Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and had a nice weekend, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things sports. Today we will be looking at the recent round of matches in the English Premier League, which included a plethora of penalties, of which many were contentious, a tight affair at Anfield, and some last minute goals for Palace and Chelsea.

If you want to read my preview on this weekends matches you can find it here: english-premier-league-match-day-16-preview-xlznjnn

 

Weekend Predictions & Final Results

So in terms of the predicted scores, I got an awful result of 0/9 correct this week. In terms of match-winner/loser, I managed to predict a decent 5/9 correctly.

 

Predicted: Brentford 2-3 Watford

Result: Brentford 2-1 Watford 

Jansson, Mbeumo - Dennis

This game personified everything about Brentford so far this season. They went behind early but dug deep and piled on the pressure. Their equaliser came from a half cleared corner with the ball crossed back into the box and eventually hitting the back of the net. Watford could have taken the lead sooner through King hitting the post, but soon after they had it. Also from a corner, this time the unmarked Dennis scoring a header with ease. The game ended with Brentford on the front foot, and they won a penalty for their efforts at the death to steal the points and send their fans into euphoric celebrations.

Predicted: Man City 3-0 Wolves

Result: Man City 1-0 Wolves

Sterling 

A very contentious second half penalty was difference between these sides, with referee Jon Moss striking controversy after awarding the spot kick from the ball striking what appeared to be Moutinho’s armpit. By the laws of the game it should not have been given seeing as it’s only from the shirt sleeve down. VAR did review but Moss stuck with his decision and Sterling converted. Prior to half time Wolves did themselves no favours with Jimenez being sent off have received two yellow cards roughly 31 seconds apart. All in all City got the win but they would have expected a much more comfortable afternoon, with Wolves once again proving they know how to frustrate big teams. Also to note once Sterling scored it was his 100th Premier League goal.

 

Predicted: Arsenal 2-1 Southampton 

Result: Arsenal 3-0 Southampton 

Lacazette, Ødegaard, Gabriel

In a very one sided affair, Arsenal showed their quality throughout this encounter. Aubameyang was left out of the squad for discipline issues, and stand in captain Lacazette opened the scoring after an impressive counter attack playing out from the back. Until then Arsenals tactics of playing out from the back had not been effective but that move showed how it can work to devestating effect. The second came from a Tierney header into the box, while Arsenal finished Southampton off from a corner for their third. All in all it was an impressive performance from Arsenal, which Southampton will need to pick themselves up for the next round of games.

 

Predicted: Chelsea 2-0 Leeds

Result: Chelsea 3-2 Leeds

Mount, Jorginho x2 - Raphina, Gelhardt

What a game and what a result. Leeds took the lead through a Raphina penalty only for Chelsea to turn the game on it’s head via Mount and a Jorginho penalty. Youngster Gelhardt showed once again why Bielsa has so much faith in him, with a beautiful goal to restore parity and it seemed like a draw would be the final result. The drama wasn’t over though, as Jorginho scored his second penalty of the match to steal the points for Chelsea and ensure they keep up with City and Liverpool at the top of the table. This makes it 8 conceded in their previous 3 games, which is the same amount they had conceded in the 18 games prior to that. The defence is start to crack and the heavy winter period is taking its toll.

 

Predicted: Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa

Result: Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa

Salah

This match was quite the special encounter, as not many opposition managers will get the same welcome Gerrard received, except perhaps Rafa Benitez. It was Liverpool’s current talisman who broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the second half, after Villa worked relentlessly to frustrate their opponents. After wave and wave of pressure, Mings was the culprit who dragged Salah down in the box. Martinez guessed the correct side but he couldn’t stop Salah scoring his 21st goal of the season in all competitions. This was the 15th penalty in a row which Salah converted in the Premier League. Villa applied late pressure once they got former Liverpool man Danny Ings along with Buendia on the pitch but held firm and got a deserved victory. Villa look e dangerous near the end but had they started with that approach potentially the score could have ended up much worse for them.

