Good day everyone,
I hope you are all well and had an excellent weekend while enjoying the latest matches, welcome to CryptoGod-1’s blog on all things sports. This weekend saw a shock defeat for Liverpool, another strong win for Man City, Chelsea and Spurs secure wins, while United dropped more points and Arsenal march on towards the title.
If you would like to check out the preview on this round of games it can be found here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/premier-league-2223-match-week-27-preview-xkpwrwk?a=olejZqrzej
Week Predictions & Final Results
So in terms of the predicted scores, I got 0/10 correct scores this week. In terms of match-winner/loser, I only managed to predict 3/10 correctly in this round of games.
Predicted: Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
Result: Bournemouth 1-0 Liverpool
Billing
A disappointing display for Liverpool as they struggled to match their intensity from the previous week. Liverpool started well here, with Van Dijk seeing a back post header cleared off the line by Lerma early on from an Alexander-Arnold header. A swift counter soon after saw Bournemouth attacking through Ouattara, who rounded Alisson but could only hit the side netting soon after. As the action continued Liverpool had a Gakpo goal ruled out after he strayed offside when getting on the end of a Nunez header. On 28 minutes another Bournemouth counter paid off, this time Ouattara beat the offside trap and got to the byline after a slip from Van Dijk before crossing low for Billing to power home amidst some poor Liverpool defending. Liverpool looked stunned but once half time came they regrouped, with Jota coming on for Elliott to add even more firepower to the attack. He forced a save from Neto but Bournemouth could have doubled their lead when Senesi failed with a free header from a corner. Liverpool huffed and puffed but were lack a cutting edge, before Jota managed to win a penalty when he goal bound header hit the arm of Smith. Salah stepped up but managed to put the first penalty Liverpool had won in the Premier League in 49 weeks wide, to the dismay of his manager and teammates. Alisson saved from Christie late on before Gakpo put a chance over as the Cherries held on for a vital win to move out of the bottom three. Liverpool meanwhile missed the chance to put pressure on Spurs and could rue the defeat with a tough run of games against City, Chelsea, and Arsenal ahead. The win was only Bournemouth's second ever competitive win over Liverpool in their history. The Reds will look back and wonder what has gone wrong following their massive win over United, but will need to put this result behind them with their second leg against Real Madrid to come this week.
Predicted: Everton 1-3 Brentford
Result: Everton 1-0 Brentford
McNeil
A goal in the first minute settled this tie, and ended Brentford's twelve game unbeaten run in the league, as McNeil bent an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the left edge of the box after 35 seconds after Doucoure found him from the right. Dyches side were up against it from there as Brentford put all the effort in to find a levelling goal, but it was Everton who could have doubled their lead before the break. A free kick could not be properly cleared by Brentford and managed to go in off Gray, but a VAR review deemed that the ball had struck his hand before going in and was chalked off. In the second half Everton looked to protect their lead instead of pushing on for a second, while Brentford struggled. Pickford had to make a world class save from Henry early in the half, and Gary made a vital goal-line clearance with 20 minutes to go but besides that there was little else of note. The Toffees managed to hold on to what could end up being a vital three points in their battle to avoid the drop this season. Brentford's unbeaten run, which began back in October, was firmly put to an end as they lost for just the fifth time in the league this season. Amazingly, this was Dyche's third win in the league as Everton manager meaning in the seven games since he has taken charge he has managed to win as many as Lampard had in his twenty games at the helm this campaign. With Everton scoring inside the opening minute it became the eight time this season that a team has scored that early, making it the joint most in a single Premier League season with plenty of games left to beat the record.
