Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and had an excellent festive period so far, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This round of games saw Chelsea end the year with a win, Villa and City got wins at the top, Arsenal and United fell to further defeats, Liverpool move clear at the top, while City got themselves back on track for the defence of their title.

You can find the preview for this round of games here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/premier-league-202324-match-week-20-preview-xrxxldn 

Week Predictions & Final Results

So in terms of the predicted scores, I got 1/10 correct scores this weekend. In terms of match-winner/loser, I managed to predict 5/10 correctly this weekend.

Predicted: Luton 1-1 Chelsea

Result: Luton 2-3 Chelsea

Barkley, Adebayo - Palmer x2, Madueke

A huge win for Chelsea and Pochettino to end the year on a high note. The club has nearly twice as many Premier League games as they have won in 2023, but started brightly here. Kabore's ill-advised pass in his own area fell to Palmer who opened the scoring on 12 minutes. Luton were scrappy but matched their opposition, putting in a host of crosses to no avail. Madueke turned down the outside of Osho in the 37th minute before firing a shot inside Kaminski's near post. Luton built momentum in the second half after making changes, but for all their intent in the final third it was Chelsea who scored next. Palmer was alert to Jackson pass in the 70th minute and rounded Kaminski before slotting home. The Hatters had a goal ruled out by VAR as they looked to spark a comeback, and in the 80th minute Luton got one back when Barkley headed in from Doughty's corner. Twice Luton hit the crossbar before Adebayo scored in the 87th minute from close-range. It wasn't enough and Pochettino will be dismayed at how weak Chelsea's defence were in the final ten minutes, but they end the year with a win.

Predicted: Aston Villa 3-0 Burnley

Result: Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley

Bailey, Diaby, Douglas Luiz - Amdouni, Foster

Aston Villa were dominant in the opening period, with Diaby putting an effort wide and Watkins having one saved. Burnley began to grow into the match but conceded in the 28th minute when Watkins cut inside and set up Bailey to score. Two minutes later Burnley were level when O'Shea headed a free-kick back back across goal for Amdouni to sweep in. Foster finished past Martinez as Burnley thought they had taken the lead, but it was ruled out for offside. In the 42nd minute Villa took the lead against the run of play as Watkins broke through and set up Diaby for a tap-in. In the second half Berge got sent off for a second yellow in the 56th minute, leaving Burnley down to ten men. Foster shot wide soon on the counter, while McGinn, Diaby, and Luiz all shot wide for Villa. Ramsey also shot over from close range and Diaby put too chances over before Burnley equalised in the 71st minute when Foster got onto a Gudmundsson flick and fired in. Duran was brought down by Ramsey, the younger brother of Villa's Jacob, to give away a penalty when Douglas Luiz scored in the 89th minute. Villa ended the year having more Premier League home wins, 17, and more Premier League home points gained, 54, than other other top flight side in 2023. Burnley meanwhile have lost 15 of their first 20 matches to a league season for the first time.

Predicted: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brentford

Result: Crystal Palace 3-1 Brentford

Olise x2, Eze - Lewis-Potter 

During the opening period Brentford found themselves in the lead within the second minute. Jensen found Roerslev down the right who in turn crossed for Lewis-Potter to turn home. After a long VAR check the goal stood but the lead did not last long. In the 14th minute an overhit Olise pass was kept alive by Ayew, who crossed back in for Olise to score. It was a fairly even game from there but in the 39th minute Palace took the lead when Mateta found the on-running Eze who fired in past Flekken. After the break Palace continued to look the more threatening side and in the 58th minute got their third after Olise got on a Guehi pass about 25 yeards out before dribbling into the area and scoring his second of the day. Maupay hit the bar for Brentford while Wissa sent an effort over the bar as Brentford came to life in the closing fifteen minutes of the game. Maupay had another effort saved while Palace looked dangerous on the counter, but there were no more goals here. It was Hodgson's first Premier League win in the last eight attempts and the Eagles will hope to bring this form into 2024. Brentford meanwhile will hope their cup commitments can be a welcome distraction from a poor end to 2023. 

Predicted: Manchester City 3-1 Sheffield United

Result: Manchester City 2-0 Sheffield United

Rodri, Álvarez

Another solid win for Pep's side as they made it back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since early November. The club paraded all their trophies won during a memorable 2023 before the game started, and it was Rodri who opened the scoring here in the 14th minute with a powerhouse effort into the bottom corner after striding through the Blades midfield. Sheffield United sat deep but Osula did see a shot blocked by Akanji following Bogle's cross. It was all Manchester City from there with Foden at the heart of everything. In the opening stages of the second half the Englishman got around Foderingham but the keeper just managed to get the ball away. However in the 61st minute Foden set up Álvarez in the 61st minute to double their lead. From there City controlled the game with relative ease and Pep resisted the temptation to bring on the returning De Bruyne. It ended a run of eight games without a clean sheet for Manchester City, while Sheffield United remain bottom of the Premier League standings.

