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Premier League Review: Matchday 35

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This weekend helped clear a few things up. For starters, the title race is now between two teams after Liverpool dropped more points. Aston Villa finally control their own destiny in the race for a place in the top four and Sheffield United will be playing Championship football next season. Here’s your weekend review.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Lacklustre Liverpool stumble over the line 

A couple of weeks ago, Liverpool sat top of the Premier League. Yet a torrid run of form, with just one win in four, meant they weren’t even guaranteed a top four finish and they still had to take on Champions League hopefuls Spurs and Aston Villa over the next fortnight. 

The Reds made the trip to London on Saturday afternoon to take on an inconsistent West Ham United side. 

Despite being the better side, the away team fell behind to a Jarrod Bowen effort in the final moments of the first half. Jürgen Klopp’s men rallied after the break and Andrew Robertson equalised before an Alphonse Areola own goal gave the Merseyside club the lead. They couldn’t see the game out though and Michail Antonio beat Alisson with a perfectly guided header in the 77th minute. 

Neither team could find a winner and while it all but ended Liverpool’s title hopes, the point was enough to guarantee their place in the Champions League after other results went their way this weekend. 

Sheffield United are relegated 

The Blades took a shock early lead against Newcastle United at St James’ Park but eventually went on to lose their fourth successive match. The defeat confirmed relegation to the Championship. 

Chris Wilder’s men imploded in the second half to lose 5-1. The scores were level at halftime with Alexander Isak cancelling out the early Anel Ahmedhodzic goal. It was a fairly even first half with Sheffield United actually having the better opportunities. 

However, three goals in 11 minutes in the second half killed the tie off with the Magpies running riot. Callum Wilson added a fifth for the hosts in the 72nd minute in what was a clinical display by Eddie Howe’s side. The hosts created four big chances and converted them all.

Drama at Villa Park  

Aston Villa raced into an early lead against Chelsea at Villa Park with Marc Cucurella scoring an own goal. Morgan Rogers continued his fine form for the Villans when he added a second just before the half-time whistle. 

The January signing has now scored three goals and chipped in with an assist in his last five Premier League appearances.

Chelsea responded after the break and dominated the game. They had 69% of the ball and had 13 shots to the home side’s four. And their positive approach to the second half paid off with the Blues managing to turn things around with two goals after the hour mark. 

Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher got on the scoresheet and Mauricio Pochettino’s side thought they’d won it late on when Axel Disasi scored only for the goal to be ruled out for a fairly subjective foul in the build up. 

Villa might see it as two dropped points but the point here ensured they now control their destiny. They’re seven points clear of Spurs having played two games more. 

The North London Derby delivers

It was a game of two halves between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. The Gunners romped to a 3-0 half time lead against their neighbours with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz impressing for Mikel Arteta’s men. 

However, the scoreline didn’t necessarily reflect the game. Spurs had a goal ruled out for an offside, though replays seemed to suggest it was too tight to really call. The hosts also had a potential penalty shout turned down even though there was contact on Dejan Kulusevski. 

Arsenal sat back after the break and the Premier League leaders allowed their hosts back into the game. Cristian Romero capitalised on a David Raya error before Heung-Min Son scored from the spot with just three minutes remaining. 

What should’ve been a comfortable second half for the Gunners turned into a nervy one and had the game gone on a little longer, the hosts might’ve claimed a deserved equaliser. 

Arteta will want to make sure his players aren’t inconsistent or lax during the final few weeks. They’ll need to be completely focused to finish above Manchester City.

The champions keep the pressure on 

Manchester City played the final game of the weekend as the champions made the trip to relegation threatened Nottingham Forest. Pep Guardiola’s men knew exactly what they needed to do having watched Liverpool fumble their lines while Arsenal had enough about them to see out the North London Derby. 

A win would’ve moved them to within a point of Arsenal with a game in hand. A win ensured City controlled their own fate. The pressure was on but this group is used to it and they handled it perfectly. Well, sort of.

Kevin De Bruyne was once again the difference-maker for the Citizens, assisting goals either side of half time as the visitors claimed an undeserved three points. 

Yes, it was an undeserved win with Nottingham Forest peppering the goal and carving out chances, only to be let down by poor finishing. For example, the in-form Chris Wood missed an opportunity with an Expected Goals total of 0.61. 

