Week 14 of the Barclays Premier League gave us the North London Derby, the Merseyside Derby, 30 goals, 40 yellows and had 3 players seeing red.
Cardiff City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
2-1
Junior Hoilett scored a spectacular late winner as Cardiff stages a second half comeback to beat Wolves and climb out of the relegation zone.
Despite numerous set-pieces for the hosts in the first half, which was low on quality from both sides, Wolves took the lead when Matt Doherty pounced on a rebound to score on his 200th appearance for the club).
The Welsh side hauled themselves back into the running by sheer force of will. Harry Arter twice came close to scoring before playing a key role in the equalizer which summed up the frantic encounter. After a corner was only half-cleared, the former Bournemouth player hoisted the ball back into the box and Sean Morrison was able to head the ball down to Aron Gunnarsson, who hit home from close range.
The winner came in the 77th minute as Hoilett whipped in a fabulous first time effort from 25 yards, clipping the crossbar on its way into the net. That goal helped clinch just a third win of the season for Cardiff – putting them in 16th and giving manager Neil Warnock an early birthday present, he turned 70 on Saturday.
For Wolves their fifth defeat from six matches leaves them without a win since October 6th and after Brighton’s win against 10-man Huddersfield they drop to 12th.
Up Next:
West Ham v Cardiff – Tuesday, December 4th (2:45pm)
Wolves v Chelsea – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
Crystal Palace v Burnley
2-0
Burnley manager Sean Dyche said his team have lost their “eye of the tiger” following their 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace. The Clarets are without a win in seven matches and dropped to 19th in the league after Southampton drew with Manchester United.
Palace’s first home victory of the 2018/19 season saw them end a run of eight league games without a win and moved them up three places to 14th.
The Eagles took an early lead when James McArthur‘s low cross eluded everyone and drifted in at the back post. Andros Townsend added the second of the game with a superb left-footed drive 12 minutes from time.
The Eagles took the lead early on when James McArthur’s low cross eluded everyone to drift in at the back post, before Andros Townsend added a second with a superb left-footed drive 12 minutes from time.
It could have been a lot worse for Burnley, goalkeeper Joe Hart made a number of fine saves, whilst Palace missed several chances prior to the stunning strike that was Townsend‘s goal.
Up Next:
Brighton v Palace – Tuesday, December 4th (2:45pm)
Burnley v Liverpool – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
Huddersfield Town v Brighton & Hove Albion
1-2
Huddersfield boss David Wagner believes football is “absolutely no fun” after seeing “big” decisions go against his side in their home loss to Brighton.
The hosts took the lead within a minute but were reduced to 10 men just after the half hour mark when Steve Mounie was penalized for a high challenge on Yves Bissouma.
Wagner felt his side should have been awarded a penalty just before the break when Alex Pritchard brought down Pascal Gross, he was also unhappy that a tackle by Brighton’s Leon Balogun on Erik Durm didn’t result in a dismissal.
Mathias Jorgensen gave Huddersfield the lead after 55 seconds – the fastest goal in the Premier League this season – when he headed home off the post after Brighton had failed to clear their lines.
The visitors made the man advantage count. Shane Duffy equalized deep into added time at the end of the first half, before Florin Andone struck from close range in the 69th minute.
The victory for Brighton moves them up to 11th, whilst yet another defeat for the Terriers this season sees them drop to 17th.
Up Next:
Bournemouth v Huddersfield – Tuesday, December 4th (2:45pm)
Brighton v Palace – Tuesday, December 4th (2:45pm)
Leicester City v Watford
2-0
Foxes manager Claude Puel compared James Maddison to Glenn Hoddle after his brilliant goal ensured a comfortable victory over the Hornets. The England midfielder secured the points after juggling Marc Albrighton‘s searching pass on his foot and knee before dispatching a gorgeous effort past goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Puel played with Hoddle at Monaco and suggested the 22-year-old’s talent is reminiscent of the former Spurs and England midfielder. Hoddle played for Spurs, Monaco, Swindon and Chelsea from 1975-1995 and also managed the national side in the 90s. He is regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
Jamie Vardy‘s first half penalty had put Leicester ahead, the forward converting from the spot for the second week running after being brought down by Foster.