 

Predicted: Norwich 1-3 Man United

Result: Norwich 0-1 Man United 

Ronaldo

It was a case of once again Cristano Ronaldo to the rescue for Manchester United, with Ronaldo winning and converting the penalty which decided the game. A lethargic performance as described by Gary Neville, this match was meant to be a chance for Rangnick to show his intense style. The team failed to deliver and throughout were second best. The lack of clinical finishing from Norwich and De Gea being excellent in goal were big contributors to the result. United will need drastic improvements going forward by given time Rangnick will get his style across. Norwich meanwhile will be able to take confidence from the fact they are creating chances, if only they could hit the back of the net.

Predicted: Burnley 0-3 West Ham

Result: Burnley 0-0 West Ham

Another great display at the back for Burnley, keeping a team with real European aspirations at bay. West Ham will be very disappointed they let the opportunity to pick up points against a team in the bottom three slip by them. The quality in the forward areas was very lacking, with their keeper Pope only needing to make 3 saves. West Ham should be doing better, especially against a team who didn’t threaten them all game. Burnley almost nicked it in the death, but a share of the spoils was deserved for two teams who didn’t create enough. West Ham hold onto fourth but are now only 3 points ahead of the traditional big teams of Man Utd, Arsenal and Tottenham down in 7th. Spurs also have 2 games in hand and will consider themselves strong contenders to push for too 4.

 

Predicted: Leicester 3-3 Newcastle

Result: Leicester 4-0 Newcastle

Tielemans x2, Daka, Maddison 

Another very controversial penalty on a weekend full of spot kicks. This time VAR ruled in favour in what most fans and pundits would claim to have been a clear dive. Disappointing is an understatement, but Tielemans converted with aplomb to give Leicester the lead. From there the floodgates really opened, with Leicester taking control in the second half and putting the game beyond Newcastle. As for The Magpies, another poor result which leaves them languishing in the bottom three. They will need to find results over Christmas or they may be too far adrift to maintain their place in the Premier League. Leicester meanwhile are now only 6 points off top four and will think they have a realistic chance to challenge for Europe if they can maintain their form.

 

Predicted: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton

Result: Crystal Palace 3-1 Everton

Gallagher x2, Tomkins - Rondón

Everton we’re looking good after their recent win over Arsenal and would have hoped to start getting a string of results and form together. A lack of rhythm was the undoing of Everton, who fell behind late in the first half. Things got worse for Everton in the second half as they failed to deal with a corner and went 2-0 down. Rondon got his first for the club to set up a nervy end but Gallagher scored a wonder goal to seal the points for Palace and move them above Everton by 1 point.

 

Table After Match Day 16

A look at the top half of the table and things are shaping up at the top of the table, with City still leading the pack and Liverpool and Chelsea right on their heels. The gap to 4th and beyond looks insurmountable so it will most likely be a three horse race come May.

 

As for the bottom half, we can see Norwich are rooted to the bottom with an awful -24 goal difference. Newcastle is in dire straits while Burnley managed to pick up a point. Watford are only barely above them and it seems like the Christmas schedule will help in splitting the relegation contenders from the rest of the pack.

 

Top Goalscorers After Match Day 16

1 - M. Salah - Liverpool - 14 Goals   
2 - J. Vardy - Leicester - 9 Goals   
3 - D. Jota - Liverpool - 8 Goals    
4 - S. Mané - Liverpool - 7 Goals
5 - B. Silva- Man City - 7 Goals   
6 - C. Ronaldo - Man Utd - 7 Goals   
7 - E. Dennis - Watford - 7 Goals   
8 - Raphina - Leeds - 7 Goals

 

I hope you found some enjoyment in my post and managed to see the matches over the weekend. We have more midweek matches ahead this week starting on Tuesday so make sure to look forward to my preview and review on those games.

 

Have a great day and enjoy the midweek round of fixtures.

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

 

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