Gameweek 20 of the 2024/25 Premier League season enthralled football fans with hard fought wins, one-sided encounters and feisty draws. While Manchester City returned to form with a bang, Arsenal and Chelsea dropped points going further behind in the title race. The Bees regained their form with a thrashing of a struggling Saints as Spurs fell further down with a narrow loss to the Magpies.
Let’s take a look at all that transpired in Gameweek 20 of this Premier League campaign –
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Newcastle United
Spurs continued their dismal run of form losing another home game to the Magpies who are currently soaring with five wins out of five now.
The hosts seized the early initiative in the 4th minute with Dominic Solanke’s diving header from a long Pedro Porro cross from the right giving them the opener. However, two minutes later, Newcastle won back possession and Bruno Guimarães passed to Anthony Gordon who put the ball into the far post. However, it seemed like a controversial call as Joelinton had handled the ball in the buildup.
It was an open game with both teams creating chances. Spurs had one in the 11th minute when Brennan Johnson passed in the box to Solanke whose shot was blocked by Sven Botman before Martin Dúbravka comfortably saved Pape Matar Sarr’s follow-up. Ten minutes later, Alexander Isak laid up Gordon but Brandon Austin came forward to smother the shot near post. Newcastle was on top now and from a low Jacob Murphy cross from the right, Isak couldn’t quite tap home from close range. However, Isak didn’t miss a second time in the 38th minute when a similar opportunity arose with Murphy being the provider yet again even though Radu Dr?gusin got a touch as well.
Spurs did try to put the Magpies under pressure in the second half with Dúbravka producing a good save from Sarr before Brennan Johnson hit the post from the loose ball. Substitute James Maddison curled an effort inches wide in the 81st minute then Sergio Reguilón flashed a shot across goal as Spurs put Newcastle under pressure in the closing stages. Though Eddie Howe’s men held on in the 12 additional minutes to take home the three points.
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Arsenal
While Brighton came back to earn a draw, Arsenal dropped crucial points at the Amex Stadium.
The Gunners were the more aggressive side in the early period with their first chance coming in the 9th minute when Gabriel Jesus was played through but his shot on goal was saved by an outstretched leg of Bart Verbruggen, the goal wouldn’t have counted though as Jesus was offside. Arsenal did get the opener in the 1t6h minute when winger Ethan Nwaneri exploited yards of space on the right wing and drove ahead for a fine low finish into the far post – a wakeup call for the Seagulls. Brighton then started to press forward and created a few chances of their own with Simon Adingra missing in front of an open goal. Arsenal could have doubled their advantage before the break with Jesus missing an easy header and went into the break with a slender 1-0 advantage.
At the hour mark, Brighton got a glorious opportunity to restore parity with a clashing of heads between William Saliba and
João Pedro in the Arsenal penalty box which was deemed as a foul on Pedro and a penalty being awarded to Brighton. João Pedro stepped up from the penalty spot and converted the spot-kick to the delight of the home fans. Arsenal only managed one Declan Rice half-chance from the edge of the box after Brighton’s leveller and two tame efforts from Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard. The Seagulls could have grabbed all three points with Yankuba Minteh’s shot that went agonisingly wide of the far post.
While Brighton mustered a draw, it was a damaging result for the Gunners who are five points off the top having played two more games.
Southampton 0-5 Brentford
The Saints were put to the sword by a ruthless Bees at the St. Mary’s.
The visitors started with intent and found their opener in the 6th minute when Kevin Schade was put through by Mikkel Damsgaard on goal for a fantastic finish in the far bottom corner. Brentford continued to put pressure and missed a couple of chances to double their advantage, the most notable ones were Christian Norsgaard’s header that hit the crossbar and when Yoane Wissa squandered a 1v1 chance against the goalkeeper. The only time Saints threatened was Tyler Dibling’s lashed effort from the edge of the box that went on the wrong side of the side netting just before the break.
The Bees started the second half as they had started the first, they scored two quick goals after the hour-mark through Bryan Mbuemo – a rifled shot into the net and then from the penalty spot for a foul on Van den Berg by Lesley Ugochukwu. The game was more likely over for a struggling Saints but the Bees piled even more misery in the stoppage time – first through Keane Lewis-Potter and then through Yoane Wissa for a five-star away performance by Brentford.
While Brentford returned to winning ways, Saints remained bottom with their survival chances looking even more bleak after every game.
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City
Aston Villa secured a win over the Foxes at Villa Park in an engaging second half that saw all three goals.
The first half was particularly uneventful barring Ollie Watkins’ deflected chance until the first half stoppage time. Watkins’ cross created problems for the Leicester defence, and goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk had to present a strong fist to stop Matty Cash’s strike from the edge of the box.
The second half started more brightly with the visitors finding a glorious opportunity through Stephy Mavididi who failed to capitalise in the 49th minute in front of a gaping goal. Nine minutes later, the opener arrived for the hosts from Ross Barkley who struck home from the edge of the box. The Foxes, however, found a way back through Mavididi five minutes later. He scored on the rebound after Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had kept out Jamie Vardy’s initial attempt. Ian Maatsen then came off the bench and within minutes won possession on the left wing and set up the cross for Leon Bailey to find the winner. The foxes couldn’t find a response and ended up losing yet again.
The Villans have arrested the slide with this win after dropping points in the last two games while the foxes are in the bottom two having lost all of their last five games.
Also read: Premier League 2024/25 Sponsors
Manchester City 4-1 West Ham United
Manchester City looked to be getting back to their usual winning ways with a second consecutive win while the Hammers dismal season continued with another thumping loss.
