Premier League Review - Matchday 13
Saturday 29th October, 2022
Leicester 0-1 Manchester City (12.30 BT SPORT)
Leicester faced the behemoth that is Manchester City, who were without goal machine Erling Haaland due to his foot injury sustained in the away game against Borussia Dortmund. Pep made 6 changes to his side, but he still had players such as Ruben Dias, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden on the bench! Vardy started this game.
City were camped in Leicester’s half, but the first real threat came after 8 minutes when Gundogan met Cancelo's cross with a back-header which was held by Danny Ward, who had three consecutive clean sheets to his name going into this game. Three minutes later, following a corner and De Bruyne’s cross, Ward pushed a Rodri header over his bar.
Ward saved with his feet from a Bernardo Silva shot after 16 minutes. Vardy was finally released after 23 minutes. He passed to Barnes, whose short range effort was saved by Ederson at his right post. De Bruyne hit a clean shot from outside the box after 27 minutes and Ward made a clean and confident save.
Leicester began to look dangerous on the counter-attack, but it was a goal-less first half.
City came out of the blocks quickest for the second half and Rodri hit a right foot shot just wide of Ward's right post. De Bruyne opened the scoring inside 49 minutes with a perfect right-footed 25-yard free kick which hit the net off the inside of Ward's right post. Tielemans caught a right foot shot perfectly from just outside the box, but Ederson pushed the shot onto his bar and over.
Leicester had their moments and in the closing minutes, substitute Daka's header was held by Ederson, who was also well-placed to save a shot by another sub - Iheanacho.
De Bruyne’s worldie proved to be the winner for the Premier League champions.
Bournemouth 2-3 Spurs (15.00)
Thanks to Andy Park for the picture
Dejan Kulusevski travelled with the squad to Bournemouth, and whilst not in the squad, was seen going through training routines before the game. Despite missing our last 9 games (since 17th September) "Deki" holds equal second place in terms of assists in all games played this season, with three official involvements. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also has three assists, but Ivan Perisic, who delivered the corner for Ben Davies’ first goal this season, has five assists to his name and leads this table.
Ryan Sessegnon, and Rodrigo Bentancur both scored their second Premier League goals for Spurs, which were also their third club goals. Ben Davies’ goal was his fifth in the Premier League and seventh in total for Spurs.
Brentford 1-1 Wolves (15.00)
Diego Costa still hasn’t scored for Wolves, but he was sent off in the seventh minute of added time for headbutting Ben Mee. Costa will now have to sit out three games – two before and one after the World Cup break. Perhaps by then Raul Jimenez will be fit to play again.
The two goals in the game were scored within two minutes of second half action.
Referee Bobby Madley was back in Premier League action for the first time in four years after he was sacked for posting inappropriate material on social media. He initially spent time refereeing in Norway and has more recently been officiating in Football league games.
Josh Dasilva went close with a first half shot just over Sa’s right goal-frame, and Moutinho, who had been a late first half substitute for Nunes had a shot deflected wide after a Wolves corner.
Brentford’s goal was a superb left foot strike from inside the area by Ben Mee after a 50th minute corner and ensuing cross by Mbeumo. Wolves struck back immediately after a good move which ended with Traore at the right bye-line passing back to Semedo on the edge of the area. He slid the ball into the path of Neves, who scored with a 20-yard right-footed shot. That was only Wolves’ sixth league goal of the season.
Raya made a save from a left-footed shot by Diego Costa fifteen minutes from time. Toney put a header wide at the other end when he really should have hit the target. The Diego Costa incident arose when Wolves were pressing for a late winner, and he tangled with Mee near the edge of the area. VAR sent Mr. Madley to the monitor and Costa was shown the red card. Diego Costa’s signing had been a gamble, and no doubt expensive for Wolves in terms of pay. They’ll be paying him for nothing until after Christmas now.
Brighton 4-1 Chelsea (15.00)
Brighton delivered their first win under Graham Potter’s replacement Roberto de Zerbi with a shock result that left all but Chelsea connections happy. Potter was booed by his former fans, which seemed particularly ungracious. His former players were definitely fired up, but two of their goals came off Chelsea feet. Chelsea’s side included a player Potter’s Brighton sold to Chelsea – Marc Cucurella. Brighton were missing Veltman and Welbeck, so they included left back Estupinan and attacking midfielder Kaoru Mitoma.
Chelsea’s Thiago Silva gave the ball away in only the third minute, allowing Trossard a pop at goal which Thiago headed over from just in front of his goal-line. Chelsea had Thiago to thank again when he managed to head Estupinan’s shot away from goal after the corner he had just conceded. Brighton’s amazing start was cemented by a fifth minute goal after Trossard took Mitoma’s short pass, rounded Arrizabalaga and hit the net.
