Premier League Review – Matchday 25
Saturday 12th February, 2022
Manchester United 1 Southampton 1
United were unbeaten in their previous 6 games in League and Cup matches (Middlesbrough best them in a penalty shoot-out) but have only scored one in each of the last three. Whilst still in the hunt for the top four, many fans and pundits are mystified by United’s general lack of success, despite the presence of high profile and big money players. Unless they win the Champions League this will complete five years since a trophy for United. Ronaldo started this game in place of Cavani in an otherwise unchanged side.
Southampton travelled in good spirits, of course, after their midweek win at Tottenham. Ralf Hasenhuttl fielded an unchanged side. Southampton’s last visit to Old Trafford ended in a 9-0 defeat.
The first chance of note fell to Ronaldo after Sancho got ahead of Walker-Peters and fed the Portuguese icon. However, Perraud made enough ground to clear Ronaldo's shot with the keeper beaten. (6 mins) Southampton responded with a dangerous attack where Walker-Peters turned in a cross from the left, but Adams could not make good contact. United countered and Forster made a good save at the feet of Sancho.
United took a 21st minute lead when, after Salisu tried but failed to intercept, Rashford was onto Fernandes' long ball down the right and once he reached the box, crossed to the back post where Sancho scored his first Premier League goal of 2022.
Armstrong took a short pass from Romeu and had a decent effort on goal after 34 minutes. His shot from the edge of the area passed just wide. After a Salisu long throw and a defensive back header by Pogba, Armstrong managed to hook a shot goalward, but De Gea saved. Perraud had a decent right-footed shot saved after another decent Southampton move.
Pogba converted a Ronaldo cross in first half added time, but Ronaldo had been miles offside when he received the ball and the offside flag had been delayed despite the very obvious offence.
Southampton centre-back Bednarek was replaced by Stephens at half-time. "The Saints" equalised within three minutes of the re-start. Perraud passed inside to Elyounoussi who fed the ball to Che Adams who got inside the area on the left. Adams scored with a well-placed right foot shot across De Gea. The ball hit the far post but rebounded over the line into the goal. The goal was scored at the "away end", and "Saints" fans had every reason to celebrate.
Broja was having his shirt tugged by Shaw, but referee Stuart Attwell waved play-on and Broja managed to hit a powerful shot which was well saved by De Gea. After a United free kick, Harry Maguire had a close-range shot, but that was hit straight at Forster. Forster had two more saves to make as United built up some pressure. The first was from Ronaldo, and the second from Dalot.
Southampton were giving it their all and after a ball from Elyounoussi, Broja got into the box and tried a shot across the keeper which was cleared. Elyounoussi had been involved in a foul on Pogba and was replaced by Livramento. Fernandes swung in a free kick from which Ronaldo "scored", but a whole line of United players had been offside. Walker-Peters played ahead of Livramento.
Elanga came on for McTominay with 15 minutes remaining. Fernandes hit another long ball from just inside his half. Rashford reached the ball ahead of Stephens, but his shot across goal was wide. Rashford was replaced by Lingard. Ward-Prowse led a Southampton break and Broja got the better of Maguire, but the ball ran out of play under Maguire's challenge. Maguire trod on Broja in his follow through, but VAR found no offence.
There were five minutes of added time. Broja made a jinking run into the United box, but the defence managed to clear. Shaw took a United free kick on the left which was met by Maguire's header. Forster made a great save low to his left and at the same time managed to push the ball away from immediate danger.
This was a hard-fought and entertaining game. Southampton were well worth their point. United connections will be disappointed.
Brentford 0 Crystal Palace 0
There were emotional scenes at Brentford as Christian Eriksen was introduced to the crowd before kick-off. Eriksen was not involved in the game though. Ivan Toney was still side-lined but Janelt, Wissa and Mbeumo came in for Roerslev, Onyeka and Ghoddos. Jordan Ayew and Edouard came in for Palace replacing Olise and Mateta.
