Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Sunday March 9 2025
Manchester United v Arsenal
Chelsea v Leicester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth


Teams: Manchester United v Arsenal
Regions: Manchester v London
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Mikel Arteta
Targets: Arsenal want to close the gap on Liverpool, though it's widening by the week now. United just want to get into the top half, though even a very unlikely win today will not do it for them.
Expectation: Has to be Arsenal
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 2

Time was when this could be a title decider, but these days there's a gulf of 13 places between Arsenal and Man United, the Gunners not caring about that gap but hoping to shrink the more important one, United with not a whole lot to gain really, other than avoiding being humiliated at home by the team they used to chase top spot against. Arsenal were on the attack in the first ten minutes, just wide of opening the scoring, not short of chances but at the end of the half still scoreless and United got a free, from which Fernandes again got his team out of trouble. Arsenal very lazy as the second half began, United almost adding to their lead but just wide. Still, the team sitting in 15th looked to be the ones most likely, as Arsenal seem to have lost that spark, perhaps with the realisation that the title is gone?

With 16 minutes of normal time to go, the Gunners finally got their goal, Rice on the scoresheet. Could they now go on to win it? Well, they came close but Onana equal to the shot, then six minutes from time Arsenal almost shot themselves in the foot, giving the ball away in the box, but United as poor in the final third and unable to profit. In extra time the visitors went for the win, but ended up with Raya having to scramble to keep out what would have been the winning goal. Honours even in the end, two points dropped for Arsenal as Liverpool recede even further behind them.


Result: Manchester United 1 - 1 Arsenal
Scorer(s): Fernandes (MNU); Rice (ARS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 14 & 2
Respective final positions: 14 & 2
Effects: United move up 1 place, Arsenal lose further ground on Liverpool.


Teams: Chelsea v Leicester City
Regions: London v Leicestershire
Managers: Enzo Maresca v Ruud van Nistelrooy
Targets: Leicester need to get out of the drop zone, Chelsea can overtake Man City at 4th with a win.
Expectation: Chelsea surely
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 19

Chelsea thought they had a penalty two minutes in when Palmer went down in the box, but the ref didn't give it, and had VAR done so, it would have been so soft that, to quote Monty Python, the cat would have licked it up. They didn't get the spot kick, but in the 18th minute they did, Palmer's shot stopped, the first ever penalty he has missed in his senior career. Sensing a turning point in the match perhaps, Leicester went on the attack but the shot came off the bar. In extra time Chelsea came close but their shot over the bar, so scoreless at the break.

Vardy went in search of the opener in the first seven minutes of the second half, but still unable to break the deadlock, then on the hour Cucurella did, scoring for the home side. His goal proved to be the only one of the match, giving Chelsea all three points and returning them to the top four.

Result: Chelsea 1 - 0 Leicester City
Scorer(s): Cucurella (CHE)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty awarded to Chelsea
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 19
Respective final positions: 4 & 19
Effects: Chelsea displace Manchester City at 4th, Leicester remain where they were.


Teams: Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth
Regions: London v Dorset
Managers: Ange Postecoglu v Andoni Iraola
Targets: Spurs are another team desperately trying to leave the bottom half behind, but they won't do it this weekend even with a win. Bournemouth can go level with Brighton.
Expectation: I'd see Bournemouth taking this.
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 9

A terrible pass almost let Bournemouth in for their first goal in the opening 20 seconds, but luckily for Tottenham their keeper was awake and agile, but he wouldn't have been thanking his defenders! Even less happy when Spurs lost possession and Bournemouth scored the opening goal as the half drew to a close. The second half saw the same loose passing which let the Cherries in for their second only six minutes into the half, but then Spurs had a lucky break as the goal was ruled offside. A few minutes later Son came close to levelling but shot wide of the post, then on the hour it was the visitors who nearly scored to double their lead. Within minutes of that miss they did, leaving the home team something of a mountain to climb now.

Spurs did pull one back with still 23 minutes to go; could they turn it around? Not when they kept giving the ball away like that, Kluivert almost in for their third. But then things began to happen as Tottenham got a penalty, Son equalising with six minutes yet to play. That was how it ended, Spurs coming back from a 2-0 deficit must take some credit.

Result: Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 2 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Tavernier, Evanilson (BOU); Sarr, Son (p) (TOT)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Second Bournemouth goal ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 8
Respective final positions: 13 & 9
Effects: Spurs remain where they were, Bournemouth move up 1 place but then drop back one after Newcastle's win tonight.

