The Carabao Cup final meant there was just eight Premier League matches to keep tabs on this weekend. There weren’t goals galore but, as usual, it was a deeply entertaining round of matches. So let’s take a look at some of the biggest talking points.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Another defeat for Chelsea
It is ironic that Chelsea spent all that money in January but now can’t buy a win. The Blues have one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions and their last victory in the Premier League was well over a month ago. They are five without a win in the English top flight now and luck is very much against them.
They had more shots against Spurs but the hosts finished with an Expected Goals haul that was almost double that of Graham Potter’s side. It was fairly even poised until Oliver Skipp’s effort from distance rattled in off the underside of the bar having clipped Kepa’s fingertips. After that, Chelsea had a number of speculative efforts but nothing that dangerous before Harry Kane added the second for the home side.
The Gunners continue their title charge
Arsenal’s match against Leicester was not one for the neutral. There weren’t many high-value opportunities for either side – in fact, the Foxes managed just one effort in the entire match and it was a shot from 30-yards out with an xG value of 0.02. But Mikel Arteta won’t mind that at all. The Gunners have now recorded back-to-back wins and kept a clean sheet – their first since the middle of January.
Leicester, meanwhile, are back in a relegation battle following a second successive loss.
Rice, Rice baby
West Ham United are out of the relegation zone following a comprehensive 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The hosts scored four times in the final 20 minutes to blow away the visitors. Danny Ings scored twice but the star of the show was Declan Rice.
The skipper put in a dominant display, creating four chances, completing 98% of his attempted passes, recovering the ball on 11 occasions and scoring the third goal. There was talk this week that Rice might be leaving the club at the end of the season but on the evidence of this display, he’s still firmly focused on keeping the Hammers in the Premier League.
That new manager bounce
Leeds recorded their first Premier League win since November as they beat fellow relegation battlers Southampton 1-0 at Elland Road. In what was Javi Gracia’s first mach in charge, the hosts controlled the game, limiting their opponents to an xG total of just 0.38.
It was a new-look side for the home team with Gracia opting to use Brenden Aaronson as part of a three behind Patrick Bamford. Despite having an array of attacking talent on the pitch, it was left-back Junior Firpo who scored the deserved winner with just 13 minutes left to play.
The Toffees become unstuck
Sean Dyche’s first game in charge of Everton was that 1-0 win over Arsenal. They then lost the Merseyside derby but beat Leeds at Goodison Park. If they were going to stay up, Goodison was going to have to become a fortress. Their 100% record there under Dyche came to an abrupt end on Saturday as Aston Villa ran out 2-0 winners.
The game itself was fairly even when looking at the xG – 1.71 to 1.94 in favour of the away side, but they did have a penalty. Everton had more shots on the day (15 to 9) but lacked a ruthlessness to convert these chances. That is an issue which has plagued them all season and will continue to do so until Dyche is able to bring in a reliable centre-forward. The issue for him is this might be when the club is in the Championship.
(Images from IMAGO)
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