The game offered little entertainment value, or excitement. Guehi survived a VAR review for a Brentford penalty when it was decided that the Palace defender had been pushed before reaching high to handle the ball after a Brentford corner. Guaita had to make a close range save from Mbeumo after the Brentford striker received a good ball from Canos. Canos threw himself at a cross from Mbeumo but could not hit the ball low enough.
Guaita made an excellent one-handed save from Jensen following a Brentford corner. Zaha was looking for a penalty in added time, but referee Simon Hooper said "No"! In the fifth minute of added time, Andersen hit a shot on target, but Raya saved.
Everton 3 Leeds United 0
This was a vital game for Frank Lampard’s side, now missing Yerry Mina for a few weeks. Demarai Gray was also out, whilst Townsend and Gomes dropped to the bench. Van de Beek made his first Everton start and Calvert-Lewin played next to Richarlison. Leeds were unchanged from the team which drew 3-3 at Villa Park in midweek.
Everton might have an even better start than they did when Gordon was put through in a scoring position in front of goal, but Ayling made an excellent saving tackle. Bielsa lost Stuart Dallas to early injury, and he was replaced by Hjelde. Everton had a tenth minute lead. Seamus Coleman scored (for the first time in 80 Premier League games) and had helped to work the ball towards the Leeds area. Van de Beek crossed and Llorente tried to clear from Calvert-Lewin, but Coleman scored with a diving header inside the keeper’s left post.
Rodrigo hit the top of Pickford’s bar with a dipping 25-yard shot. Everton were fighting harder for the ball and Michel Keane headed in Gordon’s corner in the 20th minute. Richarlison and Iwobi had shots blocked after Gordon crossed from the left five minutes before the break. Calvert-Lewin had a shot saved by Meslier after Iwobi’s pass. Iwobi was starting a league game for the first time in two months. Rodrigo hit the woodwork for a second time in first half added time with a left foot shot that had Pickford beaten again.
Raphinha was withdrawn at half-time for Roberts and Forshaw replaced Klich. Bielsa had used all his subs. It looked as if Richarlison had given Everton a three-goal lead in the 78th minute after taking Allan’s pass and hitting a shot from 20 yards, but Gordon claimed and was credited with the goal as he got on the touch and deflected the shot into the net.
Dele Alli was a late sub for Everton and nearly laid on a super goal with a cross from deep on the right. Another sub, Rondon, hit a powerful shot, but Meslier made an excellent stoppage time save. Lampard’s name was being sung by the home fans at the end of the game.
Watford 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Brighton had a Tuesday night game to come at Old Trafford, which might be the reason for Bissouma dropping to the bench. Solly March also started on the bench whilst Veltman and Welbeck started for Graham Potter’s side. Roy Hodgson stuck with the side who had lost just 1-0 away to West Ham, but he did have Sarr on the bench, following his return from Senegal’s win in the African Cup of Nations. Watford have changed their manager twice since these two teams last met!
Ben Foster made a good low save from Moder’s shot after seven minutes, and a double-handed save from Maupay’s 25-yarder after 18 minutes.
Watford’s Dennis made an exciting run which was brought to an end just outside the area by Lewis Dunk who was booked by referee Jon Moss. Dennis took the free kick but pushed it wide of the far post. Foster released Cleverley with a long throw out of goal after 28 minutes. Cleverley passed to Dennis on the left of the area, but despite his jinking run the ball was defended for a corner.
Maupay made it 1-0 two minutes before the break. Lamptey crossed from the right and Maupay swung and turned the ball into the net with an excellent right-footed shot. The ball was lifted high into Foster’s top-right corner, and The Rookery End fans were not happy.
Dennis skimmed the top of Sanchez’s bar with a right foot shot in the second half. After a Brighton free kick when Lamptey was fouled, Moder hit another shot goalward, but Femenia blocked successfully. Foster later had to save a low shot from Cucurella. Moder had another on-target shot deflected wide. Brighton were well on top, and Webster made it 2-0 in the 83rd minute bundling in a corner from the right. Sanchez saved well from Sarr when he did come off the bench, but Watford fans had already been leaving in droves. Many of those remaining booed their team and manager at the end of the game. Will Roy make it to the end of the season?