Predicted: Wolves 1-2 Everton

Result: Wolves 3-0 Everton

Kilman, Cunha, Dawson OG

Wolves were bright from the off, with Hwang wasting a chance after a quick three man counter. Everton were struggling to deal with the pace of Wolves attackers and in the 25th minute Cunha's cross from the right was deflected by Branthwaite and Kilman was on hand to score. Everton looked to respond and Calvert-Lewin wasted their best chance when his dinked effort over Sa went just wide. Wolves went in with their slender lead intact and although Everton looked bright at the start of the second period, it was Wolves who scored the next goal. Patient build-up play led to Sarabia playing Hwang down the right, who crossed for Cunha to tap in. Everton were a mess from there and Hwang hit the post after terrible defending from Keane and Tarkowski. The third came in the 61st minute when Dawson diverted Cunha's cross past Pickford. McNeil hit the post with a long range effort, while Joao Gomes was wasteful and Hwang saw an effort saved. Pedro Neto made a late appearance as Wolves ended 2023 on a high. Everton meanwhile will want to move past the previous year and look to push upwards in 2024.

Predicted: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Manchester United

Result: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Manchester United

Domínguez, Gibbs-White - Rashford

Any hopes of a Manchester United turning point from their comeback victory over Villa on Boxing day were dashed as they lost and put in a poor performance at the City Ground. Rashford struggle as the lone striker and had only scraps for service, as Wan-Bissaka's deflected shot registered as their only effort on target during the first half. Forest meanwhile had looked strong from the off and almost forced an early Varane own goal from an Elanga cross. Dalot had a stunning long range effort come back off the post but it did not lift his side into action. Instead in the 64th minute miscommunication between Evans and Varane for offside allowed Dominguez to fire low into the bottom corner as McTominay left him free in the area. Garnacho managed to cut out a pass from the Forest keeper and set up Rashford to score in the 78th minute but no comeback was sparked. Instead Nuno Santo's side took the three points in the 82nd minute when a counter saw Elanga tee up Gibbs-White to score. It was United's 14th defeat of the season and their 9th in the Premier League this campaign. 

Predicted: Fulham 2-3 Arsenal

Result: Fulham 2-1 Arsenal

Jiminez, Reid - Saka

Arsenal lost more ground in the title race as they fell to London rivals Fulham. Following their midweek failure against West Ham, Arsenal made the perfect start as Saka stayed onside to score in the 5th minute after Leno had parried Martinelli's shot. Robinson picked out Jimenez as Fulham looked for a response but Raya stood firm. Willian put a shot wide and Reid had a penalty appeal turned down following a collision with Saliba in the area. Finally in the 29th minute Fulham were level when Bassey got the ball from Saka and started a counter. Willian fed Cairney who crossed for Jiminez to score with his fifth goal of the season. Arsenal had a chance just before the break but Martinelli struck wide after Odegaard fed him in the area. After the break Martinelli again failed before Fulham took the lead in the 59th minute. Palhinha got to the ball first after Arsenal cleared a corner, and he put the ball back into the area for Reid to turn it in. Arsenal could not find an equaliser as Saka wasted their best chance when he put it over. Just like against West Ham, Arsenal have dropped more points over the festive period. Fulham meanwhile have ended the year on a high and Silva will look for more of the same in the new year.

Predicted: Tottenham 2-1 Bournemouth

Result: Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth

Sarr, Son, Richarlison - Scott

A comprehensive win for Spurs as they overcame inform Bournemouth at home. They started well, with Son firing wide although being offside, and Richarlison putting an effort over. In the 9th minute they found the opening when Lo Celso won a second ball before Sarr fired in. Neto saved from Emerson Royal and then Son before Sarr had to leave the field with an injury. Bournemouth gained momentum from there and Tavernier's free-kick went narrowly wide. Kluivert put an effort wide and Solanke's shot deflected onto the bar. In the second half Vicario stopped a Solanke header before Richarlison missed a huge opportunity from Son's through ball. Solanke put another effort wide before Son doubled the lead with a lovely finish in the 71st minute. Richarlison tapped in from Johnson's cross in the 80th minute to all but seal the win. The Cherries did get one back in the 84th minute when Scott found the bottom right corner with a composed finish. Gil hit the bar for Spurs late on and Scott had another goal ruled out, but Ange saw his side close the gap on the top four with a comprehensive win. Richarlison has now scored five goals in his last five Premier League games for Spurs having only managed two in his first 39 league games for the club. The Cherries had 12 more attempts in the game than Spurs, with 24 shots overall, but could not put them away. 

