Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Bournemouth v Liverpool
Regions: Dorset v Merseyside
Managers: Andoni Iraola v Arne Slot
Targets: As ever Liverpool want to keep that gap as wide as possible; Bournemouth could conceivably go fourth depending on other results if they win.
Expectation: Doubt Liverpool will slip up, especially after the match in the Champions League
Ground: The Amex
Respective current positions (Before match): 7 & 1

After fielding a much-weakened side in his final match in the Champions League prior to the knockout rounds, Slot had a full power team back ready to take on Bournemouth at home, knowing how important it is to keep pulling away from Arsenal, and even Nottingham Forest. The gap is only six points: two losses and their lead is gone, so absolutely vital to win all the games he can. With only seven goals conceded at home, Bournemouth were on the attack early, Allison called into action as the home team surged forward, then it was Gakpo who blocked the effort, Liverpool on the defence until the 25th minute when they got a shot on goal, but stopped by the keeper. A penalty on the stroke of 30 minutes allowed Salah to put them ahead, Bournemouth though quickly level, or were they? No they were not, the goal ruled offside.

The Cherries did not give up though and came back hard in the second half, Allison with more work to do, Liverpool working to keep the home side out. With 15 minutes to go though, what must be called a slightly rare down field run by the visitors gave Salah his chance, and he did not waste it. In extra time Bournemouth had a chance to at least get one goal but it was kept out, and Liverpool march on, though it would be fair to say they didn't play as well as they have done.


Result: Bournemouth 0 - 2 Liverpool
Scorer(s): Salah (2) of which 1 (p) (LIV)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: Should MacAllister have remained on the pitch? He was already on a yellow when he committed another foul, which could have resulted in a second.
Respective current positions (After match): 7 & 1
Respective final positions: 7 & 1
Effects: Liverpool keep up that six-point gap at the top. Bournemouth remain where they were.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Everton v Leicester City
Regions: Merseyside v Leicestershire
Managers: David Moyes v Ruud van Nistelrooy
Targets: Everton need to climb the bottom half of the table, Leicester want to avoid sliding back down into the relegation zone, just below Everton though there are six points in it.
Expectation: Hard to say. Maybe Everton?
Ground: Goodison Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 16 & 17

Eleven seconds on the clock, a direct long kick out from the keeper and Everton were already ahead! Six minutes gone and it was two, Leicester being torn apart already. Going to be a long afternoon for the Foxes. A penalty for the home side was denied, not enough in it, but in extra time at the end of the half they were three to the good, and it only looked like getting better for them in the second half.  Leicester's first shot on target came on the hour, but amounted to nothing, straight at Pickford. On the stroke of full-time Everton got their fourth, surely their best result this season, and a tribute to the new manager, who has turned this team around.

Result: Everton 4 - 0 Leicester City
Scorer(s): Doucoure, Beto (2), Ndiaye (EVE)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 18
Respective final positions: 16 & 18
Effects: Leicester remain in the bottom three, in fact dropping one place while Everton climb one but then fall back to where they were after West Ham's defeat.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Newcastle United v Fulham
Regions: Tyne & Wear v London
Managers: Eddie Howe v Marco Silva
Targets: Newcastle want to regain 4th place, Fulham just need to move up the top half.
Expectation: I'd think Newcastle will do it
Ground: St. James Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 10

Newcastle had a great chance to open the scoring on the half-hour, but the keeper down to stop it, then five minutes later an absolute rocket from Tonali cracked off the bar, would have been a great opening goal. Two minutes after that a great break by Gordon allowed Murphy to do exactly that, take the opening goal. Three minutes into the second half Smith Rowe could have equalised, but Dubravka was able to keep it out, Fulham getting closer, and some nice interchange on the hour gave them the leveller. Seven minutes later the Magpies could have been ahead again, but both keepers playing out of their skin. Back they came, Isak only a whisker short of putting his team back in front, then Fulham got a free eight minutes from time, from which they took the lead, and the game.


