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 stunning late wins for Newcastle and Spurs, Chelsea and United both struggle to draws, Liverpool overcame Brighton, while Manchester City and Arsenal played out a massive game 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-30-preview-xkerpwm 

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 6/10 correctly this weekend.

Predicted: Newcastle 2-1 West Ham

Result: Newcastle 4-3 West Ham

Isak x2, Barnes x2 - Antonio, Kudus, Bowen

West Ham were behind after six minutes when Coufal fouled Gordon in the area, allowing Isak to convert the spot kick. Lascelles went off with more injury woes for Newcastle, before Paqueta picked out Antonio to bring West Ham level in the 21st minute. Guimaraes went close deep into first-half stoppage time as he hit the bar, but it was the Hammers when went in ahead at the break. In the 10th minute of first half stoppage time as Paqueta took a quick free-kick to Bowen, who played in Kudus to score. Just three minutes into the second half Kudus squared for Bowen to race from halfway and score. Livramento and Almiron both had to go off with injuries for Newcastle, while Isak and Longstaff put chances wide. Newcastle got a second penalty in the 77th minute from substitute Phillips' challenge on Gordon, and Isak sent Fabianski the wrong way. Isak played in Barnes to draw the sides level in the 83rd minute, and in the 90th minute Newcastle stole the points. Gordon, who got a second yellow soon after for kicking the ball away, played in Barnes to smash home the winner and send the Newcastle crowd wild. West Ham meanwhile will have to ask themselves how they let such a lead slip in their hunt for Europe, and once again plenty of fingers are being pointed at Phillips who ended up making an obscene gesture towards a fan when boarding the bus after the game.

Predicted: Bournemouth 2-2 Everton

Result: Bournemouth 2-1 Everton

Solanke, Coleman OG - Beto

Everton headed into this game knowing they await the verdict of a second charge of breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules while also hoping to see the sale from Moshiri to 777 Partners approved. Semenyo hit a shot at Pickford early on before Cook put the rebound over. Calvert-Lewin then saw an effort blocked by Mepham, before Calvert-Lewin saw another effort saved by Neto. Semenyo struck the base of a post before the break, and the game began at a much quicker pace in the second half. Calvert-Lewin appeared to be tripped by Adams by VAR and the referee waved play on, before McNeil struck the post. Solanke got between Tarkowski and Godfrey in the 64th minute to open the scoring from Kelly's cross. Neto dropped McNeil's cross for Beto to get once back in the 87th minute, but in the first minute of stoppage time Smith's deep cross bounced into the goal off Coleman to leave Everton still searching for their first away win of 2024. Bournemouth meanwhile all but ensured their safety in the league for another season, while they could also end the season on a high by pushing into the top half.

Predicted: Chelsea 3-0 Burnley

Result: Chelsea 2-2 Burnley

Palmer x2 - Cullen, O'Shea

The game started at a frantic pace, with Bruun Larsen putting an effort just wide for Burnley before Enzo saw his effort tipped onto the bar by Muric. Odobert drew a flying save from Petrovic but in the 40th minute chaos erupted as Mudryk raced away from Assignon, with the defender fouling him and getting his second yellow in the process. Kompany got a red card on the touchline before Palmer stepped up in the 44th minute to convert the spot kick with a Panenka. Two minutes are the break Cullen scored a superb volley to drag struggling Burnley level at Stamford Bridge. Sterling came on to make the difference for the Blues, setting up Palmer for his second in the 78th minute with a deft flick for the attacker to score into the far corner. Burnley did not fade, and in the 81st minute got level once again when O'Shea rose highest to Cullen's delivery and powered a header past Petrovic, who fumbled the ball into his own net. Sterling headed wide from a Palmer cross late on while Rodriguez headed against the crossbar in the 88th minute as Burnley looked to steal the win. It was a result that did little for either side in terms of standings, but a valiant effort by Burnley to keep their slim hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Predicted: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

