Kickoff chronicles

Burnley vs Newcastle United

The opening game in Matchweek 19 on Tuesday night saw Scott Parker’s Burnley host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle at Turf Moor, with both sides desperate for a win to boost them up the table. After a poor run of results, Newcastle made a brilliant start to the game, scoring inside two minutes. Anthony Gordon made a bursting run down the left wing before crossing the ball into the penalty area, with Joelinton sticking out a foot to poke the ball into the top right corner. The Magpies continued their quick start to the game and scored another in the 7th minute, with new signing Yoane Wissa finally getting off the mark for Newcastle in the Premier League. Harvey Barnes’ shot from inside the penalty area was temporarily saved by Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka. The old Newcastle keeper then spilled the ball, with skipper Bruno Guimaraes poking it to Wissa whose initial shot was cleared off the line by Kyle Walker before he smashed in the rebound. Burnley then exposed Newcastle’s defensive vulnerability, scoring in the 23rd minute to half the deficit. Lucas Pires hooked the ball into the back post of the Newcastle penalty area  from outside the box where striker Armando Broja flicked the ball onto Josh Laurent. The defender brilliantly volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-2. Both sides then had huge chances to score before the interval, with Wissa missing an open header from a couple of yards out for Newcastle before Marcus Edwards saw his effort cleared off the line by Fabian Schar for Burnley. The half-time score stood at 1-3, with Burnley looking to come back in the 2nd half. 

The Clarets were underwhelming in the 2nd period, with Newcastle dominating at Turf Moor. They had the chance to make it 1-3 in the 79th minute after Lewis Hall played a perfect ball across the penalty area to Jacob Murphy at the back post who was unmarked. Murphy made an absolute mess of the opportunity, blazing the ball over the bar in what was a sitter. The travelling side finally wrapped up the three points late in stoppage time after Sandro Tonali played a long ball in search of striker Nick Woltemade. It should have been an easy claim for Dubravka but he failed to communicate with his centre half Hjalmar Ekdal, as he kicked the ball into his teammate. The ball fell straight to Guimaraes as the Brazilian midfielder brilliantly chipped the ball over the Burnley keeper and into the empty net. The full-time score finished 1-3, with Newcastle claiming a much needed win and league double over Burnley to take them into 10th on the table with 26 points. Burnley’s short unbeaten run comes to an end as they remain 19th on 12 points.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

The following game in Matchweek 19 saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea hoping to pounce on Bournemouth’s nine game winless streak to move into the top five on the table. After a horrid run of form, Bournemouth made a brilliant start to the game, scoring inside six minutes. Antoine Semenyo’s long throw-in caused much confusion for the Blues, with Evanilson flicking the ball into the 6-yard area to captain David Brooks. Brooks’ initial header was saved by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez although Brooks was the fastest to react, poking the rebound under the Spaniard. Just minutes later, Chelsea found a golden opportunity to equalise after Estevao made a burtsing run into the penalty area. Bournemouth’s Semenyo then flicked out a leg to stop him, a clear penalty. Cole Palmer stepped up to take the penalty and converted from 12-yards, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner to score his 3rd of the season. Moments after Bournemouth’s Brooks had a huge chance to score a brace, denied by Sanchez, Chelsea completed the turnaround in double quick time, scoring to make it 2-1. Enzo Fernandez received the ball inside the penalty area from Alejandro Garnacho where the Argentine took a couple of touches to compose himself before firing the ball into the top right corner, a brilliant finish by the Chelsea skipper. It was a topsy turvy game and just four minutes later, Bournemouth made it 2-2. It came from another Semenyo long throw, with the Ghanaian launching it right into the 6-yard area. Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah then unintentionally flicked the ball over to the back post where Justin Kluivert was present to smash the ball past Sanchez. The half-time score stood at 2-2, with Bournemouth involved in yet another crazy game.

Chelsea dominated the opening stages of the 2nd half and almost scored in the 64th minute after Estevao made a driving run through the centre of the pitch. The Brazilian eventually got a shot away from the edge of the penalty area, with his effort destined for the bottom left corner if not for a brilliant save by Bournemouth keeper Djordje Petrovic against his former club. Fernandez had another chance to give the Blues the lead in the 77th minute after the ball fell kindly to him in the penalty area. He took a touch before blasting the ball over the crossbar, a polar opposite from his composed finish in the first half. With just minutes to play in stoppage time, Bournemouth should have taken all three points after Amine Adli cut the ball back to fellow substitute Enes Unal. The Turkish international fluffed his lines, blazing the ball over the crossbar with the last chance of the game. The full-time score finished 2-2, with a draw a fair result. Chelsea remain 5th on the table with 30 points while Bournemouth fail to win their 10th game in a row as they remain 15th on 23 points.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton

The next game in Matchweek 19 saw Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest host David Moyes’ Everton at the City Ground, with Forest hoping for three points to create a larger gap between themselves and the danger zone. Despite a positive start to the game for Dyche’s Forest, Everton snatched the lead in the 19th minute. Dwight McNeil received the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Tim Iroegbunam where he threaded a lovely pass through to James Garner. The former Forest player then slotted the ball into the bottom left corner with a brilliant finish to silence the City Ground. The rest of the first half was actionless, with essentially Everton’s reserve side leading Forest 0-1 at the break.

