Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and had an excellent week, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This round of games saw Arsenal overcome Forest, Palace get back to winning ways, Luton thrash Brighton, Newcastle end Villa's unbeaten home record, Liverpool thrashed Chelsea, while United secured a late thrilling winner away to Wolves.

You can find the preview for this round of games here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/premier-league-202324-match-week-22-preview-xmjjjgg 

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 4/10 correctly this week.

Predicted: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal

Result: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal

Awoniyi - Jesus, Saka

The City Ground was where Arsenal's title dreams ended last season, but from the off here Arteta's side were in control. For all their dominance the first half saw them fail to test Turner in goal, with Saka's deflected shot off Murillo the closest they got. Forest were camped into their own half with little to offer going forward, and they failed to have a shot on target in the first 45. The introduction of Awoniyi for Wood at the break gave them more firepower upfront but Arsenal continued to dominate. Saka forced a save from Turner and Jesus hit the post. In the 65th minute Arsenal finally opened the scoring when Jesus saw his effort go in past Turner at the near post through the keepers legs. Montiel's error allowed Arsenal to break seven minutes later and Jesus found Saka, who in turn rifled a shot past Turner into the far corner of the goal. Forest did not make it easy, with Awoniyi scoring in the 89th minute after he spun Saliba and fired in past Raya. He had another effort saved in stoppage time as Forest tried in vein to get level but in the end it was three points for Arsenal who ensured they put pressure on league leader Liverpool ahead of their clash with Chelsea. Arsenal have now managed 20 points away from home this season, with only Liverpool and Manchester City achieving more with 22 points each. Forest have now lost five of their last six home league games.

Predicted: Fulham 2-1 Everton

Result: Fulham 0-0 Everton

Everton entered this match with only a win in their FA Cup third-round replay against Crystal Palace from their last eight games in all competitions. They did start well, with Harrison putting an effort just wide while Calvert-Lewin had an effort blocked in the area by Diop. Robinson testing Pickford and Palhinha headed over in some of Fulham's rare attacks. Danjuma's free-kick was parried by Leno and Tarkowski saw his follow up shot flick onto the bar off Diop when Everton should have taken the lead. Jimenez then managed to fire wide three minutes before the break when it looked easier to score. Muniz came on for the Mexican at the break and nearly scored eight minutes into the second half when McNeil made a mistake but Pickford stood strong and saved. Calvert-Lewin had a header graze the bar while Godfrey got back just in time to tackle Muniz when he looked certain to score. Castagne redirected Decordova-Reid's header from Pereira's corner onto the bar midway through the second half while Pickford produced a fine save from a Tosin header. Beto came on and should have won it for the Toffees late on but he wasted a glorious chance when found in the area by Tarkowski. Both sides showed their lack of an out-an-out goalscoring in their respective sides and that could be a hindering point for both clubs over the remainder of the season. Everton have now managed more points away from home this season than both of their previous two seasons, while Fulham drew at home for the first time in the league this season.

Predicted: Luton 1-2 Brighton

Result: Luton 4-0 Brighton

Adebayo x3, Ogbene

It was an immense start from Luton who came flying out of the traps and took the lead in the first minute when Adebayo headed home after 19 seconds after Morris headed back across goal from Ogbene's cross. In the 3rd minute Luton doubled their leaded when Ogbene raced through from Lokonga's pinpoint pass and fired into the net. Brighton struggled with Luton's high pressing, with Dunk needing a perfect challenge to stop Adebayo in the 35th minute. However in the 42nd minute Adebayo got his second thanks a Barkley pass in behind to ensure Luton were cruising at the break. In the second half Luton continued to show their scoring touch in the 56th minute when Adebayo got his third as he headed in from Doughty's flicked-on corner. Brighton looked static and unable to cope with the atmosphere and attacks of Luton, and De Zerbi admitted after the game it was not good enough from his side. Luton had Lockyer appear before the game for the first time since he collapsed in their Premier League fixture against Bournemouth, and the players and fans responded to their captains appearance with the perfect performance.

Predicted: Crystal Palace 1-1 Sheffield United

Result: Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheffield United

Eze x2, Olise - Brereton, McAtee

After the Palace fans protest following their thrashing by Arsenal last time out, Palace produced a performance they could be proud of here. However, they were behind in the opening minute when Brereton Diaz finished from Hamer's pass following a McBurnie flick. The game was at a frantic pace and in the 17th minute Eze scored an acrobatic, close-range finish from Olise's cross. However in the 20th minute the Blades were ahead again in the 20th minute as McAtee scored when his shot looped off Guehi and over Henderson after Eze had lost possession. Seven minutes later and Eze atoned for his mistake by levelling the scores once again, this time when Olise found him and Eze created space before firing into the top corner. Palace began to dominate but could not find a third goal before the break. Munoz came on for Palace at the break and they began the second half how they finished the first. Foderingham had to come on in goal for Sheffield United after an apparent concussion to Grbic, and he was alert to save from Olise. However in the 67th minute Olise got his goal, and the winner, when his first time shot from a loose ball went in off the post. Olise had to go off with a hamstring injury, and similar happened to Eze. Ahmedhodzic had a header come back off the post as the Blades looked to get level. Palace held on for a vital three points to ease the pressure on Hodgson. 