Result: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace

Wood - Mateta

It took Palace only 11 minutes to opening the scoring here when a well worked team move ended in Lerma finding Eze, who in turn slotted the ball into the area for Mateta to score his sixth goal of the season. Forest showed excellent fighting spirit and reacted well, dominating the remainder of the first half but their lack of finishing and excellent defending from Palace ensured the Tricky Trees only had a single shot on target at the break. Eze was found be Wharton just before the break but failed to double the Eagles lead as Sels saved his effort. Wharton and Eze combined again early in the second half but Eze's cross led to nothing. Henderson parried a Hudson-Odoi shot soon after that, but on 61 minutes Gibbs-White crossed for Wood to head home the leveller. Reyna forced a save from Henderson while Palace hit the woodwork late on as both sides took their share of the spoils. 

Predicted: Sheffield United 0-3 Fulham

Result: Sheffield United 3-3 Fulham

Brereton x2. McBurnie - Palhinha, Reid, Muniz

The Blades know nothing short of wins are good enough for their lingering hopes of survival. The first half saw Grbic turn Muniz's effort onto the post in the only real chance of the opening period. After the break the game came into life as Muniz hit the post with a header. Sheffield United took the lead in the 58th minute when Adarabioyo lost the ball and McBurnie crossed for Brereton to tap in the opener. Four minutes later Fulham were level when Palhinha scored from a corner. However in the 68th minute Brereton set up McBurnie to score from a low cross and restore the Blades lead. Two minutes later the Blades got their third when Brereton turned in Hamer's deep cross. McBurnie had another goal ruled out as Sheffield United thought they had won the game, but a late collapse cost them dearly. In the 86th minute Decordova-Reid fired in from the edge of the area and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time Muniz got his goal with a wonderful strike. Having dropped points in a similar fashion against Bournemouth before the international break, Wilder's side can ill afford to keep slipping from losing positions.

Predicted: Tottenham 3-1 Luton

Result: Tottenham 2-1 Luton

Kabore OG, Son - Chong

Luton made the perfect start here, going ahead in the 3rd minute when Kulusevski pass went to Townsend, who countered with a pass to Barkley, who n turn played in Chong to score. Werner put an effort wide as Spurs looked for a way back into the game, Moments later Son rounded Luton keeper Kaminski, but his shot hit both post. Werner's follow-up was blocked and then Sarr saw his effort cleared off the line. Spurs struggled to create any more chances in the first half and went off to a chorus of boos. Johnson came on for Kulusevski at the break and in the 51st minute his cross was turned into his own net by Kabore. Son and Porro both tested Kaminski, while Clark forced a save from Vicario. Johnson had a close range effort saved but Spurs eventually found a late winner. In the 86th minute Werner countered and he crossed for Johnson, who set up Son to score. Spurs have now earned 22 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, behind only Liverpool. Luton meanwhile dropped back into the bottom three on goal difference.

Predicted: Aston Villa 2-1 Wolves

Result: Aston Villa 2-0 Wolves

Diaby, Konsa

Villa entered this game knowing Spurs had moved ahead of them into fourth due to their earlier win, and Emery's side started well. Luiz had an early goal ruled out for a Watkins offside and from there O'Neil's men looked the more dangerous. Ait-Nouri had an attempt at the far post saved by Martinez when he should have scored. It proved costly, with Tielemans first putting Watkins through on goal only for the striker to hit the side netting. In the 38th minute Villa got their goal as Luiz found Bailey with a clever free-kick, and he in turn set up Diaby to fire in from range. Wolves showed attacking threat during the second half, and they will be kicking themselves for the second goal conceded. Konsa crossed while on the overlap and his ball evaded Sa to creep into the net on 65 minutes. Villa held on to secure the West Midlands Derby win, and push themselves back above Spurs in the race for Champions League football next season. Wolves continue in midtable and their own pursuit for European football next season is still a distinct possibility.

