Premier League Review: Matchday 28
Premier League Review: Matchday 28
FotMob - March 11, 2024, 9:20 AM
We have new Premier League leaders. Matchday 28 was billed as a big one and it certainly delivered. As well as changes at the top, the bottom three all added to their points haul while the race for the final Champions League spot took a sudden twist.
Here’s your Premier League review.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Everton remain winless
The Toffees are without a win in the Premier League this year. Sean Dyche’s men haven’t picked up maximum points in the English top flight since their 3-0 victory against Burnley in mid-December.
Everton travelled to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon to take on an inconsistent Manchester United side. Despite a positive start, the visitors found themselves 2-0 down before the break with both Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford converting from the spot.
The away side actually out-shot their opponents 23-15 and carved out chances with an Expected Goals value of 1.61. They couldn’t find a way past André Onana though as the Red Devils returned to winning ways following the derby day defeat last weekend.
Erik ten Hag’s side remain in fifth while Everton are just four points off the drop zone.
Arsenal take advantage
Mikel Arteta’s side are now top of the Premier League table following a 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday evening. It wasn’t a straightforward victory for the Gunners though.
Arsenal took an early lead with Declan Rice firing in the opener inside of 20 minutes. However, Brentford hit back in first half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa chased down Aaron Ramsdale and challenged the stand-in goalkeeper. His attempted clearance bounced off the forward and into the net. Ramsdale was only starting because David Raya wasn’t eligible to play against his parent club.
The hosts looked more likely to score but they weren’t exactly peppering the Brentford goal.
Kai Havertz popped up with the winner with just four minutes remaining. It was a somewhat controversial goal with the German lucky to still be on the pitch having gotten away with a blatant dive while already on a booking. You need luck in a title race though and Arsenal now sit top of the pile.
Spurs make a statement
A win for Aston Villa on Sunday wouldn’t have guaranteed them a top four finish but it would have put them in total control of their fate as they welcomed fifth place Tottenham Hotspur to Villa Park.
It was a fairly one-sided first half with the hosts limiting the visitors to a single shot. Spurs had all of the ball (70%) but couldn’t do anything with it.
Whatever Ange Postecoglou said at the break must’ve worked though as his side exploded in the second half. Spurs raced into a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye with James Maddison and Brennan Johnson both finding the back of the net in a three minute blitz.
Villa skipper John McGinn, who created the most chances for the hosts with three, was sent off after 65 minutes for an unnecessary swipe at Destiny Udogie.
Heung-Min Son then got his customary goal against Villa in stoppage time to make it 3-0 before assisting substitute Timo Werner, who added a fourth in the 94th minute.
Spurs are now two points behind Unai Emery’s men with a game in hand as they look to get back into the Champions League.
Ings haunts his former club
It appeared as though Burnley might win just their fourth Premier League game of the season. Vincent Kompany’s side had a 2-0 lead over hosts West Ham United at the break courtesy of a stunning David Datro Fofana strike and a Konstantinos Mavropanos own goal.
West Ham hit back immediately in the second half with Lucas Paquetá halving the deficit in the first minute after the restart.
The Hammers huffed and puffed as they searched for an equaliser, taking a total of 19 shots after the break. They carved out opportunities worth 2.04 Expected Goals in the second half but needed a stoppage time goal from former Burnley forward Danny Ings to claim a point.
It would’ve been the first win in 2024 for the Clarets had they been able to hang on. It also would’ve given them a three point cushion over bottom club Sheffield United. It wasn’t to be though.
All square at Anfield
It was the ideal result for Arsenal as title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
City started well and took an early lead. John Stones poked the ball in to make the most of a well-worked corner kick routine.
The hosts eventually clicked into gear and had chances to level before the break. However, the visitors went in at half time with the lead.
It didn’t last long. Nathan Ake underhit a pass to Ederson and Darwin Núñez capitalised. The Liverpool No. 9 got there first before the City shot stopper wiped out the Uruguayan. Alexis Mac Allister cooly converted from the spot to level things up.
After that, it was just wave after wave of Liverpool attacks. Luis Díaz spurned opportunities while Stefan Ortega, the man brought on to replace the injured Ederson, was forced into making four saves.
There was also a sucker punch though as Jérémy Doku rattled the Liverpool post late on. The hosts should’ve had a penalty deep into stoppage time when Doku caught Mac Allister in the chest with a high foot but VAR deemed the on field decision to be correct, much to the dismay of Jürgen Klopp.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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