[Trollheart]

Monday March 10 2025


Teams: West Ham United v Newcastle United
Regions: London v Tyne & Wear
Managers: Graham Potter v Eddie Howe
Targets: West Ham want to move up the bottom half, Newcastle can go sixth
Expectation: Maybe a draw?
Ground: The London Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 16 & 9

Another early score in a Premier League match? Almost: less than a minute had elapsed before a long ball upfield almost had Soucek in for the opening goal, but over the top, the Hammers continuing to apply all the pressure in the early minutes of the first half, Newcastle limited to one shot from Barnes which the West Ham keeper was able to deal with. The home side thought they had a penalty in the second half, but not given, then just after the hour Newcastle struck to take the opening, and as it turned out, only goal of the match, after Ariola had made a fine save just moments before to keep his team in it. 


Result: West Ham 0 - 1 Newcastle United
Scorer(s): Guimaraes (NEW)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 16 & 6
Respective final positions: 16 & 6
Effects: Newcastle move up to 6th

[Trollheart]

Overview

To use my own phrase, the Manchester meltdown continues, as City fall to Forest and United, though drawing with Arsenal, would have been lost without their captain and languish in the bottom half, from which they look unlikely to rise any time soon. Chelsea's win was overshadowed by personal failure for Cole Palmer, who missed his first ever penalty, though at least his team did knock City down to fifth, while Newcastle stormed up to sixth after beating a decent West Ham side away. Villa came good against Brentford and Palace showed they can still bang in the goals even without the injured Mateta.

Big news of the day was the shock goal from Southampton that nearly upset Liverpool's all but unstoppable march to the title, but like champions-elect, they rallied to take the game, and Brighton beat Fulham for the first time in over 30 years. Despite a spirited comeback by Spurs, Ange's team fail to move up the bottom half, with Ipswich, Leicester and of course Southampton still propping up the table.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Saturday March 15 2025

Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest
Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Southampton v Wolves
Bournemouth v Brentford
Everton v West Ham


Teams: Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest
Regions: Suffolk v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Kieran McKenna v Nuno Espirito Santo
Targets: Ipswich need to get out of the relegation zone; Forest want to close the gap between them and Arsenal
Expectation: Should be a walkover for Forest
Ground: Portman Road
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 3

Early chance for Ipswich when the ball was given away and they almost took the lead through a corner but just too high and over the net it sailed. Half an hour gone and no goals scored, Wood coming closest for the visitors but straight at the keeper. Five minutes later it was from a Forest corner that the scoring was opened, a poor misdirected header in the box letting them in. Two minutes later it was two, the gulf between the two teams very much in evidence as they were outplayed. Three nil before the break and Ipswich were done. They fought back gamely and could have pulled one back, but again too high.

Delap had his chance in the second half, but headed wide, nothing to trouble the keeper in the Forest net, Wood thought he had scored but the keeper got down to smother it, though you'd imagine the visitors were going to leave with not only three points, but more than three goals, the way Ipswich were giving the ball away. Cajuste consolation goal? Eight minutes to go and the relegation strugglers did get on the scoresheet, but way too late to make any difference, the day Forest's, as it had been for most of the match. Just to underline that, another goal with four minutes to go as Forest ran out easy winners at Portman Road. Another goal for Ipswich in extra time gave the scoreline a slightly less embarrassing look, but they left it too late.

Result: Ipswich Town 2 - 4 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Milenkovic, Elanga (2), Silva (FOR); Cajuste, Hirst (IPS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 18 & 3
Respective final positions: 18 & 3
Effects: No change, but Forest keep up the bid for the Champions League


Teams: Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion
Regions: Manchester v East Sussex
Managers: Pep Guardiola v Fabian Hurzeler
Targets: City want to try to retake 4th spot, Brighton can go 5th with a win.
Expectation: I think maybe a draw
Ground: The Etihad
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 7

Should have been the opening goal for Brighton after six minutes, but ruled out for a foul and also a handball by Mitoma, but an early warning for faltering City, who then had a penalty awarded three minutes later, Haaland opening the scoring to put the home side ahead. A free then on 20 minutes gave Brighton their chance to level, and they took it. Five minutes from half-time and City were ahead again, ball given away cheaply. The Seagulls could have equalised again just before the break but shot wide, keeping up the pressure as the second half got going, forcing an error three minutes in to draw themselves level for the second time.

