Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and had an excellent weekend, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports.  This round of games saw Villa overcome Forest, new Palace manager get off to a win, United fall to Fulham, while Arsenal overcame Newcastle and City beat Bournemouth. Liverpool also beat Chelsea to win the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley.

You can find the preview for this round of games here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/premier-league-202324-match-week-26-preview-xevoqrx

Week Predictions & Final Results

So in terms of the predicted scores, I got 0/8 correct scores this weekend. In terms of match-winner/loser, I managed to predict 4/8 correctly this weekend.

Predicted: Aston Villa 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Result: Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest

Watkins, Douglas Luiz x2, Bailey - Niakhate, Gibbs-White

Villa made the most of Spurs not playing this weekend to tightening their grip on fourth with twelve games to go. A fast start saw Bailey set up Watkins to tap home in the 4th minute. Villa dominated and Watkins had an effort cleared off the line by Niakhate. Cash worked well down the right and found Ramsey in the 29th minute, who in turn set up Luiz to score. Ten minutes later a corner came back to McGinn, who crossed for Luiz to head in his second. Niakhate managed to get one back in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time and three minutes into the second half Forest got their second. Origi played in Gibbs-White to finish past Martinez. Elanga wasted the chance to level the score when he missed when through on goal, before Tielemans hit the post at the other end. In the 61st minute when Tielemans played in Watkins and his effort landed for Bailey to score. From there the nervousness around Villa Park lifted and the Lions held on to see out the game. Watkins now has 14 goals and 10 assists, the joint most goal involvements in the league along with Salah.

Predicted: Brighton 2-0 Everton

Result: Brighton 1-1 Everton

Dunk - Branthwaite

Brighton made the better started but struggled to score with Welbeck wasting three chances in the opening twenty minutes. Adingra also put an effort wide while Everton saw their only chance of the half result in a Mykolenko being intercepted by the head on Dunk just before Calvert-Lewin could get to it. The second half saw Everton go close when McNeil's cross was volleyed towards goal by Doucoure before Lamptey cleared it off the line. Everton got the lead in the 73rd minute when Branthwaite took a touch in the box before firing in. Gilmour then got send off with just under ten minutes to go for a studs-up challenge on Onana. Brighton continued to attack and finally got their goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Dunk headed home ahead of Godfrey from a corner. The results means Brighton remain unbeaten in their last 11 home games in the league. Everton meanwhile may rue these dropped points with the club entangled in a relegation battle although their points reduction was reduced from ten to six. The club are facing a second potential points deduction so will know putting between six and ten points between themselves and the bottom three before the end of the season should be enough to negate any further deduction.

Predicted: Crystal Palace 2-0 Burnley

Result: Crystal Palace 3-0 Burnley

Richards, Ayew, Mateta

It was the perfect start to life in the Palace dugout for Glasner as his side eased their relegation fears with this win. Lerma fired over early on before Edouard and Andersen wated chances. The biggest moment of the first half came with ten minutes to go when Trafford played a poor pass in Brownhill  and he had to foul Lerma, resulting in a red card for the Burnley man. Kompany got his men to the break level and was infuriated when Palace player Wharton did not get a second yellow in the second half. Palace made changes and France came on with Ahamada. The game changed in the 68th minute as Richards headed in from Ayew's cross. Three minutes later Franca's cross was finished by Ayew to double their lead. In the 79th minute Franca drew a foul from Vitinho to win a penalty which Mateta tucked home. Fofana had a late goal ruled out by VAR as Burnley left Selhurst Park empty handed. Palace recorded their biggest win of the season to date as Glasner looks to bring changes to the club aspiring to break into the top half and even European football down the line. 

