Liverpool beat Manchester United, more VAR drama, epic comebacks, and the funniest Premier League moment of 2020 so far? Here are the highlights of matchweek 23.
Liverpool 2 – 0 Manchester United
Liverpool continue their march towards their first title in 30 years with a hard-fought victory over Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday night; a win that extended their lead at the top of the table to 16 points – with a game in hand.
Liverpool’s first goal came from Brandon Williams (5-foot-6) having to pick up Virgil van Dijk (6-foot-3) at a corner ? pic.twitter.com/9YY8zIxYpH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) 19 января 2020 г.
It was a weird match; we can’t say that either team was exceptional but there was a lot of high tempo, grit, VAR drama, and determination. Virgil van Dijk gave the hosts the lead in minute 14, followed by the brilliant (but disallowed) goal by Roberto Firmino ten minutes later.
Manchester United had some good chances that they wasted one by one until Mo Salah sealed the final score in the last minute of the match.
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We’re defeated at Anfield. #MUFC #LIVMUN
Публикация от Manchester United (@manchesterunited)
Southampton 2 – 3 Wolves
Wolves came back from two goals down to triumph over in-form Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The magnificent comeback was thanks to Mexican striker Raul Jimenez, who scored twice to crush Southampton’s hearts just when it hurts the most.
27 – Raúl Jiménez has been directly involved in 27 goals for Wolves in all competitions this season (18 goals, 9 assists), more than any other player for a Premier League club in 2019-20. Levelled. #SOUWOL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 18 января 2020 г.
The Saints looked set for a sixth win in seven games when they were leading by two goals, but everything changed at half-time. Pedro Neto made it one for Wolves in minute 53 and Jimenez completed the fightback with 14 minutes to spare.
“I want to say thank you to all my teammates, to the staff, to the coach, because without all of them, I can’t achieve this goal.”@Raul_Jimenez9 shows his gratitude after breaking Wolves’ @premierleague goalscoring record.
— Wolves (@Wolves) 18 января 2020 г.
Wolves boss, Nuno Espirito Santo was pleased with his men, “I said a lot of things. They did the job. We realized the first half was not good. I’m very proud of the players – even proud of the first half.”
Manchester City 2 – 2 Crystal Palace
Resolute Crystal Palace held-off Man City at the Etihad Stadium and Pep Guardiola’s chance of securing a Champions League spot next season is seeming fainter and fainter. The Citizens are now 13 points behind Premier League leaders, Liverpool, who have one game in hand.
6 – Manchester City have conceded the first goal in six of their last nine Premier League home games, as many as they had in their first 60 under Pep Guardiola. Correction. #MCICRY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 18 января 2020 г.
Man City were unfortunate this Saturday as they were hit by a Fernandinho own goal to let Palace grab a draw. Cenk Tosun gave the Eagles the lead just before half-time and Roy Hodgson’s men thought they had it in the bag until Sergio Aguero’s double in minutes 82 and 89.
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Jheeeeze! ? 251 City goals! But what’s your fave? #mancity
Публикация от Manchester City (@mancity)
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Never. Give. Up. #CPFC #PremierLeague #PL
Публикация от Crystal Palace Football Club (@cpfc)
Then frustration spread over the pitch and a 90th-minute own goal by Fernandinho finalized the score. How awesome was Wilfred Zaha though? Birthday boy Guardiola admitted, “I told them to keep going, put more balls into the box and try to control Zaha on the counter-attack.”
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? McCarthy’s tackle and pass. ? Wilf’s run and cross. #CPFC #PremierLeague #PL
Публикация от Crystal Palace Football Club (@cpfc)
Newcastle 1 – 0 Chelsea
Newcastle earned their first Premier League victory of the year thanks to Isaac Hayden’s dramatic injury-time header against a strong Chelsea.
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Newcastle score late to steal the points. ? #CFC #Chelsea #NEWCHE
Публикация от Chelsea FC (@chelseafc)
Frank Lampard’s side were dominating the match but were constantly being challenged by the hosts. In the end, Hayden’s crucial header gifted Steve Bruce’s men with a home win.
93:26 – Isaac Hayden’s goal was Newcastle’s first 90th minute winner in the Premier League since December 2015 (Ayoze Perez against Tottenham), and was their latest scored in the competition since Yohan Cabaye netted against West Ham back in January 2014 (94:09). Grabbed. #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/OpcVVbc5SO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 18 января 2020 г.
Newcastle’s victory lifts them up a place to 12th, while Chelsea remain in fourth with a five-point lead over Man United (who lost to Liverpool on Sunday).
And for your weekly dose of football wisdom, here is what Lampard said after the game: “the brutal reality of football is if you don’t score, teams stay in the game and something like that happens at the end.” Profound.
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Good morning! ?⚫️⚪️ #NUFC
Публикация от Newcastle United FC (@nufc)
Norwich City 1 – 0 Bournemouth
The battle for survival continues as bottom sides Norwich City and Bournemouth clashed in a dramatic fixture featuring two red cards and the funniest moment of 2020 so far.
5 – Norwich v Bournemouth is the fifth Premier League match this season between the bottom two placed sides – no campaign in the competition has ever seen more such games. Basement. #NORBOU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 18 января 2020 г.
Norwich’s Steve Cook was sent off half an hour in because he saved a strike – with – his – hand. Teemu Pukki scored the game’s only goal from the awarded penalty, earning Norwich’s first Premier League win since November.
And the most obvious red card in the history of football goes to… Bournemouth defender Steve Cook ? pic.twitter.com/nNOQKiqJFX
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) 18 января 2020 г.
Eddie Howe’s side are three points away from safety and only three points above last-place, Norwich City.
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Pukki’s penalty separates the sides at half-time. We lead 1-0! #ncfc #NORBOU
Публикация от Norwich City FC (@norwichcityfc)
That’s it from the 23rd matchweek of the Premier League season! See you next week!
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