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 solid wins for Manchester United and Arsenal while relegation strugglers Luton and Sheffield United both managed to pick up another points. Spurs humbled Villa in the top four race, while Liverpool and Manchester City played out a draw in the title race.

You can find the preview for this round of games here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/premier-league-202324-match-week-28-preview-xxvlzen 

Week Predictions & Final Results

So in terms of the predicted scores, I got 2/10 correct scores this weekend. In terms of match-winner/loser, I managed to predict 4/10 correctly this weekend.

Predicted: Manchester United 2-0 Everton

Result: Manchester United 2-0 Everton

Fernandes, Rashford

Ten Hag was under pressure going into this one having lost the Manchester derby last weekend and at home to Fulham the weekend before that. The first half performance was not the highs the result would indicate, as United often gifted the ball to Everton in their own half but the Toffees were wasteful. Garnacho had won a penalty in the 12th minute from a Tarkowski foul and up stepped Fernandes to score his first league goal since November. A Fernandes free-kick forced a great save from Pickford before Godfrey fouled Garnacho in the 36th minute and Fernandes allowed Rashford to take this spot kick to double the lead. Everton had seen McNeil, Onana and Godfrey waste chances at the other end. United had more chances on the counter in the second half as Garnacho and Lindelof wasted chances. Doucoure forced a save from Onana while Calvert-Lewin was just shy of scoring from a Dobin cross. Calvert-Lewin then put a header from a corner straight at Onana while Everton continued to waste chances. In the end United held on for the win, albeit with a less than convincing performance. Their hopes of reaching the Champions League once again next season remains alive and they will have viewed the clash between Aston Villa and Tottenham with intrigue.

Predicted: Bournemouth 3-0 Sheffield United

Result: Bournemouth 2-2 Sheffield United

Ouattara, Ünal - Hamer, Robinson

The Blades raced into a two goal lead, but the first real chance came when Davies had fouled Solanke in the area on 14 minutes. Solanke slipped as he took the kick and the ball went over the bar, allowing Sheffield United a moment of respite. Brereton Diaz and McBurnie linked up well to help the Blades take the lead in the 27th minute after Bogle's shot was saved and Hamer scored the rebound. Wilder's side continued to dominate the chances as McBurnie headed straight at the keeper, while Arblaster's shot after the break forced a save from Neto. Sheffield United double their lead in the 64th minute when as Neto punched a corner into the back of Solanke with the ball landing for Robinson to score. Solanke's close-range effort was ruled out for a handball as Bournemouth searched for a goal, and in the 74th minute they got one back as Ouattara headed in unmarked from Christie's corner. Bournemouth kept up the pressure and in the first minute of stoppage time the Cherries equalised when Ünal scored his first goal for the club. Wilder will be disappointed to drop points from such a commanding position, and unfortunately for the Blades a draw is just not good enough at this stage in their fight against the drop.

Predicted: Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton

Result: Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton

Mateta - Woodrow

The work being done by Glasner was on display from the off as Palace made a fast start at Selhurst Park. The opening goal came in the 11th minute when Doughty played a loose pass and Munoz burst into the area before cutting back for Mateta to score. Mateta headed a chance over to double the lead while Lerma, Ayew, and Ward all wasted good chances. Just before the break Mateta took the ball around Kaminski but put his effort wide. Osho headed onto the roof of the goal for Luton before the break and after the interval Palace continued with the same intensity. Munoz shot over from Andersen's ball over the top, while Ogbene put a header wide for Luton. Mateta could not head past Kaminski while Ahamada put the rebound wide. Eze hit the bar from from inside the centre circle and Edouard hit the bar from the edge of the box. Palace thought they had their second win at Selhurst Park under Glasner, but in the 6th minute of added time Townsend crossed for Woodrow to glance a header in off the far post. The dropped points will be a disappointment for the Palace fans but the signs are positive from Glasner's first three games in charge. Luton meanwhile are still alive in their hopes of avoiding the drop and Edwards will know every point could be crucial come the end of the season.