Eight minutes from time Brighton could have taken all three points, but somehow it missed and went into orbit, well over the crossbar, just a terrible miss. City had a chance to win it also in the final minute, but wide this time, so the points had to be shared.

Result: Manchester City 2 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Scorer(s): Haaland (p), Marmoush (MNC); Estupinan, Khusanov (og) (BHA)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Brighton's first goal ruled out for foul
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 7
Respective final positions: 5 & 7
Effects: No change


Teams: Southampton v Wolves
Regions: Hampshire v West Midlands
Managers: Ivan Juric v Vitor Pereira
Targets: Relegation six-pointer here. Sort of.
Expectation: Could see Wolves taking it
Ground: St. Marys
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 17

I'm not sure, but I think this is the first time the two new managers have faced each other, both brought in to try to improve the performance of their respective teams, and overall you'd have to say neither have really succeeded. Improving Southampton of course is tantamount to performing miracles, and they've been a cert to go back down for months now. They did have a few early shots in the first twenty minutes, but it was of course Wolves who opened the scoring, poor effort by the keeper.

Two minutes into the second half and the same player had doubled his and Wolves' lead, just so easy for the visitors. On the hour Southampton had a decent shot, then two corners, one after the other, but no change in the scoreline, nor after the third corner. Wolves nearly made it three on 70 minutes but missed, then the Saints finally scored five minutes after that to halve the deficit and give themselves at least a little pride, if not hope. Wolves virtually safe now.

Result: Southampton 1 - 2 Wolves
Scorer(s): Strand-Larsen (2) (WOL); Onuachu (SOU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 20 & 17
Respective final positions: 20 & 17
Effects: No change in positions but Wolves look safe from relegation now.


Teams: Bournemouth v Brentford
Regions: Dorset v London
Managers: Andoni Iraloa v Thomas Frank
Targets: Brentford still trying to claw their way into the top half of the table, Bournemouth trying to hang on in there.
Expectation: Another draw?
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 9 & 12

Bournemouth on the attack within two minutes but straight at the keeper. Back they came to force an own goal 15 minutes later, then another 15 minutes had elapsed before Brentford equalised through a corner. The home team could have been ahead again before the end of the half but for the Brentford keeper, so all square at the break. Not for long it would seem, till the Bournemouth shot came back off the bar two minutes after the restart, keeper seemed to have it covered anyway.

Close again, and Bournemouth making all the running and getting all the chances, until a long throw allowed Norgaard to get on the end of it and hammer it into the net. But where was the defence? Brentford nearly made it three ten minutes from time, but the keeper got down to catch it, then more work for Flecken as he kept his team in it, but the day was Brentford's.

Result: Bournemouth 1 - 2 Brentford
Scorer(s): Janelt (og) (BOU); Wissa, Norgaard (BRE)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 9 & 11
Respective final positions: 10 & 11
Effects: Fulham's win on Sunday pushes Bournemouth down one place, Brentford move up one.


Teams: Everton v West Ham United
Regions: Merseyside v London
Managers: David Moyes v Graham Potter
Targets: Level on points, both want to move up the bottom half of the table
Expectation: I'd say Everton will do it
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 16

David Moyes faced a game against the team he used to manage, so mixed feelings for the supporters I guess. Everton going for their ninth game unbeaten, the Hammers possibly wishing Moyes was coaching their team. Still, it was the visitors who were in for the first goal attempt on 12 minutes, but kept out by Pickford. The West Ham keeper then had to be as alert down the other end ten minutes later to keep Everton out. Bowen went close on the half-hour but tipped over by Pickford, and in the final minute of the half the home side got a penalty, which was then overruled by VAR.

No goals in the first half then, and West Ham went on the break in the second, acrobatic kick but wide of the net, the Hammers still looking the team most likely. And just after the hour they did score, Bowen almost doubling their lead ten minutes after that, rueing that miss as the home side grabbed an unlikely equaliser one minute into extra time to share the points. In fact, they could have won it at the death but just inches wide of the far post.

Result: Everton 1 - 1 West Ham United
Scorer(s): Soucek (WHU); O'Brien (EVE)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty for Everton chalked off
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 14 & 16
Respective final positions: 15 & 16
Effects: Sunday's matches return both teams to where they were.

