Premier League Update – GW19 | OneFootball

Sunday, Dec. 29

Leicester 0 – 2 Manchester City

At any other time, this would be a snarky missive bemoaning City’s lack of killer instinct and sniggering at their paucity of goals given the opposition. But after the last two months, City will breathe a sigh of relief that Erling Haaland found the net, take comfort in one more digit in the win column, and hope this match sparks a 2025 turnaround.Oh, and Leicester were kinda awful.

Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Southampton

Southampton snatched an early lead in the first half, but the hosts were overall the better side and they walked into the dressing room on equal footing after converting a corner. With Eberechi Eze hammering home from distance in the 52nd minute, all Palace had to do was hold on. Given their recent home form, however, this seemed a nervy prospect. It was at this time when Peacock lost the live feed (and my blood pressure was spared). Palace ultimately triumphed to end 2024 with eight critical points from five matches, and the 15th spot in the table.

Everton 0 – 2 Nottingham Forest

At the time this article is published, Nottingham Forest sit second in the table. They have five wins in five matches, the only PL team with a perfect record in that span. You have to ask: are Forest contenders?  Everton, on the other hand, had a three-game run of draws come to an end courtesy of Chris Wood’s clever volley and Morgan Gibbs-White’s sharp finish. They drop to 16th.

Fulham 2 – 2 Bournemouth

This clash of two mid-table teams bursting with energy and promise did not disappoint. A late first half goal from Raúl Jiménez was swiftly equalized by Evanilson not long after kick-off. Harry Wilson then continued his sterling season with a flicked-on header off Antonee Robinson’s cross. Fulham looked to have the three points locked until substitute Dango Ouattara expertly chipped a shot over Bernd Leno in the 89th minute.Both teams are undefeated in their past five matches, though Fulham have four draws to the Cherries’ three.

Tottenham 2 – 2 Wolverhampton

The 101st minute revealed much about this game: Timo Werner was called offside nullifying a counter, and the home crowd booed lustily after the final whistle. Wolves will (rightly) see this as a win. Their initial goal was a picture-perfect execution of a training ground set piece, and Jørgen Strand Larsen clawed back an 87th equalizer. Sitting in 17th going into the New Year has got to feel good.On the other side, Spurs have to look back at a match where for 80 minutes they were undoubtedly the superior side, yet sabotaged by their own inconsistency.

West Ham 0 – 5 Liverpool

Monday, Dec. 30

Aston Villa 2 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion

My goodness there was so much happening in this game, despite both teams sitting squarely in the middle of the table and featuring recent forms that elicit yawns. Brighton’s goal came against the run of play early on, a theme that would repeat itself throughout the game. Villa’s Morgan Rogers ran rampant over the pitch, drawing a penalty and scoring a goal early in the second half. Both managers claimed to be the better side in post-match interviews, even though Villa didn’t do enough to win, and Brighton did just enough to avoid losing.

Ipswich 2 – 0 Chelsea

Yes, that was a penalty. And as it turns out, it was Ipswich’s first Premier League PK in 20+ years, solidly finished by rising star Liam Delap. João Felix’s equalizer was scrubbed for offsides, a rare VAR call that went in the host’s favor (don’t believe me? Check out this cool article from ESPN that tracks VAR calls). No matter how Blues fans will try to spin this, they just got beat today.

Manchester United 0 – 2 Newcastle

In the 46th minute, Kobbie Mainoo intercepted a Dan Burns pass right outside the goal box. He took one touch, pump faked and passed to a wide-open Casemiro, who promptly screwed-the-pooch by flubbing the shot five yards wide of the goal. It was a perfect encapsulation of United’s season so far, seeing as they were already down 2-0. There appears to be no end to United’s misery; such rotten luck they played a Newcastle squad who have scored 16 goals in their last five, huh?

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Brentford 1 – 3 Arsenal

The Bees’ home aura is fading fast. Formerly possessed of the strongest home record in the PL, this defeat from Arsenal marks two straight losses. Meanwhile the Gunners have fired a salvo across Liverpool’s bow. They now sit six points behind and knocked Nottingham out of the fairy tale second place at the end of the year.