Predicted: Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle

Result: Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle

Salah x2, Jones, Gakpo - Isak, Botman

Liverpool remained top of the table as we started out 2024, with the Reds beating Newcastle in a thrilling match. Klopp's side were dominant throughout the opening period yet could not find the back of the net. Salah missed a penalty which Diaz had won, the fourth penalty missed by the Egyptian from his last ten for Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold put the rebound over while Nunez was wasteful from an Alexander-Arnold pass. Newcastle had a single shot in the first half, while Burn had a goal ruled out for offside. In the 49th minute Nunez chose to pass instead of shoot and set up Salah for a simple tap in, and his 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool. The lead only last 5 minutes as Isak scored with a breakaway goal in Newcastle's first effort since the 8th minute. Nunez was taken off and with Jota and Gakpo alongside Salah, things began to click. In the 74th minute Jones popped up to score from a Jota pass after good work from Salah. Four minutes later Gakpo got his goal when he bundled home Salah's cross. In the 81st minute Botman was on hand to head home from a corner, but in the 86th minute Jota won a penalty after he was brought down in the area by Dubravka. Up stepped Salah to sign off with a dominant display before he begins his African Cup of Nations duty with Egypt. The wins keeps Liverpool top of the table and Klopp will hope his troops can continue their impressive form while Salah is absent. Newcastle meanwhile are in a real slump and will seriouosly need to address the squad in the transfer window.

Predicted: West Ham 3-3 Brighton

Result: West Ham 0-0 Brighton

While there was a storm raging outside the stadium with the horrible weather, neither of these sides could muster a storm of their own in this match. Both sides were looking to make it back-to-back wins but it took 26 minutes for any real chance to appear. Ward-Prowse played in Bowen but the West Ham attacker saw his effort tipped onto the post before the offside flag went up. Ward-Prowse had a chance moments later but Steele saved. Mavropanos put a header over moments later as West Ham began to take control, but Brighton grew into the game and Areola was sharp to keep out Welbeck's header from a Gross free-kick. He then stopped Hinshelwood on the rebound. Gross was then stopped by Areola after Milner found him free at the far post but the sides went in level. The second half saw the tempo drop off. Estupinan forced a save before Pedro grew into the game and shot straight at Areola. Soucek put a chance wide for West Ham while Hinshelwood and Ferguson missed chances for Brighton. With five minutes to go Moder fired over the bar with only Areola to beat after Gross' inadvertent flick on a cross landed for him. Brighton got their badly needed clean sheet but will be disappointed not to take more for the game. West Ham meanwhile have made it five Premier League clean sheets in a row since they conceded against Tottenham on the 7th of December, and that run included wins over Arsenal and Manchester United away from home.

Table After Match Day 20

A look at the top half of the table and Liverpool remain top of the pile with 45 points. Villa sit in second on 42 points, with Manchester City third on 40 points but with a game in hand. Arsenal are fourth on goal difference, while Spurs sit a point behind in fifth. West Ham sit in sixth with 34 points, while Brighton moved up to seventh with 31 points. United are in eight on goal difference alone, while Newcastle remain ninth with 29 points, and Chelsea make up the top half with 28 points.

As for the bottom half, Sheffield United remain bottom of the league on 9 points, with Burnley sitting on 11 points. Luton sit in eighteenth with 15 points, with Everton a single point and place above them having played a game more. Brentford are sixteenth with 19 points while Forest sit a point and place above them, and Palace sit a point and place further above them. Fulham are thirteenth with 24 points while Brighton are a point and position above them. Wolves make up the bottom half on 28 points, only behind Chelsea on goal difference.

Top Goal scorers After Match Day 20

1 — E. Haaland — Manchester City — 14 Goals
2 — M. Salah — Liverpool — 14 Goals
3— D. Solanke — Bournemouth — 12 Goals
4 — Son — Tottenham Hotspur — 12 Goals
5 — J. Bowen — West Ham United — 11 Goals
6 — Hwang — Wolves  — 10 Goals

+ 2 players on 9 goals

Check out my 2023/24 Season Predictions here: Predictions 23/24 Season

Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the review of the matches and had a wonderful New Years. The FA Cup takes over next weekend and is followed by a winter break, with the Premier League resuming on the 20th of January, bar five game scheduled over the 13-15th of January to make up for missed fixtures. These will include the following games:

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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