Premier League Gameweek 21 Review
The 21st edition of the 2023/24 premier league season
Burnley Vs Luton
Burnley seemed on the verge of securing only their fourth Premier League victory of the season against Luton Town at Turf Moor. However, they conceded a late equalizer that sparked some controversy. Carlton Morris leapt highest to head a cross into the net, but Burnley believed that goalkeeper James Trafford had been obstructed while attempting to challenge the cross. Before that, Zeki Amdouni had scored to give Vincent Kompany's team the lead.
Luton secured a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor with a contentious stoppage-time equalizer by Carlton Morris, denying Burnley a crucial Premier League victory. The substitute headed the ball into an unguarded net as Clarets goalkeeper James Trafford was on the ground following a collision with Elijah Adebayo during the cross. Despite Burnley's protests that Trafford was impeded, the referee's decision stood, and a VAR review confirmed it. Earlier, Zeki Amdouni had given Burnley a first-half lead against the run of play by side-footing the ball into the net from a Wilson Odobert cut-back.
Despite having better opportunities, Burnley failed to increase their lead. The closest they came was a deflected shot from Odobert, but Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kamiski reacted swiftly to alter its course and prevent a goal. In the second half, both teams struggled to create scoring opportunities, highlighting why they find themselves in the relegation zone. However, Luton capitalized on Burnley's wasteful finishing in the final moments of the match.
Luton remains in 18th place with 16 points, now level with Everton but with an inferior goal difference. Burnley, positioned in 19th, trails by four points and has played an additional game.
Chelsea Vs Fulham
Chelsea secured their third consecutive Premier League victory this season with a 1-0 win against West London rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The Blues faced difficulties breaking down their opponents in a closely contested first half. The turning point came on the stroke of halftime when Raheem Sterling was fouled in the penalty area, providing Cole Palmer with the opportunity to score the decisive goal, ultimately securing the win.
Cole Palmer once again delivered an outstanding performance as Chelsea claimed victory in the West London derby with a 1-0 win over Fulham at Stamford Bridge. The hosts started strong, with Armando Broja narrowly missing an early header. Fulham showed improvement, with Harry Wilson coming close before Raheem Sterling's skillful play resulted in a penalty, converted by Palmer just before halftime. Sterling later struck the post with a free header, and Palmer played a key role in creating several opportunities in the second half as Chelsea sought a second goal.
Fulham replied with a low strike from Raul Jimenez, which was expertly saved, but despite their efforts, The Cottagers couldn't secure a goal to claim a share of the points. The outcome propels Chelsea to their third consecutive league victory and elevates them to the eighth position in the standings, preceding the upcoming weekend's matches. Fulham, on the other hand, finds themselves in 13th place and has now suffered five consecutive defeats in away league games.
Newcastle United Vs Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne made a dramatic impact as he entered the game as a substitute, scoring the equalizing goal and then providing an assist for Oscar Bobb's stoppage-time winner, leading Manchester City to a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Newcastle at St James’ Park in the Premier League. With this win, Pep Guardiola’s team moved up to second place in the league, trailing Liverpool by just two points. Meanwhile, Newcastle occupies the 10th position in the table.
Pep Guardiola's team took the lead with a clever backheel goal from Bernardo Silva in the 26th minute, but the home pair of Alexander Isak (35') and Anthony Gordon (37') shocked the defending champions with two brilliant finishes before the halftime whistle.
The dynamics of the game shifted when De Bruyne, who was making his first league appearance since City's opening match of the season at Burnley due to a persistent hamstring issue, substituted Silva in the 70th minute. Four minutes later, he beautifully scored the equalising goal from outside the box, connecting with a pass from Rodri.
The skillful Belgian playmaker De Bruyne played a crucial role in securing City's second position in the table, just two points behind the leaders Liverpool. He provided the assist for fellow substitute Oscar Bobb to calmly score the winning goal from close range, as the home team struggled to keep up. City now has 43 points from 20 matches, while Eddie Howe's Newcastle remains in 10th place with 29 points from 21 games, having suffered their sixth defeat in seven matches despite nearly holding on for a hard-fought point against the UEFA Champions League holders.
Everton Vs Aston Villa
In an intense encounter at Goodison Park, Everton and Aston Villa played out a goalless draw. The match saw both teams fiercely contesting for dominance, resulting in a stalemate.
Aston Villa's performance in the match sees them pull level on points with Manchester City, currently at 43 points. However, they remain in third spot in the Premier League standings. It's worth noting that Aston Villa have played one more game than their title rivals, which could have implications on their position in the league.
On the other hand, Everton's result in this match has kept them in 17th place after breaking a three-game losing streak. This draw has allowed them to open up a one-point gap to Luton in 18th place.
During the match , Alex Moreno's impressive goal was disallowed by VAR due to Leon Bailey being offside in the build-up. Despite Villa's dominance in possession, the most significant opportunity of the game came when Dominic Calvert-Lewin made a late first-half run, only to be thwarted by a remarkable save from Emiliano Martinez. Martinez then denied James Garner on the rebound, showcasing his exceptional goalkeeping skills.
