Premier League - Week 25 - Liverpool On A Roll, Everton Still Smiling
Liverpool 4-0 Southampton | They Had Us In The First Half...
Goals: Oxlade-Chamberlain (47th), Henderson (60th), and Salah (72th, 91st)
The Saints kept the hope alive for a whopping 47 minutes. Even almost scored the opener after a marvelous dribble in the box from former Red striker Danny Ings. On the following counter-attack, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crucifies Alex McCarthy for the opener (1-0, 47th). More than just scoring the first goal, he simply annihilated any Southampton’s chances to become the first team to beat Jürgen Klopp’s men this season.
Even without Sadio Mané, and a relatively even first half where Southampton were able to take a shot at Alisson’s goal on ten occasions, Liverpool was able to win this one by a mile.
That being said, it’s true that the Saint’s high block was quite efficiently disrupting Liverpool’s gameplan. Moussa Djenepo played quite marvelously and had some interesting opportunities. Virgil van Dijk was the first one to answer with a dangerous backheel that could have very well gone in without an alert McCarthy.
The Saints multiplied combinations allowed them to create several scoring opportunities, especially thanks to Ings’ movements. After Oxlade’s goal, the hope was all gone as the Reds machine was finally back on track and ready to fire at will.
While Roberto Firmino, performed like his usual self: superbly, and “scored” an assist hat trick, Jordan Henderson seems to finally have reached a new plateau and is living up to the expectations everybody had about him. Mohamed Salah, on the other hand, is still in the golden boot race for this season.
Watford 2-3 Everton | A Triumphant Comeback
Goals: Masina (10th), Pereyra (42nd) for the Hornets | Mina (45th+1, 45th+3), and Walcott (90th) for the Toffees
While it is true that Carlo Ancelotti’s record in the Premier League with Everton is more than acceptable (3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss), the Toffees are struggling and standing at the 9th spot as we speak.
Against Watford, second to last ranking team, they absolutely needed a win if they wanted to remain in the European race.
The start of the game did not go according to that plan and Everton conceded a goal quite early at the hands (or rather foot) of Adam Masina who was beautifully served by Gérard Deulofeu. His first goal in the Premier League since his arrival in the summer of 2018 from Bologna.
Things quickly went from bad to worse after Roberto Pereyra doubled the mark at the 42nd minute after a nice combination with Troy Deeney. Nigel Person’s players, at this point, really thought they had this game on lock, especially with the half time soon arriving.
4 minutes; that’s the only extra time Yeri Mina needed to score twice and make it all even before the break. A special mention to Gylfi Sigurðsson who took both corners leading to the goals.
After some 25 uneventful minutes in the second half, Fabian Delph was sent off after picking up his second yellow card. Even with a stunning Abdoulaye Doucouré and the numbers advantage, the Hornets caved in the very last minutes of the game. Theo Walcott, at the end of a 90th-minute counter-attack, scored his first goal of the season and secured Ancelotti’s 4th win of the season. Comeback: complete.
West Ham 3-3 Brighton | Did Someone Say “Comeback”?
Goals: Diop (30th), Snodgrass (45th+1, 57th) for the Hammers | Ogbonna (47th), Groß (75th), Murray (79th) for the Seagulls
Issa Diop may not have won the player of the match award but he certainly was brilliant in the first half. While single-handedly shutting down Glenn Murray, he was able to score off a Robert Snodgrass free-kick at the 30th minute.
The Scottish player will also join the party by putting his name on the scoring sheet right before the half. West Ham 2, Seagulls nill.
The problem is, Brighton still had a fight in them, and with the help of Angelo Ogbenna, were able to come back into this game at the 47th minute.
Unless Snodgrass really put a nail in the coffin with his superb half-volley off a corner kick? The game really seemed over at this point but Brighton, showing a lot of spirit and resilience, was able to get away with a draw thanks to both Pascal Groß and the inevitable Glenn Murray. Two goals like two dagger hits that came crushing West Ham’s hopes of winning this one.
Brighton would even have a chance to win it all with a beautifully taken free-kick from March, quite brilliantly tipped over the bar by Fabiański.
