Premier League Roundup, Matchday 26
Matchday 26 of the Premier League is over, it had some entertaining games, standout performances and shocking results. Here is the Premier League Roundup for matchday 26.
Manchester United 1-2 Fulham
Manchester United’s winning streak in the Premier League was ended by Fulham, who secured a 2-1 victory. Fulham’s Calvin Bassey scored the breakthrough goal in the 65th minute, while Maguire managed to equalize for United in the last minute of normal time. However, Iwobi’s late goal secured all three points for Fulham, marking their first away victory in the Premier League since August. This defeat is a setback for United’s aspirations of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Burnley
Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner got off to a strong start by defeating struggling Burnley 3-0 at Selhurst Park. Burnley had a player sent off, leading to continuous attacks from Palace. They finally capitalized on their efforts when Chris Richards scored his first goal for the Eagles by heading in Jordan Ayew’s cross. Ayew then added his name to the scoresheet by converting a delivery from Matheus França, with VAR confirming the goal after checking for offside. Jean-Philippe Mateta sealed the victory by scoring a penalty. This win was a positive beginning for Palace under Glasner, while Burnley’s struggles suggest they are likely to be relegated.
Brighton 1-1 Everton
Lewis Dunk scored a thrilling equalizer in the 95th minute as 10-man Brighton managed to secure a draw against Everton. Sean Dyche’s team spent most of the first half defending in their own half, but Everton showed improvement by halftime. James Garner’s free-kick almost found the net, but Jarrad Branthwaite eventually scored to give Everton the lead in the second half. Brighton’s attempt at a comeback was hindered when Billy Gilmour was red-carded for a challenge on Amadou Onana. However, Brighton continued to push forward, and just when it seemed Everton would hold on for the win, Dunk scored from Pascal Gross’ cross to secure a dramatic draw for Brighton.
Aston Villa 4-2 Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa defeated Nottingham Forest 4-2 after a slight scare, bouncing back from a series of losses to maintain their unbeaten record against Forest at Villa Park for over twenty years. Nottingham Forest’s struggles in the relegation battle can be attributed to their poor away record, with only two victories throughout the season. Despite Forest’s efforts, their hopes were dashed with Watkins spearheading Villa to secure the needed win and their position in the top four.
Bournemouth 0-1 Manchester City
Manchester City continued their perfect record against Bournemouth in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium, marking their 14th straight league win over the Cherries. Despite trailing in their last six away league matches, City took the lead through Phil Foden. The defeat extends Bournemouth’s winless streak to seven games, dropping them to 14th place in the table, while Manchester City’s win puts them within one point of league leaders Liverpool as they aim for a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle
Arsenal extended their winning streak in the Premier League to six matches with a commanding 4-1 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium. This victory also marked their 12th consecutive unbeaten home league match against Newcastle. The game started with high intensity and Arsenal dominated by pressuring Newcastle’s defense and scoring four goals. Despite a late consolation goal from former Gunner Joe Willock, Newcastle suffered their first defeat in six games. Meanwhile, Arsenal comfortably secured the win, placing them in third position in the league, just two points behind leaders Liverpool in a thrilling title race.
Wolves 1-0 Sheffield United
Wolves secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League in 2024 by defeating Sheffield United 1-0 at Molineux, propelling them to ninth place in the standings. The home team dominated early on, with Pedro Neto posing a significant threat in the attacking zones. Despite Sheffield United gaining momentum in the first half and creating chances, Wolves took the lead through Pablo Sarabia’s header from a Rayan Aït-Nouri cross.
This goal, their only shot on target in the half, proved decisive. Although the Blades applied pressure towards the end, Wolves held on for the win, extending their unbeaten streak in home Premier League matches against Sheffield United to nine games. Despite the loss, Sheffield United displayed resilience in their battle against relegation, while remaining at the bottom of the table.
West Ham 4-2 Brentford
West Ham United, led by Jarrod Bowen, broke an eight-match winless streak in 2024 with a convincing 4-2 victory over London rivals Brentford. Despite a shaky period, Bowen’s strong performance came at a crucial time for manager David Moyes. While West Ham initially seemed poised for an easy win, Brentford managed to narrow the gap to just one goal in the first half, causing some tension.
However, Bowen’s hat-trick on the hour mark sealed the victory for West Ham. Solid goalkeeping from Alphonse Areola in the final moments ensured their comfortable win, ending their worst start to a year since 2007. On the other hand, Brentford’s loss, combined with Everton regaining points, added to their woes as they now sit precariously five points above the relegation zone.