Predicted: Leeds 1-3 Brighton
Result: Leeds 2-2 Brighton
Bamford, Harrison - Mac Allister, Harrison OG
It was Brighton who looked the brighter side for most of this game, and they started much better than their hosts. Mitoma proved a tricky proposition down the left, and while Leeds had the odd attacking threat here and there, it felt like only a matter of time before Brighton scored. That goal came on 33 minutes as Gross played a cross to the back post which Mitoma headed back for Mac Allister to apply the finish. Not to be undone, Leeds found a way back into the game on 40 minutes as Bamford fired in off the underside of the bar following a Webster deflection. Brighton continued with the same momentum in the second half, pressing and probing at every opportunity. The Seagulls managed to regain the lead on 61 minutes when a Wober attempted clearance from a Mitoma low cross came back of Messlier in the goal, and forced Harrison to react. With March right behind him, a woeful clearance ended up in the back of his own net to give Brighton their fifth own goal to benefit from this season, more than any other side. Welbeck could have sealed the win when he found himself 1 on 1 with Messlier but wasted his chance, and to his dismay Leeds for an equaliser on 78 minutes. Harrison collected a short corner from Gnonto before he moved onto his favoured right foot and curled a beautiful effort into the far corner. While not the perfect result, the Elland Road faithful can be pleased at avoiding a defeat for the first time since August after conceding the first goal in a game. Harrison became the fifth player to score, assist and score an own goal in a Premier League game, while Brighton continued their unbeaten run away from home in the league having not lost in six games.
Predicted: Leicester 1-1 Chelsea
Result: Leicester 1-3 Chelsea
Daka - Chilwell, Havertz, Kovacic
The fans got to witness a thriller at the King Power stadium as Chelsea made it three wins in a row in all competitions. The Leicester fans were not that welcoming to their former starts who jumped ship for Chelsea in Chillwell and Fofana, and on 11 minutes the left back opened the scoring. He powered home an effort at the near post to beat Ward and did not hold back the celebrations. Amartey managed to head wide from close range three minutes later when he should have levelled the scores, and Felix almost doubled the lead after brining down a Havertz pass and chipping Ward only to see the ball crash off the right post. Leicester hit the woodwork too through Dewsbury-Hall's deflected effort while Felix had the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside. Then on 39 minutes Daka drew his side level after Felix was robbed of the ball deep in the Chelsea half and Daka finished into the bottom right corner. Not to be outdone, in the sixth minute of first half stoppage time Chelsea regained the lead through Havertz. The attacker latched onto a lobbed pass from Enzo and applied a lovely dinked finish over Ward. The second half continued at the same pace, as a minute in Ward had to palm over a Fofana header. Souttar's close-range effort was cleared off the line by substitute Gallagher on 65 minutes as the chances became more sparse, and Dewsbury-Hall missed a glorious chance inside the area when he miskicked the ball straight to Kepa. Mudryk thought he had scored his first Chelsea goal and did a wild knee slide celebration but he had failed to see the offside flag. He did however get an assist as he chested the ball down from Havertz's cross for Kovacic to blast home on 78 minutes. The drama did not end there as Faes got his second yellow card on 87 minutes after lunging in. Leicester are not hovering above the relegation zone after their 16th league defeat of the season, while Chelsea will have some hope of closing in on the European places after ending their run of eight league away games without a win.
Predicted: Tottenham 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Result: Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest
Kane x2, Son - Worrall
Spurs started well here and in the third minute Richarlison thought he had given them the lead, only to see what would have been his first league goal for the club ruled out for a narrow offside. Spurs did not let that impact them, and on 19 minutes Kane headed them in front from a Porro cross. Sixteen minutes later Kane made it two as he converted from the spot after Richarlison was brought down by Worrall. Spurs were in the ascendacy and clearly not letting their European elimination against Milan have a negative effect on them. Forest meanwhile had won just once away from home all season and it seemed unlikely to change from the off here. It was in the second half when Spurs got their third, as Richarlison was once again at the heart of it. He crossed the ball in for Son in the 62nd minute and the South Korean swept the ball home. Forest did manage to get one back, with what was only their fourth league goal away from home all season when Worrall headed home at the back post from Felipe's flick-on from a corner. Kulusevski then gave away a penalty after being penalised for handball in his own area, but Ayew saw his spot kick saved by Forster in the 96th minute. It was another miserable away day for Forest and they sit three points off the drop at the time of writing. Spurs meanwhile made the most of Liverpool's defeat to open a six point lead in the race for fourth, although they have played a game more. Kane also managed to take his league goal tally to 20 for the season, meaning he has managed to score 20+ goal in a Premier League season for the sixth time in a row, with only Shearer doing it more with seven seasons.
