Premier League Review

A review of all the weekend’s action, including a big win for Manchester United at Anfield while their noisy neighbours cruised to victory when they hosted Crystal Palace.

Chelsea 3-3 Everton.

What a fantastic game this one was. A spirited comeback and some controversy gained Chelsea a point. Goals from, John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa helped rescue a point for the Blues, while Kevin Mirallas, Funes Mori and an own goal from John Terry netted for the visitors. The first half was quiet and remained goalless. Tim Howard reacted well to stop Willian early on while Thibaut Courtois prevented Mirallas. Leighton Baines’ dangerous cross in the 50^th minute was converted into his own net by John Terry as Everton took the lead. Barkley should have doubled their lead moments later, as his powerful shot cannoned off the post and out of play. Mirallas however did double their lead in the 56^th minute, a smart first touch and clever finish beating his fellow Belgian international. Costa hit back in the 64^th minute, latching onto Fabregas’ long ball and taking it round Howard to slot into an empty net. Two minutes later and the home side were level, Fabregas’ shot from outside the area took a huge deflection to wrong foot time Howard. As the game drew to the closing stages it looked certain that both sides were going to be taking a point each. That was until Gerard Deulofeu’s cross was met by an unmarked Funes Mori whose volley beat Courtois. Chelsea astonishingly equalised in the 90+8^th minute, Terry’s inventive back flick beating Howard. Replays suggest Terry was clearly offside and it the goal should have disallowed.

Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace.

City cruised to an easy win when they hosted Palace on Saturday. Goals from; Fabian Delph, Sergio Aguero (2) and David Silva. Palace should have took the lead early on, Joe Hart stopping Damien Delaney’s header from close range. The game certainly needed a goal and it got one in the 22^nd minute. Delph picking the ball up from range and striking it sweetly to beat the Palace stopper, who should have done better. Aguero doubled the hosts lead in the 41^st minute, his effort taking a deflection and going in. Joel Ward had an attempt to half the deficit but could only pull his effort wide of the target. Good passing play from the hosts for the third, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne with some slick passing skills for Aguero to convert home with ease. Silva got the final goal in the 84^th minute, Aguero unselfishly passing the ball to the Spaniard to convert from close range.

Tottenham 4-1 Sunderland.

Despite Sunderland getting an early goal they couldn’t pick up any points on the weekend. Patrick van Aanholt opened the scoring while, Christian Eriksen (2), Harry Kane and Moussa Dembele converted for the hosts. Jordan Pickford was alert early on, keeping out Kane’s effort. Van Aanholt opened the scoring in the 40^th minute, beating Hugo Lloris at his near post. The goal sparked life into Spurs as they instantly hit back and equalized through Eriksen. The first chance of the second half fell to Jermain Defoe whose’ effort hit the side netting. Dembele put the home side ahead in the 59^th minute, his bottom corner finish beating the dive of Pickford. Eriksen doubled his goal tally eight minutes later, his long range strike taking a huge deflection and going in. Spurs finished their scoring for the afternoon in the 79^th minute, Danny Rose fouled in the box. Kane stepped up with a tight finish and Tottenham picked up all three points, with ease.

Aston Villa 1-1 Leicester City.

This midlands derby did not end in disappointment.  Shinji Ozazaki opened the scoring for the foxes while Rudy Gestede replied for Villa. Ozazaki scored from close range in the 28^th minute, the referee confirming that the ball had crossed the line due to goal line technology. Mark Bunn had to be on top form to keep the deficit to one, first preventing Jamie Vardy and then Danny Drinkwater. Aly Cissokho conceded a penalty and Riyad Mahrez stepped up. To the surprise of everyone in the ground, Bunn made a great save using his legs and the home side were still in the game. Gestede equalized in the 75^th minute, his attempt flying into the top corner to level the encounter. Vardy had a golden chance late into the game to win it for the Foxes, but could only guide his shot over the bar.

Newcastle United 2-1 West Ham.

Newcastle picked up a big three points when they hosted the Hammers on the weekend. Ayoze Perez and Georginio Wijnaldum netted for the hosts while Nikica Jelavic pulled one back the visitors. Adrian had to be alert early on to prevent Perez from opening the scoring. He could not do much about the goal though, Perez with a smart finish from the edge of the box. Wijnaldum doubled the Magpies lead in the 15^th minute, meeting Daryl Janmaat’s cross well to smash the hosts into a two goal lead. Jelavic pulled one back four minutes after the interval, his inventive thinking picking up on a poor pass back to take the ball around Rob Elliot and bring the Hammers back into the game. Aleksandar Mitrovic had two late attempts to secure the points but was well stopped by Adrian. The game finished 2-1 and Newcastle picked up a vital three points.

Bournemouth 3-0 Norwich City.

Huge win for the Cherries, as they dominated play from the outset and showed England that they can become an established Premier League team.  Dan Gosling, Charlie Daniels and new signing Benik Afobe netted for the hosts. Gosling opened Bournemouth’s account for the afternoon in the 10^th minute, guiding his powerful header past the Norwich stopper. Declan Rudd could have seen red for a potential last man tackle, only shown a yellow. Bournemouth were awarded a penalty in the 54^th minute, Daniels making no mistake from the spot. The scoring was finished in the 75^th minute, Afobe with a smart volley from close range to round off a great afternoon for the Cherries.

Southampton 3-0 West Brom.

Southampton were back to their best as they completely outplayed the Baggies. James Ward-Prowse (2) and Dusan Tadic netted for the Saints. Ward-Prowse put the hosts ahead in the 5^th minute, his stunning free kick beating Boaz Myhill. Craig Dawson conceded a penalty in the 35^th minute, bringing down Matt Targett in the area. Ward-Prowse stepped up and made no mistake to score his second for the afternoon. Targett had a great chance to score a third for the home side, James McClean with a smart clearance off the line. Steven Davis played in Tadic who made no mistake with a powerful finish to round off a perfect afternoon for the rising Southampton team.

Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United.

Despite dominating the game from the outset, Liverpool will be clueless how they managed to not pick up a single point Sunday afternoon. Wayne Rooney with the goal for the visitors. United failed to have an attempt on target through the first half, while Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino came close for the hosts. The second half belonged to David De Gea who made a handful of incredible saves to keep the scores level, first to stop Emre Can, then a good catch to hold Jordan Henderson’s effort. De Gea’s double save late on to stop Can and Firmino was empathic. Rooney converted in the 78^th minute after Marouane Fellaini’s header struck the bar and back into play. The Red Devil’s finished the game with one shot on target, they’ve got their Spanish keeper to thank for those vital three points.

Stoke 0-0 Arsenal.

The Gunners let Manchester City cut the gap when they were held at Stoke. Jack Butland was once again on top form to frustrate the Gunners. Butland kept Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out early on to keep the game goalless. Bojan’s effort was just wide of the target. Butland got down well to keep Giroud’s powerful header at bay while at the other end Petr Cech kept Bojan out. Joel Campbell had a good chance to nick the points late on for the visitors but his effort was wide of the target. Aaron Ramsey was needed in stoppage time to clear a goalmouth scramble off the line as the game remained goalless.