Norwich City 0 Manchester City 4
Manchester City had a Champions League game on Tuesday night and perhaps with this in mind Pep Guardiola made five changes to the side which beat Brentford in midweek. Stones, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri and De Bruyne made way for Walker, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho and Gundogan. Grealish was absent from the squad due to an injury picked up during the week. City could put out two teams better than most in the league, couldn’t they?
Dean Smith made two changes with Billy Gilmour and Sargent replacing Idah and Placheta. Manchester City had an early scare when Dias made a mistake and Rashica was allowed to advance on goal. The attack was smothered and there was a delayed offside flag in relation to Norwich’s initial clearance from their half. Foden was denied a goal after another offside flag after a Manchester City free kick.
Bernardo Silva beat Angus Gunn with a left foot shot, but the ball rebounded off the far post into the hands of the relieved goalkeeper. Fernandinho pushed the ball out to Zinchenko who crossed from the left. Gundogan's header was hit into Gunn's arms. Pukki had a right foot shot on target after 9 minutes from the right of goal, but Ederson had the angle covered.
Ruben Dias was booked after 16 minutes for cynically bringing an excellent run by Rashica to a halt near the halfway line. Norwich had a corner soon after that, which was returned into the area by Lees-Melou. Hanley headed down but the ball rebounded off Ederson’s left post with the keeper almost reaching.
Sterling was in the middle after 26 minutes when Gundogan pushed the ball out to Zinchenko who crossed. Gunn saved well from Sterling’s low shot. Manchester City took the lead in the 31st minute after Kyle Walker hit a cross past the area to Sterling who beat Gunn with an excellent right foot shot from the left corner of the area inside the keeper's left post.
Mahrez hit a shot straight at the Norwich keeper, and Gundogan headed over from a short cross by Bernardo Silva. Manchester City were getting into their stride after several valiant efforts by the home side. The score remained 1-0 at half-time. City had statistical dominance in terms of possession, shots, and corners.
City increased their lead within three minutes of the restart after Gundogan crossed from the bye-line on the left to the 6-yard zone. After a defensive touch or two, Foden had a close-range chance. The first was blocked, and the second crossed the line before being cleared. Technology confirmed the goal, which was evident to the naked eye. Manchester City were now camped in the Norwich half.
Rashica did have a chance on the hour, but the shot was hit straight at Ederson. Mahrez hit a powerful shot into the side netting after Sterling passed the ball across the Norwich area. City only had 10 men on the pitch when they scored their third goal after 70 minutes. Kyle Walker was receiving treatment after colliding with advertising hoarding after a previous attack. Foden hit a ball deep across the area where Dias headed back into the middle and Sterling had an easy header for his second goal of the game.
Guardiola could afford to put on 19-year-old James McAtee for Bernardo Silva. It was McAtee's second Premier League appearance. Another Academy product, 19-year-old Liam Delap, came on for Phil Foden. Guardiola’s final substitute was a Premier League debutant - 18-year-old Brazilian Kayky.
After 88 minutes referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot after Hanley collided with Delap. Sterling had a hat-trick goal in the 90th minute, but Gunn saved his penalty, although Sterling was able to snap up the rebound. He had a "perfect" three as well, followed up by an added time booking for a subsequent foul.
Sunday 13th February, 2022
Burnley 0 Liverpool 1
Aaron Lennon came into the Burnley team and made his 400th Premier League appearance. The first had been for Leeds against Tottenham on 23rd August, 2003. Jurgen Klopp fielded the Salah, Firmino, Mane front three, with Jordan Henderson back in midfield. The weather conditions were described as "challenging"!
