After a week away from Premier League fixtures for the FA Cup last weekend, we were treated to a busy weekend of goals (20), bookings (16) and sending offs (2).
West Ham United v Arsenal
1-0
Declan Rice scored the only goal in East London, with manager Manuel Pellegrini saying he believes the 19-year-old is a “complete player”. His beautiful finish, for his first Premier League goal, came from a good lay-off by former Gunner Samir Nasri, who was making his first top-flight appearance in England since August 2016. The goal comes two weeks after Rice signed a new contract that will keep him with the Hammers until 2024.
The London derby was highly competitive as usual. Alexandre Lacazette was denied by an excellent save from Lukas Fabianski as Arsenal failed to score in the league for the first time since the opening day of the campaign.
While the Hammers finished the day sitting ninth after a sixth win in nine league games, Arsenal lost ground in the race for a Champions League spot. They are now six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who beat Newcastle 2-1.
Up Next:
Bournemouth v West Ham – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Arsenal v Chelsea – Saturday, January 19th (12:30pm)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool
0-1
Mo Salah‘s penalty saw Liverpool edge out Brighton to extend their lead at the top to seven points, for two days anyway.
The Reds dominated the match, with more than 70% possession, but created very little in an uncharacteristic performance, that is until Salah was fouled in the box by Pascal Groß. The Egyptian smashed the ball past David Button for his 17th goal of season.
The hosts briefly rallied, but Fabino produced a key block to deny Groß in the areas. The home side failed to register a single shot on target.
Liverpool were far for their fluent selves but comfortably lengthened their advantage in the title race, if only for a few days. City beat Wolves 3-0 at home on Monday to shrink the Reds’ lead to four.
Up Next:
Man United v Brighton – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Liverpool v Palace – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Burnley v Fulham
2-1
Burnley manager Sean Dyche conceded that luck was on their side after Fulham scored two own goals in three minutes to hand the Clarets victory at Turf Moor, without registering any shots on target.
A world class volley from Andre Schurrle saw the visitors take the lead after two minutes before defenders Joe Bryan and Denis Odoi both diverted the ball into their own net.
Jeff Hendrick was the provider for both goals, with the Irishman’s cross deflecting in off Bryan‘s leg for the equalizer. Followed up by a clipped cross into the box from the left, which saw Odoi head past Sergio Rico into his own net.
It’s the first time since August 2003 that a team has scored two goals in the competition without a shot on target and Burnley became the fifth team to win a match in the League without registering a shot on target after Crystal Palace, Watford, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
A third consecutive league win sees Burnley move up to 15th, whilst a tenth defeat on the road keeps Fulham 19th.
Up Next:
Watford v Burnley – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Fulham v Spurs – Sunday, January 20th (11am)
Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town
0-0
Huddersfield were controversially denied a late penalty against relegation rivals Cardiff City, prompting manager David Wagner to state “decisions like that make seasons.”
With 14 minutes left, the Terriers thought they’d been handed a golden opportunity to snatch the three points and their third win of the season when referee Lee Mason awarded them a penalty after Joe Bennet brought down Florent Hadergjonaj.
Assistant referee Stuart Burt intervened to tell Mason that it was actually the latter who fouled the former, Mason reversed his decision, prompting a furious reaction from the visiting dugout.
The draw means the Terries stay at the bottom of the Premier League, 8pts from safety, whilst Cardiff remain 17th, one point in front of 18th placed Newcastle, who lost to Chelsea.
Up Next:
Newcastle v Cardiff – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Huddersfield v Man City – Sunday, January 20th (8:30am)
Crystal Palace v Watford
1-2
Tom Cleverley scored on the volley in the second half to help Watford come from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The former Manchester United player had only been on the field for six minutes before thumping James Tomkins‘ clearance into the top corner for his first Premier League goal since October 2017.
The Eagles had taken the lead seven minutes before the break when Abdoulaye Doucoure‘s attempted clearance rebounded off Craig Cathcart and past the frantic Ben Foster, into his own net.
The Watford defender atoned for his own goal midway through the second half when he headed home Jose Holebas‘ corner. Cleverley struck just seven minutes later to secure three hard-earned points.
Victory lifts the Hornets into seventh place, whilst Palace remain 14th, just 4pts above the relegation zone.
Up Next:
Liverpool v Palace – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Watford v Burnley – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Leicester City v Southampton
1-2
Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl believes Shane Long “deserved” his first goal in nine months as his side won at Leicester despite spending the whole second half a man down.
Long scored the winner in stoppage time of the first half, his first in 22 appearances, as Southampton moved out of the relegation zone.
James Ward-Prowse gave Southampton an early lead from the penalty spot after Long was pushed over in the area by Nampalys Mendy.
