Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester United v Southampton
Regions: Manchester v Hampshire
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Ivan Juric
Targets: Man United want to get back into the top half of the table, which they've barely seen all season. Tired talking of how Southampton are, you know by now.
Expectation: Come on, it's Southampton! United should easily be able to beat them, especially at home.
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 20

A hat trick for Diallo sorted this one, with the only Southampton goal coming from one of Man United's new players. Not that the Saints didn't give it a shot, they in fact being the first to go on the attack, the strike shooting wide of the far post. Dibling then had two bites of the cherry, but a fine double save by Onana kept him from opening the scoring for his team, a far cry from his performance against Swansea, when he scored two in the FA Cup! But this is the Premier League, and, though they may be a shadow of their former selves, this is still a mostly resurgent Man United at Old Trafford. The only three goals Southampton were likely to be seeing in this match would be against them. If they were lucky.

Nevertheless, United's shaky defence let in the corner taken by Southampton, Ugate helping it on its way into his own net. Not a good way to start your career at Manchester United! Southampton in dreamland. The second half seemed to be going to plan too, the Saints on the attack from the off, Sulemana just missing doubling their lead by a whisker, then United had their first real attempt on goal, Anthony unable to convert. But then came twelve minutes of Manchester United magic, as Diallo turned the game entirely around on his own, scoring a hat trick that gave his team what must have been seen as a very unlikely win. Just shows what one man can do, but then, never good to be a one-man team. United aren't complaining: they're up to 12th while Southampton's dreams of racking up their first victory in months vanished into the harsh cold Manchester winter wind.

Result: Manchester United 3 - 1 Southampton
Scorer(s): Diallo (3) (MNU); Ugate (og) (SOU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 20
Respective final positions: 12 & 20
Effects: A spectacular win for United, which lifts them one place; Southampton, as you were.

[Trollheart]

A great day for Newcastle, who rise to fourth and are now being seen as a serious title challenge, while Forest stopped Liverpool from widening the gap and helped their own title aspirations. Arsenal took down Spurs to ensure their push for the top continues apace, while Man City could only draw against Brentford, and may have lost at the death, their title chances long gone now as they languish in 6th, 12 points between them and Liverpool. Chelsea are another whose title challenge is fading away as they are pushed to 5th, 10 points now behind the leaders, while West Ham, with a new manager, are up to 12th after a fine victory against Fulham.

Ipswich remain in the relegation zone after being hammered by Brighton, though as usual they show signs of promise, if only they could convert those chances. Manchester United looked a cert to be losing their match against bottom club Southampton, but three goals by one man in twelve minutes gave them a victory the bookies would not have taken bets on. Crystal Palace's victory lifts them well clear of the relegation zone now, while Wolves fall back into it after losing to Newcastle. The return of the king to Everton did not produce the coronation hoped for, and they remain where they were. Southampton once again prop up the table.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Title contenders (current top in green)

Liverpool
Arsenal (4 points behind)
Nottingham Forest (6 points behind)
Newcastle (9 points behind)

Expected to be relegated
(current bottom in red)

Southampton
Leicester (8 points ahead)
Ipswich (10 points ahead)
Wolves (10 points ahead)
Everton (11 points ahead)

[Trollheart]

Saturday January 18 2025
Brentford v Liverpool
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Newcastle v Bournemouth
Leicester v Fulham
West Ham v Crystal Palace



Teams: Brentford v Liverpool
Regions: London v Merseyside
Managers: Thomas Frank v Arne Slot
Targets: Liverpool need to widen that gap at the top, Brentford want to get back into the top half of the table.
Expectation: I would hope Liverpool would do it.
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 1

Brentford could have been ahead in the first five minutes but right across the face of goal, neither of the strikers able to get on the end of it. Liverpool came close on 18 minutes but the keeper was able to claw it away. Another shot just after the half-hour could have opened the scoring for the visitors but a weak shot, the keeper easily able to gather. A long shot then smacked off the crossbar to keep it nil-nil but Liverpool getting closer? A scramble down the away end almost had Brentford in then Gakpo really missed a sitter as the half began to wind down. As the second half opened a penalty for Liverpool went begging but the ref said no, then a free almost went in with 20 minutes to go as the Bees pressed forward. Six minutes to go and Alexander-Arnold tried a long shot but it pinged left of the post. Back they came, desperate for the win, Salah also missing, then into extra time as the league leaders tried to force their dominance, and finally their pressure paid as Nunez scored the precious goal they needed. Another one two minutes later made it certain, Nunez the man of the moment. Darwin's theory? If Liverpool are struggling, bring him on!


