Kickoff chronicles

Aston Villa vs Southampton

The first game of Matchweek 15 saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Russell Martin’s Southampton on Saturday afternoon at Villa Park. After a very dominant start by the Villains, the hosts found a well deserved opener in the 24th minute through Colombian striker Jhon Duran. After coming so close to finding the back on the net on multiple occasions, Duran was left with the perfect opportunity to strike Villa level after he pounced on an error by two Saints’ defenders, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Nathan Wood. This left Duran 1-on-1 with keeper Joe Lumley where he spectacularly bent the ball around Lumley and into the far right corner. It was a great start to the game for Duran who had finally got his name on the team sheet under Emery. The hosts dominated the rest of the half and were unlucky not to make it 0-2 or 0-3 at the interval.

The Villains came out even stronger for the 2nd period and came so close to scoring in the 60th minute when Morgan Rogers’ shot from outside the penalty area just flew wide of the top left corner. In stoppage time, the hosts were given the perfect chance to wrap up all three points when Rogers dispossessed Kamaldeen Sulemana, sparking a counter attack through Ollie Watkins who had John McGinn with him and just Wood back defending. It was no secret that Watkins hadn’t been in the greatest form all season as he opted to go alone and take the claims for himself. Wood was able to get across and make a brilliant sliding challenge, with a pass to McGinn surely the better option. The full time score finished 1-0 with Watkins the most relieved man in Birmingham. Emery’s side jumped back into the top 6 in the table on 25 points. Martin’s team remain rock bottom on a measly 5 points after 15 games.

Brentford vs Newcastle

The 2nd game of Matchweek 15 saw Thomas Frank’s Brentford host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at the Gtech Stadium. Moments after Sean Longstaff rattled the crossbar for Newcastle, Bryan Mbuemo put the Bees ahead in the 8th minute. He controlled Christian Norgaard’s long ball down brilliantly before cutting in from the right wing and into the Magpies penalty area. After tip-toeing around a number of players, he eventually smashed the ball into the top right corner, one of the Cameroonian’s best goals of the season. Within 3 minutes of Mbuemo’s 9th Premier League goal of the season, Alexander Isak scored his 6th of the season to make it 1-1. Jacob Murphy powerfully crossed the ball into the penalty area from the right wing where Isak threw himself at the ball to head it past the confused Bees’ keeper, Mark Flekken. Just 17 minutes later, Brentford restored their lead after Yoanne Wissa received the ball in a dangerous area after Harvey Barnes carelessly gave it away. Wissa composed himself before cutting the ball onto his right and perfectly curling the ball into the top right corner. After being at fault for the Brentford 2nd goal, Barnes made amends for his error when he drew the game level at 2-2. After receiving the ball from Murphy inside the penalty area, Barnes took a couple of touches on his right foot with his back to goal before hitting the ball on the spin, watching it creep into the far corner. At half time, this thrilling Premier League fixture stood all square at 2-2 with it almost impossible to predict the full time result.

Brentford made the perfect start to the 2nd period with Wissa coming so close to scoring in the 47th minute, with his shot saved into the post by Newcastle keeper Nick Pope. In the 56th minute, the Bees took the lead for a 3rd time in the afternoon when goalkeeper, Flekken, took a free kick from the halfway line. The ball bounced over a crowd of people before Nathan Collian ran onto the ball and slotted it into the bottom right corner. After an evenly contested next half an hour, Brentford wrapped up all three points in the final minute of the game. Mbuemo took the ball down brilliantly just outside the Magpies area before playing it into the path of Kevin Schade. The German took it in his stride before dinking the ball over Pope and into the bottom left corner. The full time score finished 4-2 with Brentford winning one of the games of the season from a neutral fan’s point of view. The Bees remain 9th in the table but the top 8 is so congested that there is only 2 points between them and a European place. Newcastle dropped into 12th place after yet another poor performance away from home.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester City

