Week9

Chelsea v Hull City

A tough game for Hull although their side now has some real big match experience in Mahrez and Ibrahimovic, and despite Chelsea having the majority of the possession, those two really flourished in the 4-2-3-1 when Chelsea were caught in attack.

Harshly for Hull, Aguero made the breakthrough before half time with a tap in, after Neymar's run and shot was parried by Pollersbeck. A hint of offside but the goal was awarded, Chelsea led 1-0 at the break.

If you thought that would open the floodgates in the second half, you were wrong. Hull went at Chelsea after the break and were rewarded before the hour mark as Pjaca fired in from an angle after good link up work with Ibrahimovic and Mahrez.

Chelsea went for it with a triple change on 70 mins, with Jesus, Sterling and Alli thrown on. And it earned them the winner with 5 minutes to go as Sterling's trickery earned him a penalty as he went over the outstretched leg of Plattenhardt, Jesus tried to take the spot kick but Neymar reminded him he's contractually obliged to take all penalties and cooly slotted the penalty into the corner.

There was time for a scare for Chelsea as Hull substitute Milik headed a corner against the top of the crossbar but it wasn't to be as Chelsea held on for the points.

Chelsea 2-1 Hull City
Aguero (Neymar) 40 - Pjaca (Mahrez) 59
Neymar (pen) 86

MOTM: Neymar - every side needs a match winner.

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

This was a game of high quality between two teams that need to be winning more games, Arsenal started with the most confidence and took the game to a Liverpool side that looked a little hesistant in the early 50-50’s. Gaglairdini managed to distrupt Lo Celso for the most part but Tolisso was uncomfortable in dealing with the pressure behind him, this left Aubameyang and Mandzukic more room than they may have anticipated and it wasn’t long before the duo combined to open the scoring. Umtiti was turned by Mandzukic who won the ball quite high up the pitch, he then fed Aubameyang who had found some space behind Conti and fired the ball into the roof of the net. Arsenal then had a great chance to make it 2 almost instantly with Lo Celso scuffing a cut back from Candreva. It was at this moment Liverpool seemed to wake up with Dybala and Tolisso really finding their rhythm in attack, but they still struggled to get in behind an Arsenal side that were now defending a lead. Half time.

The second half started and Arsenal looked complacent, Dybala this time playing a one-two on the edge of the box with Icardi, and winning a free kick right on the edge after a nasty foul from De Vrij who was marking Icardi close. Dybala stepped up for this and found the top corner. Game on. Liverpool continued to press on and had chances with Conti getting into great areas and combining with Carrasco down the right. When coming on for Arsenal Simeone was lively and sparked some life back into Arsenal but he squandered a number of chances to win this game. Aubameyang was well marshalled out of the game in these latter stages, whilst the wing backs did not have much effect against LSTD’s formation. With just 5 minutes to go, the best chance of the game fell to Bernardeschi who found himself at the back post on the end of scramble, his shot was deflected cruely, however Buffon still managed to somehow claw the ball out from the line. Goaline tech was required here but the whole ball did NOT cross the line. Arsenal’s lack of attacking alternatives and ideas in the latter stages did not help them here in an attempt to win the game. In the end it fizzled out into a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
Arsenal Scorers: Aubameyang (Mandzukic) 12
Liverpool Scorers: Dybala 49

MOTM – Marquinhos

Portsmouth vs. Leicester City


A top of the table clash, with two teams bang in form looking to grab all three points. Leicester, with a series of experienced players and good results too the game to a Portsmouth defence that looked a little unsure in the early stages and it was the away side that took the lead with Asensio playing a neat one-two with Thiago to confuse Tah, before smashing the ball into the roof of the net beyond Ederson. Leicester went a bit stale after the goal and this allowed Portsmouth some time to grow into the game and they created a great chance for Lewandowski on 30 mins but Neuer came off his line quickly to deny him. Alexis was frustrating in this game as his doordling on the ball often cost Portsmouth possession and this game Leicester chances on the counter attack, but Ronaldo was wasteful and didn’t manage to get that second goal before half time.


In the second half Portsmouth were off the marks quick with Ghoulam combining with Alexis well before fizzing a cross into the box and Lewandowski stabbing past Neuer to level the scoring. Tah was perhaps harshly done by in the 83rd minute, receiving a straight red card for an alleged elbow to the face of Diego Costa who fell down holding his face. Leicester then had the better of the play as Juanfran was shunted to CB – Wanyama had also come on for Rabiot who had done excellent at the base of the Pompey midfield all night. Leicester were pressing hard for the winner now but amazingly they were caught out on the counter attack when subs Perisic and Mertens combined for a deadly fast break away that saw Mertens find a gap between the two Leicester CB’s and tuck the ball away nicely. There was still time for more drama though as Leicester City took control in the final stages, Juanfran did not look comfortable alongside Martinez and Douglas Costa was to thank for this goal, driving straight at the defence and finding the top corner with a superb individual effort. 2-2, a fair result on reflection of how the game played out.


Portsmouth 2-2 Leicester City

Portsmouth Scorers: Lewandowski (Ghoulam) 49, Mertens (Perisic) 88
Leicester City Scorers: Asensio (Thiago) 12, Douglas Costa 90+1

MOTM: Adrien Rabiot
Red Card: Jonathan Tah, 83

Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa

Morata (Willian) 34
MOTM: Butland

Birmingham 3 - 0 Stoke
Vardy x2(Kessie, Mbappe)
Mbappe-(Brozovic)

Motm - Vardy

Brighton 0 - 3 Newcastle
Salah(Radja)
Sane(Radja)
Radja

Motm - Radja

Everton 1 - 1 Wolves
Lacazette (Draxler)
Higuain (Sanchez)
MOTM - Pepe