Predicted: Manchester United 2-1 Fulham

Result: Manchester United 1-2 Fulham

Maguire - Ughelumba, Iwobi

Fulham managed their first win at Old Trafford since October 2003 and came into this game with just one win from their last eight. Rashford and Forson struggled for the hosts, while Iwobi twice wasted good chances to give the Cottagers the lead during the first half. Muniz and Pereira both forced saves from Onana, while Muniz also hit the post. United had a chance before the break as Dalot hit the post and Leno stopping Garnacho. After the break United were lagging behind with Casemiro taken off with a head injury. Bassey opened the scoring from a corner in the 65th minute as Lindelof failed to clear, but United began to fight back from there. Rashford forced a save from Leno and Maguire put a chance over. However in the 89th minute a weak save from Leno allowed Maguire to tap in from close range to level the scores. With nine minutes of added time Bruno tested Leno multiple times as Fulham dug in. A break allowed Adama Traore to get the ball up the field and he sped off past Maguire to set up Iwobi for the winner. It was a huge winner for Fulham as they continue to push for a top half finish. United meanwhile falter once again in their push for Champions League football next season.

Predicted: Bournemouth 2-3 Manchester City

Result: Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester City

Foden

City had an early chance when Foden's flick sent Haaland through on goal but the striker curled the ball wide from 20 yards. Bournemouth had their own chance when Kerkez tested Ederson with a dipping effort. In the 24th minute City got their goal when Kovacic chipped the ball to Haaland, who saw his shot saved but land for Foden to score. Silva was wasteful and Rodri had an effort blocked as City began to get going in the first half. Christie's low effort in stoppage time forced a save from Ederson as City held their lead until the break. Kerkez wasted a chance early in the second half. Kluivert then forced a save from distance as Ederson looked unconvincing. Haaland was a menace at the other end while Semenyo saw his cross wasted by Tavernier as the Cherries looked to get level. Solanke then saw Tavernier put a chance wide after some good work. Tavernier's corner was then headed goalward by Solanke by Ederson cleared and Kerkez's follow-up shot was blocked by Rodri. Iraola's team carried on taking the fight to City as Pep was extremely frustrated and took Haaland off. City held on for the win as Bournemouth wasted chances and it will be a huge relief to Pep that his side took the three points to keep them firmly in the title race.

Predicted: Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle

Result: Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle

Botman OG, Havertz, Saka, Kiwior - Willock

Karius started in goal for Newcastle in just his second appearance for the club following his Carabao Cup final debut last season. He saved an early Saka shot and punch a Rice effort clear, but Arsenal were relentless in their pursuit. The opening came from a set-piece when Gabriel flicked in Saka's corner off Botman in the 18th minute. Six minutes later Arsenal got their second when Martinelli cut the ball back for Havertz to score. Newcastle offered little in the first half and soon later Longstaff stopped Odegaard finding Havertz, while Martinelli headed over. Saka forced a save from Karius before Newcastle made their first venture into the Arsenal area only for Raya to stop Almiron just before the break. Havertz wasted a huge chance just after half-time while Gordon had a shot fire across Raya. Isak blasted over before Saka scored a stunner in the 65th minute. Four minutes later Arsenal got their fourth when Kiwior got on the end of Rice's corner. Burn set up Willock in the 84th minute for a consolation goal but Newcastle left the Emirates empty handed. Arsenal will be disappointed to have conceded, ended a run of 7 consecutive home clean sheets against Newcastle.

Predicted: Wolves 3-0 Sheffield United

Result: Wolves 1-0 Sheffield United

Sarabia

The Blades needed Ahmedhodzic to be alert to a dangerous cross early on as Wilder's side looked dangerous as Brewster hit a shot off Dawson before forcing a save from Sa with his second. The striker hit over then when a pass to McAtee seemed on, and the start from Sheffield United was strong against a flat Wolves side. McAtee wasted a chance and Wolves pounced in the 30th minute as Ait-Nouri's cross was headed in by Sarabia into the far corner. Robinson and Souza had a heated exchange on the field as emotions began to show for Sheffield United. After the break the Blades were more organised and the far better side as McAtee had a shot flash across goal and Brewster forcing a save from Sa. The ball looked destined to go in late on but Wolves managed to survive the ball flying area their area. Sarabia had seen a shot go just wide in a counter-attack from Wolves best chance of the second half, but in the end Sheffield United suffered their 19th league defeat of the season and are all but certain of relegation. Wolves pushed themselves into the top half without being at their best and O'Neil will hope for more to come.