The following game of the Matchweek saw Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester city at Selhurst Park. This match always looked like it could be an entertaining one, especially as Palace had become a bit of a thorn in the sides of title contending teams in recent years. The Eagles made an ideal start to the tie when Daniel Munoz scored his 2nd goal in Red and Blue inside 5 minutes. After the ball ricocheted around in the middle of the park, Will Hughes ran in and played a perfect ball into the path of Munoz. The Colombian took a touch before smashing it at City keeper Stefan Ortega, with the ball almost too close to him as he was unable to reach low to prevent his effort. After Palace had sat back to defend their lead, City finally found a deserved equaliser on the half hour mark. Mathes Nunes whipped in the ball from the left wing, in search of danger man Erling Haaland. His cross was perfect as Haaland matched Nunes’ cross with a wonder header, perfectly directing the ball into the top left corner, leaving Palace keeper Dean Henderson with no chance of keeping it out. At half time, the score stood at 1-1 with City in threat of dropping points yet again in the league.

Palace then sent Selhurst Park in a state of disbelief for the 2nd time of the afternoon when Maxence Lacroix scored his first goal for the Eagles in the 56th minute. It was once again a Hughes assist, this time the English midfielder stood over the corner which was headed perfectly into the roof of the net by the new Palace centre half signing, Lacroix. The game just continued to get more and more entertaining, proved when Rico Lewis struck City level in the 68th minute for the second time. Bernardo Silva slipped the ball through to Lewis where he perfectly drilled the ball into the top right corner. In the dying moments of the tie, it was expectedly getting heated with both teams thinking they could snatch all 3 points. City’s hopes of a late winner were put to bed in the 84th minute when Lewis was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Trevoh Chalobah. It was clearly an incorrect decision by referee Robert Jones, with Lewis actually being fouled by Chalobah when sliding in. Despite the red card, City were able to hold on as the full time score finished 2-2. It was another Premier League thriller in Matchweek 15 which saw City drop 2 points. It almost feels as though Pep’s side are now completely out of the running as they sit 4th, 8 points off the top with Liverpool left with a game in hand. Palace picks up a huge point which takes them further away from the drop zone. Glasner’s side sit 17th on 13 points.

Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest

The final game played on Saturday evening in Matchweek 15 saw Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United host Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. Forest made the best start possible to the fixture when Nikola Milenkovic scored his first goal for the travelling side inside two minutes. Elliot Anderson’s corner delivery was on the money as Milenkovic rose high to head the ball past Andre Onana in the net for Manchester United. This proved to be a valuable wake up call for the Red Devils as they levelled the tie in the 18th minute. Manuel Ugarte played the ball through to Alejandro Garnacho inside the penalty area. His first touch was poor, meaning his effort at goal was easily saved by Forest keeper Matz Sels. Unfortunately for the Belgian shot stopper, the ball fell right into the feet of Rasmus Hojlund who tapped the ball into an uncontested net. At the interval, the score stood at 1-1 with both teams hitting the crossbar in the latter stages of the first half, meaning the game was well and truly up for grabs. 

United made a terrible start to the second half after skipper Bruno Fernandes gave the ball away to Callum Hudson-Odoi in a dangerous area. Hudson-Odoi squared the ball to Morgan Gibbs-White who was just outside the penalty area where the Englishman unleashed a strike. His effort looked like an easy save for Onana but the Cameroonian just froze as Gibbs-White’s effort fizzed right past him. Less than 10 minutes after restoring their lead, Forest found a 2 goal cushion when Chris Wood scored his 10th goal of the Premier League season, making for a perfect birthday present. Gibbs-White turned from scorer to provider when he whipped the ball over to the back post from the right wing. The cross hung up perfectly for Wood as he jumped high to head the ball back across goal. Onana and his two centre halves were at fault again, turning into statues as the ball bounced right by them and into the bottom corner. The Red Devils then reduced the deficit in the 61st minute when Fernandes made up for his earlier mistake. The captain started the attack, playing a great ball down the right wing to Amad Diallo. Diallo took the ball with him down the flank, before chopping back and playing it to Fernandes who was just outside the area. The Portuguese international then fired a shot at Sels, watching it curl perfectly into the side netting. United tried to rally and make a late comeback but the damage had already been done as Forest saw out the game to win 2-3. This result takes Nuno’s team into 5th, just 2 points shy of a Champions League spot. Manchester United lost back to back games for the first time under Amorim as they dropped to 13th in the table. 