In the scrappy second half, Aston Villa made significant efforts to break the deadlock, with substitutes Jhon Duran and Matty Cash coming close to scoring. Meanwhile, Abdoulaye Doucoure had a goal disallowed for offside at the other end, adding to the drama and tension of the match
Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur
The match review for this match can be found here:
Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal put an end to their winless streak with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates. The Gunners had endured over a month without a win, with their last victory dating back to December 17. However, they encountered little resistance from a Crystal Palace side lacking attacking prowess. Arsenal, on the other hand, capitalized on their set-piece opportunities, finding considerable success from corners. This resounding win reignited Arsenal's Premier League title aspirations, firmly placing them back in the title hunt.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli played pivotal roles from the beginning to the conclusion of the match as Arsenal decisively overcame the memories of a lackluster festive period with a commanding 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday. Following a four-game winless streak that resulted in Arsenal slipping to fourth in the table and being eliminated from the FA Cup by Liverpool, this triumph will undoubtedly install confidence as they strive to revitalise their pursuit of the title.
The first goal was unquestionably Gabriel’s, but his second header then went down as a Dean Henderson own goal having come off the goalkeeper’s head while he was down on the turf – his protests for a foul also going unheard.Additionally, Leandro Trossard scored his first goal since November after the break, securing the three points and intensifying the pressure on Palace manager Roy Hodgson. In the closing moments of the game, substitute Gabriel Martinelli sealed the victory with two nearly identical goals.
As a result of this commanding win, Arsenal moved into third place in the Premier League, drawing level on points with Manchester City and Aston Villa, and trailing leaders Liverpool by just two points. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace remains in 14th place, maintaining a five-point buffer above the relegation zone. This victory not only propelled Arsenal back into the title race but also served as a statement of intent as they strive to reclaim their position at the top of the table.
Brentford Vs Nottingham Forest
The focus was primarily on Ivan Toney's return at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening. Despite Nottingham Forest taking the lead within three minutes, Toney quickly made an impact by scoring a goal from a free-kick. This goal played a crucial role in securing a victory for The Bees, as Neal Maupay's goal just over 20 minutes before the end of the match proved to be the winning goal.
Ivan Toney made a triumphant return from an eight-month betting ban as Brentford secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Gtech Community Stadium. Despite all eyes being on Toney as he captained the team after his long absence, it was Nottingham Forest who struck first with a stunning 25-yard volley from Danilo just three minutes into the match
Brentford found themselves lacking momentum and in need of a boost, and it was Ivan Toney who inevitably stepped up to provide it with a well-executed low free-kick from 20 yards out in the 19th minute. Ben Mee then gave the home side the advantage just before the hour mark with a header from a corner on the left. However, Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood equalized seven minutes later with an impressive header, extending his goal-scoring streak to six goals in six matches.
In an action-packed match with chances at both ends, Brentford continued to pose a greater threat. Neal Maupay restored their lead with a brilliant swivel and low finish 22 minutes before the final whistle. The result sees Brentford climb above Nottingham Forest, now sitting in 14th place and enjoying a six-point cushion from the relegation zone. On the other hand, Forest drop to 16th place, two points behind Brentford and having played one more game.
Sheffield United Vs West Ham
Sheffield United managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against West Ham in a thrilling finish at Bramall Lane. Oli McBurnie became the hero for Sheffield United as he scored a penalty deep into injury time, rescuing a point for his team. The match had its fair share of drama, with Maxwel Cornet giving West Ham the lead and debutant Ben Brereton Diaz equalizing in the first half. However, the real excitement unfolded in the final 15 minutes as both teams scored penalties and saw red cards.
Sheffield United managed to secure a dramatic late draw against West Ham thanks to a wild injury time period. After the end of regular time, both Rhian Brewster and Vladimir Coufal were shown red cards, setting the stage for a tense finish. It was in the 13th minute of injury time that Oliver McBurnie converted a penalty to salvage a point for Sheffield United.
Throughout the game, Sheffield United had been largely outplayed by West Ham. With just 11 minutes remaining, West Ham thought they had secured the victory. Danny Ings' impressive play earned them a penalty, which James Ward-Prowse confidently dispatched to put West Ham in the lead.
Prior to that Sheffield United had missed a gilt-edge chance when loan signing Ben Brereton Diaz dragged a shot wide when clean through. It was Brereton Diaz that had scored the hosts' first equaliser of the game, when his half-volley late in the first half cancelled out an opener from Maxwel Cornet.
The point does not affect either teams place in the league table, as West Ham remain sixth and Sheffield United are still rooted to the foot of the table.
Bournemouth Vs Liverpool
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a commanding second-half performance, resulting in a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth. Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the 49th minute, followed by two brilliant goals from Diogo Jota to secure the win. Nunez completed his brace in injury time, adding further gloss to the scoreline.
Liverpool strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League table with a resounding 4-0 victory against Bournemouth, courtesy of impressive performances from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, who both scored two goals. Despite missing key players Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool initially struggled to create scoring opportunities in a lackluster first half.
However, Liverpool came out with renewed determination in the second half and quickly seized control of the match. In the 49th minute, Nunez calmly slotted home a perfectly executed pass from Jota to give Liverpool the lead.
Liverpool continued their dominant display and increased their lead 20 minutes before the end of the game. Diogo Jota showcased his ruthlessness by firing a precise finish off the post from substitute Cody Gakpo's pass, doubling Liverpool's advantage. Jota, clearly enjoying himself, then scored his second goal of the evening and his 11th of the season with a low strike on his second attempt in the 79th minute. To cap off a fantastic second-half performance, Darwin Nunez added insult to injury for the home side by scoring his second goal in stoppage time.
With this result, Liverpool extends their lead over second-placed Manchester City by five points, although they have played one more game than Pep Guardiola's side. Bournemouth, on the other hand, remains in 12th place and maintains a comfortable nine-point lead over the relegation zone.