The weekend does not disappoint.
Premier League
Liverpool 0 vs. 0 Stoke City
A cagey game at Anfield that ended in draw. Liverpool started the game in their usual style by attacking the Stoke goal, and in the 6th minute Salah went through on goal but failed with a chipped effort to beat Butland. Stoke put in a resolute defensive performance and almost won the game in the end but Shawcross failed to poke the ball into goal. Stoke now have 30 points and remain 19th only 3 points behind Swansea but Swansea have a game in hand. Liverpool remain 3rd but the gap between them and United could increase depending on United’s result.
Burnley 0 vs. 0 Brighton
Matt Ryan was the hero of the game as Brighton earned a draw at Burnley. The first half was dominated by Burnley and Ryan had to make several important saves. Brighton had a chance of their own towards the end but failed to Murray and Gross failed to convert it. Brighton are 14th and 5 points clear of the relegation zone while Burnley remain 7th.
Crystal Palace 5 vs. 0 Leicester
In one of the outstanding results of the weekend Crystal Palace put 5 past Leicester at home. After a cagey start in which efforts by both teams were cleared off the line, Zaha gave Palace the lead in the 17th minute after some good play between McArthur and Loftus-Cheek. McArthur added the second in the 38th minute to give Palace a comfortable lead at half time. Albrighton was sent off after pulling back Zaha who was clear on goal and so left Leicester with ten men on the field. Crystal Palace added three more goals in the final 10 minutes via Loftus-Cheek, Van Aanholt, and Benteke. The win takes Palace to 11th and 6 points clear of the relegation zone while Leicester continue their bad form and remain 9th.
Huddersfield 0 vs. 2 Everton
Tosun and Gueye scored in each half to get Everton all three points. Huddersfield needed to win this game as their final three games see them facing Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Everton remain 8th making the place their own while Huddersfield are 16th and just 3 points off the relegation zone.
Newcastle 0 vs. 1 West Brom
West Brom continued their good form by getting all three points at Newcastle. Phillips scored in the 29th minute to give West Brom the lead while Kennedy hit the post for Newcastle soon after. The win takes West Brom to within 5 points of Swansea although Swansea have a game in hand. Newcastle remain 10th.
Southampton 2 vs. 1 Bournemouth
Southampton won in emphatic fashion to keep their survival hopes intact. Tadic gave Southampton the lead in the 25th minute but King equalised for Bournemouth right before half time. Southampton did not collapse and Tadic gave them the lead again in the 54th minute. McCarthy made a couple of great saves towards the end of the game to insure that Southampton won the game. The win leaves Southampton just a point behind Swansea while Bournemouth are 12th.
West Ham 1 vs. 4 Man City
Sané, Jesus, Fernandinho, and an own goal by Zabaleta gave Man City a dominant win in London. Sterling provided assists for 3 of the goals and his form has started to pick up again in time for the World Cup. City have now reached a 100 goals scored (the fastest by any team), they are tied with last year’s Chelsea campaign of 30 wins, and are just 2 points away from Chelsea’s points record of 95. West Ham find themselves 15th just 3 points above the relegation zone.
Man United 2 vs. 1 Arsenal
In what was Wenger’s last game at Old Trafford as Arsenal manager there was pre game gift giving by Ferguson and an appreciation for what Wenger had done in 22 years. Wenger brought a depleted squad to Manchester as the Europa League semi final against Atletico has been given more priority. It was a balanced game as Pogba gave United the lead in the 16th minute. Arsenal had been playing well and responded in the 51st minute after Mkhitaryan netted against the club that had pushed him out in the winter. Football is a cruel sport and United scored the winner in stoppage time and to make even worse for Wenger the scorer was Fellaini. The win guarantee’s United a Champions League place for next season. Arsenal remain 6th.
Serie A
Inter 2 vs. 3 Juventus
2 goals in the final five minutes of the game gave Juventus all three points in Milan. Costa opened the scoring for Juventus in the 12th minute while Vecino was sent off soon after for Inter. Juventus started the second half poorly and Inter capitalised as a Icardi header and Barzagli own goal gave Inter the lead. Juventus rallied towards the end scored two in the final 5 minutes via Skriniar own goal and Higuain winner. The three points for Juventus take them four clear of Napoli in second although that could be back to one depending on Napoli’s result. A win for Inter would have kept them in the running for a Champions League spot but they could be 4 points adrift of Lazio by the end of the weekend.
Park The Bus 