After taking a break for the FA Cup, the Premier League returns. The midweek games gave us 39 goals, 45 yellows and had Lucas Digne seeing red for Everton and Wilfried Zaha being shown two yellows resulting in a red.
Tuesday
Arsenal v Cardiff City
2-1
Arsenal secured a hard-fought three points on an emotional night at the Emirate Stadium. The visitors were playing for the first time since the disappearance of club record signing Emiliano Sala. The Argentine forward, 28, and his pilot David Ibbotson were aboard a light aircraft that disappeared from radar over the Channel Islands, whilst traveling from Nantes to Cardiff.
Neither side registered a shot on target in the first half, but Arsenal took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s 66th minute penalty after Bruno Ecuele Manga brought down Sead Kolasinac.
Alexander Lacazette doubled the Gunner’s lead with a nice low strike, before substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored a consolation for Cardiff in added time.
Despite the defeat, Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock praised his side saying their performance was the “best of the season”.
The three points see Arsenal with 47 points, moving ahead of rivals Chelsea on goal difference.
Up Next:
Man City v Arsenal – Sunday, February 3rd (11:30am)
Cardiff v Bournemouth – Saturday, February 2nd (12:30pm)
Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion
4-2
Fulham staged a remarkable comeback after facing a 2-0 deficit at halftime, leading manager Claudio Ranieri to tell media his side are “alive” in the race to avoid relegation.
Glen Murray scored both goals for the visitors in the first 20 minutes, giving them what appeared to be a comfortable lead, but Calum Chamber‘s started the comeback early in the second half with a superb strike.
Aleksander Mitrovic then scored a double and Luciano Vietto headed home the Cottagers’ fourth in the 79th minute to secure the victory and the much needed three points.
The win lifts 19th-placed Fulham to within six points of safety, whilst Brighton remain 13th.
Up Next:
Palace v Fulham – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Brighton v Watford – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Huddersfield Town v Everton
0-1
Richarlison scored the only goal in the third minute of the game. His initial shot was saved but he scored from the rebound, giving the Toffees some much needed points and helping lift the pressure on manager Marco Silva, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall at the weekend.
Everton were at a disadvantage for the final 24 minutes after substitute Lucas Digne brought down Adama Diakhaby, who was in on goal.
The Terries, who are 11 points from safety, pushed for the equalizer but Jordan Pickford made a brilliant save to deny Elias Kachunga.
The victory sees Everton move to 8th, whilst Huddersfield remain bottom with just 11pts from 24 games.
Up Next:
Chelsea v Huddersfield – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Everton v Wolves – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
3-0
The Hammers were swept aside by the hosts who climbed up to seventh in the standings and could have recorded an even greater margin of victory had it not been for the heroics of West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Wolverhampton were top notch, carving out chance after chance before Romain Saiss finally got the scoreboard rolling midway through the second half. Raul Jimenez, on loan from Benfica, flicked in their second before putting the game to bed with a chip over Fabianski for his double and Wolves’ third.
The loss was the visitor’s third in a row and followed an embarrassing FA Cup exit at League One’s bottom club AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. It also saw Wolves complete their first ever league double over West Ham, who sit 11th.
Up Next:
Everton v Wolves – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
West Ham v Liverpool – Monday, February 4th (3pm)
Manchester United v Burnley
2-2
Ole Gunnar Solskjæer told media the home fans were treated to a “typical Old Trafford finish” as they came from 2-0 down to recuse a remarkable point against Burnley.
United found themselves facing their first defeat under the caretaker manager, that was until Paul Pogba converted from the spot in the 87th minute and Victor Lindelof scrambled home a 92nd minute equaliser.
Burnley had defended with resolution until conceding twice late on and were ahead thanks to goals from Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood. A lot of praise is due for Tom Heaton who made some world class saves to keep his side in the lead early on and to help his side keep the point after a crazy last few minutes that saw United almost steal the 3pts.
The Red Devils had previously won all eight matches since the Norwegian took charge. The draw sees them fail to move level on points with Arsenal and fourth-placed Chelsea, whilst Burnley move up a place to 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Up Next:
Leicester v Man United – Sunday, February 3rd (9:05am)
Burnley v Southampton – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Newcastle United v Manchester City
2-1
The reigning champions’ title hopes suffered a huge blow as the Magpies came from a goal down to record a remarkable victory over Man City at St James’ Park. Two defensive lapses cost them the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table.
