Premier League Roundup, Matchday 33
The Premier League has completed its 33rd round of matches, featuring exciting games, standout player performances, and unexpected outcomes. Here is a summary of the events that took place during matchday 33 in the Premier League.
Newcastle 4-0 Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League took a hit on Saturday when they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League. Newcastle United, who are now unbeaten in six home league games, climbed to sixth place in the standings. Tottenham missed an opportunity to put pressure on Aston Villa, and while the Premier League may secure a fifth UCL spot based on the UEFA coefficient table, recent continental results indicate that it is not guaranteed. Therefore, Postecoglou and his team must quickly recover if they want to make a return to the top European competition.
Nottingham Forest 2-2 Wolves
Nottingham Forest and Wolves played to a 2-2 draw at the City Ground, with Forest’s poor record in league matchups against Wolves continuing with just one win in their last 11 games. As the match entered the final 15 minutes with no clear advantage for either team, Forest pushed for a late goal but struggled to create many scoring opportunities. Wolves’ defense remained strong, earning them a valuable point. The outcome leaves Forest just one point above the relegation zone with five games remaining, while Wolves’ chances of qualifying for Europe appear to be diminishing.
Manchester City 5-1 Luton
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League standings after comfortably defeating Luton Town 5-1 to maintain their unbeaten record in the league, now standing at 17 games. The match was essentially decided before late goals were scored, including one from Haaland after Doku was fouled in the box. Ross Barkley scored a consolation goal for Luton, but Doku later added a fourth goal with an impressive solo effort.
The victory was sealed with a stoppage-time goal by Joško Gvardiol, putting City two points ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool in the PL table. Luton’s loss keeps them in the relegation zone, below Nottingham Forest, and they have not won an away PL match since Boxing Day against Sheffield United.
Burnley 1-1 Brighton
Burnley’s chances of staying in the Premier League were dealt another blow when Arijanet Muric made a costly error, resulting in a 1-1 draw against Brighton at Turf Moor. This marked the seventh draw in 12 meetings between the two teams in the Premier League. Brighton then capitalized on their own stroke of luck with a goal, as Sander Berge’s pass back to Muric led to a mishap that allowed the ball to trickle over the line. Despite Brighton’s late efforts to secure a win, they had to settle for a point.
Brentford 2-0 Sheffield United
Brentford narrowly defeated Sheffield United 2-0, improving their chances of staying in the Premier League and breaking a six-game streak of not winning against the Blades. The second goal was scored in the 93rd minute by Frank Onyeka, who netted his first goal for Brentford shortly after coming on as a substitute. This victory ended Brentford’s nine-game winless streak and pushed them seven points clear of the relegation zone. The defeat also marked Sheffield United’s second loss in their last three matches, leaving them at the bottom of the table and 10 points away from safety.
Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United
Bournemouth and Manchester United played to a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium, with the visitors continuing their poor form in the Premier League with only one win in their last seven matches. The game was evenly poised until the final 20 minutes, but despite both teams’ efforts and a late penalty decision overturned for Bournemouth, neither side could secure a winning goal. Bournemouth’s unbeaten run at home in the Premier League now stands at five matches, while Erik ten Hag’s team remains 10 points behind the Champions League positions with six games remaining.
West Ham 0-2 Fulham
Andreas Pereira scored two goals to lead Fulham to a 2-0 victory over West Ham, marking Fulham’s first away Premier League win against the Hammers since February 2004. Pereira, who had only scored once all season prior to this match, sealed the win with a simple finish after a strong attacking play. This victory ended Fulham’s three-game winless streak and brought them within two points of the top 10. The defeat was only West Ham’s second in their last 12 home Premier League matches.
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Liverpool had a tough week as they suffered a setback in the Premier League title race with a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, who won at Anfield for the first time since April 2017. With Manchester City performing well, Liverpool needed a goal to stay in the title race and avoid consecutive home losses for the first time in three years. Despite some tense moments in stoppage time, Crystal Palace managed to hold on for a crucial victory that likely secures their place in the top flight for another season.
Arsenal 0-2 Aston Villa
Arsenal lost their grip on the Premier League title race when they were defeated 2-0 by Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium. This ended Arsenal’s five-game winning streak at home in the league. Villa secured the points shortly after with a quick break from an Arsenal corner, as Watkins skillfully scored over David Raya. This victory was crucial for Villa in the top-four race and had significant implications for the title race. Villa now leads Tottenham by three points, while Arsenal is in second place, trailing league leaders Manchester City by two points.
Chelsea 6-0 Everton
The spotlight was on Cole Palmer as Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea defeated Everton 6-0, with the young English player scoring four goals. He made history by becoming the first Chelsea player to score in seven consecutive Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge. Everton had a tough night, conceding a sixth goal when Alfie Gilchrist scored after a questionable save by Pickford. Despite their struggles, Everton, who last won at Stamford Bridge in 1994, did not see this match as a crucial one in their fight against relegation. The team remains in a difficult position, especially after a recent points deduction, and only time will tell if they can avoid being relegated.