Predicted: Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle

Result: Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle

Watkins - Schär x2, Moreno OG

Aston Villa were favourites going into this one but a determined Newcastle managed to become the first Premier League to beat the Lions at Villa Park in the league this season. Newcastle had not registered an away league win in four months but started brightly as Lenglet blocked a Longstaff shot before Gordon had a shot deflected over. The resulting corner in the 32nd minute saw Schär unmarked to fire in. Four minutes later Schär got his second when he was alert to score after Gordon's shot came back off the bar. Villa were slow with the ball and looked shocked, and Isak going off injured for Almiron did not upset the visitors rhythm. As the second half unfolded, in the 52nd minute Murphy put pressure on Moreno who could only turn the ball into his own net. Emery made a triple change and Villa looked more like their usual selves, and in the 71st minute managed to get a goal back. Watkins was alert to score from a Bailey cross and almost had another soon after but the second one was ruled offside. It was too little and came too late for the hosts and Newcastle held on for a deserved victory to condemn Villa to a first defeat at Villa Park since Arsenal won there last February. This was only Newcastle's second away win of the season following their 8-0 victory over Sheffield United in September.

Predicted: Manchester City 3-0 Burnley 

Result: Manchester City 3-1 Burnley 

Álvarez x2, Rodri - Al Dakhil

City welcomed De Bruyne back into the starting lineup, while Haaland made it onto the bench. Álvarez stole the show in the opening half, getting his first goal in the 16th minute when he headed in from Matheus Nunes' cross. Then in the 22nd minute the Argentine got his second when he got onto De Bruyne's pass after a free-kick routine. City were in complete control, with Doku and Gvardiol both going close to adding a third. Foster put Burnley's only real chance of the half wide, but the first minute into the second half saw City kill off this contest. De Bruyne played a lovely pass to Foden on the right, who in turn cut it back for Rodri to strike from the edge of the area. Amdouni fired over for Burnley as they looked to get back into the game. Haaland came on with twenty minutes to go but was lacking sharpness and was wasteful with chances. In the third minute of stoppage time Fofana made it into the box to tee up Al Dakhil for a consolation goal for the travelling support. All in all it was a comprehensive result for City and they ensured to keep the pressure on league leaders Liverpool. Kompany meanwhile stated he still believes in his side and they are far from dead and buried in the league yet.

Predicted: Tottenham 3-2 Brentford

Result: Tottenham 3-2 Brentford

Destiny Udogie, Johnson, Richarlison - Maupay, Toney

The game started at a frantic pace as Romero and Maupay tangled in the opening minutes, but it was Brentford who struck first in this London derby. Toney found himself clean through on goal, and although Vicario parried his shot, Maupay was on hand to score the rebound. Werner had two good chances for Spurs but could not convert, Pinnock wasted a chance from a corner, while Richarlison was denied a goal for a foul on Collins. Toney headed straight at Vicario just before the break and Brentford looked the stronger of the two sides, but it all changed after the break. Udogie's blocked shot came back to him in the box and he didn't miss at the second time of asking in the 48th minute. A mere minute later Spurs were ahead when Werner crossed for Johnson to score. The game opened up and Spurs got their third in the 56th minute when Richarlison scored following Maddisons blocked shot. Toney put an effort wide after getting past Vicario, but in the 67th minute Toney did get his goal when Udogie slipped and passed the ball straight to the unmarked striker. Flekken denyied Richarlison before Vicario tipped over from Baptiste, and Romero made a huge block in the box to ensure Spurs held on for a massive three points to move them back above Aston Villa and into the top four. 

