ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP ROUND UP WEEK 26
Arsenal 2 v 0 Hull
Alexis Sanchez was the star performer for the Gunners, scoring twice in controversial circumstances to beat relegation threatened Hull City.
The hosts had been on top when the ball came off forward Sanchez’s hand and ended up in the net on 34 minutes. He added a penalty in injury-time which was awarded after Sam Clucas was sent off for handball from Lucas Perez’s header. Striker Oumar Niasse had Hull’s best chances, his header and low strike forced Petr Cech into making good saves. The referee did apologise to the Hull contingent, saying that the goal should have been disallowed had he seen the handball.
Click here for the goals and the controversy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA35lmkFfjw
Swansea 2 v 0 Leicester
Premier League champions Leicester were plunged deeper into relegation trouble as they were beaten by Swansea, whose vital victory gave their own hopes of survival an enormous lift. Alfie Mawson’s thumping volley and an incisive team goal finished by Martin Olsson gave the hosts a commanding 2-0 half-time lead. Leicester fought back in the second half with substitute Islam Slimani being denied by a fine save by Lukasz Fabianski, but the champions fell to a fifth successive defeat, increasing the pressure on manager Claudio Ranieri.
The Foxes, who are just one point above the relegation zone, are the only side in the top four English divisions without a league goal in 2017.
They are also the first reigning champions to lose five consecutive top flight matches since Chelsea in March 1956 and now find themselves embroiled in a congested relegation battle in which the bottom six teams are separated by just five points.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcWe8MqmVVA
Liverpool 2 v 0 Spurs
Liverpool’s recent poor run was finally ended as they got their first Premier League victory of the year. Sadio Mane was the man in the spotlight, with two well taken goals, to see off their top four rivals Spurs. The forward put the Reds ahead when he ran onto Georginio Wijnaldum’s pass, holding off Ben Davies to fire in, he doubled the lead two minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball from close range after keeper Hugo Lloris denied Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino, with two excellent saves. Second-placed Spurs rarely threatened as Liverpool moved within a point of them, their best chance fell to forward Son Heung-min, whose fierce, angled shot was blocked by Reds keeper Simon Mignolet shortly after Mane’s second.
Spurs fans look away – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9RpnSH8OHc
Bournemouth 0 v 2 Man City
Manchester City moved up to second in the Premier League with a hard-fought victory over Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium. Having started on the bench again, City striker Sergio Aguero appeared after just 14 minutes following an injury to Gabriel Jesus. But it was Raheem Sterling who grabbed the opener from close range on the half-hour mark, having been denied by a brilliant Artur Boruc save two minutes before. The hosts thought they had replied immediately, but Joshua King’s strike was ruled out after he was adjudged to have pulled John Stones’ shirt in the build-up. Harry Arter’s curling shot stretched City goalkeeper Willy Caballero into a fine save, before Tyrone Mings put City’s second into his own net under pressure from Aguero. As Man City extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h26XA4b-BNU
West Ham 2 v 2 West Brom
West Brom’s Gareth McAuley snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, against West Ham at the Olympic Stadium, ex Spurs player Nacer Chadli had given the visitors the lead, taking advantage of some poor defending from the hosts. Sofiane Feghouli equalised from close range after the break, and then Lanzini’s swerving shot with just three minutes to go gave his side the lead, with the seconds ticking away McAuley struck a dramatic late goal to see the points shared. West Brom remain in eighth place in the Premier League table, while West Ham slip back one place into 10th.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GdVUYSDhZ0
Man United 2 v 0 Watford
Man United are now unbeaten in their last sixteen Premier league games, with Anthony Martial leading the way with a goal and an assist as they defeated Watford at Old Trafford, they took the lead when Martial set up Juan Mata to finish from close range. Had it not been for the fantastic performance of ex Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes who made fine saves to deny Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the score might have been a lot more. It was Martial, making his first league start since 15 January, sealed victory for United when he fired home after a surging run.
Click here for the highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpR4JzYHzZY
Sunderland 0 v 4 Southampton
Sunderland had the chance to move out of the relegation zone, but after their fine 4-0 win at Crystal Palace last week, they were out of sorts and were battered by Southampton, the Saints took the lead in the 30th minute when Gabbiadini converted from Ryan Bertrand’s cross, the Italian scored again seconds before the break with a brilliant turn and finish inside the penalty area, Jason Denayer’s own goal and Shane Long’s simple finish late on gave the visitors a fully deserved, comprehensive win. Sunderland remain bottom and the Saints got their first Premier League away win of the year.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvGu5lBOpts
Stoke 1 v 0 Crystal Palace
Big Sam Allardyce is battling to create his managerial magic at Palace who remain fighting relegation! Stoke defender Bruno Martins Indi had a header cleared off the line in a first half which offered little entertainment value, but Stoke continued to create the better chances after half-time, Marko Arnautovic picking out Ramadan Sobhi who teed up Joe Allen’s winner.The victory moves Stoke into ninth, while Palace stay second-bottom. Palace, who have won just one Premier League game since Sam Allardyce took over, are only above Sunderland because of their better goal difference.
Middlesbrough 0 v 0 Everton
The bore draw of the week came at Middlesbrough, where Everton have now gone eight games unbeaten and Borough have gone eight games without a win. Romelu Lukaku went closest for the visitors in the first half but saw his low effort superbly saved by Boro keeper Victor Valdes. After the interval, Boro captain Ben Gibson’s header was cleared off the line by Leighton Baines, before Valdes made another excellent stop to deny Ademola Lookman.Everton keeper Joel Robles then produced a stunning save from substitute Rudy Gestede’s effort late on.
Burnley 1 v 1 Chelsea
Chelsea missed the chance to move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a draw by a stubborn Burnley at Turf Moor. The hosts had won all four of their previous homes games without conceding but fell behind early on when Pedro finished off a sweeping attack. The visitors dominated possession and it seemed only a matter of time before they added to their advantage, but Burnlwey lived up to their reputation as having one of the best home records this season, their record signing Robbie Brady equalised with a stunning free-kick and then almost went ahead before the break but Thibaut Courtois superbly denied Matt Lowton from close range, Burnley dominated the proceedings from then on and Chelsea did not have a single shot on target in the second half, In the end, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will perhaps consider this a point gained as the Blues moved 10 points ahead of Tottenham. Burnley, meanwhile, are 12th.
Click here for the goals – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6DLkpWlgWI
I got five correct results in my predictions, mid table form from me!!
Please see following my week 26 predictions
Chelsea 3 v 1 Swansea
Crystal Palace 1 v 1 Middlesbrough
Everton 3 v 1 Sunderland
Hull 2 v 1 Burnley
West Brom 2 v 1 Bournemouth
Watford 2 v 1 West Ham
Tottenham 3 v 1 Stoke
Leicester 1 v 2 Liverpool
Have a good week
Gary
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