Sanchez managed to clear from the advancing Pulisic at the other end. Brighton resumed the pressure and following a corner taken on the right Ruben Loftus-Cheek put the ball into his own net in the 14th minute. The Brighton crowd chanted "Getting sacked in the morning" at their former manager, who had, after all, given their club good service.
Former loan player at Brighton’s hated Crystal Palace, Conor Gallagher, had a shot well saved by Sanchez, but Pulisic wasted his opportunity to put the rebound away. Gallagher had an angled header well saved by the Brighton keeper after Sterling had crossed from the left.
Arrizabalaga had been waving at his bench and seemed to have an injury problem, but before any action was taken, he saw a Caicedo shot hit his side netting. Mendy came on for him at half time. However, his side were already 3-0 down as Chalobah turned an Estupinan cross into his own net.
Havertz did score for Chelsea three minutes into the second half. It was Gallagher who delivered a good cross enabling Havertz to head home. Sanchez did well to get his body in the way when a Mason Mount cross was deflected towards goal. Sanchez dived to his left to push away an Aubameyang 25-yard shot later in the second half.
Enciso had replaced Lallana midway through the half and in added time he had a 23-yard shot parried by Mendy, and a follow-up saved but not held by the keeper. Pascal Gross snapped up the short-range chance and made it 4-1.
Brighton had never before beaten Chelsea in any league game. They had a record crowd of 31,746 to see the win. It was Chelsea’s biggest defeat since they lost by the same scoreline at home to Brentford in April.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton (15.00)
This match was decided by one goal, scored in the 38th minute. Before that though, Palace had offered a piece of magic when Eze flicked the ball to Zaha who hit a shot across goal from the left, which passed only just in front of the post. Che Adams hit the post at the other end, but he had been offside when he collected Perraud’s long ball down the line. Bazunu made a good save low to his right from a powerfully driven shot by Eze.
Edouard had the ball in the net from Olise’s pass but the “goal” was ruled out for Olise’s offside. Palace’s goal came after Zaha nicked the ball off Lyanco’s feet. Zaha turned and headed towards the Southampton goal. He fed the ball to Mitchell, who quickly passed inside to the feet of Edouard, who made no mistake.
Guaita saved from Adams after Ward-Prowse had fed the ball to his left in the second half. The Palace keeper also kept out a shot by Stuart Armstrong, low near his right post. Southampton were having a good spell and Armstrong hit the bottom of the same post with another shot. After poor play-out play by Palace, Aribo teed up Adams, who perhaps should have done better with his shot, but hit it at Guaita.
Newcastle 4-0 Aston Villa (15.00)
Villa’s recovery was short-lived and rampant Newcastle looked like going third when Spurs were losing 350 miles away. Newcastle have won five of their last six games and are now unbeaten in their last 8 games. They deservedly hold fourth place, two points behind Spurs. Their team was unchanged, and nine of those included had played every game in October. Villa were also unchanged from the team which had beaten Brentford 4-0 last week.
Newcastle had been on top, and Martinez had been badly shaken when struck by his own player – Tyrone Mings in a defensive scramble. Martinez carried on but had to be replaced by Olsen in the 35th minute. Olsen was making only his second Villa appearance and made a good save from Almiron two minutes before the break. Newcastle did have a first half added time lead though after Ashley Young handled Almiron’s shot, and Callum Wilson converted from the spot.
Wilson had a second goal in the 56th minute when Kieran Trippier stood up a lovely short cross (following his corner) and the Newcastle striker headed in at the back post. The Gallowgate End erupted. Gareth Southgate was in the stand and will have taken note of Callum Wilson’s fifth and sixth goals of the season. Joelinton latched onto Olsen’s parried save three minutes later from another Wilson shot.
It was Wilson who provided the assist for what is becoming a trademark goal for Miguel Almiron who curled in another left foot shot from 20 yards outside the keeper’s right post. This was Almiron’s seventh league goal, and his sixth in the last six games. Villa had no answer to this onslaught which continued when Wilson powered a header against the bar. Substitute Jacob murphy also hit the woodwork with a right foot shot from outside the area.
New head coach Unai Emery takes over the reins at Villa on Tuesday.
Fulham 0-0 Everton (17.30 SKY)
Fulham had a chance of drawing level on points with Chelsea if they won. Fulham manager Marco Silva was facing this former club for the first time.
Everton made a good start and after an early corner Leno had to stretch to save Gray's shot, conceding another corner. Pickford had to push over a good close-range shot at the other end by Willian. From the corner, Mitrovic's header also went just over the bar with Pickford tipping over, just in case. Next up was a save from a Harrison Reed shot.
