NRTC’s Oladipupo Mojeed brings us the highlights from Premier League GameWeek 25. This is the one where massive points were earned and long-standing records were broken.
Read Also: Preview of Premier League Game Week 25
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Leeds United
Nuno Espirito’s men secured back-to-back victories for the first time since October. A 64th-minute Illan Meslier’s own goal earned them all 3 points at the Molineux.
Adama Traore’s thunderous strike from 25 yards hit the crossbar, only to hit Meslier before rolling into the net.
Both sides had gone close in the first half, with Liam Cooper heading straight at Rui Patricio and Mateusz Klich striking a post for Leeds, while Nelson Semedo’s effort was held by Meslier.
Cooper was again denied from point-blank range by Patricio just after the hour mark, moments before Traore’s powerful effort bounced off Meslier. Patricio made a save from Leeds substitute Helder Costa and Raphinha late on as Wolves held firm to earn a league double over Leeds.
Their third victory in four league games lifts Wolves to 11th with 33 points. That is one place and a point above Leeds, who have played a game less.
Southampton 1-1 Chelsea
Southampton ended a run of six straight Premier League defeats as they held Chelsea to a stalemate.
Chelsea, on a run of four successive wins, dominated the first half and recorded a massive 72% possession. However, they struggled to make much out of the ball. Their best chance was Marcos Alonso’s first-time shot in the sixth minute.
Southampton took the lead in the 33rd minute against the run of play with a fine finish from Takumi Minamino. The on-loan midfielder took Nathan Redmond’s through-ball before dummying Edouard Mendy and Cesar Azpilicueta to find the back of the net.
The visitors drew themselves level nine minutes after the break through Mason Mount’s penalty, awarded for a foul on the midfielder by Danny Ings.
Southampton almost went ahead once again but Jannik Vestergaard’s header was denied by the crossbar in the 71st minute.
Chelsea continued to dominate but could not find a winner, with Reece James blazing over their best opportunity.
Southampton stay 13th on 30 points, while a sixth match unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel keeps Chelsea 5th place, on 43 points.
Burnley 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
Ten-man West Brom held Burnley to a goalless draw at Turf Moor.
The visiting team set the tone early. Matheus Pereira, who threatened throughout, was twice denied by Nick Pope while Jay Rodriguez headed wide at the other end.
(Image: West Bromwich Albion)
West Brom’s task to get a result got even more difficult when Semi Ajayi was sent off just 30 minutes on, for denying Burnley a break on goal with a handball.
Despite being a man down, Sam Allardyce’s men threw everything at Burnley in the second half.
Mbaye Diagne struck the bar on 72 minutes from close range before James Tarkowski cleared Pereira’s shot off the line.
Burnley are unbeaten in four matches and stay 15th with 28 points. A second successive draw keeps West Brom in 19th place.
Liverpool 0-2 Everton
Everton claimed their first 3 points at Anfield since 1999 as they hit 2 past Liverpool with no reply.
Richarlison broke the deadlock just 3 minutes on, latching on to James Rodriguez’s through-ball before firing into the net.
Jordan Henderson’s volley forced a fingertip save from Jordan Pickford before Alisson denied Seamus Coleman’s header. Henderson then limped off as Liverpool’s injury crisis worsens.
Liverpool started the second half brightly, with Pickford thwarting Sadio Mane and then Mohamed Salah when through on goal.
Jurgen Klopp’s first derby defeat and a fourth home loss in a row for Liverpool was confirmed seven minutes from time. Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a penalty after fellow substitute Dominic-Calvert Lewin was fouled by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Everton are seventh on 40 points, below Liverpool on goal difference but having played a game less than the Reds.
Fulham 1-0 Sheffield United
Ademola Lookman’s second-half goal proved decisive as Fulham beat Sheffield United to claim a vital three points in their fight to preserve their top-flight status.
The hosts enjoyed the better of the first-half chances, with Ivan Cavaleiro firing over after cutting inside from the right and Harrison Reed working Aaron Ramsdale from outside the penalty area.
Enda Stevens cleared Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot off the line seven minutes after the restart before Lookman broke the deadlock, firing beneath Ramsdale at his near post.