Result: Newcastle United 1 - 2 Fulham
Scorer(s): Murphy (NEW); Jiminez, Muniz (FUL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 5 & 9
Respective final positions: 6 & 9
Effects: Fulham move up one place, while Chelsea's win knocks Newcastle down to 6th

[Trollheart]

Teams: Wolves v Aston Villa
Regions: West Midlands v Birmingham
Managers: Vitor Pereira v Unai Emery
Targets: Villa need to climb higher in the top half, Wolves want to get out of the drop zone
Expectation: Villa! Villa! Villa!
Ground: Molyneaux
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 8

Villa should be on a high after their defeat of Celtic in the Champions League and securing an automatic qualification place, and against a struggling Wolves team who can't stop falling into the relegation zone, they should really have no problems, but you never know, especially when they play away. And indeed, the home team were ahead on 12 minutes, cutting through the Villa defence. On the half-hour they could have been two up, some really poor play by Villa, their keeper the only thing standing between them falling two behind, and Wolves had a third chance to double their lead, Villa seeming not to have learned their lesson. Constantly losing the ball, it's amazing that Villa were still only one down at the end of the half.

A quartet of substitutes at the opening of the half nearly helped Villa equalise, but the goal was ruled offside. Still, I suppose at least we had the ball in the net. Some determined, if late, play by Villa in the final five minutes almost got us our reward, but in extra time at the end of the match Wolves put the seal on it and took the match, and deservedly so.


Result: Wolves 2 - 0 Aston Villa
Scorer(s): Bellegarde, Cunha (WOL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Villa goal ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 17 & 8
Respective final positions: 17 & 8
Effects: Wolves climb out of the relegation zone, just 2 points clear, while Villa remain where they were.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Ipswich Town v Southampton
Regions: Suffolk v Hampshire
Managers: Kieran McKenna v Ivan Juric
Targets: A relegation dogfight
Expectation: Best of a bad bunch? Maybe Ipswich?
Ground: Portman Road
Respective current positions (Before match): 19 & 20

Talk about a relegation six-pointer! Well, not really; Ipswich had a chance to get out of the relegation zone with a win, but as I said last week, Southampton need four in a row in order to be able to leave the dotted line behind them. Can't imagine this will be a goalfest of any sort. Still, even the one goal without reply for Ipswich would do it for them, and Southampton can certainly score, as we've seen recently. The home team were on the attack early, but straight at Ramsdale, and to their chagrin the Saints were the ones to take the lead on 21 minutes, to make their job of getting out of the relegation zone even harder. Three minutes later Delap could have equalised but over the top it went, though he made up for it on the half-hour as he latched onto a wayward pass and shot straight and true. In the second half Ipswich came close to taking the lead, but the Southampton keeper would not let them through, then three minutes before the whistle the bottom club went ahead, a shot the keeper should have been able to save. Ignominy for the home side, beaten by the team at the bottom. First ever victory for Ivan Juric in charge of Southampton.

Result: Ipswich Town 1 - 2 Southampton
Scorer(s): Aribo, Onuachu (SOU); Delap (IPS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 19 & 20
Respective final positions: 19 & 20
Effects: Southampton's first win under Juric doesn't help them, other than in terms of morale; Ipswich remain second from bottom.

[Trollheart]

Sunday February 2 2025

Arsenal v Manchester City
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur



Teams: Arsenal v Manchester City
Regions: London v Manchester
Managers: Mikel Arteta v Pep Guardiola
Targets: Arsenal need to keep on Liverpool's heels, City want to try to renew their flagging bid to retain the title (seems unlikely)
Expectation: With City's recent resurgence, who knows, but I'll go for the Gunners
Ground: The Emirates
Respective current positions (Before match): 2 & 4

City's revival may continue, but Arsenal have hardly dropped a point in the last month and are hot on Liverpool's heels in second, and within two minutes a terrible mix-up in defence had the Gunners ahead, City only failing to go two behind four minutes later when the goal was ruled offside, but surely a major warning for the visitors? Ten minutes later City swept forward but the shot was well over the top, but Raya had to be on top form to save from the corner on 23 minutes. Just before the half-hour City again gave away the ball but Havertz unable to convert. That could come back to haunt Arsenal. In the last minute of the half it almost did, but for again the Gunners' keeper.

Ten minutes into the second half and Manchester City were level, a towering header by the tallest man on the pitch, Raya unable to do anything about Haaland's 25th goal for his club. One minute later Arsenal had reestablished their lead, though the goal did take a wicked deflection. Arsenal pushed forward, determined not to rely on a one-goal lead, and six minutes after scoring their second they had their third, their lead a lot more comfortable now. And that comfort became almost relaxation on 76 as Havertz made up for his glaring miss and took Arsenal's fourth goal. In extra time it was five, City vastly outplayed by the home side.

