Premier League 2019/20 Game Week 17 Roundup

A full roundup of game week 17 of the Premier League, including the team of the week.

Liverpool 2-0 Watford

In a matchup between top versus bottom it was a much closer affair than many would have anticipated. Watford squandered several opportunities to take the lead, with the Hornets’ best chance seeing Ismaila Sarr completely miss the ball with the goal mouth gaping. In typical fashion, the league leaders found a way to win despite not being at their best, and two sublime goals from Mohamed Salah, both taken with his weaker right foot, handed the Reds all three points.

Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth

Chelsea’s unusual slump in form continued on Saturday, with the Blues falling to a fourth defeat in five games. Subsequently Frank Lampard’s men have fallen away from the title race, and now face the prospect of a challenge for top four. Contrarily, Bournemouth ended a four-game loss streak, thanks to a late winner from Dan Gosling which ensured the visitors were able to keep their distance from the relegation zone.

Sheffield United 2-0 Aston Villa

This year’s surprise package in the league just keep on going, securing a second consecutive win in the league and moving back to the European qualification spots. Meanwhile, yet another defeat for Aston Villa sees them within touching distance of the relegation zone, with the Villains only ahead of Southampton on goal difference. Two second half goals from John Fleck handed the Blades the win, with the Premier League newcomers only four points off the coveted Champions League spots.

Leicester City 1-1 Norwich City

The biggest shock of the weekend came courtesy of Norwich City, after the Canaries dealt a crushing blow to a title contender for the second time this season. This time it was Leicester City who suffered at the hands of the relegation strugglers, with Teemu Pukki putting the visitors ahead. Jamie Vardy’s headed effort found its way into the net after Tim Krul fumbled an attempted save and put it into his own net. The Foxes weren’t able to find an all-important winner though and subsequently fell 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool, with the Reds comfortably in poll position.

Burnley 1-0 Newcastle United

In a relatively tame affair between two mid-table clubs, the game was decided by Newcastle’s lack of bite going forward, and Burnley’s efficiency in converting their chances. Chris Wood headed home from a corner in the second half to secure the win for the hosts, moving ahead of Brighton in the process.

Southampton 0-1 West Ham United

In yet another matchup against a fellow relegation candidate for Southampton, it was their opposition that came away with the favourable result, with the Iron’s new striker Sebastien Haller netting the only goal of the game to hand them all three points and the chance to distance themselves from their opposition in the relegation zone.

Manchester United 1-1 Everton

In Duncan Ferguson’s second match as Everton manager the maverick interim manager picked up yet another impressive result, holding Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford. It was the Toffees who struck first, after a Leighton Baines corner hit Victor Lindelof on the shin and rebounded into the empty net. United were able to fight back however, with academy graduate Mason Greenwood beating Jordan Pickford with a low effort that found its way into the bottom corner to help salvage a point for the hosts.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

In a battle between two clubs challenging for a place in the top four, it was Spurs who came away from the Molineux with all three points following a dramatic late goal. Lucas Moura opened the scoring within the opening 10 minutes, before Adama Traore levelled the scores in the second half. It looked as though the game was destined to end in a draw, until veteran defender Jan Vertonghen popped up with a vital header to win it for the North London outfit.

Arsenal 0-3 Manchester City

Arsenal’s season has well and truly gone off the rails. Following their latest defeat to Manchester City they find themselves as close to the relegation zone as they are to the top four, having won only two of their last 10 games. Manchester City were once again back to their best, as they had their opposition beaten in the first half, thanks to goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. Next up City will face Leicester in a match that could have a massive influence on the outcome of the season, as both clubs attempt to deny Liverpool their first league title in 30 years.

Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion

After an early spell of dominance from Brighton, it was the visitors who were able to strike first, with Neal Maupay finding the top corner from 10 yards out after the ball was played in to him from the wing. Palace made sure they weren’t behind for long though and heaped the pressure onto the Seagulls as they searched for an equaliser. Christian Benteke came close with a spectacular effort from an unlikely angle, but in the end it was Wilfried Zaha who restored the equilibrium in the match, smashing the ball into the top corner at Matthew Ryan’s near post to ensure both side would be coming away from the game with a point each.

Sunrise Radio’s Team of the Week:

Ramsdale; Baldock, Mina, Fernandinho, Vertonghen; Fleck, De Bruyne, Gosling, Lerma; Salah, Antonio