Almanac Soccer: English Premier League Matchweek 35 Highlights 24/25

 

Premier League Matchweek 35 Highlights 24/25

 

Matchweek 35 saw some exciting and high scoring matches as the season is coming to a close.

 

 

Everton v Ipswich Town

 

The second fixture played on Saturday afternoon in Matchweek 35 saw David Moyes’ Everton host Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town at Goodison Park. The Toffees made a much better start to the game than Ipswich, scoring an expected opener in the 26th minute. Carlos Alcarez whipped the ball in from the left wing where striker Beto met the Argentine’s cross with a powerful header into the bottom corner. Everton then made it 2-0 in quick succession after Dwight McNeil scored his 4th of the season in spectacular fashion. The Englishman picked the ball up from Nathan Patterson down the right wing where he immediately shaped to shoot. McNeil hit it in a knuckleball fashion, making his rocket of a strike impossible to save for Ipswich keeper Alex Palmer. Moments before the interval, the Tractor Boys reduced the deficit after Brighton loanee Julio Enciso produced one of the goals of the season. The Pariaguan picked the ball up at the half way line where he danced through the Everton midfield before looking up at Jordan Pickford’s goal. He then struck the ball from 30 yards out, watching as it flew through the Goodison Park air before beautifully nestling into the top right corner. The score at half-time stood at 2-1, with Enciso’s wonder strike giving the travelling side hope.

 

Ipswich top scorer, Liam Delap, came close to setting up Enciso with his 2nd of the game after he made a relentless run down the left wing. He powered his way into the penalty area before squaring it to Enciso who saw his effort comfortably saved by Pickford. The Tractor Boys then scored a deserved leveller in the 79th minute after George Hurst scored his 3rd of the season. It was a controversial goal, with Patterson going down with a ‘head injury’ for Everton in the build up. The Tractor Boys continued to play the ball up the pitch despite the boos from the Everton crowd, with Omari Hutchinson eventually crossing the ball in from the right wing where Hurst jumped up to head the ball past Pickford. That was the final major intervention of the tie as the points were shared at Goodison with a 2-2 draw. Moyes’ side drew their 15th game of the season as they rise to 14th on the table. Ipswich continue to show fighting spirit despite their already confirmed relegation as McKenna’s side remain 18th with 22 points. 

 

 

Brentford v Manchester United

 

The first fixture played in Matchweek 35 on Sunday afternoon saw Thomas Frank’s Brentford host Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at the Gtech Stadium. Manchester United made an electric start to the game, scoring inside 15 minutes after Alejandro Garnacho played a sharp one-two with academy talent Chido Obi. Garnacho then progressed down the left wing before crossing the ball into the Brentford penalty area, with Mason Mount left with the easy task of tapping the ball past Mark Flekken. Fortunately for the Bees fans, it only took them 13 minutes to respond, despite it being in a scrappy manner. Michael Kayode’s long throw-in was cleared back out to him where he headed the ball back into a dangerous area. Mikkel Damsgaard then got a shot away, watching as his effort deflected off the chest of Luke Shaw, making it almost impossible for keeper Altay Bayindir to keep out. Brentford then flipped the game on its head after Kayode and Christian Norgaard linked up well down the right wing. Norgaard crossed the ball in at the bi-line, with Kevin Schade easily heading the ball into the United net from the back post, the young Tyler Fredricson no match for the German. United were furious that Brentford had played on though, with centre half Matthijs De Ligt clearly going down injured and their players felt that he would have been able to clear the cross and prevent Schade from scoring if he was not injured. Norgaard then came so close to scoring Brentford’s 3rd just before the interval, with his header from Damsgaard’s free kick brilliantly saved by Bayindir. The half-time score stood at 2-1, with Brentford hoping to hold onto a huge win in their European aspirations.

 

After a fairly actionless opening 25 minutes in the 2nd period, Brentford scored their 3rd in the 70th minute, with Schade securing his brace. Schade yet again got the better of Fredricson at the back post, peeling off the young full back to head Bryan Mbeumo’s cross into the back of the United net. Brentford then sealed the three points in the 74th minute after Mbeumo found Damsgaard outside the United penalty area. Damsgaard then played an intelligent through ball to Kayode who had made a brilliant run around the defenders. The Italian, who had put in a solid shift today, was unselfish, opting not to score his first ever Premier League goal but square the ball to Yoane Wissa who was left with an easy tap in. The Red Devils then scored a consolation goal in the 82nd minute, with Garnacho scoring a deserved goal. He played a sharp one-two with Christian Eriksen outside the penalty area before firing the ball into the top right corner, a superb strike and most definitely the goal of the game. In the 5th minute of stoppage time, Manchester United then gave the Bees something to think about after Amad Diallo scored to make it 4-3. He received the ball down the right wing from Manuel Ugarte where he danced into the Brentford penalty area before firing the ball through the legs of Flekken and into the back of the net. Unfortunately for the travelling side, they rallied too late in the game as this classic Premier League encounter finished 4-3. Brentford claim a huge three points as they chase down Bournemouth for the final European spot. Frank’s side move into 9th on 52 points, one shy of the Cherries. United lose their 16th league game of the season, although their attention is also only focused on Europe as they play at home to Athletic Bilbao in the 2nd leg of their Europa League semi-final this Thursday. Amorim’s side sit 15th on 39 points.

 

 

Chelsea v Liverpool

 

The final game of Matchweek 35 played on Saturday afternoon saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea host Arne Slot’s champion Liverpool side at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool had already won the Premier League and Chelsea had a lot to play for in their Champions League qualification battle so it was expected that the hosts would be the better side in the opening minutes. They made a rapid start to the game, scoring inside three minutes. Pedro Neto made his usual electric burst down the right wing with the ball before cutting it back to the penalty spot. Captain Enzo Fernandez met the ball with a brilliant first touch, perfectly setting himself up to place the ball into the bottom right corner. Liverpool had some good patches in the first half but it was fair to say Chelsea were good for their lead as they went into half-time brandishing a 1-0 advantage.

 

After a solid first half performance, Chelsea doubled their advantage in the 56th minute after Cole Palmer made a brilliant run down the right wing before progressing into the penalty area. Palmer then crossed the ball in, watching as Noni Madueke’s effort was blocked on the line by Wataru Endo before Virgil van Dijk carelessly cleared the ball into his own teammate, Jarell Quansah, a rare error from the Liverpool skipper as the ball fired into the back of his own net. Chelsea then had a huge chance to put the game to bed in the 80th minute after Palmer’s shot from an almost impossible angle in the left side of the Liverpool penalty area rattled the inside of the post and fired back into play. Moments after Chelsea hit the woodwork to make it 3-0, Van Dijk made amends for his earlier error, heading home Alexis Mac Allister’s corner in the 85th minute to make it 2-1, giving Chelsea something to ponder. Fortunately for the Blues, they were given a glorious opportunity to wrap up all three points in the 6th minute of stoppage time after Quansah was yet again hung out to dry by his teammates. Dominik Szoboszlai played a sloppy pass across his penalty area for Mac Allister which the Argentine left for Quansah. The ball was weak, allowing Moises Caicedo to take a touch before he was inevitably fouled by Quansah, a clear penalty. Cole Palmer stepped up and buried the ball into the bottom left corner to end his goal drought, which started in mid January. The full time score finished 3-1, with Chelsea picking up a huge three points which sees them move into the final Champions League spot (5th) with 63 points. Liverpool obviously still remain 1st, with the away side not too fussed about the result as they continue to celebrate their 20th English league title.

 

Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 35 at Premier League Matchweek 35 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles

 

 

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