Result: Brentford 0 - 2 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Nunez (2) (LIV)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 11 & 1
Respective final positions: 11 & 1
Effects: No move, but Liverpool go ahead 6 points.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Arsenal v Aston Villa
Regions: London v Birmingham
Managers: Mikel Arteta v Unai Emery
Targets: Arsenal want to close that gap on Liverpool, Villa want to get higher in the table
Expectation: Unfortunately, though I'll always back Villa, I feel Arsenal will take this
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 7

As expected, Arsenal were taking no prisoners and were on the attack from the third minute, only Martinez's fine save preventing them opening the scoring, and he had to be alive to a second attempt a few minutes later as the Villa goal took a battering. A poor throw-in on the half-hour almost let Villa in for an easy goal but Watkins blazed over the top. Five minutes later the Villa keeper thought he had kept the ball out but it was adjudged to have crossed the line, Arsenal ahead before half-time. The second half was only eight minutes old before Havertz doubled their lead, the game looking to be theirs now.

But right on the hour Tielemans scored for Villa to reduce the home side's advantage to a single goal, and still thirty minutes plus stoppages to go. Maybe not in the bag after all for Arsenal? A minute later Villa swept forward again and almost got the equaliser, but just bounced off the post. Watkins was on target though on 68 to draw the teams level and leave Arsenal somewhat shell-shocked at home; a game they looked to be winning easily was suddenly slipping away from them. Four minutes from time Villa could have taken it but into the arms of Raya as Arsenal pushed for the winner, which they looked to have taken right at the death. But was it handball? Yes it was, and so 2-2 it remained. In extra time the ball hopped back off the post, sent back in, saved by Martinez - everything happening down the Villa end. Except a third goal, and so it ended, an incredible fight back by Villa, who looked dead and buried, and two really important points dropped by Arsenal.


Result: Arsenal 2 - 2 Aston Villa
Scorer(s): Martinelli, Havertz (ARS); Tielemans, Watkins (AST)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Third Arsenal goal ruled out for handball
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 7
Respective final positions: 2 & 8
Effects: No move; Arsenal lose the chance to squeeze the gap on Liverpool. But after Monday Villa slip to 8th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Newcastle United v Bournemouth
Regions: Tyne & Wear v Dorset
Managers: Eddie Howe v Andoni Iraola
Targets: Newcastle in 4th can't get further but want to cut the gap on the leaders; Bournemouth could get into 5th place.
Expectation: You would think Newcastle would be on a roll, especially at home
Ground: St. James Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 4 & 8

Bournemouth had, if you will, two bites of the Cherry to open the scoring within 4 minutes, one at the keeper and the other over the top, but two minutes later Kluivert was in to silence St. James Park. The home side's first meaningful attack on 25 minutes also provided their first goal as Guimaraes headed them level. In the final minute of the half Kluivert was at it again, to restore Bournemouth's lead just before the break. Bit of argy-bargy then in extra time as tempers flared. The Cherries started the second half as they had played the first, hammering the Newcastle goal till eventually a shot went in, but then there was a check to see if the ball had gone out of play before it had been knocked back in. Would the goal stand? No it would not; the ball had crossed the line and therefore the goal was ruled out. They didn't let up though and only a pretty amazing save by Dubravka stopped them widening their lead as time ticked away. In extra time Kluivert got his hat-trick, then just to put the icing on the cake Kerkez scored for Bournemouth's fourth, the visitors taking all three points.