Whilst the visitors did create a series of chances, they couldn’t make anything of them. Their day then went from bad to worse when Etienne Capoue was dismissed in the second half for a two-footed tackle on Kelechi Iheanacho late on – a decision the Hornets will appeal.
The win extends the hosts’ unbeaten streak to five league matches, moving them up to eighth, while for Maddison it represented a chance to redeem himself for his red card at Brighton last week. The defeat leaves Watford, who have won just two of their last 10 games, demoted to 10th.
Up Next:
Fulham v Leicester – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
Watford v Man City – Tuesday, December 4th (3pm)
Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth
3-1
Manchester City had to work hard to see off a determined Bournemouth side before Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan secured the three points to send them five points clear at the top of the table on Saturday. After Liverpool’s dramatic Merseyside Derby win that gap has closed to 2pts.
The victory sees the hosts maintain their 100% home record in the Premier League this season, with eight wins from eight, but the latest triumph wasn’t as straight forward as the scoreline suggests.
Everything seemed to be going to plan when Bernado Silva smashed home early on, but then the home side became too complacent and were punished for it just before the break when Callum Wilson rose up to head home Simon Francis’ cross.
The visitors threatened again after half time when Josh King‘s looping cross almost dropped in at the far post, making City look surprisingly short of urgency and inspiration.
It was Raheem Sterling who pulled them out of the rut to continue his remarkable run of scoring against the Cherries. The England forward followed up after Asmir Begovic could only parry Danilo‘s low shot and Nathan Ake failed to clear, firing the ball into the roof of the net for his 10th goal in seven games against the South Coast side.
Bournemouth, who were looking to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat, didn’t lie down and some dangerous balls into the box ensured some nervous moments for the ‘Ethiad faithful’. It took Gundogan‘s close-range finish to secure the points with 11 minutes remaining.
The Cherries get knocked down to 9th place after Leicester’s victory over the 10-man Watford.
Up Next:
Watford v Man City – Tuesday, December 4th (3pm)
Bournemouth v Huddersfield – Tuesday, December 4th (2:45pm)
Newcastle United v West Ham United
0-3
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez said the difference in transfer budgets was a key reason to why his side saw defeat to a mid-table side. Javier Hernandez, a £16m signing in 2017 scored two goals, the other came from £36m capture Felipe Anderson. The visiting attack also included Marko Arnautovic, who cost the Hammers £20m last season. In contrast to West Ham, who spent close to £100m in the last transfer window, Newcastle made a net profit of £20m from their transactions.
Hernandez scored his first of the match in the 11th minute, just as many home fans were taking their seats following a “walk-in protest” against owner, Mike Ashley. Had they waited another minute they wouldn’t have witnessed the calamity that was their defense. Robert Snodgrass was allowed to run down the left and deliver an in-swinging cross for the Mexican who got himself in front of Ferderico Fernandez to poke it in. The Mexican then missed a couple of great chances before firing home his second from Arnautovic‘s flick.
With the final kick of the game, Anderson capped off an exceptional afternoon by slotting in West Ham’s third under the body of keeper Martin Dubravka.
The victory was only the Hammers’ second in the league at Newcastle since 1998 and moves them into 13th with 15pts. Newcastle drop down to 15th with 12.
Up Next:
Everton v Newcastle – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
West Ham v Cardiff – Tuesday, December 4th (2:45pm)
Southampton v Manchester United
2-2
United manager Jose Mourinho says his side are lacking in “mad dogs” in midfield, after his side recovered from a terrible start to draw against the struggling Southampton.
The visitors were facing an embracing defeat early on as the Saints went 2-0 up inside the first 20 minutes. Marcus Rashford inspired the comeback before half with, with two goals in six minutes from Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera, helping the visitors earn a point from another unconvincing display.
Mourinho played two midfielders – Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic in a back three because of injury problems and bemoaned his side’s inability to take control of the match.
Neither side were able to mount any real pressure after the break, with the draw leaving the Saints in the relegation zone in 18th with just one win in their last 15 league games, going back to last season.
Mark Hughes’ side will reflect on a costly capitulation at the end of the first half after some fine goals from Stuart Armstrong and Cedric Soares had seemingly put them in control.
United move up to seventh – eight points off a Champions League place and an embarrassing 16 shy of the top spot held by rivals Manchester City.