Predicted: Wolves 1-2 Fulham

Result: Wolves 2-1 Fulham

Ait Nouri, Cairney OG - Iwobi

Fulham started well as Sa was forced into an early save from Pereira's shot, while Iwobi played in Wilson only for the Wales international to shoot wide. Tosin saw an effort clip the bar following a Reed cross in the 35th minute, while Wolves lost attacking star Neto to a hamstring injury. After the break Toti, who had replaced Neto, capitalised on a poor Bassey header to set up Ait Nouri to score a goal in the 52nd minute. Wolves doubled their lead in the 97th minute when Semedo's first time shot went in via a deflection off Cairney. Fulham pushed to try get back into the game, with Palhinha and Muniz seeing chances saved and cleared off the line respectively. Traore drew another stop from Sa but in the 98th minute Iwobi managed to score with almost the last kick of the game. Both of these sides are locked in the midtable battle and will want to push for a top half finish, and O'Neil described this as his sides best win of the season. Fulham meanwhile have only one win in their last 13 away Premier League games.

Predicted: Arsenal 3-0 Brentford

Result: Arsenal 2-1 Brentford

Rice, Havertz - Wissa

Arsenal began with a high intensity in the opening period, knowing a win was crucial with their title rivals facing off against each other the following day. Brentford struggled to cope as unforced errors in possession by Collins and Flekken went unpunished. Frank's side were beaten in the 19th minute when Rice headed in from White's cross, scoring in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time in his career. For all of Arsenal's good work, in the 4th minute of first half stoppage time Ramsdale, making his first league start since the reverse fixture in November, as he dawdled on the ball and Wissa nipped in to score. After the break Toney almost put the Bees ahead when he spotted Ramsdale off his line but the keeper just managed to save with an outstretched arm. Arsenal continued to dominate but Brentford kept slowing the game down. Gabriel had a header cleared off the line while Rice went close with a long-range effort. Maupay was just beaten to the ball by Ramsdale as Brentford looked to steal the win, but in the 86th minute Havertz endeared himself to the Arsenal faithful with a headed goal from White's cross to win the league. Arsenal have now won their eight league games so far in 2024 and will have a huge chance to prove themselves as title contenders in their next game against Manchester City. Brentford meanwhile remain right in the mix of the relegation battle.

Predicted: Aston Villa 2-2 Tottenham

Result: Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham

Maddison, Johnson, Son, Werner

These game was huge in terms of the Champions League races and Spurs will be delighted with their comprehensive win. Emery started with a back five but his side struggled in the less familiar formation. Neither side had a shot on target in the opening half, as Digne headed wide from the best chance. Van de Ven went off for Spurs early in the second half, but their first shot on target in the 50th minute resulted in the first goal of the game as Maddison got on the end of a Sarr cross. Three minutes later it was two as Konsa's mistake in possession saw Son play in Johnson to score. McGinn got a red card in the 65th minute for a foul on Udogie. With Spurs in full control and a man up they made Villa pay late on when Son scored in the first minute of stoppage time from a Kulusevski cross. In the 4th minute of stoppage time Werner got his goal when he finished into the far corner. It was a huge result for Spurs and a major disappointment for Villa. Emery's side are still in control but now sit only two points ahead of Spurs in the race for fourth.

Predicted: Brighton 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Result: Brighton 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Omobamidele OG

Following their drubbing by Roma during the week in their Europa League Round of 16 clash Brighton came out here with a committed performance. Moder and Fati both passed up chances in the opening period, but in the 29th minute a Gross inswinging free-kick saw Omobamidele turn the ball into his own net. Origi should have levelled things moments later when Gibbs-White played him through but the Belgian saw his effort blocked by Verbruggen. After the break Origi went through again but fired over. Murillo then thumped a free-kick straight at Verbruggen. Brighton began to sit deeper and Wood forced another save from Verbruggen. Despite having Elanga, Hudson-Odoi and Awoniyi on the pitch Forest struggled to find the final pass and in the end Brighton held on for a big three points in their battle for Europe. Forest meanwhile are still in the heart of the relegation battle and will need to find improvement in the final third with a potential points deduction looming.

Predicted: West Ham 3-0 Burnley

Result: West Ham 2-2 Burnley

Paqueta, Ings - Fofana, Mavropanos OG

West Ham secured back-to-back league wins and a draw with Ajax in the Europa League Round of 16 heading into this one. Burnley however made the brighter start, with Fofana firing in from 25 yards with a dipping effort. Trafford was culpable of timewasting throughout as Burnley looked to frustrate. As the Hammers struggled Burnley took a shock two goal lead just before the break. In the first minute of stoppage time Mavropanos diverted Cullen's cross into the back of his own net. After the break West Ham found themselves back in it after Paqueta saw his effort go into the net in the 46th minute. From there West Ham looked to find a way to get level but Trafford was seldom tested. Moyes looked to Ings and the substitute though he had made the difference when Antonio's chested pass found the striker who fired in the net. However, he was ruled as offside. In the first minute of second half stoppage time when he controlled a cross before firing past Trafford. Ings then hit the crossbar looking for a winner, while Burnley saw Brownhill force a save from Areola. In the end the point moved Burnley back above Sheffield United on goal difference, while West Ham lost the chance to solidify themselves within the European places.  