It was the visitors who had two decent early chances both due to the industrious Mohamed Kudus. In the 6th minute, Crysensio Summerville released Kudus with a superb through ball but Kudus went wide and hit the side netting. Two minutes later, Kudus set up Tomáš Sou?ek but he couldn’t connect properly. However, it was the hosts who took the lead in the 10th minute when Savinho fired an angled effort from the left side of the box and the ball took a crucial deflection off Vladimir Coufal to wrong foot Hammers’ keeper Alphonse Areola. City then started to launch a wave of attack with Areola keeping the Hammers in the game with some fabulous saves. However, City were knocking on the door and just before the break, a long teasing inch perfect Savinho cross found Erling Haaland in the box who didn’t miss from close range for City’s second.
The Hammers again created a chance at the restart with Stephan Ortega keeping out a Coufal effort after a fine initial drive by Summerville. But once again, City responded and it was the dangerous Savinho who found a defense splitting pass to Haaland in the 56th minute who rounded Areola before chipping the ball into the net. Two minutes later, City extended their lead with Kevin de Bruyne latching onto a poor West Ham pass and teeing up Phil Foden who didn’t miss from 12 yards. Hammers did have another chance in the 67th minute when Ortega kept out Sou?ek’s effort and their persistence paid off when they finally breached the City defense on 71 minutes, Niclas Füllkrug firing home from Sou?ek’s inviting pass. However, the game ended without any further change in the scoreline.
The New Year brought much joy for the Cityzens with a thumping win while Julen Lopetegui’s headache just got worse with another abysmal performance.
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton
Bournemouth came up against a resolute Everton defense but somehow managed to grab all three games at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth created the first opportunity when a throw into the box was flicked on and Dango Ouattara spun and shot, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a good low stop to his right. Antoine Semenyo did score at the 14th minute but three Bournemouth players were offside, hence the goal was ruled out. Evanilson fired wide when well placed, before both Justin Kluivert and Semenyo had excellent chances to score as Everton held on under pressure.
The second half saw Everton better in defense but they couldn’t muster any chance on goal, highlighting their woes of scoring goals from open play. The game was settled by David Brooks who came off the bench and scored a sumptuous volley from a Milos Kerkez cross to end Everton’s resistance and the Cherries easily controlled the game to end up with the three points.
While the Cherries continued their unbeaten run in the last five games, Everton have the danger of relegation lurking with another loss.
Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea
Crystal Palace came back from an early setback to share the spoils with Chelsea at Selhurst Park.
The visitors scored the opener in the 14th minute with a cute dummy from Jadon Sancho who set up Cole Palmer in the box and the in-form Englishman slotted home from close range. Just before the break, Palmer then sent Nicholas Jackson with a teasing through ball but Jackson went for power over precision and lashed it wide.
Palace started to threaten after the break and Daniel Muñoz set up Eberechi Eze in the box but Eze dragged his shot wide off the far post. Jackson had another chance to double the Blues advantage but failed to find the finish from a tight angle. Chelsea was punished for the misses eight minutes from full-time when Eze slipped into space and he unselfishly squared for Jean-Philippe Mateta to turn the ball home under pressure from Marc Cucurella. Chelsea tried to find a late winner but their efforts ended in vain.
This was a hard-fought draw for Crystal Palace while Chelsea dropped points yet again after the shock loss to Ipswich in the last gameweek.
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
Fulham managed to come back twice to level against a feisty Ipswich Town at the Craven Cottage.
Fulham dominated the opening period and Raúl Jiménez missed the target with a header from close-range. It was the away side that took the shock lead against the run of play just before half-time when Nathan Broadhead’s cross from the left was headed against the crossbar by Ben Johnson. Calvin Bassey scuffed his clearance straight to Sammie Szmodics and he fired home off the Fulham centre-back.
The second half saw a dramatic period with referee Darren Bond awarding three penalties. The first came to Fulham with a chance to restore parity when Harry Wilson was fouled in the box, the referee waived it off but VAR overturned the decision and Jiménez tucked it in to equalise. Almost 20 seconds later, Darren Bond awarded a penalty to Ipswich for a foul by Timothy Castagne and Liam Delap’s emphatic finish gave Ipswich the lead back. Just when it seemed like the Tractor Boys were going to get a second consecutive away win, they pushed for a third with Jack Clarke hitting the left post. Fulham countered, and Jiménez was tripped in the box by Davis for the third penalty of the afternoon which he slammed into the top-right corner in stoppage time to share the spoils.
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United
This Super Sunday fixture was one of the most entertaining games for neutrals, especially the topsy-turvy second half which saw four goals being scored with heavy rain beating down at Anfield.
Contrary to popular belief, it was the visitors who looked more assured and started with a lot of belief and aggression. However, the best chance of the half fell to Alexis Mac Allister from a Mohamed Salah cross but André Onana came to United’s rescue with a superb save. United had a decent opportunity of their own when they breached Liverpool’s high line and on one occasion Diogo Dalot was released down the left and his cross was inviting for Amad Diallo but he mistimed his header.
The restart saw Lisandro Martínez give his side the lead in the 52nd minute when he rifled home a ferocious shot from a tight angle after an error from Trent- Alexander Arnold allowed Bruno Fernandes to set up Martínez. However, a lacklustre Liverpool still responded seven minutes later with Cody Gakpo curling home a stunning equaliser before Mohamed Salah put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the 70th minute for a handball by United defender Mathijs de Ligt. United were not finished though and substitute Alejandro Garnacho crossed low for Diallo in the 80th minute to strike home. Both teams had chances to grab all three points late on with Conor Bradley’s near post shot almost sneaking in and Harry Maguire firing over the crossbar from a Joshua Zirkzee assist.
While Liverpool missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top, Manchester United’s courageous display deserved a point – encouraging signs for the Red Devils’ fans.
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