Fulham vs Arsenal

The first game played on Sunday afternoon in Matchweek 15 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Mikkel Arteta’s Arsenal at Craven Cottage. After a dominant start to the game from the Gunners, Fulham took the lead inside 10 minutes thanks to a classic example of smash and grab. Bernd Leno played a long ball out from his own penalty area to Raul Jimenez who chested it down for Emile Smith Rowe at the half way line. Smith Rowe then played the ball to Kenny Tete where Jimenez had sprinted through the Arsenal defence, hoping for a return ball. Tete’s ball was perfect. It bent around Arsenal centre half Jakub Kiwor and into the path of the Mexican no.7 who buried the ball into the bottom far corner. Arsenal went on to dominate the rest of the half but lacked any real meaning in front of the Fulham goal. At the interval, the score stood at 1-0 with Arsenal’s title hopes being derailed at Craven Cottage for the 2nd consecutive season.

Six minutes into the 2nd period, Arsenal levelled the game when they scored off yet another corner. Declan Rice whipped the ball in from the left corner flag where his delivery was headed back across goal from Kai Havertz at the back post. Fresh off scoring against Manchester United last week, William Saliba poked the ball past Leno to further emphasise the danger Arsenal possess from set pieces. After applying more pressure on the Cottagers’ defence, trying hard to break them down and snatch the game at the death, Arsenal thought they’d won it in the 88th minute. Gabriel Martinelli crossed the ball in from the left wing where Bukayo Saka had made a run in from the back post. The young English winger headed the ball through the legs of Leno, only for VAR to rule the goal out minutes later as Martinelli was in an offside position when Ethan Nwaneri played him in. The full time score finished 1-1 with Arsenal being denied a late 3 points by VAR. The Gunners sit 3rd in the table, 6 points shy of the summit while Silva’s Fulham sit 10th with 23 points.

Ipswich Town vs AFC Bournemouth

The following game of Matchweek 15 saw Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at Portman Road. After an evenly contested opening 20 minutes, Ipswich found the lead through Englishman, Conor Chaplin. The ball was bobbling around the Cherries’ penalty area where Aussie centre half, Cameroon Burgess, volleyed the ball backwards to Chaplin. The midfielder hit the ball first time, watching as his effort brilliantly found the bottom right corner. The fans at Portman Road thought they had gained a 2 goal cushion when Burgess got in on the action, putting the ball past Cherries keeper Kepa, but unfortunately using his elbow in the process. VAR quite rightly and quickly gave the all clear for referee Michael Salisbury’s decision to stand. Bournemouth dominated the remaining minutes of the half, with Marcus Tavernier’s effort from inside the penalty area rattling the post. At half time the score stood at 1-0 with Ipswich hoping to claim just their 2nd win of the season.

Bournemouth dominated the next period and it was fair to say the next goal in this game would see who walked away with all 3 points. Finally, after 40 minutes of trying to break down Ipswich’s resilient defence, they cracked when substitute Enes Unal scored his 1st of the season. Dango Outtara lobbed the ball over the outcoming Ipswich keeper, Arijanet Muric, with the ball not quite on target. Following in his effort was Unal who beat defender Burgess in a race to the ball and tapped it into an empty net. Ipswich fully capitulated in the 5th minute of stoppage time when they conceded yet another late goal. Phillip Billing passed the ball into the 6-yard area where Ryan Christie saw his effort saved by Muric. Ready to pounce on the follow up was Outtara who smashed the rebound into the roof of the net. The full time score finished 1-2 with Ipswich dropping points from a winning position yet again. The Tractor Boys sit 18th on the table with 9 points. Bournemouth rise into 8th, continuing their brilliant 2024/2025 season.