Result: Newcastle United 1 - 4 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Kluivert (3), Kerkez (BOU); Guimaraes (NEW)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Ball confirmed to have gone out of play for what would have been Bournemouth's original third goal
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match):  4 & 6
Respective final positions: 6 & 7
Effects: Newcastle stay 4th despite losing, Bournemouth move up to 6th. After Monday Chelsea push Newcastle down to 6th, Bournemouth slide to 7th.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Leicester City v Fulham
Regions: Leicestershire v London
Managers: Ruud van Nistelrooy v Marco Silva
Targets: Leicester need to get out of the relegation zone. Fulham want to move up the top half.
Expectation: Probably go for Fulham
Ground: The King Power
Respective current positions (Before match): 19 & 10

Early attack by the home side, piling on the pressure and almost forcing the ball home, but unable to get past the Fulham keeper. One of the visitors almost did it for them, an own goal just barely avoided, then as we approached the half-hour mark the Foxes swept forward again, a great shot just wide of the post. Fulham weren't just standing around though and could have opened the scoring before half-time, two major attempts just failing to make the net bulge. Scoreless at half-time then, but three minutes into the second half Fulham broke the deadlock, Smith Rowe diving at a great cross to put his team ahead. Leicester had a penalty appeal turned down, then Ayew shot over the bar  as we passed the hour mark, and Traore was in for Fulham's second to surely put the game beyond the home side. With four minutes to go it could have been three for the Cottagers, but the game as already won, Leicester nowhere near.

Result: Leicester 0 - 2 Fulham
Scorer(s): Smith Rowe, Traore (FUL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 19 & 9
Respective final positions: 19 & 10
Effects: Leicester remain in the relegation zone, Fulham move up one place but drop back to 10th after Monday's match.

[Trollheart]

Teams: West Ham v Crystal Palace
Regions: London v London
Managers: Graham Potter v Oliver Glasner
Targets: Both teams are in a similar position, 2 places and 2 points between them, and both need to climb the bottom half of the table.
Expectation: Might be West Ham's day
Ground: The London Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 15

First attack from Crystal Palace on 12 minutes but the shot from Mateta saved by the West Ham keeper, however the Palace striker would not be kept out, though he had to wait till the opening of the second half before he could put the ball in the net. West Ham seemed not to have an answer to Palace's attack, and with ten minutes to go Oliver Glasner's team could have made it two, but saved. When the Hammers had a man sent off for a second yellow late on, you kind of knew they were done. When Palace got a penalty three minutes from time you knew the home side were really done. Mateta converted to make it safe.


Result: West Ham 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): Mateta (2) of which 1 (p) (PAL)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: 1
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 14 & 12
Respective final positions: 14 & 12
Effects: West Ham drop one place, Palace move up three to 12th.

[Trollheart]

Sunday January 19 2025
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United v Brighton
Nottingham Forest v Southampton
Ipswich Town v Manchester City


Teams: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Regions: Merseyside v London
Managers: David Moyes v Ange Postecoglu
Targets: Everton need to move away from the relegation zone; Spurs need to get back into the top half at least
Expectation: Could be a surprise win for Everton
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 16 & 14

The home side had a shot on 7 minutes but saved by the keeper, but back they came to take the first goal six minutes later, Calvert-Lewin back among the goals at last. Son almost equalised on 24 but Pickford down to smother the shot, then Everton almost made it two a matter of seconds later, but the Spurs keeper as alert and agile as Pickford. The second goal came though seven minutes from the break and Everton rampant. A free in extra time at the end of the half could have made it three, but again the keeper able to stop it, then a third goal resulted from a Spurs player putting the ball into his own net before the break.

Calvert-Lewin missed a chance to take Everton's fourth, but Spurs did not seem to have any reply until finally a break with 13 minutes to go allowed Kulusevski to get his team on the scoresheet. Too little, too late? In extra time Son hit the side netting but a corner resulted, from which Spurs reduced the deficit to a single goal. It wasn't enough though and Everton get their first home victory since the return of the king.

