Friday, February 5, 2021

Matchweek 22 Results: Groundhog Day for Saints; Manchester City Smothers Burnley; Liverpool Falls Again at Anfield; Spurs Sputter; Hammers Pound Villa; Blades Strike Down West Brom

Only three times in Premier League history has a Premier League team lost by a record 9-0 score line. Southampton has now done it in two consecutive seasons, the Saints’ latest sin occurring on Groundhog Day Tuesday at Old Trafford against Manchester United. There was hope the ignominy could be avoided until a second red card was awarded in the 86th minute after which the 9-man Saints side conceded the final three goals. Well regarded Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl must do some soul searching as to why these historic collapses happen to his Saints. 7 different players scored for Manchester United in the rout. The Red Devils stay second in the table, 3 points behind Manchester City.  

The league leading Citizens have now won 13 consecutive matches across all competitions following their 2-0 defeat of Burnley. City has now recorded 6 consecutive league clean sheets.  Burnley, already the lowest scoring team in the league, were without both starting strikers for the match at Turf Moor.

 

Third place Leicester moved past Liverpool into third place with a 2-0 defeat of Fulham.  Midfielder James Maddison assisted on both goals for the Foxes who won for the first time in three matches.  Fulham failed to win for an 11th consecutive match.  

Liverpool dropped a spot to fourth in the table as they lost for a second consecutive time at Anfield following the end of their historic 68 match unbeaten run. The Reds’ 1-0 loss to Brighton drops them to fourth in the table, 7 points behind the leaders. The Seagulls continued to soar with a third win a four-match unbeaten run for the south coast team.  

West Ham defeated Aston Villa 3-1 won for a fourth win in their last five league five matches.  Jesse Lingard, newly acquired on loan from Manchester United where he was tethered to the bench, scored a brace in his debut for West Ham.  The fifth place Hammers are enjoying their most successful season in the top-flight after 22 matches since the 1985/86 season. Villa has lost 4 of their last 6 matches.  

Thomas Tuchel has yet to lose as Chelsea manager following his team 1-0 defeat of Spurs. Chelsea has yet to concede a goal in securing 7 of 9 points during Tuchel’s three match tenure. Of concern, though, is that no Chelsea forward has scored in the three matches. Spurs are on a three-match losing run and have not scored since Harry Kane’s injury in the first of those three matches. With the defeat, Jose Mourinho lost back-to-back home matches for his first time as a top-flight manager. Eighth place Spurs are now 14 points from the top of the table, 7 points outside the top four.  

Everton’s 2-1 win over Leeds draws them level on points with 6th place Chelsea and the Toffees have 2 matches in hand versus the Blues. Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored for the first time since early December. Calvert-Lewin’s goal from an Everton corner was the 17th set piece goal conceded this season by Leeds, the most of any Premier League club.  

Arsenal were done in by a red card shown defender David Luiz in first half stoppage time during a 2-1 loss to Wolves. The ensuring penalty kick tied the score and 10-man Arsenal conceded the winner just three minutes into the second half. A second red card was assessed Arsenal when goalkeeper Bernd Leno later handled a ball outside his box. Wolves won for a first time in 9 matches.  

Crystal Palace won a second consecutive match, defeating Newcastle 2-1.  Palace received goals from unlikely sources as Gary Cahill scored his first career goal for the Eagles and Jairo Riedewald scored just his second goal of the season. Newcastle squandered an early lead in the game to fall to their 8th defeat in their last 11 league games. 

All three of Sheffield United’s wins this season have come in their last 5 matches following a 2-1 defeat of West Brom.  The Blades overcame an early 1-0 deficit in significantly damaging West Brom’s survival chances.

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