Leicester City vs Brighton Hove & Albion

The next game of Matchweek 15 saw Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City host Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton at the King Power Stadium. After a very dominant start for the travelling side, consisting of missed opportunities and stunning saves by Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen, they found the opener in the 37th minute. Pervis Estupinan’s cross from the left wing was too heavy as it soared all the way to Tariq Lamptey who was outside the penalty area on the right side. The Ghanaian took a couple of touches before perfectly curling the ball out of the reach of Hermansen and into the top left corner. Whether he meant to shoot or cross, only he will know but it was definitely one of the goals of his career. Brighton saw out the rest of the half to go into the break with a 0-1 advantage. Leicester only had one real chance at the very end of the 45 minute and Van Nistelrooy would’ve known his team needed to change something up.

After a dominant 2nd period by the Seagulls, they all but wrapped up the 3 points in the 79th minute when Yankuba Minteh scored his 2nd goal of the season. Mats Wieffer played a lobbed ball over the Foxes’ backline and into the path of Minteh who had Victor Kristiansen for company. The Gambian maybe had a little bit of luck on his side in initially keeping the ball but the rest of the move was pure class from Minteh. He twisted and turned with the ball in the Leicester area before eventually curling the ball past Hermansen and into the bottom left corner. Leicester then rallied a comeback, starting in the 86th minute when Foxes hero Jamie Vardy halved the deficit with his 6th of the season. Substitute Oliver Skipp played the ball into the path of fellow sub, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who was just outside the penalty area. The Jamaican chipped the ball over to the back post where Vardy was unmarked and cushioned the ball into the bottom right corner on the half volley. From the brink of defeat, Leicester then turned a potentially gut wrenching loss into a brilliant 2-2 comeback. Stephi Mavididi won the ball outside the Brighton area where he played it down the left side of the penalty area to Vardy. Vardy then turned provider to De Cordova-Reid who became the goalscorer, tapping the ball into the net after Vardy had unselfishly squared the ball to him. Leicester continued to press, trying desperately to snatch all 3 points but the full time score finished 2-2. It was a huge point for the Foxes as they remain unbeaten under Van Nistelrooy. They sit 16th in the league, 5 points away from the drop zone. Brighton failed to win for the 3rd consecutive league game as they dropped to 7th in the league on 24 points. Seagulls fans will hope they can get back to their winning ways against Crystal Palace next weekend.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea

The final game played on Sunday of Matchweek 15 was arguably the most anticipated of the weekend and most underrated fixture of the season with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham hosting Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tottenham made the perfect start to the game when Dominic Solanke scored his 3rd Premier League goal of the season inside 5 minutes. Marc Cucrella slipped on the halfway line which proved to turn out very costly as Brennan Johnson picked up the ball and made a dash down the right wing. He then crossed it into the penalty area where Solanke lunged in to get goal side of Levi Collwill before prodding the ball past Blues keeper Robert Sanchez. Spurs then doubled their advantage right after 10 minutes when the rarest of events occurred: Cucurella slipped for the 2nd time of the evening inside his own half. This allowed Pedro Porro to recover the ball and play it to Dejan Kulusevski. The Swede dribbled along the penalty area before drilling the ball into the bottom right corner, totally tricking Sanchez in goal. Cucurella was then spotted running over to the Chelsea bench to change his boots, with his two slips so far the reason Chelsea were trailing. Cucurella did make amends for at least one of his errors when he played the ball to Jadon Sancho outside the penalty area in the 18th minute. The Manchester United loanee cut in from the left before rifling a shot at goal, watching as it fizzed through the Spurs backline and into the bottom corner of Fraser Forster’s goal. At half time, the score finished 2-1 with Tottenham lucky to still have 11 men on the pitch after Kulusevski and Sarr had challenges checked by VAR.

