Kickoff chronicles

Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest

The opening game of Matchweek 20 on Saturday afternoon saw Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest at Villa Park, with Villa needing a win to close the gap on Arsenal while Forest needed a win to lengthen the gap on West Ham. Villa made a quick start to the game, pressing Forest straight away. It almost paid off, with Morgan Rogers intercepting Neco Williams before squaring the ball to Ollie Watkins. Watkins was slow to react, taking a poor touch before his eventual shot was saved by Forest keeper John Victor. Villa continued to dominate in the first half and finally took the lead in stoppage time after Watkins received the ball from Youri Tielemans on the edge of the penalty area. Watkins took a touch before thrashing the ball into the top left corner with a wonderful strike, making no mistake this time. The half-time score finished 1-0, with Villa looking to go 2nd on the table.

Villa made a brilliant start to the 2nd half and virtually wrapped up all three points just minutes after the restart. Matty Cash cut the ball back to skipper John McGinn inside the Forest penalty area where the Scotsman smashed the ball into the top left corner with a brilliant first time left footed finish. Just after the hour mark, Forest gave the hosts something to ponder on after halving the deficit. Dilane Bakwa played a brilliant ball into the path of Morgan Gibbs-White who was through on goal. The Englishman brilliantly chipped the ball into the top left corner to silence Villa Park. It only took Villa 12 minutes to restore their two goal cushion after Rogers played a ball over the top into the path of McGinn. Forest keeper Victor made the ridiculous decision to come out for the ball which was difficult to make. McGinn took a touch before chipping the ball into an empty net from 30-yards, a brilliant finish but a huge mistake by Victor. The full-time score finished 3-1, with Villa claiming a huge three points which takes them into 2nd on the table with 42 points. Forest fail to enlarge the gap on West Ham in 18th as they remain 17th on 18 points.

Brighton Hove & Albion vs Burnley

The following game in Matchweek 20 saw Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton host Scott Parker’s Burnley at the Amex Stadium, with Burnley needing three points as the gap between them and potential safety is getting larger every week. The Seagulls thought they’d made a perfect start to the game after Charalampos Kostoulas had the ball in the back of the Burnley net after just 10 minutes, only for his effort to be disallowed as he was offside. The hosts finally took the lead in the 29th minute. Yasin Ayari’s shot was smartly cushioned into Georginio Rutter by Kostoulas. Rutter leathered the ball into the far left corner from a tight angle to make up for his own goal against Arsenal a week ago. The score at half-time stood at 1-0, with Brighton hoping to hold out for a win which would see them move into the top half of the table.

Brighton made a perfect start to the 2nd half, scoring just two minutes after the restart. Ayari picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area and took a couple of touches before rifling the ball into the far left corner, a wonderful goal. Both sides then came close to scoring, with Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu clearing Burnley’s Loum Tchaouna’s header off the line which would have made it 2-1 before Maxim De Cuyper hit the post with a free kick in what would have made it 3-0. The full-time score finished 2-0, with Brighton claiming a huge win at home, taking them into 8th on the table with 28 points. Burnley remain 19th on 12 points, still winless in 11 games and six points away from safety.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United 

The next fixture in Matchweek 20 was a huge relegation six-pointer, with Rob Edwards’ Wolves hosting Nuno Espirito’s West Ham at the Molineux, in what was a must win for the 20th and 18th placed sides. West Ham’s defensive incapability was exposed once again, this time by Wolves’ youngest and most exciting player, Mateus Mane. Mane picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch before playing it to Hwang Hee-Chan down the left wing. Hwang drilled the ball into the penalty area where Jhon Arias slid in unnoticed to smash the ball into the back of the West Ham net. Wolves were having a field day against the pathetic Hammers and made it 2-0 in the 31st minute after Soungoutou Magassa put in a reckless challenge on Mane in the penalty area. It was a clear spot kick, which Hwang converted confidently from 12-yards, slotting the ball down the middle of Alphonse Areola’s goal. It finally looked like the hosts were going to claim their first win of the season as Mane scored a well deserved goal. The future of Wolves picked the ball up on the edge of the area, took a brilliant series of touches before firing it into the bottom left corner, a world class finish. The half-time score finished 3-0, with West Ham giving their fans absolutely nothing to cheer about. 