Alisson had to push away a shot by Brownhill, and at the other end after 20 minutes, Pope saved low from Keita’s shot. Weghorst challenged Salah after the corner before making a run to receive a pass from Rodriguez when Burnley broke out. Weghorst’s shot was poor to be honest but was cleared anyway by Alexander-Arnold. Pope made a reactive save from Mane’s shot following a free kick floated into the left of the area by the Liverpool right back.
Liverpool had a corner in the 40th minute, taken by Alexander-Arnold. Mane had a free header and Fabinho pounced to fire into the net from short range, after an initial save by Pope.
Ben Mee nearly scored an own goal with a defensive clearance in the second half and substitute Jota had a late chance which passed just outside the post.
Newcastle United 1 Aston Villa 0
Kieran Trippier scored for the second consecutive game in front of another 52,000 crowd. This time, he scored the decisive goal, putting Newcastle four points clear of the bottom three. Dan Burn made his debut in defence. Villa included Calum Chambers, recently signed from Arsenal, in their back four, replacing Konsa.
The decisive free kick followed a pass by Shelvey to Saint-Maximin who quickly fed the ball to Willock who was fouled on the very edge of the area. Craig Pawson pointed to the spot, but VAR led to the decision being a free kick. Up stepped Trippier, whose kick went through the wall, but was then cruelly deflected by Buendia past Martinez.
In first half added time, following a Villa corner, McGinn’s shot was on target but that was deflected wide for another corner.
Trippier was Newcastle’s captain in the absence of Lascelles, but he had to be replaced by Manquillo in the second half with a foot injury that required X-Rays. Trippier could be a costly absentee for the "Magpies". It has been confirmed he has a bone fracture in his foot and will be absent for at least six weeks. Cash had a shot go wide of the far post after 51 minutes. Six minutes later Saint-Maximin hit a powerful shot that was deflected just wide. Watkins had the ball in the net after several Villa passes and a Digne cross, but he had been offside – just!
There were seven minutes of added time during which Saint-Maximin had another shot go just wide. Newcastle had won three league matches in a row for the first time since 2018. Steven Gerrard and his team were somewhat subdued.
Spurs 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
This was one of those games when we refer to our least bad player. Usually Hugo Lloris gets that plaudit, but he was not exempt from criticism after this game. Against Wolves Cristian Romero was that player. Bentancur and Kane were the only other players to score above 5 out of 10. Here are a selection of your heartfelt comments received:-
"Pathetic. Clueless. No passion from some players - inexcusable. Fundamental errors in most positions. Made Wolves & Saints look worlds apart from Spurs. Top 4 probably evaporated in 2 games. Conte needed his transfer window and shocked if he stays after May"
"After Lloris’s mistakes the game was up. Nothing else really mattered. World class or not he lost us the game."
"Still sick today. No lessons learned. Hugo’s bad day, but no one had a good day. Back to square one. If Conte can’t do anything with this lot, no one can"
"I'm finished with Spurs for the moment... done... and truly finished with ENIC... enough!"
Leicester City 2 West Ham United 2
West Ham held onto their top four place (at least until Tuesday) thanks to an added time equaliser by Craig Dawson. Cat-kicker Kurt Zouma was scheduled to play but withdrew "due to illness" during the warm-up. He was replaced by Diop.
Bowen gave West Ham a 10th minute lead, after taking on a long ball from Diop before confidently beating Schmeichel with a low left foot shot to the left of the keeper. Brendan Rodgers made an early replacement of left back Justin with Luke Thomas.
Leicester had off-target shots by Tielemans and Barnes before winning a corner after 43 minutes. When that was swung in by Maddison, referee Michael Oliver penalised Cresswell for handball and Tielemans hammered the spot-kick into the net. (45 mins)
Leicester took the lead in the 57th minute when Barnes crossed from the left and Ricardo Pereira headed in at the back post. Both Tielemans and substitute Lookman had shots off target before Benrahma’s shot in added time was deflected over for a corner. Bowen took the corner and Dawson seemed to head in, but the ball actually came off his upper arm, but was allowed to stand.
