Premier League Game Week 19 Review

Oladipupo Mojeed Sports 26/01/2021

Premier League Game Week 19 will go down as the most decisive week of the season so far.

Some of the so called big teams unexpectedly dropped crucial points while others picked points which may well determine their survival in the Premier League.

With the game week being so long, it featured non-stop action in the form of late winners, unexpected victories, comeback wins, VAR controversies and more.

Read Also: Preview of Premier League GameWeek 19

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-3 West Bromwich Albion

Wolverhampton’s poor form continues as the Baggies came from behind to grab victory at the Molineux.

Matheus Pereira gave West Brom the lead as early as the 8th minute. He scored from the penalty spot after Willy Boly fouled Callum Robinson in the penalty box.

Boly redeemed himself 30 minutes later by setting up Fabio Silva with a beautiful backheel for the hosts’ equalizer. He put Wolves up another 5 minutes later with a close range finish.

The visitors turned the game around with a second-half double in just 4 minutes and gave Sam Allardyce his first victory as permanent manager.

Semi Ajayi found the back of the net with a header and Pereira scored the winner from the penalty spot after Robinson was fouled again by Conor Coady.

Four goals in three games for Matheus Pereira (Image: West Bromwich Albion)

West Brom sit in 19th place despite their victory while Wolves drop to 14th place after being without a win in 5 EPL games.

Leeds United 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton earned their 3rd win of the season at Elland Road.

Neal Maupay finished off a brilliant team goal at the 17th minute to score the only goal of the encounter.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead on 27 minutes when Leandro Trossard’s cross struck Luke Ayling and the cross bar.

Maupay celebrates goal against Leeds (Image: Brighton & Hove Albion)

Brighton controlled the first half but the hosts showed vast improvement in the second half.

The second half was goalless despite close efforts from Liam Cooper and substitute Tyler Roberts.

Brighton remains 17th despite their victory while Leeds sit 12th place level on points with Crystal Palace.

West Ham United 1-0 Burnley

Michail Antonio’s 9th-minute strike proved decisive as West Ham claimed victory over the Clarets at the London Stadium.

The Englishman marked his return to David Moyes’s starting line up with a goal as he tapped in at the far post from Pablo Fornals’s left wing cross.

The Hammers almost doubled their lead when Angelo Ogbonna headed against the post in the first half.

West Ham celebrate goal in their Premier League Game Week 19 clash against Burnley (Image: West Ham)

West Ham has 29 points after back to back victories while Burnley drops to 17th with 16 points.

Fulham 0-1 Chelsea

Mason Mount’s late goal stole all 3 points for the Blues at Craven Cottage after an unbeaten run of 5 draws for the hosts.

Chelsea were the better side in the first half but couldn’t find the back of the net as the half ended goalless.

Fulham were set to have a tougher second half as they were down to 10 men just before half time after Antonee Robinson was sent off for a reckless challenge on Cesar Azpilicueta.

Mason Mount celebrates winning goal against Fulham in their Premier League Game Week 19 clash (Image: Chelsea)

Chelsea continued to press to break the deadlock after half time. They finally did 78 minutes on when Alphonse Areola palmed a cross from Ben Chilwell into the path of Mason Mount who tapped in from close range.

Fulham remain 18th as Chelsea moved to 7th temporarily.

Leicester City 2-0 Southampton

James Maddison gave the Foxes the lead on 37 minutes, firing the ball into the top of the net after collecting a pass from Youri Tielemans.

Kasper Schmeichel marked his 400th appearance for the Foxes with superb saves to keep the lead for the hosts.

Harvey Barnes finally found the back of the net after his effort was cleared off the line earlier, doubling Leicester’s lead at stoppage time.

Leicester City are 5 games unbeaten as they move up 2nd on the league table.

Sheffield United 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Jose Mourinho’s men got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over bottom side Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Right back Serge Aurier gave the visitors the lead 5 minutes on when he headed in Son Heung Min’s corner from close range. Harry Kane fired in from outside the 18 yard box to double the lead few minutes before half time.

The hosts pulled one back 19 minutes after the break when David McGoldrick turned in John Fleck’s cross with a header.

Tanguay Ndombele restored the gap just 3 minutes after with a sublime effort after a dinked through ball from Steven Bergwijn.