West Ham dominated possession but Wolves had the better share of chances, coming close to scoring twice early in the second half after both Huge Bueno and Mane’s curling efforts were brilliantly saved by Areola who was having a solid game despite the scoreline. The full-time score finished 3-0, with Wolves finally picking up their first win of the season and their first clean sheet, all thanks to their star teenager, Mateus Mane. They still remain 20th, although they have doubled their points as they now sit on six. West Ham put out another horrid away performance as they remain 18th on 14 points, throwing away a golden opportunity to close the gap on Forest.

AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal

The final game played on Saturday evening in Matchweek 20 saw Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium, with Bournemouth hoping to put their 10 game winless run to bed with a win against the top of the table Gunners. Arsenal made a horror start to the game, conceding inside 10 minutes. Gabriel, who was the hero last week against Villa scoring on return from injury, made an unwanted start against Bournemouth, playing a terrible pass across his own penalty area which was intercepted by Bournemouth striker Evanilson. The Brazilian took a touch before smashing the ball into an uncontested Arsenal net to make it 1-0. Fortunately for Arsenal and Gabriel, it only took six minutes for the defender to redeem himself and make it 1-1. Noni Madueke made a brilliant run into the penalty area before squaring it into the box. An array of Bournemouth blocks were made before Gabriel eventually thrashed the ball into the back of the net. The half-time score finished 1-1 with Arsenal needing a much better 2nd half performance.

It only took Arsenal nine minutes to complete the comeback in the 2nd half after striker Viktor Gyokeres did well to control a long ball and poke it backwards to Martin Odegaard on the edge of the penalty area. Odegaard then passed the ball back to Declan Rice who fired the ball into the bottom right corner with a brilliant finish to make it 1-2. The Gunners then wrapped up all three points in the 71st minute after Buyako Saka cut the ball back to Rice from the right side of the penalty area. Rice smashed the ball into the bottom left corner to complete his brace and prove once again why he is the best midfielder in the league. Just minutes after Arsenal made it 1-3, Bournemouth halved the deficit. Substitute striker Eli Kroupi picked the ball up just outside the area from fellow substitute Lewis Cook on the edge of the penalty area, with the pair having only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds. Kroupi lined up a strike and perfectly directed the ball into the top left corner with a wicked hit. Unfortunately for the Cherries, it was not enough as their full-time score finished 2-3. Arsenal remain 1st on the table and extend their lead to six points while Bournemouth are now 11 games without a win as they drop to 15th on 23 points.

Leeds United vs Manchester United

The first tie played on Sunday afternoon in Matchweek 20 saw Daniel Farke’s Leeds host Ruben Amorion’s Manchester United at Elland Road, with Leeds hoping to extend their brilliant unbeaten form (two wins and four draws) with a result against one of their biggest rivals. United thought they’d made the perfect start to the game after Matheus Cunha saw his wonder volley from outside the penalty area nestle into the bottom right corner, only for his effort to be disallowed as Benjamin Sesko was offside moments prior. Both sides then had huge chances to lead at the break, with Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin hitting the post from Anton Stach’s cross in the 35th minute with a brilliant header before United’s Leny Yoro saw his close range header from a Luke Shaw corner force a solid save from keeper Lucas Perri. The score at half-time stood at 0-0, with the game fully in the balance.

Leeds made an ideal start to the 2nd half, scoring just after the hour mark to make it 1-0. Centre half Pascal Struijk’s defensive clearance fell kindly into the path of Brenden Aaronson. Aaronson used his electric pace to beat United defender Ayden Heaven to the ball, leaving him through on goal. The American progressed with the ball into the penalty area before slotting it into the bottom right of Senne Lammens’ goal. Just three minutes later, United equalised thanks to a crucial substitution. Joshua Zirkzee, who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds, played an intelligent through ball to Cunha inside the Leeds penalty area where the Brazilian got a shot away, watching as his effort trickled into the bottom left corner of the Leeds goal. Leeds then had a huge chance to restore their lead after Noah Okafor’s overhead kick was saved by Lammens before Cunha hit the post which would have completed his brace and a United turnaround. At the end, the full-time score finished 1-1 which was a fair result. Leeds are now unbeaten in seven as they remain 16th on 22 points, although they are now eight clear of the drop zone. United miss out on the chance to move into the top four as they sit 6th on 31 points.