[Trollheart]

Sunday March 16 2025
Arsenal v Chelsea
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City v Manchester United


Teams: Arsenal v Chelsea
Regions: London v London
Managers: Enzo Marseca v Mikel Arteta
Targets: For Arsenal it's a chance to catch up a little on rampant Liverpool, who don't play this week due to facing Newcastle in the Carabou Cup, for Chelsea it's a chance to close the gap between them and Nottingham Forest and assure themselves of European football next season
Expectation: I imagine Arsenal will do it
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 4

Three minutes gone and Arsenal could have been ahead but Trossard shot over the top, then Martinelli came close six minutes later, but no score yet as Chelsea struggled to get the ball. Penalty check for the Gunners ruled it wasn't handball and the game continued, Arsenal still very much in the ascendancy and finally getting their reward on the 20-minute mark, opening the scoring. Honestly, anything else would have been against the run of play, Chelsea a very poor second as the half wound down. And speaking of being against the run of play, Chelsea almost snatched an equaliser at the end of the half, but wide. In the second half Arsenal could have doubled their lead early but for a great save. It did feel like they had more goals in them though. Credit however to Chelsea, who held them right to the end, the one goal enough to win it for the home side.

Result: Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea
Scorer(s): Merino (ARS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 4
Respective final positions: 2 & 4
Effects: No change; Arsenal take the opportunity to reduce the gap with Liverpool, but it's still 12 points now.


Teams: Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Regions: London v London
Managers: Marco Silva v Ange Postecoglu
Targets: Fulham need to move up the top half, Spurs want to get back in it
Expectation: I think Fulham for me
Ground: Craven Cottage
Respective current positions (Before match): 10 & 13

A game of few chances, Fulham coming closest near the end of the half but saved easily, then in the second half Spurs headed past the post on the wrong side, neither team looking very capable, though the visitors had the edge on chances, which did pull saves out of the Fulham keeper. A lot of cases of losing and giving away the ball, Fulham came close with 14 minutes to go but again saved. The Cottagers finally netted on 78 minutes, and two minutes from time made it certain with their second.

Result: Fulham 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Muniz, Sessegnon (FUL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 8 & 14
Respective final positions: 8 & 14
Effects: Fulham climb two places, Spurs drop one.


Teams: Leicester City v Manchester United
Regions: Leicestershire v Manchester
Managers: Ruud van Nistelrooy v Ruben Amorim
Targets: Leicester need to try to climb out of the drop zone; United need to get back into the top half
Expectation: Could be United's to lose
Ground: The King Power
Respective current positions (Before match): 19 & 15

Vardy was on the prowl and could have scored in the first four minutes, but no trouble for Onana, the only other real action in the first twenty minutes almost a goal by Man United that rapped off the corner of the post, until Hojlund scored, just before the half-hour, the visitors one to the good at the break. Just before the hour Garnacho thought he had doubled his team's lead, but ruled offside. Seven minutes later he had the ball in the net again, this time onside, United now surely on course for three points. Leicester went on the attack to try to pull one back but Vardy's cross was blocked, time running out for the Foxes, and when Fernandez got his traditional goal in the last minute of extra time, there would be no comeback.

Result: Leicester City 0 - 3 Manchester United
Scorer(s): Hojlund, Garnacho, Fernandez (MNU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Garnacho's first goal ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 19 & 13
Respective final positions: 19 & 13
Effects: Leicester remain where they are, Manchester United move up two places

[Trollheart]

Overview

An odd one this weekend, with no Monday match and four teams not playing. Newcastle faced Liverpool in the final of the Carabou Cup, and beat the league leaders, while Aston Villa and Crystal Palace seem not to have played, the next matches on April Fool's Day thanks to the international break this week. Of those who did play, there really wasn't a lot to talk about in terms of movement: Arsenal won their match against Chelsea, squeezing the gap very slightly between them and Liverpool, while Manchester City failed to beat Brighton, losing another  lead to end up drawing the match. Another draw between bottom-feeders West Ham and Everton, which doesn't help either team, and Forest kept up their march towards Champions League football with an easy defeat of Ipswich. Seems neither second nor third team can now hope to win the title, Liverpool's long shadow thrown across the Premier League even in their absence, and I doubt you'd get any sort of odds on them not being champions at the end of the season.

