Oladipupo Mojeed once again brings us the weekly review of all the action in Premier League Week 18.
The week saw a considerably low number of goals as there were fewer games to play. It does however build anticipation for what’s to come as the title race gets tighter.
Sheffield United 1-0 Newcastle United
The Blades built on their FA cup victory at the weekend to claim their first league victory of the season.
Billy Sharp scored the only goal of the encounter from the penalty spot to, as they overcame 10-man Newcastle United.
(Image: Sheffield United)
Sharp sent Karl Darlow the wrong way on 73 minutes to score his 100th league goal for the hosts. The referee pointed to the spot after Federico Fernandez was penalized following a VAR review.
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It was no more than the Blades deserved after they dominated the contest.
Their first victory in 18 Premier League attempts takes bottom side Sheffield United up to five points, while Newcastle remains 15th with 19 points.
Burnley 0-1 Manchester United
Manchester United’s victory at Turf Moor took them 3 points clear of rivals Liverpool at the top of the table.
Paul Pogba scored the only goal of the affair. Pogba met Marcus Rashford’s cross to send a 71st-minute volley through Nick Pope’s legs with the aid of a deflection.
United had the better of the chances, with Anthony Martial firing just over before being denied by Nick Pope, while Harry Maguire had a header ruled out for a foul late in the first half.
Burnley came close to levelling the scoreline twice came late in the game. Substitute Matej Vydra’s effort deflected wide in the 87th minute and James Tarkowski missed a golden opportunity in added time.
The Red Devils held on to move on to 36 points while Burnley stay 16th with 16 points, still clear of relegation.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Everton
Michael Keane’s header at the Molineux gave Everton the victory that took them back into top 4.
Keane rose highest in the 77th minute to power home a cross from Andre Gomes to give the Toffees their third consecutive Premier League away victory.
Alex Iwobi had given Everton a sixth-minute lead when he fired home Lucas Digne’s centre from close range. Ruben Neves levelled for the hosts soon after when he volleyed in Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross.
He also hit the outside of a post with a free-kick , but Everton saw out the match safely.
The Toffees move on to 32 points – level with Leicester City while Wolves slip to 14th on goals scored behind Crystal Palace.
Manchester City 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Phil Foden’s strike was the decider in Manchester City’s victory over Brighton & Hove.
Pep Guardiola’s men started on the front foot with Kevin De Bruyne denied three times by Robert Sanchez and Riyad Mahrez mis-hitting a volley.
Phil Foden made the breakthrough just before half time, easing a side footed shot into the bottom corner. City continued to dominate but were unable to double their lead.
After the break, both Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne were denied by Sanchez, and Bernado Silva hit the bar.
Brighton’s best chance fell to Alexis MacAllister, but he was unable to find the back of the net as his effort narrowly went over.
In stoppage time, substitute Raheem Sterling blazed a penalty over the crossbar after De Bruyne had been brought down in the area by Brighton’s goalkeeper.
City moves third with 32 points level with Leicester City and Everton, with a game in hand. Brighton’s relegation fears increase as they are 17th with 14 points.
Fulham 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs fell victim to Fulham’s draws as they lost their lead late in the second half.
Ivan Cavaleiro’s towering header salvaged a point for Fulham against Tottenham Hotspur in an entertaining draw in north London.
Spurs took the lead in the 25th minute when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sent a beautiful pass to Sergio Reguilon, who in turn picked out Harry Kane to net a diving header.
Son Heung-min forced a good close-range save from Alphonse Areola, while Kane sent another header over the crossbar.
Fulham also threatened, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa denied by Hugo Lloris and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s effort going just wide.
In the second half, substitute Ademola Lookman found space for a brilliant cross, and Cavaleiro found the back of the net with a thumping header.
In the final minute, Reguilon tried to steal the game for the hosts but his effort was ruled out for an offside.
Fulham secured their fifth consecutive Premier League draw as they sit 18th with 12 points, while Spurs are 6th with 30 points.
Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson’s men held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates as they end their 3 match winning run.
Arsenal was the better side at the start but allowed their visitors, who came close to scoring twice in the first half, to grow into the game.
Arsenal had a couple of attempts in the second half but failed to convert them to goals.
The result leaves Arsenal 11th place with 24 points while Palace is a point behind them in 13th place.
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Due to COVID-19 infections that led to cancellation of some games, there were a total of just 8 goals scored in Premier League Week 18.
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