Everton vs Brentford

The following game in Matchweek 20 saw David Moyes’ Everton host Keith Andrews’ Brentford at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with both sides looking for a win which could potentially boost them into the top five of the Premier league table. With all of Everton’s absentee’s, Brentford took advantage straight from the get-go, scoring inside 10 minutes. Vitaly Janelt intercepted a poor Evertonian pass before crossing the ball into the penalty area immediately. Striker Igor Thiago was unnoticed between the two Everton centre halves and lunged in to poke the ball into the bottom left of Jordan Pickford’s goal, his 12th of the season. Brentford dominated the rest of the half and were unlucky not to go into the break up by more. The half-time score stood at 0-1, with Everton at risk of losing at home again.

Less than five minutes after the restart, Brentford scored a deserved 2nd goal to give them a cushion. Janelt claimed his 2nd assist of the day, whipping the ball in from the right flag where captain Nathan Collins rose up high to head the ball past Pickford. Everton were imploding and Brentford made it 0-3 just minutes later. Mikel Damsgaard played the ball into Kevin Schade on a counter attack. Schade did well to hold it up in the penalty area before laying it off to Thiago who took a touch before slotting the ball into the bottom right corner, a brilliant team goal. Everton snatched one back in the 66th minute after Beto finally ended his mini goal drought, heading the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher from a Jack Grealish cross although it looked to just be a consolation. Brentford restored their three-goal cushion in the 88th minute after Collins punished Everton for pushing all their players up when he played a ball over the top to Thiago. The striker, who was through on goal and onside as he started his run in his own half, dribbled into the penalty area before chipping the ball into the bottom left corner with a composed finish to notch his 14th of the season and complete his hat-trick. Everton scored another consolation in the 1st minute of added time after Thierno Barry headed home Grealish’s cross to finally score in back-to-back games. The full-time score finished 2-4, with Brentford claiming a huge away win which takes them into 7th on the table with 30 points as it really looks like they could qualify for Europe. It was clear Everton were missing many of their crucial players as they dropped to 12th on 28 points.

Fulham vs Liverpool

The next game in Matchweek 20 saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host Arne Slot’s Liverpool at Craven Cottage, with both sides coming off the back of disappointing draws in MW19. Fulham made a dream start to the fixture, scoring in the 16th minute to stun the Champions. Jorge Cuenca played a direct ball into the feet of striker Rual Jimenez who met his pass with a brilliant backwards flick into the run of Harry Wilson. Wilson had timed his run perfectly and was through on goal. The Welshman slotted the ball into the bottom right corner with a crisp finish for his 7th of the season. Liverpool finally found their stride in the 1st half, with Cody Gakpo putting the ball into the back of the net twice for the Reds, only for both efforts to be disallowed as the Dutchman was offside. The half-time score finished 1-0, with Fulham hoping to complete what would be a big upset.

Liverpool made an ideal start to the 2nd half, scoring 13 minutes into the 2nd half. Connor Bradley made a bursting run into the Fulham penalty area, taking on multiple defenders before slotting the ball through to Florian Wirtz. Wirtz chipped the ball over Bernd Leno to equalise the game and score in back-to-back league games. Liverpool dominated the rest of the 2nd half and it looked as though they’d snatched all three points at the death after Jeremy Frimpong’s deflected cross fell perfectly for Gakpo at the back post. Gakpo tapped the ball over the line to make it 1-2 and surely make it four wins in a row. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case as Fulham equalised just seconds later in quite stunning fashion. Kevin played a short corner into the path of Harrison Reed who was located about 25 yards away from goal. Reed hadn’t played much football over the last few seasons and his most recent goal was in April 2023 but that didn’t stop him from leaving his calling card against the Reds. The Fulham veteran lined up a strike and rifled the ball into the top right corner with pure class, the talking point of the matchweek. The full-time score finished 2-2 after a brilliant game of football, with Fulham moving into 11th on 28 points after they clawed back a point. Liverpool fail to continue their winning streak although they are now unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions.

Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace

The following game in Matchweek 20 saw Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United host Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace at St. James’ Park, with Newcastle desperately needing a win to boost them into the top half of the table. The Magpies thought they’d scored the opener inside 20 minutes after Yoane Wissa was through on goal from skipper Bruno Guimaraes’ ball. Wissa then squared the ball to Anthony Gordon who rolled the ball into an empty net but it was later disallowed as Wissa was offside. Joelinton then had the ball into the back of the Palace net but his effort was also disallowed as he was offside when the ball over the top came from Fabian Schar. The half-time score stood at 0-0 with Newcastle desperately unlucky not to be ahead.

