- The latest edition of the Manchester Derby ended with the blue side taking the bragging rights once again.
- We look at the things we learned from the Premier League weekend.
The latest edition of the Manchester Derby ended with the blue side taking the bragging rights once again.
We look at the things we learned from the Premier League weekend.
Liverpool leave it late
Nunez scored in the last minute of the game. Photo/ The Sun
Darwin Nunez‘s disputed goal in the 99th minute put an end to Liverpool’s 13-game losing streak at the City Ground. Klopp’s team came from behind to steal a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Despite Liverpool’s thrilling comeback victory that kept them atop the Premier League standings, Forest felt wronged by the refereeing during the build-up when Paul Tierney inadvertently gave the ball back to the opposition.
The Uruguayan appeared bright as he played a significant role before his pivotal moment, and Nunez helped Liverpool win the game after coming off the bench. With almost the final stroke of the match, the 24-year-old tipped Alexis Mac Allister’s cross into the lower corner, making it an incredible 21 goals scored by a Liverpool sub this season.
Naturally, having someone of Nunez’s caliber on the bench helps, but Klopp’s substitutions once again turned the tide of the match in his team’s favor. Liverpool has had more goals and assists from replacements this season (43) than any other club in the top five leagues in Europe.
What’s happening to Brighton?
Brighton lost this weekend. Photo/ Bracknell News
Following Brighton’s defeat at the hands of Fulham, who easily prevailed 3-0 at Craven Cottage, Roberto De Zerbi was unable to conceal his dismay.
Over the past 18 months, Brighton and De Zerbi have each garnered their fair share of accolades, but the Seagulls’ current record is five victories from 20 league games. Although De Zerbi is frustrated that the team hasn’t been able to replace great talent with readymade options in recent windows, Brighton’s success has mostly come from their ability to find and develop latent potential.
It is quite concerning that midfield is not being added. The core of the team that finished in the top six the previous season has not been sufficiently replaced after Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister left for large salaries in the summer. Even though those transactions brought approximately £150 million, the hole has not been addressed by the free transfer additions of James Milner, Mahmoud Dahoud, or adolescent sensation Carlos Baleba.
In January, Brighton once again fell short of meeting that demand as their recruiting efforts were directed around Boca Juniors’ 19-year-old Valentin Barco and additions to the U-21 team. Although new players may help the team’s finances in the upcoming campaigns, De Zerbi seemed to be disappointed that Brighton was unable to build on its greatest-ever Premier League season.
Derby win sets for a huge clash against Liverpool
Once more, Manchester City was tested, but once more the winners rose to the occasion, winning the Manchester Derby at the Etihad Stadium after rallying from behind.
This season, Pep Guardiola’s team has already trailed 12 times and recovered 21 points from those encounters; only Liverpool (22) has gained more points from deficits.
With a spectacular goal of his own at the Etihad, Phil Foden gave the Citizens a much-needed boost and canceled out Marcus Rashford’s opening goal. Foden sent a low finish under Andre Onana and into the far corner to secure the victory with his second goal of the campaign, his 18th in all competitions.
With their victory, Manchester City moves within one point of Liverpool, paving the way for an epic title match at Anfield this week. The two best teams in the Premier League, who both triumphed this weekend despite facing significant obstacles, will square off on March 9.
Over the last ten years, Liverpool and Manchester City have engaged in a genuinely contemporary rivalry that has produced some spectacular moments. This last Premier League match of the Jurgen Klopp era may be the biggest of them ever.
With Arsenal involved in what is perhaps the most thrilling championship chase in memory, the result of next week’s matchup might have a seismic impact on who tops the standings after the season.
Everton facing the same problems
Beto scored in the loss against West Ham. Photo/ Royal Mersey Blue
West Ham defeated Everton late in the game at Goodison Park, causing a blow to the Blues who had dominated the game for the whole of it.
Everton had 22 shots on goal, 11 of which were on target, and an xG of 3.18 compared to West Ham’s 1.83; yet, a 3-1 loss was the consequence of an outstanding display from Alphonse Areola and some notoriously careless finishing.
After Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 20-game goalless streak, Sean Dyche made a switch, favoring Beto over the latter. However, the Portugal forward squandered a fantastic opportunity when Areola palmed away his meek penalty, leaving the game goalless.
Beto made amends for himself by heading in James Garner’s inviting cross to open the score, but Everton was unable to finish the game due to further wasted opportunities, the most significant of which came from Dwight McNeil.
Kurt Zouma’s set-piece equalizer put West Ham ahead, but stoppage-time goals from Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek sealed the victory. Everton’s xG deficit is now nearly twice as large as that of the next-highest team. Dyche’s team is in danger of dropping out because the Toffees are unable to convert opportunities into goals.
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