The visitors almost produced an instant reply. But Stevens was denied by the legs of Alphonse Areola before the Fulham keeper beat Jayden Bogle to the ball in the final minutes to preserve their clean sheet.
A fourth match unbeaten keeps Fulham in 18th place but closer to safety. Sheffield United remain bottom with 11 points from 25 matches.
West Ham United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard both got on the scoresheet as West Ham United held on to rise to fourth with a derby win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Antonio broke the deadlock 5 minutes on, tapping in after Hugo Lloris had parried his initial flick-on from Jarrod Bowen’s cross.
Lingard doubled the lead just after half-time. His rifled effort was confirmed as a goal after a VAR review overturned an offside in the build-up.
Lucas Moura halved the deficit with a near-post header from substitute Gareth Bale’s 64th-minute corner.
Kane then dragged inches wide before Bale and Son Heung-Min both struck the woodwork as a Spurs side who had 68 per cent possession and 16 more shots in total were unable to obtain a point.
David Moyes’s first win over Jose Mourinho lifts West Ham to 45 points. Spurs remain in ninth position with a match in hand.
Aston Villa 1-2 Leicester City
First-half goals from James Maddison and Harvey Barnes helped Leicester City claim victory at Villa Park.
Leicester took the lead on 19 minutes when Barnes teed up Maddison on the edge of the penalty area and his sweeping low finish was beyond the reach of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez
Barnes added a second goal only four minutes later, lashing the ball into the roof of the net after Martinez spilled Jamie Vardy’s shot into his path.
Bertrand Traore gave Villa hope of a second-half comeback with a close-range finish from Matt Targett’s cross on 48 minutes.
Morgan Sanson went close to conjuring an equaliser for Villa with seven minutes remaining but he fired narrowly wide from distance.
(Image: Leicester)
Leicester’s victory over the Villains leaves them third, behind Manchester United on goal difference.
Villa stays in eighth place, level with Tottenham Hotspur on 36 points but ahead of them on goal difference.
Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City
Raheem Sterling’s early strike was the decider as Arsenal welcomed Pep Guardiola’s men to the Emirates.
Sterling leaped high to nod in Riyad Mahrez’s right-wing cross and it proved decisive. Man City opened up a 10-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.
Sterling could have scored twice more in the first five minutes while Ilkay Gundogan was denied by Bernd Leno, who tipped away his 56th-minute shot.
At the other end, Mohamed Elneny drove wide after some hesitation by the City defence with 17 minutes left.
City are now unbeaten in 17 Premier League matches and move up to 59 points. Arsenal stay 10th on 34 points.
Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United
Goals from Marcus Rashford, Daniel James, and Bruno Fernandes earned Manchester United victory against Newcastle United as they returned to second place on the table.
Marcus Rashford gave the hosts the lead on 30 minutes, when he nutmegged Emil Krafth, beat him again inside the penalty area and drilled the ball beyond goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
But Allain Saint-Maximin equalised six minutes later, when he fired into the roof of the net after Harry Maguire failed to properly clear Joe Willock’s centre.
James restored the hosts’ lead with a low shot in the 57th minute after Fernandes had touched on Nemanja Matic’s ball across the box.
Fernandes confirmed victory from the penalty spot with 15 minutes left, following Willock’s foul on Rashford.
United are on 49 points, 10 behind league leaders City and ahead of third-placed Leicester City on goal difference.
Newcastle stay 17th on 25 points, three above Fulham.
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Brighton & Hove Albion 1 -2 Crystal Palace
A late volley from substitute Christian Benteke earned Crystal Palace a stunning win at Brighton.
Palace took the lead on 28 minutes when Jean-Phillipe Mateta spun and flicked a backheel through the legs of Robert Sanchez in Brighton’s goal.
The home side equalised 10 minutes after the break. Pascal Gross’ blocked shot eventually finding Joel Veltman who fired home at the back post.
(Image: Crystal Palace)
The Seagulls pushed forward in search of a second goal and Adam Lallana was close to netting with a first-time shot that flew over with 15 minutes remaining.
But Benteke claimed the dramatic victory in stoppage time, volleying Andros Townsend’s cross back across goal and into the corner.
Palace are now 13th on 32 points, three places, and six points clear of Brighton.
A total of 20 goals were scored in Premier League GameWeek 25.
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