Result: Everton 3 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Calvert-Lewin, Ndiye, Gray (og) (EVE); Kulusevski, Richarlison (TOT)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 16 & 15
Respective final positions: 16 & 15
Effects: Despite the win Everton remain as they were, Tottenham drop one place

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Regions: Manchester v East Sussex
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Fabian Hurzeler
Targets: Man United are edging closer to the top half of the table and want to keep that unbeaten run going; Brighton are already there and want to advance
Expectation: At home you'd have to back United
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 12 & 9

Both tragedy and pride heavy in the air as Old Trafford paid tribute to and bade farewell to one of their all-time stars, Denis Law, who passed away this week. It could perhaps be said that as one of their legends died, United are staging something of a resurrection, having performed well in their last games. It was however Brighton who led inside 5 minutes, something that was definitely not in the script. Their first shot in anger came on 17 minutes but Fernandez shot wide, then a right pile-up in the box could have resulted in a penalty, but eventually United did get a spot kick, the captain scoring halfway through the first half to level the game. A free for Brighton seemed to have given the visitors the lead again but a foul in the box had the goal overturned.

On the hour Brighton restored that lead as Mitoma stole in to bang it into the United net, then two became three as a total fluff by the United keeper gave the home team a mountain to climb. This one proved unscalable, and United fall to defeat at home. Ruben Amorim's comments at the end were stark, as he accused the team of being the worst Man United has fielded. Hard to argue with that, not that I'd want to. One question that has to be asked though is whatever would Denis have said?

Result: Manchester United 1 - 3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Scorer(s): Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter (BHA); Fernandez (p) (MNU)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Third Brighton goal (original) ruled out for a foul
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 13 & 9
Respective final positions: 13 & 9
Effects: Man United drop one place, Brighton remain where they are.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Nottingham Forest v Southampton
Regions: Nottinghamshire v Hampshire
Managers: Nuno Espirito Santo v Ivan Juric
Targets: Forest want to hold third place and close the gap between themselves and Arsenal (and Liverpool). Southampton will probably be happy to get nil. 
Expectation: Well what do you think?
Ground: The City Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 3 & 20

A savaging surely? Eleven minutes was all it took for Forest to put their first past the Premier League's bottom club, no surprise to anyone. Eighteen minutes later it was two, and before the half ended the home side were already three ahead, Southampton nowhere. They had a go in extra time but wide of the post. Still, at least they had a shot. Forest turned the screw in the second half, almost scoring a fourth early on, but it couldn't be long. As it happened, on the hour Southampton actually pulled one back to give the Saints hope, if faint hope. Three minutes later and the home side's three-goal advantage was restored - or was it? VAR checked for offside, sent the ref to the monitor, and that usually only has one result, and so it had here: goal disallowed. Wood almost had his second but over the bar it went, then Southampton went on a rare attack which came to nothing. As full time ran out, they tried again to put a better complexion on the score, and with a staggering twelve minutes of extra time, maybe that was not as tall an order as it seemed, certainly not as the Saints scored again, to cut Forest's lead to the single goal now. Could the bottom team pull off an unimaginable comeback? Almost, but off the line from a corner, a brave fight back from Southampton but ultimately Forest took the game, a harder-fought victory than expected.

Result: Nottingham Forest 3 - 2 Southampton
Scorer(s): Andersen, Hudson-Odoi, Wood (FOR); Bednarek, Onuachu (SOU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Fourth goal for Forest ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 3 & 20
Respective final positions: 3 & 20
Effects: No change, but Forest go level on points with Arsenal.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Ipswich Town v Manchester City
Regions: Suffolk v Manchester
Managers: Kieran McKenna v Pep Guardiola
Targets: Ipswich want to get out of the relegation zone; Man City, on something of an upswing, want to improve on their position in the top half.
Expectation: I guess it will be City's
Ground: Portman Road
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 6

Despite putting eight past League 1 Salford City in the FA Cup, Manchester City struggled against Brentford. Ipswich should have been a totally different proposition, the Tractor Boys flirting with relegation, yet it took Man City 15 minutes before they had a chance on goal, Haaland's shot stopped by the Ipswich keeper. It could surely only be a matter of time though, Foden missing a chance on 20 and then Delap stealing the ball and earning a free from which they almost opened the scoring themselves. City did of course though take the lead just before the half-hour, Foden converting to make up for his miss earlier. Two minutes later it was two, putting City in control of the game, and more so as Foden scored his second and City's third just before half-time, all three points sewn up already, and another half still to go. Could be another big score for the Manchester club.