The tempo reduced, but Calvert-Lewin missed a good opportunity at the back post when he failed to get on the end of an excellent ball by Demarai Gray.
Following a 33rd minute Everton corner, Conor Coady controlled Mykolenko's deep cross and forced a low save from Fulham keeper Leno. Ream wasn’t far wide with a header three minutes later after a Fulham free kick. Tarkowski headed straight at Leno after an Everton cross from the right following a corner.
Referee John Brooks denied Willian a penalty in the first minute after the break, and Var upheld the referee’s decision. Pickford dived to his left to push away Willian's shot five minutes later. Mitrovic had a good chance after a cross from the right and a short touch by Willian, after 61 minutes, but his powerfully hit effort passed over the bar.
Goals had looked likely in the early stages of the game and the number of Fulham shots on goal was far higher than those by Everton, who sought opportunities on the break. Willian had an exciting late run into the Everton box and cut the ball back, but substitute James Garner made a vital clearance to prevent Diop from scoring.
Mitrovic missed the target with another late chance and had the unenviable record of most shots in a Premier League game (10) without a goal.
Liverpool 1-2 Leeds (19.45 SKY)
Leeds had gone 8 games without a Premier League game win, and such a result did not look likely in this 7.45pm kick-off. The game was moved to accommodate Liverpool’s Tuesday night Champions League game. Alexander-Arnold started this game, and Liverpool were missing Jordan Henderson, but he was on the bench.
Jesse Marsch made three changes and had to manage with the injured Sinisterra.
There was panic for Leeds in the first minute when their defence (and Meslier in an advanced position) misjudged a long kick by Alisson. Salah nearly took advantage with a shot from near the bye-line to the left of goal, but the ball was headed out for a corner.
Liverpool suffered a worse embarrassment three minutes later when Gomez passed inside without looking where Alisson was positioned. Alisson had come out of his goal to the right, and also slipped. Rodrigo snapped up the gift of a goal in front of The Kop.
Liverpool were level in the 14th minute. Robertson had taken a corner, but he received a return ball across the area from Alexander-Arnold. Robertson put the ball into the danger zone where Salah finished and hit the net.
The game was open, and Leeds hit the bar after 20 minutes when Kristensen's cross was met by Aaronson. Jack Harrison had another shot just off target soon afterwards.
After 31 minutes Meslier managed to close down Nunez, who failed to get a shot in, after a great long ball by Alexander-Arnold.
Leeds continued to give a good account of themselves in the second half, although neither goalkeeper was being tested to the extreme. Alisson held an ambitious long range free kick before substitute Bamford hit a snap shot after a good pass by Harrison. The Liverpool keeper held this too. At the other end Robertson's shot was punched clear by Meslier. (61 minutes)
Meslier came to the rescue after Cooper's slip let in Salah, who teed up Nunez for what looked a certain goal. (66 mins)
Jesse Marsch put on 18-year-old Italian Wilfried Gnonto, who was making his senior debut, replacing Harrison. Gnonto has recently featured for the Italian Nations League team. Meslier made a fine save after 76 minutes from Nunez's 20-yard right footer.
Jurgen Klopp put on 36-year-old James Milner, whose career began 20 years ago at Leeds. Bamford's first touch let him down when he was presented with a good opportunity and was closed down in front of the Liverpool goal.
Meslier got down well to a Firmino left-footed shot at The Kop end. The Leeds keeper made another vital save from Salah with five minutes remaining. Two minutes were left on the clock when Meslier was the Leeds hero again, getting down for a good reaction save from a Firmino header. A minute later, Leeds had a hero at the other end. Gnonto managed to put in a cross from the left and Bamford's touch gave Summerville a chance which he poked inside Alisson’s left post.
Leeds played out the five minutes + of added time for an excellent win that takes them out of the bottom three. The players had given their all for under pressure Jesse Marsch, for whom this was a statement win.
Sunday 30th October, 2022
Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest(14.00)
Arsenal lost Bukayo Saka to injury within the first half hour, which will be a worry for Gareth Southgate. Arsenal were already one up, but they went on to thrash bottom club Forest 5-0 with Saka’s replacement Reiss Nelson scoring the next two goals. Nelson was making his first Premier League appearance of the season. He has been involved in Arsenal’s Europa League campaign and was on loan with Feyenoord last season, playing in their Europa Conference League Final. Aged 22, Nelsons last goal for Arsenal was nearly two years ago.
The Forest side, much-changed this season, included only three players who started the FA Cup win against Arsenal in January. Today’s side did include ex-Spur Serge Aurier.
Saka made the first goal, scored in only the fifth minute, when his short cross was headed into the corner of Henderson’s net by Martinelli. The scorer held up a shirt bearing the name of Pablo Mari in tribute to the loan player in Italy, who was injured in a knife attack in Italy this week.