Ange’s side made the worst possible start to the 2nd period when Yves Bissoma made an absolutely needless challenge inside the penalty area, sliding in on Moises Caicedo when he was going nowhere dangerous. It was a ridiculous challenge to give away a penalty, which Cole Palmer perfectly placed into the bottom left corner, making it 2-2. Just 12 minutes later, Chelsea completed the impossible to lead 2-3. Palmer dribbled in from the right wing, chopping and turning before crossing the ball over to skipper Enzo Fernandez who was in a rich phase of form. Palmer’s cross caught a deflection as Fernandez struck the ball on the bounce, watching as it flew past Forster and into the bottom left corner. Chelsea then wrapped up all 3 points, with Tottenham digging their own grave as they gave away yet another stupid penalty. Palmer received the ball on the very edge of the 18 yard area, clearly with nowhere to go. Sarr then charged into the back of the Chelsea superstar, making for an obvious 2nd spot kick. Palmer brilliantly chipped the ball down the middle of the net to make even more Premier League history, (player to score the most penalties in the league without missing, 12) leaving Forester completely wrongfooted. Tottenham grabbed one back in the 6th minute of stoppage time when Son Heung-Min tapped the ball in from close range after James Maddison had squared it to him at the bi-line but it was clearly too late. The game finished 3-4, making for a brilliant Premier League advert and the game of the season so far. Ange will be receiving the criticism but it was his players who let him down today, conceding two silly penalties. Tottenham sit 11th in the league after bottling another two goal lead. Chelsea come within 4 points of Liverpool at the summit as they come back brilliantly against their London rivals away from home. Enzo Maresca will now feel as though his side are well and truly in a title fight.

West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The final game of Matchweek 15 saw Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United host Gary O’Neil’s Wolves at the London Stadium on Monday night. It was also safe to say that the manager on the losing side of the fixture would be sacked in the coming week, due to both sides’ awful start to the 24/25 season. Nothing much happened in the first 45 minutes of the game, with West Ham dominating the chances and possession, but much like last matchweek against Leicester, they were lacking any meaningful attacking intent. O’Neil would have been happy with the first half finishing 0-0, as his side conceded 4 away at Everton in Matchweek 14.

Lopetegui made the perfect start to the 2nd period after an actionless first 45 minutes when Tomas Soucek popped up with his 4th goal of the season. Jarrod Bowen stood over West Ham’s latest corner, whipping it in from the right flag and watching as Soucek’s looping header from the back post travelled all the way over Wolves keeper Sam Johnstone and into the bottom corner. It was a lucky goal, but it was exactly what West Ham needed. Mohammed Kudus then thought he’d made it 2-0 when he smashed in Bowen’s ball across the 6-yard area but VAR found him to be offside. In the 69th minute, Wolves scored off one of their only chances of the half. Rayan Ait-Nouri drilled the ball across the West Ham United penalty area where Irishman Matt Doherty slid in to volley the ball past Lukasz Fabianski in the West Ham net. It was always going to take a bit of individual brilliance to split the two sides and that’s exactly what West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen conjured up in the 72nd minute. A shot from Carlos Soler travelled all the way out to Kudus who was outside the penalty area on the right wing. Kudus played it back out to Bowen who chopped and churned through many Wolves defenders before perfectly curling the ball into the bottom left corner. He then dedicated his goal to West Ham legend, Michail Antonio, who is in intensive care at the moment after a horror car accident. West Ham saw out the rest of the game successfully to pick up a huge 3 points in a 2-1 win. Lopetegui fights to see another day as the Hammers stay in 14th but are now 9 points clear of the drop. Wolves remain 19th with O’Neil lucky if he ever sits in the dugouts in the Molineux ever again. The Midlands side have Leicester and Ipswich in their next 2 fixtures and 6 points is a must.

Note:

Everton vs Liverpool was postponed due to extreme weather conditions. The date of the game is yet to be rescheduled.

Written by Ollie Wade