Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and had a great week, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things sports. This week we had six rearranged games in the league, which included some huge derbies in Liverpool against Manchester United and Chelsea against Arsenal. As we head into the final weeks of the season, the title race and race for European places is notching up, along with the relegation battle. If you would like to check out the preview for this weeks games you can find it here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/english-premier-league-postponed-games-week-4-preview-xmmqypv

Midweek Predictions & Final Results

So in terms of the predicted scores, I got 2/6 correct this week. In terms of match-winner/loser, I managed to predict 3/6 correctly in this round of games.

Predicted: Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United

Result: Liverpool 4-0 Manchester United

Diaz, Salah x2, Mané

Another strong performance and result for Liverpool who had 11 shots compared to United 1 in the match, while racking up 72% possession along the way. United started with five at the back but it seemed to matter little, as the Reds overwhelmed the visitors from the off and within five minutes Mané set Salah free on the right for the Egyptian to cross into the box and Diaz calmly finished from close range. Pogba went off injured to add to Uniteds problems soon after, and on 22 minutes it was two for Liverpool. Mané played a beautiful ball in behind on the turn and Salah broke his drought to score. Diaz could have made it three soon after but was flagged offside. Jones was taken off at the break and the wing backs swapped sides for United, and the Red Devils grew into the game at the beginning of the second half. Alisson saved from Rashford and Elanga at the hour mark, but soon after Liverpool scored to kill the tie as Robertson played the ball to Diaz who passed to Mané, and the Senegal international placed a beautiful shot into the back of the net. Near the end Salah got his second as Robertson won the ball and played in the Egyptian king to seal a 9-0 aggregate league score for Liverpool over United this season. Liverpool are now unbeaten in 8 league encounters with United, with Salah having scored 5 goals in the two encounters with them this season. United were very poor and the pundits such as Roy Keane and Gary Neville spoke of their humiliation and shame of the position their club finds itself in. Liverpool went top of the league overnight as City were not in action until the following day.

Predicted: Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal

Result: Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal

Werner, Azpilicueta - Nketiah x2, Smith-Rowe, Saka

A thrilling game which was alive from the off as Arsenal kept their top four hopes alive. Arsenal ended their run of three league defeats in a row by taking an early lead, as Christensen miskicked his pass and allowed Nketiah to race in and score on 13 minutes. Four minutes later and Chelsea were level as a deflected Werner shot found the net. Arsenal retook the lead as Smith-Rowe finished off an excellent team move, but soon after Azpilicueta pounced to get on the end of Mount's ball into the box to level the scores again before the break. In the second half Chelsea brought on Silva to shore up the backline, but hesitation at the back allowed Nketiah to get in for his second and give Arsenal the lead again. Lukaku was subbed off and got booed by the home fans allowed into the ground, but it was Arsenal who struck again as Saka scored from the penalty spot, his first penalty since missing the decisive one in the Euro 2020 final for England. 

Predicted: Everton 2-2 Leicester

Result: Everton 1-1 Leicester

Richarlison - Barnes

This was a game of squandered chances, after the 5th minute goal from Barnes to put Leicester ahead. Rodgers sprung the changes again, with one eye on their Europa Conference League semi final next week. Dewsbury-Hall could have given the Foxes the lead in the first minute, but Coleman made a last ditch challenge to stop him. Soon after they made the breakthrough, as Iheanacho shot was blocked but fell to Barnes who hit it in off the post. Richarlison struck wide on 15  minutes, when it looked easier to score, and Everton showed little threat for the rest of the half. Rondon cam eon in the second half and gave them a focal point, but himself and Richarlison wasted a number of chances. In stoppage time the Brazilian made up for the missed chances, as his shot took a small deflection and found the far corner to share the points. Leicester have dropped 19 points from winning positions in the league this season, while Everton remain a point above the drop zone as the face a Merseyside Derby this weekend.

Predicted: Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace

Result: Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace

Almirón

The Magpies earnt their sixth straight home victory as they overcame Palace at home. In a game that save Saint-Maximin do a step over dance to tease the Palace defence, it was Almirón went on a mazy run down the right before curling in a stunning effort off the post just past the half hour mark. Palace enjoyed more of the possession throughout the match, but it was a frustrated figure of Vieira that summed them up. They created little of note and it was Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes for Newcastle who were the bright sparks throughout. Wood had an excellent chance for the Magpies who he went through one-on-one but struck wide. Zaha missed the best chance for Palace as he fired wide from inside the box and bar that they offered little else. The win means Newcastle can breath easy on 40 points and have a real chance of a top half finish this season. Palace meanwhile will need to pick themselves up for their remaining games after the disappointment of the FA Cup semi final defeat last weekend.

Predicted: Manchester City 2-2 Brighton

Result: Manchester City 3-0 Brighton

Mahrez, Foden, Silva

The pressure was on City to win this one with Liverpool having overcome United the day before, and although they struggled to break the Seagulls down in the first half, they broke the deadlock in the second and went on from there to secure a comfortable win. Brighton were full of confidence and it showed, having beaten Spurs and Arsenal recently, as they restricted City to long range efforts for much of the first half. Eight minutes into the second half and De Bruyne drove at Brighton on the counter, picking out Mahrez whose shot deflected off Veltman before it looped over Brighton goalkeeper Sanchez. In the 65th minute another deflection, this time from Foden's shot, doubled their lead. With eight minutes to go Silva curled in a third to ensure City went back a point ahead of Liverpool. Brighton meanwhile are yet to beat City away from home in twelve meetings.

Predicted: Burnley 0-2 Southampton

Result: Burnley 2-0 Southampton

Roberts, Collins

Seems like Southampton don't know if they are a good team or not, having beaten Arsenal just to go and loose to Burnley. The Clarets were dominant throughout, taking the lead twelve minutes in as Roberts curled a beautiful effort into the far corner. Forster was busy in goal for Southampton, keeping them in the game for periods but just before half time Collins headed in to give Burnley a commanding lead before the break. Hasenhuttl's side couldn't find a way back, and were fortunate to see Weghorst head the ball onto the bar. A third Burnley goal was ruled out on 62 minutes when Cork scored but he was adjudged to have bundled the ball in from an offside position. This was the Saints sixth defeat in their last eight games, while Burnley have now won  their last two home league games to give their survival hopes a massive boost.

Table After Midweek Games

A look at the top half of the table, the top two remain the same with 1 point between them. Six games to go in this thrilling title race. Spurs remain in fourth with Arsenal only behind on goal difference. United are three points behind having played a game more, and will battle with West Ham to keep sixth place.

As for the bottom half of the table, Newcastle have shot up the table into 11th after their excellent second half to the season. Everton and Burnley are neck and neck for avoiding the drop with 1 point between them, although Everton boast a game in hand. 

Top Goalscorers

1 - M. Salah - Liverpool - 22 Goals
2 - Son - Tottenham - 17 Goals
3 - D. Jota - Liverpool - 15 Goals
4 - C. Ronaldo - Manchester United - 15 Goals
5 - S. Mané - Liverpool - 14 Goals

I hope you enjoyed the games during the week, we have more league games this weekend starting on Saturday so look out for my preview on that.

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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