Saka won a challenge with Lingard outside the Forest area and delivered a pass to Gabriel Jesus, whose shot across goal was just wide. Saka suffered his injury when on the attack and challenged by Forest left back Lodi. Lodi cleared a Martinelli shot off his line before Saka was replaced.
Nelson’s first goal came in the 49th minute, following a good ball forward and swift passing left to right across the area before the substitute’s first shot was saved by Henderson, but the ball ran to Nelson’s feet, giving him a second chance to score, which was taken. He scored again three minutes later. Nelson had been involved defensively and started Arsenal’s move forward. Having made the run to join a concerted attack, he took a short pass from Jesus and this time scored with an angled shot from the right of goal.
Nelson’s involvement was not complete as he passed to the feet of the advancing Partey in the 57th minute. Partey scored with a powerful right foot shot which curled inside Henderson’s top left corner. Henderson saved from Jesus, after Odegaard’s pass. Having made four more substitutions, Arteta’s team completed their annihilation in the 78th minute when Partey’s short forward ball to Jesus was sent to the right inside the area where Odegaard finished off.
Arteta’s "apprenticeship" under Pep Guardiola at Manchester city seems to be bearing fruit to such an extent that his former team might be the only one that can stop Arsenal this season.
Manchester Utd 1-0 West Ham (16.15 SKY)
Harry Maguire made only his third Premier League start of the season and his first since the 4-0 debacle at Brentford in August. Ronaldo also started for United, who were missing Antony.
Manchester United wore their traditional home strip of red shirts and white shorts. West Ham's strip was white shirts with orangey-red shorts.
Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock in the 38th minute of a tight game which had lacked excitement. After a United throw on the right, Eriksen delivered the cross from which Rashford powered a header into the net. It was Rashford's 100th club goal.
Antonio replaced Scamacca after 56 minutes. Scamacca already had a booking and must have worried David Moyes when he caught Martinez's head with his boot when trying to reach the ball.
Ronaldo was getting plenty of opportunities but was either hitting them off target or making them easy for Fabianski to hold. At the other end Dalot made a vital headed interception to prevent a Rice cross reaching Antonio. De Gea was pleased to get down and hold a Benrahma shot after 68 minutes. It was West Ham's first shot on target in the second half.
Dalot made another vital interception and after a West Ham corner, De Gea pushed over a 20 yard shot by Antonio. After another corner, the United keeper saved well, diving to his right to push Zouma's 15 yard header wide.
Fred hit the outside of the post with a header from a McTominay cross. Both these players had come off the bench.
West Ham had one last chance when Bowen had a shot in front of goal which was blocked. Then De Gea made another flying save to keep Rice's 25-yard shot out. De Gea was embraced by his team-mates at the final whistle.
Fixtures & results - 29-30.10.22
Saturday 29th October, 2022
Leicester 0-1 Man City (12.30 BT SPORT)
B'mouth 2-3 Spurs (15.00)
Brentford 1-1 Wolves (15.00)
Brighton 4-1 Chelsea (15.00)
C. Palace 1-0 S'hampton (15.00)
Newcastle 4-0 A. Villa (15.00)
Fulham 0-0 Everton (17.30 SKY)
Liverpool 1-2 Leeds (19.45 SKY)
Sunday 30th October, 2022
Arsenal 5-0 Nott'm F'st(14.00)
Man Utd 1-0 West Ham (16.15 SKY)
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Arsenal 12 10 1 1 30-11 19 31
2. Man City 12 9 2 1 37-11 26 29
3. Spurs 13 8 2 3 26-16 10 26
4. Newcastle 13 6 6 1 24-10 14 24
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5. Man Utd 12 7 2 3 17-16 1 23
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6. Chelsea 12 6 3 3 17-15 2 21
7. Fulham 13 5 4 4 22-22 0 19
8. Brighton 12 5 3 4 19-15 4 18
9. Liverpool 12 4 4 4 23-15 8 16
10. C. Palace 12 4 4 4 13-16 -3 16
11. Brentford 13 3 6 4 19-22 -3 15
12. Everton 13 3 5 5 11-12 -1 14
13. West Ham 13 4 2 7 11-13 -2 14
14. B'mouth 13 3 4 6 12-28 -16 13
15. Leeds 12 3 3 6 15-19 -4 12
16. A. Villa 13 3 3 7 11-20 -9 12
17. S'hampton 13 3 3 7 11-20 -9 12
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18. Leicester 13 3 2 8 21-25 -4 11
19. Wolves 13 2 4 7 6-19 -13 10
20. Nottm F 13 2 3 8 8-28 -20 9