It took them a while but Newcastle finally had a goal that stood in the 70th minute. Harvey Barnes whipped the ball in from the left wing over to the back post where young Lewis Miley did well to keep the ball in play and poke it across the 6-yard area. Guimaraes then jumped up to head the ball past Dean Henderson and break the deadlock with a captains’ contribution. Just eight minutes later, Newcastle wrapped up all three points after Guimaraes’ corner into the penalty area caused much confusion. Palace failed to clear the ball and Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw was quick to scramble the ball over the line to score his 3rd in his debut season. The full-time score finished 2-0, with Newcastle making a perfect start to the 2nd half of the season as they look to climb up the table. Howe’s team move into 9th on 29 points while Palace drop to 14th on 27 points after another poor performance.

Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland

The next fixture in Matchweek 20 saw Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur host Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in what looked to be an enthralling encounter. Tottenham made a much better start to the game than the Black Cats and scored a deserved goal just before the half hour mark. Mathys Tel whipped the ball in from the left corner to the back post where captain Christian Romero fired it back across goal. His centre back partner, Micky van de Ven, then got a shot away, with Ben Davies flicking his effort past Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs to open his account for the season and make it 1-0. Sunderland were underwhelming in the 1st half as Tottenham led 1-0 at the break, although the travelling side will find hope in Spurs’ shocking home form. 

Sunderland looked much better in the 2nd half and had some early opportunities through striker Brian Brobbey who hit the post in the 54th minute. They were getting desperately unlucky, hitting the post again after Enzo Le Fee’s header from Nordi Mukiele’s cross which looked destined for the bottom corner. Just seconds after Le Fee hit the frame of the goal, he was involved in Sunderland’s deserved equaliser. Brobbey received the ball from Mukiele before playing a swift 1-2 with Le Fee, leaving him through on goal in the penalty area. Brobbey thrashed the ball into the top left corner of the Spurs’ net to continue his brilliant form for the Black Cats. Both sides had a few half chances to win the game but the full-time score finished 1-1, with a draw a fair result. Sunderland move into 8th with 30 points after another brilliant point on the road. Tottenham drop to 13th on the table with 27 points after another poor result at home with Frank’s time at Spurs surely almost up.

Manchester City vs Chelsea

The final game of Matchweek 20 was easily the most anticipated, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City hosting caretaker manager Callum McFarlane’s Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, with all the news and headlines around ex-Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca who was fired after a poor run of form and their 2-2 draw at home against Bournemouth in MW19. City were by far the better side in the first half and had two chances to make the breakthrough close to half-time. Bernardo Silva blazed the ball over the bar from the right side of the penalty area before Erling Haaland rattled the inside of the post from exactly the same area. The hosts finally took a deserved advantage in the 42nd minute after Tijani Reijnders picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area. He dribbled into the box before cutting the ball onto his left boot and thrashing it into the top left corner from what looked an impossible angle, his 5th goal of the season. The half-time score stood at 1-0, with City hoping to hold onto three points which would see them close the gap on Arsenal to four points.

Chelsea were so much better in the 2nd half and should have equalised in the 49th minute after Cole Palmer slipped the ball through to Enzo Fernadez on the left side of the City penalty area. Fernandez brilliantly pivoted with the ball around Nico O’Reilly before squaring the ball to Pedro Neto who was open in the middle of the box. Neto fluffed his lines, blasting the ball over the bar and missing a crucial opportunity. Chelsea finally scored their all important goal and equaliser in the 4th minute of stoppage time. Malo Gusto showed brilliant play down the right wing to beat O’Reilly before whipping the ball into the box. It was a world class cross from Gusto which fell perfectly to captain Fernandez. The Argentine’s initial effort was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma but he made no mistake with his second effort, poking the ball into the bottom left corner to salvage a well earnt point. The full-time score finished 1-1, with City once again dropping points as they sit 2nd on 42 points, now six away from Arsenal. It was a draw which really felt like a win for the manager-less Chelsea who sit 5th on the table with 31 points.

Written by Ollie Wade.