It was an odd weekend for Premier League football, wasn’t it? Matchday 21 was split over two weeks meaning just 10 teams were involved this week. The five matches were split across three days and all televised. While the action may have been reduced, the drama was not.
Here’s part one of your matchday 21 round-up.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
The spoils shared at Turf Moor
Luton Town left it late against Burnley but they claimed a well-deserved point at Turf Moor. Rob Edwards’ side scored a controversial equaliser in stoppage time to ensure the gap between the two sides remained four points.
Burnley had taken the lead in the first half when Zeki Amdouni scored with his only effort of the game. The away side dominated possession – finishing with 62% – while also having one more effort than their hosts. However, the exploits of James Trafford between the sticks kept the home side in front up until the final stages, that is.
The former Manchester City shot-stopper saved 80% of the attempts he faced on Friday evening and many believe he was fouled in the build-up to the Carlton Morris equaliser. The goal was allowed to stand though and Burnley had what would’ve been only their second home win of the season snatched away from them.
Cole Palmer makes amends
In Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Middlesbrough, Cole Palmer had a bit of a nightmare in front of goal. The versatile forward, who racked up an Expected Goals haul of 1.45, spurned two big chances in the 1-0 loss.
The Chelsea No. 20 was the match-winner on Saturday afternoon though, scoring the winning goal against Fulham (via the spot) to lift Mauricio Pochettino’s men up to ninth in the Premier League table.
With better finishing on the day, this could’ve been a comfortable victory for the Blues. Marco Silva’s side struggled to impose themselves on proceedings with Chelsea having 55% possession, 17 shots to 14 and finishing with an xG total of 2.19 to Fulham’s 0.86.
The Blues are now level on points with Brighton and just three points behind sixth-placed West Ham United. Pochettino’s side have some tricky games coming up but a run of positive results could get them in a European place.
The Kevin De Bruyne show
Jürgen Klopp wasn’t joking when he said: “Kevin De Bruyne is warming up. The whole country is starting to shake.”
Manchester City have been without their talisman for practically the entire campaign but his return to fitness comes at a perfect time for the second half of the campaign. Despite his absence, City are still in a title race and his reemergence could be what sparks their annual 17-match unbeaten run.
He came off the bench against Newcastle with the reigning Premier League champions trailing 2-1 after the hosts had responded to Bernardo Silva’s opener. Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon had scored past back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega after Ederson was replaced with an injury. Things didn’t look great for the visitors.
De Bruyne scored with what was an outrageously calm finish from distance. He just passed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal from 19 yards out. The effort had an xG value of 0.08 but an Expected Goals on Target value of 0.49.
The Belgian maestro then assisted a stoppage-time winner, picking out Oscar Bobb with a perfectly weighted clip in behind Kieran Trippier.
Two moments was all that he required to transform the game. City are now just two points behind leaders Liverpool.
Another Aston Villa stumble
When it has really mattered most, Aston Villa have struggled. The Villans have won just one of their last four Premier League matches and now find themselves just three points ahead of fifth-placed Spurs.
Had Unai Emery’s men won on Sunday, they would’ve been joint-top. It isn’t all doom and gloom at Villa Park, the fact they’re third after 21 matches is a huge achievement. But they have dropped points to bottom of the table Sheffield United and relegation-threatened Everton while giving up a 2-0 lead in a 3-2 loss to Manchester United in recent weeks.
It was a fairly even game against the Toffees on Sunday afternoon, though Villa dominated possession (62%). Both teams finished with a near identical xG though as well as carving out one big chance each.
The point for Everton could prove to be invaluable though as it keeps them one point clear of the relegation zone.
Spurs continue to impress
Tottenham Hotspur went to Old Trafford and were the better team against Manchester United. They aren’t the first team to do that this season and they won’t be the last. But it really hammered home how much of a transformation there’s been under Ange Postecoglou and how the Red Devils really aren’t anywhere near where they should be under Erik Ten Hag.
Rasmus Højlund fired the hosts ahead inside three minutes and Marcus Rashford restored the lead just before the break following Richarlison’s equaliser. Rodrigo Bentancur brought Spurs level just 50 seconds into the second half and the away side looked the most likely to net a winner.
They had more of the ball, more shots, significantly more shots on target, and an xG haul of almost double that of the hosts.
It wasn’t necessarily a deserved point for the hosts but they won’t care.
(Images from IMAGO)
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