ball back to the returning Cole Palmer who shockingly put the ball wide of the bottom left corner, his miss surely down to rustiness as he hasn’t played a league game for Chelsea since September. Just as it looked like Chelsea were going on to tie the game, they conceded a third goal and it was all their own fault. Tosin Adarabioyo was slow to play the ball inside his own penalty area and was closed down and dispossessed by Nmecha. Nmecha then saw his effort saved by Sanchez before Dominic Calvert-Lewin tapped the ball home from a yard out, the easiest finish of his career but probably one of his most important. Leeds defended strongly for the final 20 minutes and held out for a monumental 3-1 home win against the title contending side. Leeds jump out of the relegation zone and into 17th on 14 points, finally putting to bed a four game losing streak. Chelsea drop crucial points away from home as they drop to 4th on 24 points.

Liverpool vs Sunderland

The final game played on Wednesday night in Matchweek 14 saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool host Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland at Anfield in what was a huge game in the fight for Champions League football. Liverpool’s second most expensive signing, Florian Wirtz, came so close to his first even Premier League goal in the 20th minute after his close range effort was saved by the leg of Sunderland Robin Roefs with Liverpool playing well in the first half. Both sides had big chances after long range shots, with Trai Hume watching his piledriver of a shot tipped onto the crossbar by Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker before Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort from range was comfortably parried away by Roefs. Liverpool then came so close again after Alexis Mac Allister’s header just before half-time rattled the post, with the Reds so unlucky not to go into the interval with a lead. The score at the break remained 0-0 with Liverpool looking to take the three points in the 2nd half. 

Sunderland came out strong for the 2nd period and came inches away from taking the lead right after the hour mark when Omar Alderete’s header at the front post from a Hume corner rattled into the post and out for a goal kick. The Black Cats finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk carelessly gave up possession right outside the penalty area. Chemsdine Talbi received the ball from Enzo Le Fee before unleashing a strike. His effort caught a huge deflection off the back of Van Dijk, taking it into the bottom left corner. Sunderland then sat back and hoped to hold out for a 0-1 win but Liverpool found a deserved equaliser in the 81st minute after substitute Curtis Jones played the ball into the path of Wirtz inside the Sunderland penalty area. Wirtz brilliantly dribbled through a crowd of players before taking aim. His shot was poor but it luckily ricocheted off defender Nordi Mukiele, over Roefs and into the Sunderland goal. Sadly for the German, it went down as a Mukiele own goal and Wirtz is still yet to bag his first Premier League goal/assist. Despite Liverpool dominating the final stages, the travelling side had the best chance after Roefs played a direct pass straight into the path of substitute striker and top scorer, Wilson Isidor, who was through on goal. Isidor rounded Alisson with the goal gaping but fortunately for Liverpool, Federico Chiesa had sprinted back the length of the pitch to clear Isidor’s effort off the line, single handedly saving the hosts a point. The full-time score finished 1-1, with the draw a fair result. Liverpool move into 8th on the table with 22 points while Sunderland drop to 6th on 23 points.

Manchester United vs West Ham United

The final game of Matchweek 14, and only game played on Thursday night, saw Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United host Nuno Espirito’s West Ham at Old Trafford, with West Ham needing a win if they were to jump back out of the bottom three. West Ham had a solid 15 minute spell early on but United started to dominate after a slow start. Just before the half hour mark, the Red Devils had three huge chances in the space of 10 seconds. Joshua Zirkzee saw his effort from Amad Diallo’s cross cleared off the line by Aaron Wan-Bissaka before Matheus Cunha’s overhead kick was blocked by Jean-Clair Todibo. Skipper Bruno Fernandes had one final effort on the volley, with his shot glazing the post before going out for a goal-kick in what would have been a world class finish. Jarrod Bowen then had a huge chance to give the travelling side the lead just before the break after he seemed to dribble through half the Manchester United defense cutting in from the right wing. His eventual shot was deflected kindly into the arms of United keeper Senne Lammens, with the Red Devils so lucky that Bowen’s effort didn’t deflect into the far corner. The half-time score stood at 0-0, with both sides capable of taking three points in the 2nd half.

West Ham had the first shot in the 2nd period through Soungoutou Magassa, with his effort flying just wide of Lammens’ near post, but it was United who took the lead just before the hour mark. Amad Diallo cut the ball back to Casemiro on the edge of the penalty where the Brazilian unleashed a shot with his first touch. His effort looked to be going wide, with teammate Diego Dalot intercepting his shot and firing it into the bottom corner of the West Ham goal. United then had a huge chance to make it 2-0 and wrap up the three points in the 73rd minute after Cunha’s effort was heroically blocked over the bar by Konstantinos Mavropanos, who is looking better with every game he plays for the Hammers. West Ham finally equalised in the 83rd minute after Andy Irving whipped in the Hammers’ latest corner. Bowen’s flick on at the near post was cleared off the line by Noussair Mazraoui before Magassa smashed the rebound into the bottom left corner, his first goal for the Hammers. The travelling side then had some more chances through Bowen in the closing minutes, but were unable to steal the victory as the full-time score finished 1-1. United remain 8th on the table with 22 points while West Ham drop back into the relegation zone on 12 points after Leeds’ shock win at home to Chelsea.

Written by Ollie Wade