Predicted: Brentford 1-3 Manchester United

Result: Brentford 1-1 Manchester United

Ajer - Mount

Ten Hag's side were 4-0 down at half-time the last time they visited Brentford, and they started this game in a similarly disorganised fashion. Brentford dominated the opening period as Toney had an effort come back off the inside of the post before Jorgensen headed onto the bar from a corner. Both Toney and Wissa wasted chances with headed efforts and in the second half Brentford continued to dominate. Flekken denied Hojlund after Bruno had played him in on goal, while both Yarmoliuk and Potter forced saves from Onana while Lindelof produced a last-ditch defensive effort to keep United in the game. Wissa grazed the post and Toney fired over for Brentford while Antony came close with a curling effort. Toney had a goal ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside before Mbuemo hit the goal frame. In stoppage time United thought they had won it when Mount picked up the ball in the sixth minute before firing past Flekken for his first Untied goal. Three minutes later Ajer scored to level for Brentford and in truth United were lucky to take even a point from the game. Their top four hopes are all but extinguished, while Brentford push some more breathing space between themselves and the relegation candidates. 

Predicted: Liverpool 3-1 Brighton

Result: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton

Diaz, Salah - Welbeck

A fast start from Brighton saw a break by Adringa down the left result in the ball landing for Welbeck to fire in within 2 minutes. Nunez had a call for a penalty turned down in the sixth minute but Liverpool began to grow into the game from there. They peppered the Brighton goal with efforts, although not managed troubled the keeper. In the 27th minute that all changed when Diaz produced an instinctive finish when the ball fell kindly for him from an attempted Veltman clearance. Mac Allister was at the centre of everything for Liverpool, and in the second half the Reds showed a much more composed performance. It was the Argentine who found Salah in the 65th minute and the Egyptian applied the finish to give Liverpool the lead. Diaz had an effort ruled out for the smallest of offsides, while Salah wasted a great chance on the break when played in by Diaz. Brighton had chances of their own, and Kelleher had to produce a stretching save to prevent the Seagulls getting on level terms again. All in all Liverpool deserved the win, which moves them to the top of the table ahead of the title clash between Manchester City and Arsenal. As for Brighton their patchy form continues and their hopes of European football again next season are fading.

Predicted: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal

Result: Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal

This mammoth game saw Manchester City dominate possession during the opening half where both sides had four shots apiece with one shot each of target. Jesus saw a volley go wide for Arsenal, while Ake had the best chance of the match when he missed the ball with his head from a De Bruyne corner, but managed to connect with his should and force a save from Raya. Ake was forced off with a calf injury, and this encouraged Arsenal more as Jesus put an effort wide. After the break Kovacic shot wide before Jesus just missed the ball from a Saka cross. Doku and Grealish came on, with the Belgian firing a shot over and with six minutes to go Haaland managed to completely miss the ball from a Gvardiol knockdown when it looked like the striker was set to score. Trossard wasted a great chance to play in Martinelli on the counter and he saw an effort go straight at Ortega. All in all a draw seemed like the most likely result in this tense game, and with Liverpool having won earlier in the day it meant the pressure was on both these sides. The result leaves the title firmly in Liverpool's hands but there will be plenty of twists ahead, and neither of these sides are out of it yet.

Table After Match Day 30

A look at the top half of the table and Liverpool sit top with 67 points. Arsenal sit in second with 65 points, while City remain third with 64 points. Aston Villa are in fourth with 59 points, with Spurs three points behind in fifth. United are sixth on 48 points, with West Ham seventh on 44 points. Newcastle moved up to eight on 43 points, with Brighton in ninth and a point behind. Wolves make up the top half with 41 points.

As for the bottom half, Sheffield United remain bottom with 15 points while Burnley are on 18. Luton drop back into the relegation zone with 22 points, while Nottingham Forest are ahead of the Hatters on goal difference. Everton have 25 points with Brentford on 27, while Crystal Palace have 30 points. Bournemouth sit in thirteenth with 38 points, while Fulham are a points ahead. Chelsea make up the bottom half on 40 points.

Top Goal scorers After Match Day 30

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