Predicted: Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea

Result: Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea

Jota, Bradley, Szoboszlai, Díaz - Nkunku

Anfield witnessed a masterful display for Liverpool here as they gave Chelsea a warning of what to expect in the upcoming Carabao Cup final at the end of February. Chelsea had an early penalty claim waved away after van Dijk checked the run of Gallagher in the area, but Liverpool took control of the game from there. Petrovic saved a Nunez shot onto the post before a solo run by Jota in the 23rd minute allowed the attacker to slot home to open the scoring. Chelsea were yet to have a shot when youngster Bradley burst forward down the right and was found by  Díaz before firing into the far corner in the 39th minute to double the lead. Badiashile gave away a penalty when he made contact with Jota, but Nunez managed to hit the post with his spot kick. Pochettino made a triple substitution at the break and almost immediately Gusto found Mudryk in the box but his effort was high and wide. Liverpool continued to dominate and Nunez had a number of shots before in the 69th minute Bradley's right-wing cross was headed in by Szoboszlai. Chelsea did get one back in the 71st minute when Nkunku found some space to score. Soon after he should have won a penalty when van Dijk caught Nkunku's standing leg but VAR did not intervene. In the 79th minute Nunez crossed for Díaz to score and wrap up a comfortable win for Liverpool, who ensured the Reds remain unbeaten at Anfield this season while also putting some distance back between themselves and the chasing pack at the top of the table. It also marked Klopp's 200th Premier League win as manager, with only Pep Guardiola doing so in fewer matches.

Predicted: West Ham 2-1 Bournemouth

Result: West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth

Ward-Prowse - Solanke

It took Bournemouth all of 3 minutes to open the scoring, but they owed a lot to Phillips for the goal. The loan signing for West Ham from Manchester City was poor on the ball and his back pass went straight to Solanke who hit the back of the net. The goal decimated West Ham's spirit and the Cherries were forcing errors. Alvarez gave the ball away to Christie and he found Solanke, but instead of shooting he tried to find Semenya and the ball was lost. Bowen put a Ward-Prowse delivery straight at Neto and Soucek headed wide from a Kudus' cross as West Ham had chances late in the first half. In the second half Ward-Prowse played further up the field and in the 61st minute Kelly fouled Kudus in the area. Up stepped Ward-Prowse to blast the penalty down the middle of the goal while Neto dived to the right. The remainder of the game saw neither side light up the pitch and in the end a draw was likely the fairest result. Both managers accepted as much after the game, and West Ham made it six game unbeaten in a row in the Premier League. The Cherries meanwhile are now three league games without a win after Iraola's side had won six of their previous seven Premier League contests.

Predicted: Wolves 2-2 Manchester United

Result: Wolves 3-4 Manchester United

Sarabia, Kilman, Neto - Rashford, Höjlund, McTominay, Mainoo 

United started brightly here in what Ten Hag claimed was possibly their strongest side. It took only 5 minutes for Höjlund to lay the ball off for Rashford to guide it into the net after a week of furore surrounding the Englishman. United continued to control things and in the 22nd minute Neto didn't track Shaw's run and he was found by Rashford before sending a low cross in for Höjlund to score. Höjlund had two more chances in the half to add to his tally but the first went off him and just wide, while he was offside for the second after putting the ball in the back of the net. Casemiro had the ball in the net with a header but was flagged offside before the break. In the second half Martinez cleared a Kilman header off the line before Höjlund put an effort wide. A penalty for Wolves in the 71st minute after Casemiro connected with Wolves allowed Sarabia to reduce the deficit. McTominay restored United's two goal lead in the 75th minute when he headed in from a corner. Dawson's miscued shot was turned in by Kilman in the 85th minute as Wolves showed real fighting spirit. United were caught cold on the counter in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Neto got his shot away and wrongfooted Onana in the process. However, United hit back and in the seventh minute of stoppage time silenced Molineux when Mainoo curled a lovely effort into the goal. That was Wolves first home defeat in the league since Liverpool beat them in September, while United have three wins from four games in all competitions so far in 2024.

Table After Match Day 22

A look at the top half of the table and Liverpool remain top of the pile with 51 points, while Manchester City and Arsenal are both on 46 points. Spurs move into fourth with 43 points, ahead of fifth placed Aston Villa on goal difference. West Ham remain in sixth on 36 points, while Manchester United moved into seventh with 35 points. Newcastle move into eight with 32 points, with Brighton behind them on goal difference. Chelsea make up the top half in tenth with 31 points.

As for the bottom half, Sheffield United remain rooted to the foot of the table with 10 points. Burnley sit above them with 12 points, while Everton have dropped into eighteenth with 18 points. Luton moved out of the relegation zone with 19 points. while Forest sit above them on 20. Brentford are fifteenth with 22 points, while Crystal Palace are fourteenth with 24 points. Fulham sit in thirteenth with 25 points, while Bournemouth are twelfth and a point ahead. Wolves make up the bottom half in eleventh with 29 points.

Top Goal scorers After Match Day 22

1 — E. Haaland — Manchester City — 14 Goals
2 — M. Salah — Liverpool — 14 Goals
3— D. Solanke — Bournemouth — 13 Goals
4 — Son — Tottenham Hotspur — 12 Goals
5 — J. Bowen — West Ham United — 11 Goals

+ 3 players on 10 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 weekend. 

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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