Result: Arsenal 5 - 1 Manchester City
Scorer(s): Odegaard, Partey, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz, Nwaneri (ARS); Haaland (MNC)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 2 & 4
Respective final positions: 2 & 5
Effects: Arsenal keep up the pressure on Liverpool; City slide to 5th after Chelsea's win tonight.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
Regions: London v London
Managers: Thomas Frank v Ange Postecoglu
Targets: Spurs need to get back into the top half of the table. So do Brentford, but they have a far better chance with a win today.
Expectation: Should be Brentford's?
Ground: The G-Tech Community Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 11 & 15

Tottering Tottenham? I'm sure neither they nor their fans can believe they're slipping closer to the relegation zone, but that's where they are, and they need a win badly. Brentford unlikely to make it easy for them at home, needing a result to haul themselves back up into the top half of the table, and they could have been ahead 12 minutes in when the Spurs keeper got it all wrong, but over the bar it went. Then on 20 minutes no less than three Tottenham players in the box had a go, none of them able to get the ball past the keeper. It took an own goal in the end, coming from a Spurs corner just after the half-hour, and the visitors were ahead. Brentford narrowly avoided going two down when the ball scooted past the face of goal, nobody there to tap it in.

The home side pressed for the equaliser in the second half, and almost got it but for the post, and as the match moved into its last five minutes you definitely got the feeling Tottenham were hanging on, but they made it safe with three minutes to go, leaving the result in no doubt and giving them a much-needed win.

Result: Brentford 0 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Scorer(s): Janelt (og), Sarr (TOT)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 11 & 14
Respective final positions: 11 & 14
Effects: Something of a rare win for Spurs lifts them up one place, but still in the bottom half of the table. Brentford remain just outside.

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Regions: Manchester v London
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Oliver Glasner
Targets: Both want to get into the top half of the table
Expectation: At home, you'd imagine it would be United's
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 12 & 13

United with the early pressure, but Garnacho unable to make it count, then Mainoo almost made the breakthrough for the home team, but the keeper able to stop it. Palace had their attack on 23 minutes but just wide, then six minutes from the break Mateta should have opened the scoring but again the wrong side of the post. Scoreless at halftime then, Fernandez coming close but hammered away by the Palace keeper, a decent free from United stopped too, but just after the hour it was a free from Palace that broke the deadlock, Mateta poking it in from the rebound. In the final minute the visitors put the seal on it with a second for Mateta, a second for Crystal Palace, and all three points for Thomas Frank's team.

Result: Manchester United 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
Scorer(s): Mateta (2) (PAL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: Martinez stretchered off the field after falling badly
Respective current positions (After match): 12 & 13
Respective final positions: 12 & 13
Effects: Neither team move

[Trollheart]

Monday February 3 2025


Teams: Chelsea v West Ham
Regions: London v London
Managers: Enzo Maresca v Graham Potter
Targets: Chelsea want to reclaim 4th place in a push for Europe, West Ham need another victory to move away from the relegation zone
Expectation: Should be Chelsea, all day long
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Respective current positions (Before match): 6 & 15

My attempts to get a highlights video of this match have proved very frustrating, so all I can tell you is that Bowen opened the scoring just before the break, putting the visitors ahead, and that the equaliser from Chelsea, coming just after the hour, seems to have involved a long check by VAR as they tried to work out who touched what, and if the goal could possibly be offside. Another annoyance, given that VAR is or was supposed only to get involved when there was a clear and obvious offside, or chance of one, but that's VAR for you.

Chelsea then left it late to take all three points but were helped by West Ham, when Cole Palmer's cross bounced off Wan-Bissaka and into his own net. West Ham do appear to have been outclassed, as Chelsea had another two shots after that, but the two goals did it as Chelsea displace Man City and take fourth place.

Result: Chelsea 2 - 1 West Ham
Scorer(s): Neto, Wan-Bissaka (og) (CHE); Bowen (WHU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None (but a long look at a goal to confirm if it was offside or not caused some annoyance)
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None (other than above)
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 15
Respective final positions: 4 & 15
Effects: Chelsea retake 4th, pushing Manchester City back down to 5th. They are now four points behind Forest, while West Ham remain in the bottom half, where they were.