Individual class made all of the difference at the City Ground on Sunday evening.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Premier League Review: Matchday 35

This weekend helped clear a few things up. For starters, the title race is now between two teams after Liverpool dropped more points. Aston Villa finally control their own destiny in the race for a place in the top four and Sheffield United will be playing Championship football next season. Here’s your weekend review.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Lacklustre Liverpool stumble over the line 

A couple of weeks ago, Liverpool sat top of the Premier League. Yet a torrid run of form, with just one win in four, meant they weren’t even guaranteed a top four finish and they still had to take on Champions League hopefuls Spurs and Aston Villa over the next fortnight. 

The Reds made the trip to London on Saturday afternoon to take on an inconsistent West Ham United side. 

Despite being the better side, the away team fell behind to a Jarrod Bowen effort in the final moments of the first half. Jürgen Klopp’s men rallied after the break and Andrew Robertson equalised before an Alphonse Areola own goal gave the Merseyside club the lead. They couldn’t see the game out though and Michail Antonio beat Alisson with a perfectly guided header in the 77th minute. 

Neither team could find a winner and while it all but ended Liverpool’s title hopes, the point was enough to guarantee their place in the Champions League after other results went their way this weekend. 

Sheffield United are relegated 

The Blades took a shock early lead against Newcastle United at St James’ Park but eventually went on to lose their fourth successive match. The defeat confirmed relegation to the Championship. 

Chris Wilder’s men imploded in the second half to lose 5-1. The scores were level at halftime with Alexander Isak cancelling out the early Anel Ahmedhodzic goal. It was a fairly even first half with Sheffield United actually having the better opportunities. 

However, three goals in 11 minutes in the second half killed the tie off with the Magpies running riot. Callum Wilson added a fifth for the hosts in the 72nd minute in what was a clinical display by Eddie Howe’s side. The hosts created four big chances and converted them all.

Drama at Villa Park  

Aston Villa raced into an early lead against Chelsea at Villa Park with Marc Cucurella scoring an own goal. Morgan Rogers continued his fine form for the Villans when he added a second just before the half-time whistle. 

The January signing has now scored three goals and chipped in with an assist in his last five Premier League appearances.

Chelsea responded after the break and dominated the game. They had 69% of the ball and had 13 shots to the home side’s four. And their positive approach to the second half paid off with the Blues managing to turn things around with two goals after the hour mark. 

Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher got on the scoresheet and Mauricio Pochettino’s side thought they’d won it late on when Axel Disasi scored only for the goal to be ruled out for a fairly subjective foul in the build up. 

Villa might see it as two dropped points but the point here ensured they now control their destiny. They’re seven points clear of Spurs having played two games more. 

The North London Derby delivers

It was a game of two halves between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. The Gunners romped to a 3-0 half time lead against their neighbours with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz impressing for Mikel Arteta’s men. 

However, the scoreline didn’t necessarily reflect the game. Spurs had a goal ruled out for an offside, though replays seemed to suggest it was too tight to really call. The hosts also had a potential penalty shout turned down even though there was contact on Dejan Kulusevski. 

Arsenal sat back after the break and the Premier League leaders allowed their hosts back into the game. Cristian Romero capitalised on a David Raya error before Heung-Min Son scored from the spot with just three minutes remaining. 

What should’ve been a comfortable second half for the Gunners turned into a nervy one and had the game gone on a little longer, the hosts might’ve claimed a deserved equaliser. 

Arteta will want to make sure his players aren’t inconsistent or lax during the final few weeks. They’ll need to be completely focused to finish above Manchester City.

The champions keep the pressure on 

Manchester City played the final game of the weekend as the champions made the trip to relegation threatened Nottingham Forest. Pep Guardiola’s men knew exactly what they needed to do having watched Liverpool fumble their lines while Arsenal had enough about them to see out the North London Derby. 

A win would’ve moved them to within a point of Arsenal with a game in hand. A win ensured City controlled their own fate. The pressure was on but this group is used to it and they handled it perfectly. Well, sort of.

Kevin De Bruyne was once again the difference-maker for the Citizens, assisting goals either side of half time as the visitors claimed an undeserved three points. 

Yes, it was an undeserved win with Nottingham Forest peppering the goal and carving out chances, only to be let down by poor finishing. For example, the in-form Chris Wood missed an opportunity with an Expected Goals total of 0.61. 

Individual class made all of the difference at the City Ground on Sunday evening.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.