Tuesday 15th February, 2022
Manchester United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
This match was re-scheduled after postponement on 18th December. Manchester United’s Champions League Round of 16 game is being played next week.
Raphael Varane had to pull out shortly before the game through illness, so Lindelof was called in. Fred played next to McTominay. Anthony Elanga also started. Bissouma, Mac Allister and Trossard were back for Brighton. This was Graham Potter's 100th Premier League game in charge of Brighton.
De Gea had to save from Moder after five minutes when United failed to play out. After a mistake by Webster, Ronaldo teed up Sancho, but his shot was saved by Sanchez. Brighton were holding their own and Mac Allister had a shot saved after receiving Moder's low cross from the right.
The Old Trafford crowd was becoming frustrated with their team's inability to create any meaningful chances. De Gea was required to make a brilliant save, diving to his right to keep out Moder's header which followed a cross by Veltman. Bissouma hit a shot just wide across goal after a short Moder pass. The home crowd became more and more frustrated.
United took the lead after 51 minutes. Bissouma lost the ball inside his half and McTominay quickly released Ronaldo who scored with an excellent right-footed shot inside Sanchez's left post. It was Ronaldo’s first goal in six games.
Soon after the re-start Lewis Dunk was initially shown a yellow card for a foul on Elanga. The card was upgraded after VAR intervened to a red, but Fernandes had already been shown yellow for his protests as United clearly thought Dunk was preventing a goal-scoring opportunity. After the game, Graham Potter argued (quite fairly) that Webster was behind the play and might have covered the threat on goal. Fernandes' free kick was blocked.
Sanchez made a good fingertip save from a Ronaldo header after a ball from Fernandes. Sanchez gifted the ball to Ronaldo after 71 minutes. Ronaldo passed to Fernandes to his right and the goalkeeper redeemed himself with a save.
Moder's long range shot from the left beat De Gea but bounced off the bar. Fernandes picked up a loose ball and ran at goal after 81 minutes, but Sanchez saved. Sanchez had an easier save to make from Harry Maguire's shot following the United corner. United did get a second goal but had to wait till the seventh minute of added time. Substitute Pogba took a quick free kick and Fernandes rushed into the box and after a dummy, smashed the ball into the net. The win put United into fourth place.
Fixtures and results - 12-15.02.22
Saturday 12th February, 2022
Man Utd 1-1 S'hampton
Brentford 0-0 C. Palace
Everton 3-0 Leeds
Watford 0-2 Brighton
Norwich 0-4 Man City
Sunday 13th February, 2022
Burnley 0-1 Liverpool
Newcastle 1-0 A. Villa
Spurs 0-2 Wolves
Leicester 2-2 West Ham
Tuesday 15th February, 2022
Man Utd 2-0 Brighton
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Man City 25 20 3 2 61-14 47 63
2. Liverpool 24 16 6 2 61-19 42 54
3. Chelsea 24 13 8 3 48-18 30 47
4. Man Utd 25 12 7 6 40-32 8 43
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5. West Ham 25 12 5 8 44-33 11 41
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6. Arsenal 22 12 3 7 34-25 9 39
7. Wolves 23 11 4 8 21-17 4 37
8. Spurs 22 11 3 8 28-29 -1 36
9. Brighton 24 7 12 5 25-25 0 33
10. S'hampton 24 6 11 7 30-37 -7 29
11. Leicester 22 7 6 9 36-41 -5 27
12. A. Villa 23 8 3 12 31-36 -5 27
13. C. Palace 24 5 11 8 32-35 -3 26
14. Brentford 25 6 6 13 26-40 -14 24
15. Leeds 23 5 8 10 27-46 -19 23
16. Everton 22 6 4 12 28-38 -10 22
17. Newcastle 23 4 9 10 25-44 -19 21
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18. Norwich 24 4 5 15 14-50 -36 17
19. Watford 23 4 3 16 23-43 -20 15
20. Burnley 21 1 11 9 17-29 -12 14
