Review of Premier League GameWeek 15

The action in Premier League GameWeek 15 was blistering with fixtures packed into a 2-day thriller.

All clubs in the league are beginning to feel the pressure as the table takes shape and the battle for points becomes more intense.

Let’s look at how it all unfolded during the GameWeek 15 of the English Premier League.

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Boxing day action

Leicester City 2-2 Manchester United

The Foxes and the Red Devils fought out it for the second spot at the King Power Stadium on Boxing day in a four-goal thriller.

The Red Devils threw away the chance to come out on top after going ahead twice.

Bruno Fernandes assisted Marcus Rashford to give the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute. The Foxes drew level 8 minutes later through Harvey Barnes’ belter.

Manchester United had chances to get another lead. Substitute Edison Cavani teed Bruno Fernades in the 79th minute. This lead however didn’t last as they threw it away cheaply 6 minutes later.

Aston Villa 3-0 Crystal Palace

The Villains were impressive as they triumphed over the Eagles at Villa Park with just 10 men.

Bertrand Traore reacted first to a loose ball from Vincente Guaita’s save in the 5th minute to give Villa an early lead. Dean Smith’s men then went a man down just before half time as Tyronne Mings got sent off for a second booking.

The home side fought against the odds and extended their lead in the second half through Kourtney House’s goal in the 66th minute. Ollie Watkins teed Anwar El-Ghazi for the last goal as they sealed a 3-0 victory.

Fulham 0-0 Southampton

The Saints thought they had taken the lead twice in the second half only to be denied for offside on both occasions.

In a first half of few chances, James Ward-Prowse came closest to goal when his free-kick hit the cross bar. The resulting loose ball also wasn’t converted by Che Adams.

Shane Long and Theo Walcott suffered similar fates as their second-half efforts were ruled out for offside. The match ended in a goalless draw. Fulham has now played their 4th draw in a row.

Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea

Granit Xhaka’s superb free-kick helped the Gunners end their winless run as they claimed victory over city rivals, Chelsea.

The Blues came close to getting the first goal when Mason Mount’s free-kick hit the outside of a post. The home side took the lead at 34 minutes with Alexandre Lacazette converting from the penalty spot. Reece James fouled Kieran Tierney, which resulted in the spot-kick.

Xhaka doubled Arsenal’s lead 10 minutes later with a sublime free-kick into the top right corner. Bukayo Saka’s strike made it 3-0 in 56 minutes as the game looked set and done at that moment.

Tammy Abraham pulled one back for the Blues as he chested in Hudson-Odoi’s cross with 5 minutes of normal time left. Arsenal moves up 14th temporarily with 14 points while Chelsea’s 3rd defeat in 4 games leaves them 7th with 25 points.

Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United

Goals by Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres handed the Citizens victory over the Magpies, giving them back to back victory.

Gundogan gave the home side the lead as early as the 14th minute when he turned in Raheem Sterling’s cut back at the end of a slick move.

Jacob Murphy forced a good save from Ederson early in the second half before Ferran Torres fired home on 55 minutes after a deflection in the opposition box.

Sergio Aguero tried to add another later on but his effort was cleared off the line. Newcastle remains in 12th place.

Sheffield United 0-1 Everton

Sheffield United’s woes increase as they were unable to take any point from their home fixture against the Toffees.

Abdoulaye Doucoure teed Giffy Sigurdsson in the 80th minute, who took a touch before firing a shot into the bottom left corner.

The Toffees kept their hosts at bay as they sealed another victory taking them 2nd in the league standings.

Premier League GameWeek 15 – Sunday’s games

Leeds United 1 -0 Burnley

Patrick Bamford’s early penalty secured Leeds United’s slim victory against Burnley. This was the first Premier League meeting between Leeds United and Burnley.

Bamford won and converted the penalty 5 minutes into the game to take his tally for the season to 10 goals.

Nick Pope kept the visitors in the game as he denied Rodrigo, Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernadez from doubling the lead.

Burnley tried to find an equalizer in the second half but was denied by Ilan Meslier who made 6 saves in the half. Burnley’s best chance of the game was thrown away by Jay Rodriguez who fired over the bar from close range.

Leeds rise to 7th with 20 points while Burnley is 17th on 13 points as their 4 games unbeaten run comes to an end.

West Ham United 2-2 Brighton and Hove Albion

The Hammers fought out a draw with the Seagulls at the London stadium.

The visitors dominated the first 45 minutes and got their reward just before the break when Neal Maupay turned in a loose ball from close range.

West Ham leveled in the second half with a goal from Ben Johnson in the 60th minute which was assisted by substitute Manuel Lazini.

Lewis Dunk turned in another loose ball to give Brighton the lead for the second time but West Ham fought back once more as Tomas Soucek converted Aaron Cresswell’s corner in the 82nd minute.

A 3rd consecutive draw moves Brighton to 16th place, above Burnley on goal difference.

Liverpool 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Sam Allardyce’s men denied the defending champions a win at Anfield for the first time this season. The match looked like a routine defeat for the Baggies but it turned out to be something else.

The hosts took the lead as early as the 12th minute when Joel Matip’s pass was converted by Sadio Mane.

The home side dominated the first half but was unable to double their lead. West Brom got into the game in the second half with Karlan Grant and Semi Ajayi both having efforts that were saved by Alisson.

Semi Ajayi eventually levelled the scoreline for the visitors when his 82nd minute header found the back of the net.

The home side remains at the top of the table with 32 points while West Brom is deep in the relegation zone.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Wolverhampton Wanderers held Spurs to a draw with a late equalizer and denied Jose Mourinho’s men their first win in 4 games.

Tanguy Ndombele gave Spurs the lead before the first minute when he fired a shot from 25 yards out.

The visitors tried to hold the scoreline for the entire duration on the game but were denied by Roman Saiss. The winger headed home an 86th-minute equalizer.

Spurs now sit 5th place with a point behind top 4 while Wolves are 11th.

A total of 23 goals were scored during Premier League GameWeek 15.

We look forward to more goals in coming weeks.