[Trollheart]

Link for all the transfers completed by yesterday: https://www.premierleague.com/transfers

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Saturday February 15 2025

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



Teams: Manchester City v Newcastle United
Regions: Manchester v Tyne & Wear
Managers: Pep Guardiola v Eddie Howe
Targets: Level on points and only a place between them, both want to get into the top 4.
Expectation: At home it could be City's, but with their shaky prospects in the Champions League, could go either way.
Ground: The Etihad
Respective current positions (Before match): 5 & 6

First shot in anger from the hosts, but high over the bar, then three minutes later a fantastic little lob after a direct long kick-out from the keeper had the other keeper scrambling, and City were ahead at home. Eight minutes later at Marmoush had his and City's second, the hosts comfortably ahead now. Newcastle hardly seemed able to get near the ball, their only real shot coming on the half-hour as a result of a poor pass, but the attempt was wide, while three minutes after that miss Marmoush had his hat-trick, surely no way back now for the Magpies. Six minutes from time McAtee made it four, and that was that. Newcastle played off the park.


Result: Manchester City 4 - 0 Newcastle United
Scorer(s): Marmoush (3), McAtee (MNC)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 4 & 7
Respective final positions: 4 & 7
Effects: City reclaim 4th place while Newcastle slide to 7th


Teams: Leicester City v Arsenal
Regions: Leicestershire v London
Managers: Ruud van Nistelrooy v Mikel Arteta
Targets: Arsenal as usual trying to close the gap on Liverpool, Leicester just trying to avoid going down
Expectation: Has to be Arsenal
Ground: The King Power
Respective current positions (Before match): 18 & 2

The relegation strugglers had the first shot on target ten minutes in, but no goal as Arsenal pushed for the opener, also shooting wide. It was the Foxes who came closest at the end of the half though, despite Arsenal's possession still scoreless as we went into the second period. Leicester continued to hammer at the door, Arsenal keeping it wedged shut but unable to unlock the home gate until 9 minutes from the end when the deadlock was finally broken. As in the Man City game, it was the same player who took the second goal, and the game.


Result: Leicester City 0 - 2 Arsenal
Scorer(s): Merino (2) (ARS)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 19 & 2
Respective final positions: 19 & 2
Effects: Arsenal keep up the pressure, Leicester slip further into the abyss.


Teams: Fulham v Nottingham Forest
Regions: London v Nottinghamshire
Managers: Marco Silva v Nuno Espirito Santo
Targets: Forest need to keep pace with Arsenal in their chase of Liverpool, Fulham can go eighth with a win.
Expectation: Have to imagine Forest will do it
Ground: Craven Cottage
Respective current positions (Before match): 9 & 3

Forest came close early, then it looked like Fulham had taken the lead on 12 minutes but it fell wrong side of the post. Back they came though three minutes later and this time it was on the right side, Fulham ahead. Only the keeper stopped them going two ahead almost right away, and Forest equalised through Wood eight minutes from the break. Traore came close in the second half, the game on a knife-edge as we approached the hour mark, Fulham again denied their second by the keeper. He could do nothing about the shot from the corner though which gave the Cottagers the lead again. Traore again denied in the final minutes, and as the Forest goal came under siege their keeper had to be alive to the danger, but Fulham held on for the win.


Result: Fulham 2 - 1 Nottingham Forest
Scorer(s): Smith Rowe, Bassey (FUL); Wood (FOR)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 8 & 3
Respective final positions: 8 & 3
Effects: Fulham move up one place, Forest remain where they were but lose ground on Arsenal, six points between the two teams now.


Teams: Southampton v Bournemouth
Regions: Hampshire v Dorset
Managers: Ivan Juric v Andoni Iraola
Targets: You know the deal with Southampton, Bournemouth could leapfrog Newcastle into 5th.
Expectation: Even at home, I can't see Southampton getting anything out of this
Ground: St. Marys
Respective current positions (Before match): 20 & 7

Just before the quarter-hour the visitors were ahead, a fine goal, and two minutes later the Saints were two down; surely only the start of a real thrashing? Southampton's brief and rare breaks forward came to nothing, but at least they didn't concede any more goals before the end of the half. In the second though the pressure continued to be piled on by the Cherries, and must surely result in a third goal, though at least Ramsdale was doing his job keeping them out. Then with 18 minutes to go a rare Southampton goal to half the deficit. They almost shot themselves in the foot then when Ramsdale had to save a shot from his own player, but he couldn't stop Tavernier taking the visitors' third and snuffing out any slight chance the Saints had of taking anything from the game.


