Author: footballphilosophy.net

Manchester City kicked the weekend off in some style with a 5-0 thrashing over Crystal Palace. Silva scored first with a low shot before Kompany scored again for City after De Bruyne cut it back for him to continue his scoring flurry. More goals followed in the second half and Otamendi’s late header really added some gloss and purpose to the scoreline for City and made Palace’s day even more miserable.

Later on Saturday Leicester played Watford. Ndidi opened the scoring with his third goal since making his successful move from Genk in January and Mahrez and Albrighton added later on. The win made sure Leicester had no chance of getting relegated, an early season fear which was eradicated due to some form following Craig Shakespeare’s arrival, and they are now pushing for a top ten finish along with their opposition Watford.

Moving on, Swansea took on Everton in the Liberty stadium. Swansea were spurred on by fact that Hull had lost earlier to already relegated Sunderland 2-0 and a win would take them out of the drop zone. The first genuine chance, which ended up being successful, was when Jordan Ayew stood up a cross for Llorente who outmuscled the Everton defence and got his head on the ball to put the Swans in front. Although Everton had more chances and possesion they couldn’t find a breakthrough and when full-time sounded both teams had very different emotions.

Lastly, on Sunday Manchester United faced Arsenal at the Emirates. A three minute period in the second half where Xhaka and Welbeck scored determined the outcome of the match and also ended Manchester United’s twenty-five game unbeaten run. The result finished Mourinho’s record of not losing a game against Wenger, a record he would’ve loved to have kept against his great rival. The win has also given Arsenal a big chance of finishing above United and they could even finish in the top four if they win their last few remaining games.

On Saturday, Sunderland lost 1-0 after Josh King-someone who has scored fifteen times this season- scored late on. The loss for Sunderland means that they have no mathematical chance of staying up and are therefore relegated. The Black Cats have spent ten years running in the Premier League and have miraculously pulled off survival bids in previous years, when it was looking like all hope was lost. Questions now loom over the future of David Moyes and star players such as Defoe and Pickford, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing them in the Premier League again soon.

Moving on, Manchester United drew with Swansea 1-1 on the weekend. United’s penalty was very controversial after Rashford appeared to dive to Fabianski’s minimal amount of contact – which led to the referee giving a penalty and Rooney slotted it away to score in two successive games. A brilliant free kick from Sigurdsson brought Swansea the deserved equaliser. The free kick was interrupted by a strange moment when Herrera ran to the goal line only to be waved away by de Gea and the next moment Sigurdsson curled one in to the area where Herrera had just been standing. However, with all the fixtures United have played they might be getting tired and with other clubs slipping up around them they won’t consider this draw a disaster.

Another result is Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Everton. Pedro’s long range curler opened the scoreline and put Chelsea with a dominant foothold in the game. Chelsea added another on the 79th minute after Cahill scored from a scrappy corner and a goal where Willian and Fabregas, both substitutes, combined to finish Everton off. Chelsea are still first, four points off Spurs and have to keep winning if Conte is going to win the league in his first season at the club.

Lastly, Tottenham beat Arsenal 2-0. It was a frustrating first half for Spurs where Alli couldn’t get contact on the ball to divert it into an open goal and Eriksen wasn’t able to hit the target from just outside the six yard box unmarked. However, thanks to a three minute period those missed chances didn’t matter as Alli converted Cech’s save into the net. Then, Kane perfectly placed a penalty that he won into the far corner to get Spurs a second. It was the last derby at White Hart Lane and it meant a lot to Tottenham who with the win will now finish above Arsenal for the first time since 1995.

Watford played Hull in the first Premier League round of fixtures. Oumar Niasse got sent off in the 25th minute for a high foot which Hull are now appealing against. However, in the grand scheme of the game, it didn’t matter. Markovic opened the scoreline by poking the ball in after his header struck the crossbar before Clucas scored a wonderful volley from the edge of the box – which he controlled beautifully; Gomes had no chance of saving it. The win has brought Hull a big chance of staying up and they just have to hope that they can carry on their winning form.

In the FA Cup, Chelsea beat Tottenham 4-2 at Wembley. Costa and Hazard didn’t start the game which was a surprise for Chelsea fans, but after five minutes, Conte’s change proved to be the correct decision as Hazard’s replacement, Willian, hit a free kick out of Lloris’ reach to score the first goal of the game. Tottenham reacted with Kane’s expert header; his 4th FA Cup goal of the season. Chelsea hit back with Willian’s penalty; his second goal of the day before Spurs equalised through Alli’s top corner shot which he scored from Eriksen’s exceptional through ball. You could feel the nerves around Wembley as the score was level, but Hazard’s moment of magic brought life back into the stadium. The ball was headed out of the back and fell to Hazard, who had come on as a substitute. He smashed the ball into the low corner and Spurs’ hearts fell. Matic added to scoreline with a long range top corner shot which was one of the best FA Cup goals this season and gave Spurs no hope of coming back. It was a great game and I hope for a fixture as exciting as this one in the final.

Also in the FA Cup, Arsenal played Manchester City. City started the game brightly and Cech had to tip Silva’s header over the bar. The Blues also had a legitimate goal ruled out after the linesman deemed Sane’s cross to have breached the field of play. The cross resulted in Sterling’s goal, but replays have shown that the ball stayed in play and it was the wrong decision to disallow the goal. Aguero got the first goal of the match after taking a heavy touch and then slotting it past Cech and City were on their way to victory. However, Arsenal’s Oxlade-Chamberlain fired a dangerous cross which Monreal met with a low driven shot. No goals followed in normal time, so extra-time was played. Cech’s finger-tip save kept Toure’s shot out, Fernandinho hit the crossbar and Welbeck went just wide and the atmosphere was hotting up. Arsenal had a free-kick which ended up at Sanchez’s feet, who controlled and then scored winner. Arsenal fans went mad as they secured a place in the FA Cup final.

Lastly, Crystal Palace took on Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool went ahead through Coutinho’s low free kick, which went over the wall and dipped into the low bottom corner leaving Hennessey with no chance. It was a true moment of magic from the talented Brazilian. Then, Cabaye’s cross fell into the path of Benteke who smashed the ball into the roof of the net and left Liverpool wondering how they let the in-form striker unguarded in the box, his favourite position to be in to gobble up chances. Then, in the 74th minute, Benteke found himself with another chance. Palace’s corner made its way untouched to the Belgium striker who once again haunted his former club, and, like the first goal, didn’t celebrate. Palace have gone up into 12th and are definitely clear of relegation now.