Ipswich weren't lying down though and went close after the break, but four minutes in it was 4-0 and looked to be going to get much worse when Haaland scored their fifth just before the hour. Ten minutes later it was six, City's biggest victory in the Premier League this season. Apparently, the biggest victory for any team. Yeah but it was only Ipswich.

Result: Ipswich Town 0 - 6 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Foden (2), Kovacic, Doku, Haaland, McAtee (MNC)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 18 & 4
Respective final positions: 18 & 5
Effects: Ipswich remain where they were, City move up to 4th, but drop to 5th after Chelsea's win on Monday.

[Trollheart]

Monday January 20 2025
Chelsea v Wolves


Teams: Chelsea v Wolves
Regions: London v West Midlands
Managers: Enzo Maresca v Vitor Pereira
Targets: Chelsea need to make serious ground on the chasing pack; the pack, as it were, are trying to get out of the drop zone.
Expectation: At home, should be Chelsea's
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Respective current positions (Before match): 6 & 17

After what I said about him last week, Palmer was in again early but he would not be on the scoresheet this time, the man in the Wolves net able to keep out his shot. A terrible miscommunication between goalkeeper and defender saw the Wolves net menaced, but Doherty able to get back to save his own blushes and those of his keeper, then from the resulting corner the home side were ahead - until the flag went up. Chelsea applying all the pressure though, and it surely couldn't be long before that pressure told. In fact, it wasn't, as Tosin was adjudged by VAR not to be offside and the goal stood, Chelsea ahead on 24 minutes. Not a good day for goalkeepers as Sanchez fumbled the ball down the other end and allowed Doherty to level the scoring in the last minute of added time.

On the hour though it was the man with the hair who put his team back in front, as Cucurella scored for Chelsea to restore their lead, and from then on it was all the home side, another five minutes later sealing the deal. Wolves came close at the death to getting one back, but it was academic as Chelsea had the game sewn up by then.

Result: Chelsea 3 - 1 Wolves
Scorer(s): Tosin, Cucurella, Madueke (CHE); Doherty (WOL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: First goal for Chelsea ruled offside but VAR overturned that and awarded the goal
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 17
Respective final positions: 4 & 17
Effects: Chelsea leapfrog Man City into 4th; Wolves remain where they were.

[Trollheart]

Overview

An interesting weekend to be sure. Two sides of Manchester, as the blue half showed the footballing world they're not down and out yet, notching up the biggest victory in the Premier League this season as they beat poor Ipswich 6-0, which briefly returned them to 4th place before Chelsea's win over Wolves knocked them back down to 5th. Meanwhile, the red side of the city was red-faced as, on the day they honoured the great Man United legend's passing, United were soundly beaten at home by Brighton, almost literally played off the field, their performance so poor that it led their new manager to label them as the worst Manchester United side ever! Newcastle came down to earth with a bump as Bournemouth schooled them at home, the result pushing the Magpies down to 6th and earning Justin Kluivert his first hat trick, and Forest had an unexpectedly nervy time against the bottom club as Southampton actually gave them a game.

Arsenal lost touch with Liverpool thanks to a draw with Villa, in a game which had looked done and dusted for the Gunners at half-time, while the Reds left it late to secure all three points at home to Brentford, restoring a six-point gap at the top. Arsenal drawing also means they're now level on points with Forest, who are just one place behind them. Crystal Palace beat West Ham to move well clear of the relegation zone, and Spurs drifted closer to that dotted line after their defeat at the hands of Everton, first home victory for the returning David Moyes. Chelsea's win over Wolves on Monday lifts them back into 4th.