Predicted: Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City
Result: Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester City
Haaland
Palace failed to have a shot on target for the third league game in a row as it took a late Haaland penalty to secure the three points for City. Guaita was busy from the off, saving a fierce Rodri shot on three minutes before Grealish waltzed through the Palace defence before shooting wide. Zaha did have a chance at the other end, but missed the ball from a lovely Olise cross. Haaland saw an effort saved, but around the half hour mark should have scored. Ake crossed for the striker and from just six yards out he managed to put the ball over the bar. The second half started in the same manner, as Grealish won a free on the edge of the area but Foden could only smack the set-piece straight at Guaita. Alvarez came on for Foden and created a brilliant chance by spinning his man but struck his shot well over. Soon after he struck straight at Guaita from a short corner, but with time running down City finally got their chance. Olise tangled his feet with Gundogan in the box, and while the German went down in theatrical fashion, he won a penalty. Haaland stepped up to roll the resulting past kick past Guaita on 78 minutes. He could have had a second but headed a Grealish cross onto the bar soon after. The result was Man City's fourth win in five games and closed the gap on Arsenal to two points with Arteta's side not playing until the following day. Palace meanwhile are on a poor run which has seen them put into real danger of being in the relegation mix. They have no wins in their previous ten league games, having lost half of them, and will need to start finding a way to score goals if they want to remain away from the relegation places.
Predicted: Fulham 2-2 Arsenal
Result: Fulham 0-3 Arsenal
Gabriel, Martinelli, Ødegaard
Even though Fulham were on a strong run, with four wins in their last six, Arsenal dominated this game from the off. A Robinson own goal early on was ruled out for offside but it did not take long for Arsenal to put themselves in the lead as a Trossard corner was headed in by Gabriel on 21 minutes. Arsenal continued to dominate from there, and on 26 minutes got their second when Trossard's chipped the ball into the box for Martinelli to apply a headed finish. Solomon and Pereira had the best chances for Fulham but in all honesty the home side offered very little. Arsenal kept pushing, with Xhaka mis-controlling when in a great position and Martinelli forcing a save from Leno. In the second minute of first half stoppage time they got their third, with Trossard involved once again as Ødegaard applied a lovely finish. The second half saw Fulham improve and show some fighting spirit, with Pereira and Mitrovic coming into the game more. The Serb was inches from getting a goal back after Ramsdale saved from Decordova-Reid as he hit the woodwork. Jesus made his return for Arsenal and saw a fine chance blocked by the foot of Leno as Arsenal controlled and saw out the game while ensuring they kept a clean sheet in the process. Trossard now has five assists since his transfer to Arsenal from Brighton, more than any other Premier League player has managed in two months. As for Fulham, another poor result has soured their hopes of European football next season although no matter what happens their fans will be delighted at how good the Cottagers have been in their first season back in the Premier League.
Predicted: Manchester United 2-1 Southampton
Result: Manchester United 0-0 Southampton
United looked to have put their humiliating defeat against Liverpool behind them as they beat Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday, but domestically things did not go as well here against relegation threatened Southampton. Rashford had a low shot saved by Banuzu after a quarter of an hour as the Red Devils looked to open the scoring, and had another effort saved a few moments later. Southampton thought they would take the lead when Walcott popped up with a bullet header, but De Gea was strong and matched it. Just after the half-hour mark Casemiro got himself sent off after coming over the top of the ball and catching his opponent straight on the shin. It was his second red card of the season for United and he faces a four match ban. Ward-Prowse's resulting free-kick deflected just wide as Southampton looked to make their advantage count. Banuzu saved well from Varane before United saw two penalty appeals turned away as their frustration grew. The second half could have seen Southampton go ahead early on only for a wonderful goal-line clearance from Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Ward-Prowse then clipped the top of the bar with a wonderful free-kick in the 54th minutes and Walcott saw an effort saved by De Gea when one on one. Banuzu was equal to Fernandes low effort soon after before Walker-Peters' powerful angled effort hit the post for Southampton. In the end it remained goalless but in all honesty either side could have won this one. United remain unbeaten in their last 14 Premier League meetings with Southampton but do have concerns as Garnacho left Old Trafford on crutches. Southampton managed to keep back-to-back clean sheets in the league and will be seriously believing they can climb out of the relegation places.