At the other end of things, Wolves more or less assured themselves of Premiership survival by beating bottom team Southampton, to nobody's surprise, while Leicester, well, didn't, falling badly to Man United and looking bound for the Championship. Spurs aren't doing too well either, outplayed by Fulham.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Wednesday, April 2 2025

Liverpool v Everton
Brighton v Aston Villa
Newcastle v Brentford
Manchester City v Leicester City
Bournemouth v Ipswich
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Arsenal v Fulham
Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Wolves v West Ham United


Teams: Liverpool v Everton
Regions: Merseyside v Merseyside
Managers: Arne Slot v David Moyes
Targets: Liverpool heading for the title, Everton trying to put distance between themselves and the relegation zone
Expectation: Liverpool
Ground: Anfield
Respective current positions (Before match): 1 & 15

Liverpool on the attack of course from the off, their first shot on goal coming on 11 minutes but blocked, bad tackle giving them a free but over the top. Beto thought he had opened the scoring for the visitors but ruled offside. Just before the half-hour Salah could have netted but Pickford equal to it, then three minutes later Beto was at it again, this time his ball coming back off the post, but getting closer. Liverpool would need to close him down better. As the half drew to a close there was another chance for the home side, but scoreless it remained at the break of the Merseyside derby.

The breakthrough came just before the hour as Jota surged through to score, Nunez almost making it two in the dying moments but in the end the one goal was enough to take it and allow Liverpool to restore their 12-point lead at the top.

Result: Liverpool 1 - 0 Everton
Scorer(s): Jota (LIV)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any:  None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: Should Tarkowski have gone after that tackle? And if the whistle had not already gone near the end there, Liverpool would definitely have had a penalty for the collision with Pickford.
Respective current positions (After match): 1 & 15
Respective final positions: 1 & 15
Effects: Liverpool open up a surely unassailable 12-point lead at the top of the table. Everton remain where they were.


Teams: Brighton v Aston Villa
Regions: East Sussex v Birmingham
Managers: Fabian Hurzeler v Unai Emery
Targets: 2 points and 2 places between them, both want to rise in the top half of the table
Expectation: Duh
Ground: The Amex
Respective current positions (Before match): 7 & 9

Riding high on that demolition of Preston North End in the FA Cup, there couldn't have been more of a contrast between the teams, Brighton having been knocked out of the tournament by Nottingham Forest, but would that translate to revenge from the Seagulls or a resurgent confidence from us? 20 minutes of nothing much saw Villa get a free from which Cash almost profited (sorry), but over the top it went. Brighton then went on the break and weren't far away from opening the scoring themselves. On the half-hour the home side could have had a penalty but nothing doing, and nine minutes later it was the same story for Villa, VAR not agreeing. Into the final minutes of the half then with Brighton on the attack, and from a free almost the opening goal but back off the post. Appeals for a handball turned down.

Five minutes into the second half and Brighton could have netted from a corner, but one minute later Marcus Rashford had his first Villa goal in the Premiership, to add to the two he scored in the FA Cup, but within minutes the home side were level. Or were they? No they weren't; handball the verdict and the goal was chalked off. Asensio then made it certain in the 70th minute, another great loan signing for us that has paid off. In the dying seconds another signing, Malen, made it three. A comprehensive win.

Result: Brighton 0 - 3 Aston Villa
Scorer(s): Rashford, Asensio, Malen (AST)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Brighton equaliser ruled out for handball; penalty appeals for both sides turned down.
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 8 & 7
Respective final positions: 8 & 7
Effects: Villa switch places with Brighton and take 7th; another win could lift us into CL qualification places. Brighton slip to 8th.



Teams: Newcastle v Brentford
Regions: Tyne & Wear v London
Managers: Eddie Howe v Thomas Frank
Targets: Brentford still trying to get back into the top half; Newcastle can go fourth with a win
Expectation: Come on the Toon!
Ground: St James Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 6 & 11

Another team on a high, Newcastle walked out onto the pitch at St James Park having beaten Liverpool in the final of the Carabou Cup, and were almost ahead on 2 minutes, Isak just heading wide of the post. Quiet then for almost the rest of the half, before Isak passed to Barnes but the goal was offside, which is a pity as it was a real peach of a goal, or would have been if it had stood. In extra time at the end of the half though Isak made up for it and opened the scoring for the home team. Just after the hour Brentford were given a penalty and so all square with a nearly a half-hour to go.

Newcastle seemed to have switched off in the last 20 minutes, the visitors nearly able to take the lead, only for the ball to come off the corner, then five minutes later the Magpies were the ones to take the lead, almost against the run of play, a real screamer. Brentford could have had a penalty right at the death, but not given, so Newcastle took the victory.