Despite most of their first team absent due to injury or AFCON, Everton were defending well and creating chances. They almost made it 0-2 in the 73rd minute after James Tarkowski’s header from Garner’s cross fizzed just wide of the near post, a huge opportunity. Garner was proving to be the man of the match and displayed his talent once again in the 79th minute, picking up the ball on the counter attack before threading a world class ball through to Thierno Barry inside the Forest penalty area. Barry has had a tough start to life in the Premier League but made no mistake with his finish from Garner’s pass, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner to wrap up all three points for the Toffees and score his 2nd goal against Forest in December. Forest had a few half-chances late on, but Everton defended resiliently and held out for a brilliant 0-2 away win. Moyes’ side move into 8th with 28 points, just two points away from the top five while Forest remain 17th on 18 points, still four clear of West Ham in 18th.

West Ham United vs Brighton Hove & Albion

The following game in Matchweek 19 saw Nuno Espirito’s West Ham host Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton at the London Stadium, with West Ham in dire need of a win if they were to close the gap on Forest and Leeds in 17th and 16th. Despite a terrible result at home to Fulham on the weekend, West Ham made an ideal start against the Seagulls, scoring in the 10th minute. Lucas Paqueta played a brilliant first time ball into the path of skipper Jarrod Bowen who was too quick for the last Brighton defender, Jan Paul van Hecke. Bowen took a touch before slotting the ball past keeper Bart Verbruggen and into the bottom right corner. Despite their pace and effectiveness in midfield, it was once again West Ham’s defence that let them down, with Yankuba Minteh progressing into the Hammers’ penalty area with ease before he was chopped down by the clumsy Max Kilman. Danny Welbeck then stepped up to take the Brighton spot kick and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. West Ham then fully imploded, giving away another blatant penalty after Paqueta rugby tackled down Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk in the penalty area. Welbeck was given the spot kick once again but this time was too cocky, cheekily attempting a panenka. Fortunately for West Ham, his effort bounced off the crossbar before it was cleared away by Ollie Scarles. The first half of this game was pure chaos, with West Ham winning a penalty of their own just before half-time after Callum Wilson’s shot from inside the penalty area was blocked by the arm of Dunk. Paqueta stepped up to take the spot-kick for West Ham and converted from 12 yards, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner to redeem himself for his previous error and give the Hammers the lead. The half-time score stood at 2-1, with referee Michael Salisbury left with a near impossible job in the first period.

Brighton were much better in the 2nd period and scored a deserved equaliser just after the hour mark. It was yet another corner which exposed West Ham, with keeper Alphonse Areola failing to convincingly punch Ferdi Kadioglu’s cross away as Joel Veltman was left with a tap in. Nuno then made the puzzling decision to take off striker Wilson, who was the Hammers only focal point up front, as they failed to create any more chances. Brighton were unlucky not to take all three points in the end, with Areola making up for his previous error to make sure the Seagulls weren’t allowed in again. The full-time score finished 2-2, with West Ham dropping points at home once again and failing to punish Forest’s loss at home. The Hammers remain 18th on 14 points, four away from safety while Brighton dropped to 14th on 25 points.

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

The next game of Matchweek 19 was the most anticipated of the week, with Mikel Arteta’s 1st placed Arsenal hosting Unai Emery’s 3rd placed Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. The first half was very open, with Arsenal dominating possession but also giving Villa multiple chances on the break. Ollie Watkins had a huge chance to mark his 30th birthday with a goal in the 13th minute after Ezri Konsa threaded the ball through to him in the Arsenal penalty area. Fresh off scoring a brace against Chelsea on the weekend, Watkins fluffed his lines, opting to use his right foot when he should have used his left and dragging the ball wide. Arsenal then had a few chances later on through striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish striker heading two brilliant crosses over the bar. The half-time score finished 0-0, with there surely goals to come in the 2nd period.