Spurs go 5th place after their victory while Sheffield United remain at the bottom with 5 points.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United

The biggest game of the weekend didn’t quite live up to expectation as it was more of a tactical battle between two bitter rivals.

Liverpool had control of the ball for most of the first half but never really came close to scoring as they were unable to break down United’s defence.

The visitors tried to unleash counter attacks but proved abortive and only came close to scoring when Bruno Fernades’s free kick flew inches wide.
After the break, Harry Maguire denied Roberto Firmino the chance to break the deadlock and Mohammed Salah’s effort went wide.

Allison Becker produced two fine saves to deny Bruno Fernades and Paul Pogba from stealing the game for the visitors.

In the end, both teams settled for a point as Manchester United remain top of the league with 37 points, 3 points ahead of Liverpool who sit 4th.

Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace

John Stones had a night to remember in Manchester City’s 4 goal victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

City dominated the early proceedings and the English centre back headed in Kevin De Bruyne’s cross to give the hosts the lead 26 minutes on.

The closest they came to doubling the lead was Gabriel Jesus’ effort just before the break, but which lacked the power to beat Guaita.

Ilkay Gundogan scored a stunner after the break to finally double the hosts’ lead while John Stones scored again after reacting quickest to a loose ball to score the 3rd goal for the night.

Raheem Sterling scored a spectacular free kick to end his goal drought, dashing Palace’s hopes of reclaiming the game.

The result pushes City into 2nd place despite having played a game less while Palace sit 13th with 23 points.

Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle United

Prierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first brace of the season as Arsenal thrashed Newcastle on Monday.

The first half was goalless despite two efforts from Aubameyang, one hitting the post while the other fired over the crossbar.

The Gabonese striker then put the hosts ahead 50 minutes on when he fired past Karl Darlow after being teed by Thomas Partey.

Bukayo Saka doubled the lead 10 minutes later and Aubameyang struck again from close range to give the Gunners the 3rd.

The Magpies had no reply and their best chance was in the 59th minute when Andy Caroll’s shot went wide.

Arsenal are now unbeaten in 5 Premier League games and climb to 10th place with 27 points. Newcastle on the other hand are without a win in 7 games and remain 15th with 19 points.

Outstanding games

The impact of COVID-19 as well as other commitments such as the FA Cup means that some games were rescheduled. The following additional games were also played in Premier League Game Week 19.

West Ham 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

West Ham defeated West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday to take their tally to 3 wins in a row.

Manuel Lazini came close to scoring earlier in the first half. But the deadlock wasn’t broken until later in the half when Jarod Bowen chested in Vladimir Coufal’s pass into the net.

Matheus Pereira drew the visitors level 6 minutes after the break slamming the ball low and beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski. Manuel Lazini was denied yet another effort as it was headed off the line by Dara O’shea.

Michail Antonio then got the winner for the hosts on 66 minutes, after slotting in Andriy Yarmolenko’s effort that went across goal.

West Ham climb to 7th with 32 points while West Bromwich Albion remain at 19th position with 11 points.

Leicester City 2-0 Chelsea

Leicester City temporarily went top of the Premier League when they defeated Chelsea.

First half strikes from Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison gave the hosts all 3 points as Brendan Rodgers won his first game against Chelsea.

Ndidi gave the hosts the lead early on with his strike from the edge of the 18 yard box following a well worked corner.

Evans contests for ball with Havertz (Image: Chelsea)

Jamie Vardy tried to double the lead but Edouard Mendy denied the Englishman as he got a touch on the ball.

A VAR review saw the penalty awarded to Chelsea overturned as it showed the offence occurred just outside the penalty area. Minutes later James Maddison scored the second goal of the encounter.

Chelsea sit 8th place with 29 points after 19 games.

Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa

Manchester City claimed victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad on Wednesday.

The hosts enjoyed much of the possession but were frustrated by a well drilled Villa defense. The first half ended goalless despite Phil Foden’s efforts to give City the lead.

Bernado Silva broke the deadlock with 11 minutes remaining, controlling Rodri’s pass before finding the back of the net from the edge of the box.

A penalty was awarded when Matty Cash handled the ball in the box, which Ilkay Gundogan converted with ease.

Manchester City sit 2nd level on points with Leicester City on 38 points while Villa sits 11th with 26 points.

Premier League Game Week 19 Review