Predicted: Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City

Result: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City

Mac Allister - Stones

With Arsenal having moved top of the table with their win on Saturday these sides knew avoiding defeat was pivotal in their respective title bids. City started well and controlled the ball, forcing Kelleher into saves from Alvarez and De Bruyne. Liverpool began to grow into the game as Nunez just couldn't reach a Bradley cross. However in the 23rd minute a well worked Manchester City corner save De Bruyne play it low to the near post for Stones to score after Ake blocked off Mac Allister. Szoboszlai put a header over while Diaz shot wide and Nunez managed a record five offsides in the opening 45 minutes. De Bruyne put an effort wide while Alvarez put one over the bar for City while De Bruyne just could not reach a Walker cross before the break. The second half started fast with Nunez winning a foul off Ederson following a short pass by Ake inside two minutes. In the 50th minute, after some physio attention for Ederson, Mac Allister stepped up to score. Ortega came on for the Brazilian keeper soon after and the momentum of the game completely changed. Liverpool watched as Diaz wasted three chances, the first a poor touch stopped him going in on goal, then a Salah pass was put wide before Walker got back to cover following a Nunez reverse pass. Salah, Mac Allister and Nunez all had chances too as the Reds looked to get into the league. De Bruyne was taken off and showed his frustration to Pep, who looked to tighten up as the Anfield crowd was roaring the side on. Doku saw a chance come off the post as City maintained a threat and looked to steal the win, but a high boot by the Belgian on Mac Allister's chest in stoppage time likely should have resulted in a penalty, but neither the referee or VAR called the decision. The points were shared in the end, and both sides remain firm in the title race.

Predicted: Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

Result: Chelsea 3-2 Newcastle

Jackson, Palmer, Mudryk - Isak, Murphy

The Blues made a fast start back in front of their own fans, scoring in the 6th minute when Gusto's shot was blocked and came back out to Palmer. The Englishman took a shot from the edge of the area but it was a Jackson flick which sent it into the net. As Newcastle began to grow into the game Gordon was taken off with a knee injury, but just before the break the Magpies were level. In the 43rd minute Isak burst forward before curling the ball around his marker and into the back of the net. After the break both sides began at a fast pace, with Almiron forcing a save before Sterling shot into the side netting. In the 57th minute Enzo found Palmer with a great pass before the Englishman fired home. Burn cleared a Sterling shot off the line but the defender was taken off with an injury later in the game. Chelsea got their third in the 76th minute when Mudryk ran through the Newcastle defence before rounding Dubravka and scoring. Murphy managed to make it a tense finish as the got one back in the 90th minute after getting past Cucurella and firing into the net. It was a big win for Chelsea as they keep alive their slim hopes of a push up the table into the top half or even into the European places. Newcastle meanwhile will rue their growing injury list as Howe's side face a huge clash against Manchester City in next weekends FA Cup fixtures.

Table After Match Day 28

A look at the top half of the table and Arsenal have moved top of the table with 64 points, ahead of Liverpool on goal difference alone. City sit in third a point behind, with Villa on 55 points. Spurs sit two points behind in fifth, with United in sixth on 47 points. West Ham are in seventh with 43, while Brighton sit a points behind. Wolves are in ninth with 41 points while Newcastle make up the top half with 40 points.

As for the bottom half, Sheffield United remain bottom on 14 points with Burnley only ahead on goal difference. Luton sit on 21 points, with Nottingham Forest sitting in seventeenth on 24 points. Everton have 25 points, with Brentford on 26 points. Palace are fourteenth with 29 points while Bournemouth have 32 points. Fulham are twelfth with 35 points while Chelsea make up the bottom half with 39 points.

Top Goal scorers After Match Day 28

1 — E. Haaland —  Manchester City — 18 Goals
2 — O. Watkins — Aston Villa  — 16 Goals
3— M. Salah —  Liverpool — 15 Goals
4 — D. Solanke — Bournemouth — 14 Goals
5 —  J. Bowen — West Ham United — 14 Goals
6 — Son — Tottenham Hotspur — 14 Goals
7 — B. Saka — Arsenal — 13 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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