- Sunday, February 13 2022 saw a host of actions in the Premier League
- Liverpool in the race to keep up with Manchester City visited Burnley, Wolves got back to winning ways after midweek Arsenal disappointment with an exemplary performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Kieran Trippier fired yet another free-kick in to lift Newcastle out of the relegation scrap as West Ham and Leicester played a four-goal thriller
On Sunday, Feb 13 2022, the Premier League experienced a host of actions from title race to relegation battles. Liverpool responded to Manchester City’s victory over Norwich by recording a hard-fought 1-0 win at Burnley’s Turf Moor.
Fabinho struck the only goal in the first half, as the Reds continued their fine set-piece record on a day when set-plays proved decisive across the Premier League.
In London, Raul Jimenez was the star as Wolves leapfrogged Tottenham with a shock 2-0 win, and Newcastle continued their revival with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, thanks to Kieran Tripper’s free-kick yet again.
The final game of the day saw West Ham rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw at Leicester City, with Craig Dawson netting a stoppage-time equaliser.
Burnley 0-1 Liverpool: Reds reap rewards of set-piece focus
Liverpool did not produce a vintage performance, but Jurgen Klopp’s men kept leaders Manchester City on their toes by earning a vital away win.
The Reds had to work hard for the three points against Burnley at Turf Moor. After managing 27 shots, nine attempts on target and 50 touches in Burnley’s penalty area in the reverse fixture at Anfield last August, Liverpool had just over half as many touches in Burnley’s 18-yard box this time (26), managing 12 shots in total and just four on target.
Fabinho scored the only goal of the match as Liverpool saw off Burnley by a goal to none in the Premier League on Sunday. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
However, Klopp’s men dug deep to find a winning goal and did so courtesy of their fantastic set-piece record. Excluding penalties, 14 of Liverpool’s 61 Premier League goals this season have come via set-pieces, more than any other team and more than the tally they recorded in the top-flight last term (13).
Fabinho’s winning goal also means he has scored more goals in his last seven matches (five) than he managed in his first 142 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions (four).
Meanwhile, the Anfield outfit also maintained their record of having won each of their games in which the Brazilian has netted for the club, with that run now reaching eight matches.
Tottenham 0-2 Wolves: Jimenez proves decisive at Spurs once again
It was Wolves, rather than Tottenham, who gave a boost in their top-four hopes by recording a huge win in north London, with Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker firing the visitors to a 2-0 win.
Mexican striker Jimenez has now scored in each of his last three Premier League appearances away at Spurs (three goals), with Wolves winning each of those contests.
Indeed, Jimenez has now scored four times in six appearances against Tottenham and has only scored more Premier League goals against Southampton and Everton – five each.
For Antonio Conte’s Spurs, the defeat was their third Premier League loss in succession, and they also lost three consecutive league games under Nuno Espirito Santo in September 2021. This marks the first time they have had multiple three-match losing games in a Premier League campaign since 2004-05 (which was also two).
Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa: Another free-kick continues Toon revival
Newcastle’s clash with Aston Villa was not exactly one for the purists, featuring the third-lowest expected goals tally of the entire Premier League season so far, but Tripper ensured that it was a memorable day for the Magpies who have enjoyed times since the January transfer window.
Trippier’s 35th-minute free-kick was enough to see off Steven Gerrard’s men in a contest where both teams created just 0.5 xG apiece.
Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier scored a staggering freekick to hand his side a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |
Remarkably, Newcastle have now scored a direct free-kick goal in each of their last three Premier League games (Jonjo Shelvey at Leeds, followed by Trippier against Everton and Aston Villa), becoming the first side to do so since Liverpool in December 2013.
In a game of fine margins, the England right-back showed the quality that he brings to the Magpies’ relegation fight, and he is now the first Newcastle player to score direct free-kick goals in consecutive Premier League games since Hugo Viana did so in May 2003.
The result placed Newcastle well above the relegation scrap. The Magpies are now in the 17th position with 21 points, four above 18th placed Norwich City.
Premier League matchday 26 will kick off on Saturday, 19 February when West Ham host Newcastle in an early kickoff tie. The big match to watch will be on the same Saturday when leaders Manchester City take on Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad.
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