Result: Southampton 1 - 3 Bournemouth
Scorer(s): Outtara, Christie (BOU); Sulemana (SOU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 20 & 5
Respective final positions: 20 & 5
Effects: Bournemouth move up two places to 5th

[Trollheart]

Teams: Crystal Palace v Everton
Regions: London v Merseyside
Managers: Oliver Glasner v David Moyes
Targets: Survival for both really
Expectation: Hopefully Everton will do it
Ground: Selhurst Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 12 & 16

Palace could have been in after six minutes but saved from Mateta, then another shot had to be saved as the home side piled forward. A shot from a corner seemed to have opened the scoring for Palace but the ball was ruled to have gone out of play before it hit the net, so no goal. Not a shot in anger from Everton and we were in the final minutes of the half, when, against the run of play, the visitors scored. Palace came back in the second half, Mateta levelling two minutes in, as long as the goal stood. A VAR check confirmed it, and the sides were level. Everton weren't giving up though and almost retook the lead, but unable to get past the keeper, Palace having the same trouble down the other end on the hour. Ten minutes to go: surely the next goal would win it? And Everton got it, after what could have been a shout for a penalty, but the ball hammered into the Palace net to give Everton the win.



Result: Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Everton
Scorer(s): Beto, Alcarez (EVE); Mateta (PAL)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 12 & 13
Respective final positions: 13 & 14
Effects: Everton move up two places, Palace slip one.


Teams: Aston Villa v Ipswich
Regions: Birmingham v Suffolk
Managers: Unai Emery v Kieran McKenna
Targets: Villa want to get higher in the top half, Ipswich are struggling in the relegation zone
Expectation: You need to ask?
Ground: Villa Park
Respective current positions (Before match): 8 & 19

Watkins should have opened the scoring just after the half hour but shot wide, then five minutes to go in the half and Ipswich were down to ten men after a second yellow. Even so, Ipswich took the lead ten minutes into the second half - how embarrassing! Villa set about righting that scoreline when Watkins latched onto Rashford's rebound from the free, all square with 20 minutes to go. Asensio had his chance to open his account for Villa four minutes later but shot over the top, his second attempt saved, while Rashford played his heart out but as we went into injury time Villa unable to make the extra man count, definitely two points dropped.


Result: Aston Villa 1 - 1 Ipswich Town
Scorer(s): Delap (IPS); Watkins (AST)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: 1
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 9 & 18
Respective final positions: 9 & 18
Effects: Villa remain where they were, Ipswich move up one place but remain in the relegation zone


Teams: West Ham United v Brentford
Regions: London v London
Managers: Graham Potter v Thomas Frank
Targets: West Ham need to pull away from the relegation zone, Brentford want to get back into the top half
Expectation: Brentford maybe
Ground: The London Ground
Respective current positions (Before match): 15 & 11

Only four minutes on the clock and Brentford were ahead, a double save which looked like the keeper had managed to keep the ball out both times, but the rebound was deemed to have crossed the line. Wissa capitalised on an error by the Hammers but the goal was ruled offside, and 1-0 it remained. West Ham then went on an attack of their own, which broke down and almost resulted in a second for Schade, but the post was in his way. Wissa made up for the offside on four minutes from the end of the half, but incredibly again it was checked by VAR, and again ruled out.

The second half saw West Ham come out strongly, determined to make the most of those two ruled-out goals and equalise, coming close from a free kick which should have given them a corner but goal kick was the decision. For all their industry and effort though, and an appeal for a penalty which was not given, West Ham left with nothing.


Result: West Ham 0 - 1 Brentford
Scorer(s): Schade (BRE)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Two Brentford goals (both by Wissa) ruled offside
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 16 & 11
Respective final positions: 16 & 11
Effects: West Ham slide one place, Brentford remain where they were.



Teams: Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea
Regions: East Sussex v London
Managers: Fabian Hurzeler v Enzo Maresca
Targets: Chelsea can only stay 4th, Brighton can move up the top half win a win
Expectation: Imagine Chelsea should take it
Ground: The Amex
Respective current positions (Before match): 10 & 4

First attack on 18 minutes by the visitors, but wide, then ten minutes later Brighton took the lead, Chelsea thought they had equalised just after the half-hour but the goal ruled offside while the home side doubled their lead quickly afterwards, putting them in a strong position for the second half. And they capitalised on that position by taking a third, and putting the game well beyond Chelsea.


