Almanac Soccer: English Premier League Matchweek 36 Highlights

 

Premier League Matchweek 36 Highlights 24/25

 

Matchweek 36 of the Premier League saw some exciting matches for the European places as the title and three relegated sides have already been confirmed.

 

Fulham v Everton

 

The opening game of Matchweek 36 on Saturday afternoon saw Marco Silva’s Fulham host David Moyes Everton at Craven Cottage. Fulham were by far the better side in the opening exchanges and scored a well deserved goal in the 17th minute. Emile Smith Rowe made a brilliant run down the left wing and into the Everton penalty area before he crossed a ball over into the danger area. Striker Raul Jimenez jumped up and ferociously headed the ball into the bottom left corner, a brilliant 11th goal of the season for the Mexican. Fulham then had two more huge chances to double their lead, with Harry Wilson seeing his first effort fly wide of Jordan Pickford’s goal before he forced a brilliant save from the Englishman in the 44th minute. Out of nothing, Everton then scored in the last minute of the half. James Garner’s long throw-in was punched out of the penalty area by Fulham keeper Bernd Leno but only as far as Abdoulaye Doucoure. Doucoure then poked the ball back out to Vitalii Mykolenko who cracked a shot, watching as his effort took a heavy deflection off Kenny Tete before flying past Leno. The half-time score stood at 1-1 with Everton lucky to snatch a goal at the end.

 

Fulham had a huge chance to restore their lead eight minutes into the 2nd half after Wilson’s lobbed effort was brilliantly tipped away from danger by Pickford, quite possibly the save of the season. After all of Fulham’s domination, Everton then scored once again from a set piece. Dwight McNeil’s corner was crossed all the way over to the back post where Michael Keane was present to head the ball past Leno. Fulham then completely capitulated right from kick off after Everton’s 2nd goal, giving the ball away instantly allowing Everton to counter. Beto won the ball down the left wing before playing it to Carlos Alcarez who had space to drive into. Alcarez played it back to Beto down the left side of the penalty area where Beto’s strike somehow slipped through the grasp of Leno, a lucky 3rd for the Toffees in the 74th minute. Everton continued to hold out Fulham for the remaining minutes as the full time score finished 1-3 with Everton holding out for all three points. Moyes’s side move into 13th with another win while Fulham’s European dream is now over as they sit 11th with 51 points.

 

 

Nottingham Forest v Leicester City

 

The next game of Matchweek 36 saw Nuno Espirito’s Nottingham Forest host Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City at the City Ground. Forest made a quick start to the tie, with Chris Wood heading Anthony Elanga’s cross over the bar from close range, a rare miss from the Kiwi. Leciester then silenced the City Ground in the 16th minute after a long throw-in from Luke Thomas found its way to Bilal El Khannouss outside the Forest penalty area. The Moroccan struck the ball on the volley, watching as his fizzing effort was brilliantly saved by Matz Sels before Conor Coady was unmarked and free to head in the rebound. Less than 10 minutes later, Forest scored a much needed equaliser after Morgan Gibbs-White jumped up brilliantly to head the ball past Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk, his 6th of the season which now means this is his most prolific season in the Premier League. The half-time score stood at 1-1, with Forest knowing they had to claim all three points if they were to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

 

Just 10 minutes into the 2nd period, Forest had their all important 2nd goal after Gibbs-White whipped the ball into the Leicester penalty area in search of Wood. Wood leapt down low to head the ball into the back of the net against one of his former employers, his 20th of the season now. Despite their already confirmed relegation, Leicester showed great spirit in the 81st minute when they scored to make it 2-2. Brighton loanee, Facundo Buonanotte, received the ball from Jamie Vardy right outside the Forest penalty area. He dropped his shoulder to brilliantly beat defender Morato before he slotted the ball past Sels. Leicester then had a huge chance to claim all three points in the final minute of stoppage time after Boubakary Soumare played a brilliant ball over to Vardy down the left wing as the Foxes looked to counter. Vardy was tackled by Ryan Yates where the ball sat up kindly for 15-year-old Jeremy Monga. Monga struck the ball well, watching as Sels was just able to stop the teenager’s shot from finding the back of his net. The full time score finished 2-2 as Forest dropped crucial points in the race for Champions League football. Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, demonstrated his frustration with his side’s recent form, storming onto the pitch to have a confrontation with Nuno. Forest drop to 7th in the table on 62 points, with some form of European football confirmed for next season, although it would be deemed a failure if they are unable to qualify for the Champions League given they have been in the top three for the majority of the season. Leicester pick up a solid point away from home as they remain 19th, level on points with Ipswich in 18th.

 

 

Liverpool v Arsenal

 

The final game of Matchweek 36 saw Arne Slot’s champion Liverpool side host Mikel Arteta’s 2nd placed Arsenal at Anfield. With Arsenal now knocked out of the Champions League after their midweek semi-final loss to PSG, Liverpool were really hoping to rub salt in the wounds of all Gunners’ fans with a statement win. They made a solid start to the game, scoring inside 20 minutes after Andy Robertson crossed the ball into the Arsenal penalty area from the left wing. Arsenal’s defending was shambolic, with both their centre halves leaving Cody Gakpo unmarked and free to head the ball past keeper David Raya. Only seconds after their 1st, Liverpool made it 2-0 after Mohamed Salah played a brilliant ball over the Arsenal defence to Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian then rolled a teasing pass across the 6-yard box, with Luis Diaz beating William Saliba to the ball to bundle it home, his 13th of the season. The half-time score stood at 2-0, with Arsenal needing a much better 2nd half performance if they were to come away with anything against the champions.

 

The Gunners made an ideal start to the 2nd period, scoring inside two minutes. Leandro Trossard whipped the ball in from the left wing where Gabriel Martinelli jumped up well to head the ball past Alisson and into the bottom right corner. Arsenal then completed their comeback in the 70th minute after Martin Odegaard received the ball outside the Liverpool penalty area from Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal captain fired a shot, watching as Alisson took most of the sting out of Odegaard’s powerful effort as he parried the ball onto the post. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was booed onto the pitch by the Anfield crowd in the 67th minute given his confirmed departure, was lazy and let Mikel Merino run onto the rebound and head it past Alisson who only had Trent to blame for his ball-watching. Despite scoring Arsenal’s 2nd, Merino was soon made out to be the villain for Arsenal fans after he was shown a red card in the 80th minute for a 2nd yellow card for a reckless foul on Szoboszlai. This ruined Arsenal’s hopes of snatching all three points as their only striker was sent off. After they’d let the game slip from their grasp, Liverpool thought they’d won it at the death after Virgil van Dijk headed Alexis Mac Allister’s corner powerfully at Raya. Raya was able to save the Liverpool’s captain’s initial effort but was unable to keep out Robertson on the follow up. Fortunately for the Gunners, the goal was disallowed as Ibrahima Konate clearly fouled Myles Lewis-Skelly in the penalty area. The full time score finished 2-2, with these two sides playing out their second 2-2 draw this season. Liverpool move onto 83 points while Arsenal move to 68 as their 2nd place spot is now in jeopardy, with Newcastle only two points away from the Gunners.

 

Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 36 at Premier League Matchweek 36 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles

 

 

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