The Gunners made an ideal start to the 2nd half, scoring three minutes after the restart to make it 1-0. It came off yet another corner, with Bukayo Saka whipped the ball in from the right where centre half Gabriel rose highest to head the ball past Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez. Just minutes later, Arsenal doubled their advantage after Martin Odegaard made a brilliant run through the middle of the pitch. He then threaded the ball through to Martin Zubimendi who had made a run in between the two Villa centre halves. Zubimendi’s first touch was perfect, setting him up for his second touch which saw him poke the ball into the bottom right corner to score his 3rd goal of the season. Arsenal then scored a 3rd in the 69th minute to put the game to bed as they were threatening to run away with it. Leandro Trossard picked the ball up from Jurrien Timber just outside the penalty area where he met the ball with a crisp finish into the bottom right corner to score his 5th goal of the season. The Gunners were just too strong for Villa in the 2nd half and bagged a 4th in the 78th minute. Trossard cut the ball back from the left wing into the path of substitute striker Gabriel Jesus who took a touch before brilliantly curling the ball into the far right of Martinez’s goal, his first goal since his lengthy injury. Villa finally fired up late in stoppage time and moments after John McGinn had his effort saved off the line by Arsenal keeper David Raya, Watkins’ marked his birthday with another goal at the Emirates, tapping the ball home from a yard out after the hard work of substitute Donyell Malen. It was just a consolation for the visitors though as the full-time score finished 4-1. Arsenal put out a statement performance which saw them remain 1st with 45 points, five clear at the top with City yet to play. Villa are now six points away from Arsenal as they sit 3rd with 39 points, their winning run finally coming to an end.

Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

The final game on Tuesday night in Matchweek 19 saw Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United host Rob Edwards’ Wolves at Old Trafford, with United hoping for a win, against the statistically worst ever Premier League side, to move into the top five. United made a dominant start to the game and scored a deserved opener after young defender Ayden Heaven did brilliantly to dispossess Wolves forward Hwang Hee-Chan and spark a United attack. Heaven then played the ball into the path of striker Joshua Zirkzee who used his quick feet to get a shot away. His effort caught a huge deflection off Wolves’ centre back Ladislav Krejci, wrongfooting keeper Jose Sa as his shot trickled into the bottom left. Wolves then surprisingly started to dominate United in the closing stages of the first half and scored a deserved goal from a Hugo Bueno corner in the 45th minute. Zirkzee made first contact with the corner, thinking he’d headed the ball away from danger as it floated over to the back post. Despite all the pace now taken out of the cross, Krejci was able to place the ball into the far right corner with a brilliant header from out of nowhere, silencing Old Trafford. The half-time score finished 1-1 with United walking into the tunnel to the boos of their fans.

United had two huge chances to restore their lead just after the restart, with Benjamin Sesko heading a Casemiro cross straight into the grasp of Sa before Yerson Mosquera almost scored a freak own goal, heading the ball back to his keeper Sa, with the Portuguese international not expecting his pass back and forced into making a last ditch diving save. Wolves came so close to completing the turnaround after Krejci saw his close range volley saved by United keeper Senne Lammens before the Belgian shot stopper reacted quickly to punch the ball away from the feet of Mosquera. The Red Devils thought they’d snatched all three points at the death after Sesko received the ball inside the penalty area from Casemiro. Sesko’s shot was saved by Sa, only for Patrick Dorgu to smash the rebound into the top left corner from close range, thinking he’d scored his second goal in as many weeks. Unfortunately for the hosts, Dorgu’s goal was chalked off as the Dane was offside. The full-time score finished 1-1, with Wolves finally claiming their first point since Matchweek 6 and first point under Edwards. It was a deserved result for Wolves, although they still sit 20th on a drab three points. United miss out on the chance to move up the table and remain 6th on 30 points.

Crystal Palace vs Fulham

The opening game played on New Years Day in Matchweek 19 saw Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace host Marco Silva’s Fulham at Selhurst Park in the Premier League’s latest London Derby. Despite both sides’ slow start to the tie, Palace finally fired up after the half hour mark and created some solid opportunities. Tyrick Mitchell’s initial close-range shot from a Palace attack was brilliantly saved by Fulham keeper Bernd Leno before Yeremy Pino’s effort just seconds later was fired across the face of goal. Palace were dominating in the closing stages of the first period and scored a deserved opener in the 39th minute after Nathaniel Clyne got the better of Fulham defender Antonee Robinson. Clyne then crossed the ball over to the back post from the right wing where striker Jean-Philippe Mateta rose up well to head the ball onto the turf and into the back of Leno’s goal, his 8th of the season. The score at half-time stood at 1-0, with Palace hoping to end their three game losing streak.

Fulham almost made the perfect start to the 2nd half after winger Kevin showed brilliant play on the left wing before whipping a cross into striker Raul Jimenez. Fresh off scoring a late winner against West Ham on the weekend, Jimenez came so close to repeating the feat, with his effort coming up off the grass and into the frame of the Palace goal. The Cottagers finally scored their equaliser in the 80th minute after Sasa Lukic found substitute Tom Cairney on the edge of the penalty area. Cairney took a touch before firing the ball into the far left of the Palace goal, a brilliant finish from the Fulham veteran. Fulham then missed two huge chances to win the game in stoppage time, with Timothy Castagne’s close range shot saved by Dean Henderson before Joachim Andersen blazed the ball over the bar from a late corner. The full-time score finished 1-1, with Palace happier with a draw in the end as Fulham should have won the game through Castagne. Crystal Palace remain 10th on 27 points while Fulham sit one place below them in 11th also on 27 points.