Result: Brighton & Hove Albion 3 - 0 Chelsea
Scorer(s): Mitoma, Minteh (2) (BHA)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: Chelsea goal ruled out
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 10 & 6
Respective final positions: 10 & 6
Effects: Brighton remain where they were but Chelsea drop two places to sixth

[Trollheart]

Sunday February 16 2025

Liverpool v Wolves
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United


Teams: Liverpool v Wolves
Regions: Merseyside v West Midlands
Managers: Arne Slot v Vitor Pereira
Targets: Survival for Wolves, open the gap at the top for Liverpool
Expectation: Got to bet on Liverpool at home
Ground: Anfield
Respective current positions (Before match): 1 & 17

Liverpool wanted to just put the disappointment of being kicked out of the FA Cup followed by a draw against Everton in the long-delayed Mersey derby, and it only took them 15 minutes to open the scoring, perhaps settle some nerves. Jota then came close but unable to get past Sa, then a penalty eight minutes from the break allowed Salah to double that lead, their advantage looking shaky before the end of the half as Wolves could have scored from a free, but didn't.

Only Allison stood between the visitors taking one in the second half, then Salah scored his second, but it was ruled offside. A second penalty for the home side was given but then overruled by VAR. Wolves went on the break but over the bar as time began to tick away, then 23 minutes from the whistle Wolves pulled one back, Liverpool guilty of sloppy defence. They shored that up just in time to keep Wolves out for their second, but as injury time wound down the relegation-threatened team got a free kick, which went nowhere. Victory for Liverpool, but it weren't no walk in the park, that's for sure.

Result: Liverpool 2 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Scorer(s): Diaz, Salah (p) (LIV); Cunha (WOL)
Penalties: 1
VAR decision(s), if any: Second penalty for Liverpool overturned by VAR
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 1 & 17
Respective final positions: 1 & 17
Effects: Liverpool open up a 7-point lead at the top, Wolves remain as they were.


Teams: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United
Regions: London v Manchester
Managers: Ange Postecoglu v Ruben Amorim
Targets: Both need to get back into the top half
Expectation: Probably expect United to do it
Ground: The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Respective current positions (Before match): 14 & 13

Should the new team chant for Spurs be "London Bridge is Falling Down"? They're certainly dropping like a stone, clinging on in the lower regions of the bottom half, and in fact there's only 2 points and a place between them and their opponents today, who must be as bemused as their fans to find themselves there. While Man City may be struggling to put a shine on a season on which the wheels have come off badly, United are watching those wheels vanish down the road and feeling the bump as they come heavily down to earth. Two pretty mediocre teams, who have seen far better days, meeting to try to get into the rarefied heights of the bottom end of the top half.

MOTD commentator quipped the game could be called the Disappointment Derby, but United were the first on the attack, some fine saves by the Spurs keeper making sure it remained scoreless before the home team scored, Madison on the rebound from his teammate on 13 minutes, poor defending from United, same old same old. The Manchester team playing more like solo players than a team, nobody passing, everyone trying for personal glory, nobody succeeding, especially Garnacho, who missed a sitter, almost a physical metaphor for Manchester United's season.

Spurs, though, weren't much better, missing a golden chance to double their lead in the second half, United missing through Garnacho again as we headed for the hour mark. Every shot seemed to be either wide, high or at the keeper. Kulusevski had a good shot at making it two late on, but again right at the man in the United net. Surprised there were any goals in it, to be honest, but in the end Spurs ran out the winners. Just.

Result: Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 0 Manchester United
Scorer(s): Madison (TOT)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 12 & 15
Respective final positions: 12 & 15
Effects: Spurs finally move in the right direction, two places. Man United go the other way, falling two to 15th.

[Trollheart]

Overview

After a difficult, not to say embarrassing week, Liverpool scratched out a result against strugglers Wolves, and open a seven-point gap at the top. Arsenal keep up the pressure but Forest fall away slightly after defeat at Fulham, while Newcastle were dreadful against Man City, allowing the ex-champions to get back into 4th place. Villa were disgraceful, no other word for it: couldn't even win against a bottom side who had lost a man? Words fail me, and they were probably lucky not to lose.

Elsewhere, a resurgent Brighton put a stuttering Chelsea to the sword, removing them from contention for the moment as they fall to sixth, while the Seagulls move up to fifth. At the other end of the table, Palace lost to Everton, as the Moyes renaissance continues, while another of his previous teams, West Ham continue their slide down towards the bottom. Nothing much to choose between Spurs and Manchester United, with the former coming out with the only goal and finally moving in an upward direction, while those who were used to having the footballing world at their feet are now sliding dangerously close to relegation. Yeah, if only. But they're descending when they want to be ascending. Amorim must be pining for the beaches of the Algarve, or something.

Although VAR was as usual in the mix, it was actually more the "Hawkeye" system, the goal decision software that impressed this weekend, disallowing one goal (the ball must have been a half-inch from being over the line, but that's what the technology is there for) and confirming another, which had looked like a save. Ah, don't you just love computers?