Saints’ Yan Valery was shown a second yellow for a foul on Marc Albrighton, giving his side a man disadvantage. Long then doubled their lead.
The hosts only goal came from Wilfred Ndidi after he scrambled home Ricardo Pereira‘s cross to bring the Foxes back into the game. Southampton managed to hold on for a priceless victory.
It’s the third win in seven league games for the new manager, who fist pumped the air in delight at the final whistle.
Up Next:
Wolves v Leicester – Saturday, January 19th (7:30am)
Southampton v Everton – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Chelsea v Newcastle United
2-1
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said it’s “very important” for Willian to stay at the club after he scored a spectacular goal to give the Blues a narrow victory over the Magpies.
The Brazilian curled the ball past Martin Dubravka in the 57th minute after Ciaran Clark‘s header had cancelled out Pedro‘s opener.
Earlier in the week, Chelsea reportedly rejected a player-plus-cash bid from Barcelona for 30-year-old Willian, in a deal that would have seen Malcom move the other way.
Chelsea remain fourth, a point behind third-placed Tottenham, but six points clear of Arsenal, who they face at the Emirates Stadium on January 19th. Meanwhile Newcastle have dropped back down into the relegation zone.
Up Next:
Arsenal v Chelsea – Saturday, January 19th (12:30pm)
Newcastle v Cardiff – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Everton v AFC Bournemouth
2-0
Everton edged to a victory over Bournemouth with two second half goals, to lift them into the top half of the league table.
Kurt Zouma opened the scoring with a powerful header, his first goal for the club, in the 61st minute. Dominic Calvert-Lewin added their second in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Bournemouth outplayed the hosts in the opening 30 minutes, but failed to capitalize on their bright start. David Brooks hit the post when through one-on-one with Jordan Pickford and had a strong penalty claim turned down early on. Joshua King also had a good opportunity saved.
Previous to the game Everton hadn’t won in the last four home games. They failed to have a shot on target in the first half, the second time in a row at Goodison Park.
The Toffees improved after the break, with Richarlison having a shot cleared off the line by Nathan Ake. He also came close with a header from Gylfi Sigurdsson‘s cross.
The visitors pushed hard for an equalizer in the final minutes, with Michael Keane producing a worldly block to deny Dan Gosling before Calvert-Lewin scored to secure the three points.
The result sees Everton climb to 10th, whilst Bournemouth stay in 12th.
Up Next:
Southampton v Everton – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Bournemouth v West Ham – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
0-1
David De Gea produced a goalkeeping masterclass at Wembley for Manchester United, making it six wins in six for interim manager Ole Gunner Solskjær, the Norwegian has beaten Sir Matt Busby‘s all time record (5), by winning his first six games in charge.
Marcus Rashford finished low from Paul Pogba’s beautiful pass right before half time to put the Red Devils in the lead, something De Gea worked incredibly hard at keeping. The Spaniard made a series of crucial saves, 11 in total, including many with his feet, the most by the goalkeeper whilst keeping a clean sheet.
The 21-year-old’s goal and De Gea‘s saves denied Spurs the chance to move ahead of Manchester City and into second place, at least for 24hrs.
Pogba had been directly involved in 53% of man United’s 15 league goals since Solskjær took charge (4g, 4a).
The Result sees Spurs remain nine points behind leaders Liverpool and puts United joint fifth with Arsenal, as they move to revive their top-four hopes.
Up Next:
Fulham v Spurs – Sunday, January 20th (11am)
Man United v Brighton – Saturday, January 19th (10am)
Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
3-0
Gabriel Jesus scored twice for City as they eased past 10-man Wolves, cutting Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to four points.
The hosts didn’t manage a repeat of their scoring feats that saw them hit 16 goals in their previous two games, their FA Cup tie with Rotherham and their League Cup semi-final first-leg against Burton Albion.
Jesus opened the scoring inside 10 minutes when Leroy Sane ran onto an Aymeric Laporte pass and crossed for the Brazilian to slot home.
An already tough task for the visitors was made even harder when Willy Boly was dismissed just nine minutes later, with the Frenchman being show a straight red for a dangerous jumping challenge on Bernardo Silva.
City failed initially to take advantage of the extra man and were given a scare when Wolves came close. It was enough to wake them from their mid-game nap and moments later extended their lead from the spot, with Jesus converting the penalty after Ryan Bennett sent Raheem Sterling tumbling in the box.
By the time halftime rolled around, the only question left was how many more times the hosts would find the net. They scored five in the second half against Burton and four against Rotherham. This time it was just the one.
Wolves lackluster afternoon was dealt and even bigger blow when substitute Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a cross and Connor Coady could only deflect it into his own net, completing a miserable night for Wolves.
Up Next:
Huddersfield v Man City – Sunday, January 20th (8:30am)
Wolves v Leicester – Saturday, January 19th (7:30pm)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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