Result: Newcastle United 2 - 1 Brentford
Scorer(s): Isak, Tonali (NEW); Mbeumo (p) (BRE)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty awarded to Brentford
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 11
Respective final positions: 5 & 11
Effects: Newcastle move into 5th place, Brentford remain outside the top half still.


Teams: Manchester City v Leicester City
Regions: Manchester v Leicestershire
Managers: Pep Guardiola v Ruud van Nistelrooy
Targets: City want to try to overhaul Chelsea and take back 4th place, Leicester need to get out of the drop zone
Expectation: Has to be Man City's
Ground: The Etihad
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 19

The top five is a crowded area at this time, so not really any room for movement, but the teams who are up there want to stay there; there's always room for falling down the table. Manchester City should not have seen this as a possibility though, given they were facing struggling Leicester at home, and with the added bonus of having booked their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. A rare Jack Grealish goal opened the scoring after only 2 minutes, City adding a second just before the half-hour when the Leicester keeper fumbled.

2-0 at the break then, and on the hour it could have been three, but bounced and shot high and wide, City comfortable with a 2-0 lead, which they've lost before, but surely not to the relegation-plagued Foxes? Of course not; two goals was enough to win it and keep City in the push for Champions League football.

Result: Manchester City 2 - 0 Leicester City
Scorer(s): Grealish, Marmoush (MNC)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 19
Respective final positions: 4 & 19
Effects: Man City move back up to 4th, Leicester look bound for the Championship, 12 points from safety.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Bournemouth v Ipswich Town
Regions: Dorset v Suffolk
Managers: Andoni Iraola v Kieran McKenna
Targets: Same old story for Ipswich, Bournemouth can go 8th with a win
Expectation: Bournemouth all day
Ground: The Vitality Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 10 & 18

Half an hour before there was any sort of decent shot on goal, this coming from the home side but stopped by the Ipswich keeper, and in fact it was the relegation strugglers who opened the scoring, stunning the Vitality into silence probably, the only goal of the half. Bournemouth turned up the pressure in the second half, but again it was Ipswich who took the first goal of the period just after the hour, to surely give themselves a good chance of taking three points away from home.

A penalty appeal for the home team was turned down as it was not inside the box, Ipswich hanging on to their two-goal lead for another seven minutes before Bournemouth halved the deficit, coming right back into it now and making those three points much more shaky for the Tractor Boys, but they held on for a pretty memorable win in the end.

Result: Bournemouth 1 - 2 Ipswich Town
Scorer(s): Broadhead, Delap (IPS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Penalty appeal for Bournemouth turned down
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 18
Respective final positions: 10 & 18
Effects: Despite a pretty historic win, Ipswich remain in the drop zone and looked doomed to go down.


Teams: Southampton v Crystal Palace
Regions: Hampshire v London
Managers: Ivan Juric v Oliver Glasner
Targets: Crystal Palace looking to go top of the bottom half of the table
Expectation: Palace should take it
Ground: St. Marys
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 12

Breaking news (not): Southampton can be relegated as soon as the weekend, but one thing is as certain as death, taxes, and lies from the Trump administration, and that is that the Saints are marching disconsolately down to the Championship no matter what happens. Like Liverpool winning the title, it's just a matter of when now, not if, and has been for months. But they were determined to go down kicking and screaming, and took the opening goal on 20 minutes against In-form Crystal Palace, to send the home supporters into raptures. Still, chants of "We are staying up" were surely misguided if serious. Only an alien abduction of every other team in the Premiership could save Southampton now!

Palace were finding it perhaps unexpectedly hard to put them down, and at the break the Saints were still one ahead despite the London team's best efforts. It took them until the second minute of ten added to equalise and take Southampton's first victory for months away from them, but could the home side hold on for a point? Yes, they could, but they should have had three, and maybe that's part of the reason behind why they're Championship-bound.

Result: Southampton 1 - 1 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): Onuachu (SOU); Franca (PAL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 20 & 12
Respective final positions: 20 & 12
Effects: No change for either team; Southampton just waiting now for the hammer to fall.