Predicted: West Ham 2-2 Aston Villa
Result: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa
Benrahama - Watkins
It was a cagey start here as West Ham looked to build on from their midweek Europa Conference League win, but it was Villa who drew first blood. Watkins headed in Moreno's cross in their first meaningful attack of the game on 17 minutes, meaning the attacker continued his excellent form with seven goals since the World Cup break. However the lead did not last long as on 26 minutes West Ham won a penalty when Bailey was penalised for a soft challenge on Paqueta. Benrahama dispatched the spot kick into the roof of the net to level the scores. West Ham had decent chances then through Benrahama and Zouma but they could not apply the finish, and Watkins almost made them pay as he forced Areola into a big save. The game became stretched but neither side had the quality to find a winner as Villa needed to rely on Martinez to remain in the contest. Young also produced a vital block as West Ham pushed on an on, and in second half stoppage time should have won it. Cornet found himself through on goal but attempted a bizarre step over before firing straight at Martinez. The home fans booed once again as West Ham have only managed to win two Premier League games in 2023, and while they are out of the relegation zone for now, they are dangerously close to it. Villa meanwhile lost ground in their battle to break into the top half of the table but are in a very comfortable position and clear of any relegation fears.
Predicted: Newcastle 1-1 Wolves
Result: Newcastle 2-1 Wolves
Isak, Almirón - Hwang
This game seemed like it would follow the pattern of the previous 9 out of 15 meeting between these sides, which had ended in a draw. It was a frantic opening twenty minutes to the game, as Moutinho and Trippier both saw set pieces go begging for their sides. Controversy ensued as Pope could have seen a red card on 20 minutes. The keeper took a heavy touch from a Burn back pass and Jimenez nipped in to get the ball before the keeper tangled their legs. The referee waved play on while VAR noted there was no clear and obvious error, although Wolves felt very different about it. Newcastle took the lead six minutes later as Isak met Trippier's free kick with a beautiful glancing header. From there Newcastle looked to be in control of the game. Willock prodded wide just seconds after Isak's opener and Guimaraes struck the crossbar soon after that. Podence then hit the bar for Wolves as they looked for a way back into the game. The second half saw a much improved Wolves, as Neves struck over from distance before Neto stung Pope's palms from a free kick. Trippier saw a free kick saved and Neves had another effort of his own saved before the goals arrived late on. In the 70th minute and 57 second after coming on Hwang found the back of the net after he burst into the box and with confusion amongst the players he had the simple task of slotting the ball into the empty net. Newcastle did not give up from there, and their own substitute Almirón played a lovely interchange with Willock before breaking into the right-hand side of the box and blasting the ball home on 79 minutes. Botman headed over late on as Newcastle could have added a third but will be happy with the three points. The result means Wolves have just two away wins all season in the league, while Almirón has now scored 11 times this season which is more than his previous four seasons combined for Newcastle.
Table After Match Day 27
A look at the top half of the table and Arsenal remain at the top of the table with five points between them and City. United are in third closer to Spurs, fourth, and Newcastle in fifth that the top two. Liverpool sit in sixth and six points off fourth, albeit with a game in hand, while Brighton remain in seventh with multiple games in hand on those above them. Fulham are in eight on goal difference, while Brentford remain a point and a position behind them. Finally Chelsea make up the top half and are eleven points off fourth although have a game in hand.
As for the bottom half, Southampton remain bottom with Leeds and Bournemouth making up the relegation places. West Ham and Leicester remain out of the drop zone on goal difference, with Everton a point ahead. Forest are a point ahead of them with Wolves and Palace another point ahead again, meaning there is just three points between 12th and 18th, and five points between 12th and 20th. This is certainly one of the tightest relegation scraps in recent history, although Villa will be happy they are well out of it sitting in 11th and a healthy twelve points clear of twelfth place Crystal Palace.
Top Goal scorers After Match Day 27
1 - E. Haaland - Manchester City - 28 Goals
2 - H Kane - Tottenham - 20 Goals
3 - I. Toney - Brentford - 15 Goals
4 - M. Rashford - Manchester United - 14 Goals
5 - G. Martinelli - Arsenal - 12 Goals
6 - A. Mitrović - Fulham - 11 Goals
7 - M. Salah - Liverpool - 11 Goals
8 - M. Almirón - Newcastle - 11 Goals
+ 3 players on 10 goals
Check out my 2022/23 Season Preview and Predictions here: Premier League 2022/23 Prediction
You can also find my updated predictions after the Round of 16 Champions League draw here: Champions League 22/23 Round of 16 Draw & Prediction
Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the review of the weekends matches.
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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