The visitors couldn’t have got off to a better start with Sergio Aguero finding the back of the net after just 24 seconds for the fastest goal this season. The Argentine had a goal disallowed shorty after when referee Paul Tierney pointed out Kevin De Bruyne had delivered the free-kick before he gave the signal. The Belgian was shown a yellow as a consequence.
After that Pep Guardiola‘s side rarely troubled the hosts’ keeper Martin Dubravka, which saw Rafael Benitez‘s men grow in confidence.
The home crowd roared when Salomon Rondon equalized in the 66th minute. They grew rambunctious when the match turned on its head in the 78th minute with Newcastle being awarded a penalty. Matt Ritchie had to wait more than two minutes for City keeper Ederson to received treatment, before converting from the spot and sending St James’ Park into a wild frenzy.
Up Next:
Spurs v Newcastle – Saturday, February 2nd (7:30am)
Man City v Arsenal – Sunday, February 3rd (11:30am)
Wednesday
AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea
4-0
Joshua King netted twice and assisted another to help lift Bournemouth past Chelsea and pile the pressure on the Blues in their bid for Champions League qualification.
King scored either side of David Brooks‘ composed finish, before Charlie Daniels added the Cherries fourth of the night to condemn the visitors to a second successive league defeat.
King scored either side of a composed David Brooks finish, before Charlie Daniels added a fourth as the Cherries condemned the visitors to a second consecutive league defeat.
It’s a second league win a row for Bournemouth, which sees them move up to 10th in the table, meanwhile Chelsea drop to fifth on goal difference, with rivals Arsenal moving up to fourth.
Up Next:
Cardiff v Bournemouth – Saturday, February 2nd (12:30pm)
Chelsea v Huddersfield – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Southampton v Crystal Palace
1-1
James Ward-Prowse scored his third in as many Premier League games to earn the hosts a point against fellow struggler Crystal Palace. The 24-year-old midfielder slotted home Matt Targett’s low range cross to deny Palace the 3pts.
Wilfried Zaha scored his first goal since September to give the visitors a well derived lead. His evening ended prematurely when he was show a second yellow for sarcastically applauding referee Andre Marriner, just moments after his first booking for a foul on Ward-Prowse.
Mamadou Sakho missed two gleaming chances to win it for Palace, first his header was cleared off the line by Jan Bednarek and then his point-blank header flew over the crossbar.
The two remain level on points, just 4pts clear of the bottom three.
Up Next:
Burnley v Southampton – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Palace v Fulham – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
Liverpool v Leicester City
1-1
Despite failing to really take advantage of Manchester City’s loss to Newcastle, Liverpool extended their lead at the top to five points, with a frustrating 1-1 draw at Anfield.
The hosts started the game in true Liverpool fashion as they sought to capitalize on their title rival’s defeat at St James’ Park. They took an early lead when Sadio Mane finished off an unbelievable 30-pass move in the third minute.
The Reds failed to build on their glorious start and Harry Maguire deservedly equalized in front of The Kop end just before the break, with the hosts failing to deal with a free-kick carelessly conceded by Andrew Robertson.
Liverpool fans were furious that the England defenseman was still on the pitch after he escaped a red card after deliberately fouling Mane 40 yards from goal as the Liverpool man looked to sprint clear. The Reds were also denied a second-half penalty when Naby Keita was fouled by Ricardo Pereira.
Had they been victorious Liverpool would have gone seven points clear, but it wasn’t in the cards as they drew with a team who had lost their previous three league and cup games.
The Foxes are just the second Premier League team this season to leave Anfield without suffering a defeat.
Up Next:
West Ham v Liverpool – Monday, February 4th (3pm)
Leicester v Man United – Sunday, February 3rd (7:30am)
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford
2-1
Fernando Llorente scored an 87th minute header to steal all three points for Spurs, helping to keep hot on the heels of the league’s top two.
The hosts were facing a 1-0 deficit heading in at half time, missing star-striker Harry Kane, who Llorente was filling in for.
Watford took the lead in the 38th minute when José Holebas delivered an out-swinging corner, which goalie Hugo Lloris misjudged, allowing Craig Cathcart to head home.
Son Heung-min, upon his return from the Asian Cup with South Korea, leveled the things 10 minutes from time, smashing one in from 12 yards out.
The Lillywhites remain in third but are now just two points behind Man City after their loss to Newcastle and seven behind leaders Liverpool, who drew with Leicester.
The hornets remain ninth.
Up Next:
Spurs v Newcastle – Saturday, February 2nd (7:30am)
Brighton v Watford – Saturday, February 2nd (10am)
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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