Teams: Arsenal v Fulham
Regions: London v London
Managers: Mikel Arteta v Marco Silva
Targets: Arsenal continue to try to shrink the ever-widening gap between them and champions-elect Liverpool, Fulham aiming for 6th spot
Expectation: Arsenal surely
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 8

Running out of fuel while Liverpool speed off into the distance, would the London derby further deplete Arsenal's reserves or could they make at least some ground on the title chasers? The Gunners played last night (though all matches shown on the programme tonight of course) so if they did win they would shrink the gap between them and Liverpool to 9 points, still a huge gap but it would be something. 15 minutes in and it was Fulham making all the running, but Arsenal had the best shot on goal, though it did not go in until eight minutes from the end of the half. One-nil to the Arsenal at the break.

Fulham could have equalised early in the second half but saved and then the rebound blocked, and when Saka came on for the first time in months the script was already written as he nodded in for his first goal since Christmas and gave his team a two-goal lead. Again the visitors could have pulled one back late on, but kept out until extra time, but the day was Arsenal's.

Result: Arsenal 2 - 1 Fulham
Scorer(s): Merino, Saka (ARS); Muniz (FUL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 9
Respective final positions: 2 & 9
Effects: Arsenal temporarily close the gap to 9 points, but then Liverpool win to open it again to 12. Fulham drop one place, precariously hanging on there in the top half.



Teams: Nottingham Forest v Manchester United
Regions: Nottinghamshire v Manchester
Managers: Nuno Espirito Santo v Ruben Amorim
Targets: Forest intend to hold onto 3rd while United can get to 12th at best.
Expectation: Imagine Forest will do this
Ground: The City Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 3 & 13

Forest's grip on third place has been one that nobody has been able to loosen for months now, whereas United are still looking pretty much a spent force; nevertheless it was the Manchester team who had the first shot on goal, resulting in a corner which itself went nowhere and left Forest on the break, and scoring. Forest had done to United what the Red Devils used to do to other teams, breaking from defence into attack and scoring with barely five minutes on the clock. United tried to reply immediately but Fernandez nodding direct at the keeper.

They continued to try in the second half, coming close but no cigar as the Forest defence proved solid as the trees that give them their name.

Result: Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Manchester United
Scorer(s): Elanga (FOR)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 13
Respective final positions: 3 & 13
Effects: No change


Teams: Wolves v West Ham United
Regions: West Midlands v London
Managers: Vitor Pereira v Graham Potter
Targets: Wolves need to pull away from the relegation zone, but there's only one place in it between them and West Ham
Expectation: Draw
Ground: Molyneaux
Respective current positions (Before match): 17 & 16

West Ham should have been ahead early - how did he miss that? But a free for Wolves in the 15th minute was the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock, until Strand-Larsen scored on the 21st minute to take the lead for the home side. On the half-hour he could have had his and Wolves' second, but it cracked off the post, a third chance in the second half sent wide. West Ham had their own chances too, and as the game wound down Wolves gave the ball away in a dangerous area but Soucek unable to draw his team level. A last-gasp effort to make it two slid wide of the post, but Wolves held on to the lead to take the three points and ensure survival.

Result: Wolves 1 - 0 West Ham United
Scorer(s): Strand-Larsen (WOL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 17 & 16
Respective final positions: 17 & 16
Effects: Despite no movement for either team, Wolves are now safe, 9 points above the drop zone, as are West Ham, with a more healthy gap of 14 points.

[Trollheart]

Overview

A night when much has been decided. There can be little doubt now that Liverpool will be champions. Four more victories should do it. Although their defeat of Everton in the Merseyside derby was hardly comprehensive, they did win and are now 12 points clear at the top. Arsenal can't catch them now, even after beating Fulham on Tuesday. Forest, having put Manchester United to the sword, are guaranteed to be playing in the Champions League next season, while Manchester City are also closing in on European football as they make something of a resurgence in the final weeks of the league.

The certainty of Southampton going down has been clear for a very long time; they've hardly risen off the bottom all season, and will be playing in the Championship next year, as will Leicester, who have no chance of getting out of the drop zone after a poor performance against Man City. In contrast, Ipswich beat Bournemouth but the result doesn't change things, and they too are Championship-bound. Wolves, on the other hand, have successfully secured their survival (yes, a lot of "s"'s, I know) and will be playing in the Premier League next season. Their new manager has certainly turned things around.

Villa could be gunning for a CL spot too, rising to 7th this week after beating Brighton, but Newcastle look the more likely, as they take the 5th spot and look more in-form, and though Chelsea didn't play they will be in the mix too, so we need to up our game, but seem to be coming into a decent vein of form just when we need to, in order to try to finish the season strongly.

[Trollheart]