Predicted: West Ham 0-1 Brentford

Result: West Ham 4-2 Brentford

Bowen x3, Emerson - Maupay, Wissa

A fast start from West Ham saw Bowen score twice within the opening seven minutes of the game. Paqueta found Emerson in the 5th minute and his pull back was fired home by Bowen. Two minutes later he got his second when Kudus found Coufal, who crossed for Bowen to tuck in. Brentford got one back with their only shot on target during the first half. In the 13th minute Toney found Lewis-Potter, who played in Maupay to score. West Ham kept attacking, with 13 attempts in the first half. The third goal for an anxious London Stadium arrived again from Bowen when he finished with a header from a Kudus cross in the 63rd minute. In the 69th minute West got their fourth when Emerson shot from distance straight into the top corner. In the 82nd minute Wissa got one back for Brentford after coming off the bench but it did little to change the result. Brentford slip down into the relegation mix, while West Ham are back in the mix for European football next season.

Table After Match Day 26

A look at the top half of the table and Liverpool remain top of the table with 60 points. City sit in second on 59 points, with Arsenal on 58. Aston Villa sit in fourth on 52 points, while Spurs sit in fit in 47 points. United are in sixth on 44 points, with Brighton in seventh on 39 points. West Ham are in eight on goal difference and Wolves sit a point behind in ninth, while Newcastle sit in tenth on 37 points.

As for the bottom half, Sheffield United remain bottom with 13 points, with Burnley ahead on goal difference. Luton make up the bottom three on 20 points, with Nottingham Forest ahead of them with 24 points. Brentford drop down to sixteenth on 25 points, with Everton moving up to fifteenth thanks to their goal difference following the reduction of their points deduction. Bournemouth drop to fourteenth with 28 points while Palace sit ahead of them on goal difference. Fulham are in twelfth with 32 points, and Chelsea make up the bottom half with 35 points.

Top Goal scorers After Match Day 26

1 — E. Haaland —  Manchester City — 17 Goals
2 — M. Salah —  Liverpool — 15 Goals
3— D. Solanke — Bournemouth — 14 Goals
4 — O. Watkins — Aston Villa  — 14 Goals
5 —  J. Bowen — West Ham United — 14 Goals
6 — B. Saka — Arsenal — 13 Goals
7 — Son — Tottenham Hotspur — 12 Goals

+ 4 players on 10 goals

Carabao Cup Final 2024

Predicted: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

Result: Chelsea 0-1 AET Liverpool

Van Dijk 

Another domestic cup final between these sides which ended 0-0 in 90 minutes, but once again Liverpool emerged victorious and lifted the trophy. Both sides had early chances, with Petrovic saving from Mac Allister and Diaz before Kelleher saved at point-blank range from Palmer. Gravenberch was taken off following a heavy challenge from Caicedo in the 24th minute, while Sterling scored for Chelsea but Jackson was ruled offside in the build-up. Gakpo hit the post with a header for Liverpool and on the hour mark the Reds looked to have taken the lead when van Dijk headed in from a free-kick. Endo was deemed by VAR and the referee to have been offside and impeding Colwill in a very contentious decision. Gallagher hit the bar for Chelsea and Kelleher later rushed out to stop the Englishman scoring. Extra-time came and Liverpool had made a host of changes at this point, with  three teenagers on the pitch by the end with Danns, Clark, and McConnell on the field. The Liverpool support spurred on their side in extra-time as Petrovic denied Elliott's close-range header. Chelsea looked out of ideas against a youthful Liverpool side who played without fear. The Blues held off when they should have been ahead as Pochettino's side looked to hold on for penalties. Liverpool had other ideas, with captain van Dijk rising to head in from a Tsimikas corner in the 118th minute to send the Liverpool fans and players delirious. Their youngsters held on and as the referee blew the final whistle the amazing feat was achieved by such a young side. Following the game Klopp noted how proud he was of the young legs he brought on. Pundits noted how Chelsea had passed up the best opportunity for a first piece of Silverware in the Boehly era, and that for their billion pound project there is nothing to show once again. It was also a potential route into Europe, with the winner getting a place in the Europa Conference League next season. Liverpool will likely reach the Champions League given their league positions, so that place in the Europa Conference League will then go to the seventh placed team in the Premier League. Both sides return to action in the FA Cup this midweek as Pochettino looks for a response against Leeds and Liverpool continue their journey towards a quadruple as they host Southampton at Anfield.

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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