Up Next:
Spurs v Southampton – Wednesday, December 5th (3pm)
Man Utd v Arsenal – Wednesday, December 5th (3pm)
Chelsea v Fulham
2-0
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes Claudio Ranieri can “have a very great impact” at Fulham after his team overcame the spirited Cottagers to claim a valuable home victory. Ranieri, who won the league with Leicester, was appointed Fulham boss in November 14th after they sacked Slavisa Jokanovic.
Despite a brave second half performance from the Cottages, they were unable to breach the Chelsea defense and fell to defeat through goals from Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The Blues took an early lead when Pedro slotted home after just four minutes from N’Golo Kante‘s pass. They could have had more in the first half had Sergio Rico not denied Oliver Giroud on two occasions.
Fulham threatened to find an equalizer after the break as the home side struggled for fluency, but substitute Loftus-Cheek secured the points when he fired past Rico after an intricate passing move with both Eden Hazard and Pedro.
Defeat for Fulham keeps them bottom of the table, having claimed only one point from a possible 24 away from home this season. Ranieri, who managed Chelsea between 2000 and 2004 believed his team deserved a draw.
The victory sees Chelsea remain third, 1pt ahead of Arsenal and Spurs and 7 behind league leaders Manchester City.
Up Next:
Wolves v Chelsea – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
Fulham v Leicester – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
4-2
The North London derby did not disappoint. There were 3 lead changes, numerous edgy tackles, a kerfuffle and Jan Vertonghen was seeing red after being shown his second yellow for a bad tackle on Alexandre Lacazette.
The Gunners took the lead when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the game, after Vertonghen‘s handball.
Though the home side started strong, Spurs came back against the run of play to be leading at the break. Eric Dier headed home Christian Eriksen‘s free kick to level things at the Emirates. His goal sparked a melee involving players from both sides after the England midfielder celebrated in front of the Arsenal fans. Harry Kane then shot the visitors into winning position, converting from the spot after Rob Holding was peanlised for a challenge on Son Heung-min.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery introduced Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey at the start of the second half and it worked. The Welshman set up Aubameyang‘s magnificent finish, whilst the France striker’s deflected shot beat goalkeeper Hugo Lloris from the edge of the box to put Arsenal ahead with 16 minutes left.
Lucas Torreira capped off an outstanding performance when he ran clear to wrap up the win before Vertonghen was sent off with five minutes left in the game.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches, moving ahead of Spurs into the top four, with a display that reflected the outstanding work Emery has done since succeeding Arsene Wenger over the summer.
Up Next:
Man Utd v Arsenal – Wednesday, December 5th (3pm)
Spurs v Southampton – Wednesday, December 5th (3pm)
Liverpool v Everton
1-0
Liverpool’s Divock Origi scored a bizarre and extremely controversial 96th-minute winner. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford‘s terrible error gifted the Reds the win. The controversial aspect is that the ball appeared to have risen above the cross bar and just over the goal line before it hit Pickford‘s hands and bounced back in. Had VAR being accessible things may have gone a different way, with it potentially being disallowed for being out of bounds.
The late drama sent Liverpool manager Jurgen Klop springing onto the pitch in celebration to hug goalie Alisson and sent the fans into raptures. It’s more than likely that the German will be fined by the FA for intruding on the pitch before the final whistle had blown.
The 232nd meeting between the Merseyside rivals looked set to be heading for a draw. The Belgian came on as a late sub making his first league appearance since August 2017. It’s one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score, all he had to do was nod home into an empty net to secure the three points.
Everton looked to be the better team for huge chunks of the game. They came closest through a first half strike that was saved off the line. They also came inches to scoring on further chances. Sometimes you just have to accept that it’s not going to be your day.
It was the fifth Premier League injury-time winner Liverpool have scored against Everton, they haven’t scored more against any other side in the Premier League era. The Reds have now won 93 of their meetings.
The Toffees remain winless in their past 18 meetings with Liverpool and haven’t won at Anfield this century. They remain in sixth place, eight points behind Tottenham in fifth and Arsenal in fourth.
Up Next:
Burnley v Liverpool – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
Everton v Newcastle – Wednesday, December 5th (2:45pm)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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