Liverpool vs Leeds United

The following game in Matchweek 19 saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool host Daniel Farke’s Leeds at Anfield, with Leeds hoping to cause another upset against the champions after their brilliant run of form. Liverpool were by far the better side and had multiple chances through striker Hugo Ekitike and midfielder Florian Wirtz. Their best opportunity to go ahead in the first half came in the 35th minute after Jeremy Frimpong whipped the ball in from the right wing, with Leeds keeper Lucas Perri coming out for the cross and missing the ball. This left Ekitike with an empty net but the Frenchman was unable to cushion the ball into the goal as he somehow headed the ball across the target from just a yard out. The half-time score finished 0-0, with Leeds frustrating Liverpool in every aspect of the game so far.

Liverpool once again dominated in the 2nd period, with Ekitike bringing Perri and his defence into action on multiple occasions. Skipper Virgil van Dijk then came inches away from making it 1-0 in the 68th minute after his header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner bounced just wide of the far post. With 10 minutes left to play, Leeds thought they’d snatched all three points totally against the run of play after Gabriel Gudmundsson whipped the ball in from the left wing. Sebastian Bornauw then flicked the ball into striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin who smashed the ball past Alisson, thinking he’d scored his 8th goal in seven games. Unfortunately for Leeds, Calvert-Lewin was offside by a foot, with the full-time score finishing 0-0 as his goal was disallowed. Leeds remain 16th on the table, although they are now seven points away from the drop zone as safety now looks certain for Farke’s side. Liverpool remain 4th on the table with 33 points, missing out on a chance to close the gap on 3rd placed Villa.

Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur

The next game in Matchweek 19 saw Keith Andrew’s Brentford host Thomas Frank’s Tottenham at the Gtech Stadium in another capital derby. The Bees had the ball in the back of the Spurs net less than five minutes in after Vitaly Janelt’s corner caused confusion in the 6-yard area. Nathan Collins’ initial header was saved by keeper Guglielmo Vicario before Kevin Schade smashed the ball home from close range, only for his goal to be chalked off as the German was offside. Tottenham had a few chances in the remaining minutes of the half but were unable to convert as the half-time score stood at 0-0.

Brentford were all over Spurs in the 2nd half and had multiple opportunities to score the opener. Keane Lewis-Potter scuffed a shot from close range before Janelt’s header was brilliantly saved by Vicario. The Bees then had another huge chance to take the lead after Michael Kayode showed great strength and skill to hold off Djed Spence in the left side of the penalty area. He then cut the ball back to Igor Thiago who blasted the ball over the bar from close range, an uncharacteristic miss from the Brazilian striker who is currently sitting 2nd in the race for the Golden boot on 11 goals. The full-time score finished 0-0, with Tottenham the more fortunate team in the end. Brentford remain 9th on 27 points while Tottenham remain 12th on 26 points.

Sunderland vs Manchester City

The curtain draw of Matchweek 19 on New Year’s Day saw Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland the only team alongside Arsenal to still remain unbeaten at home. Much like Brentford earlier on, City thought they’d scored inside five minutes via a corner. Rayan Cherki whipped the ball in from the left flag where Erling Haaland flicked the ball into the 6-yard area with a good header. Bernardo Silva prodded the ball into the back of the net before running away in celebration, only for his effort to be ruled out by the assistant referee as he was offside. Sunderland then started to dominate the eight-time champions, creating a huge chance to take the lead in the 19th minute after Nordi Mukiele played a long ball into the path of Brian Brobbey. Brobbey showed great strength to outmuscle City centre half Ruben Dias before his eventual shot was parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The half-time score finished 0-0, with Sunderland unfortunate not to be in the lead.

Pep’s side had three huge chances to take the lead early on in the second half. Savinho missed two opportunities in the 47th and 48th minutes, somehow missing the target from a yard out before drawing a brilliant save from the foot of Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs. City centre back Josko Gvardiol also forced a brilliant save from Roefs, making a run into the box before meeting Rodri’s cross with a brilliant diving header, with Roefs tipping the ball over the crossbar. Just minutes later, Gvardiol had another chance, sticking a boot out with his back to goal to make contact with Matheus Nunes’ cross, his effort spinning onto the post and bouncing out for a goal kick. For the third time on New Year’s Day, the full-time score finished 0-0, completing what was a very underwhelming day of football. City missed out on a huge chance to close the gap on Arsenal as they remain 2nd, now four points away from the Gunners on 41. Sunderland keep their unbeaten record at home as they move into 7th on 29 points.

Written by Ollie Wade