English Premier League – Matchweek 37, 2024/25
The 2nd to last matchweek of the 24/25 season saw some dramatic games, with three more Champions League places up for grabs going into the final weekend.
Brighton Hove & Albion vs Liverpool
The only fixture in Matchweek 37 played on Monday night saw Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton host Arne Slot’s Liverpool at the Amex Stadium. The Champions made a perfect start to the game, scoring inside 10 minutes. Mohamed Salah received a long ball down the right wing where he played a brilliant cushioned pass into the path of Conor Bradley. Bradley skillfully nut-megged Simon Adingra before taking the ball to the bi-line. The Northern Irishman cut the ball back into the 6-yard box where Harvey Elliot was present to tap the ball past Bart Verbruggen, a brilliant Reds goal. Brighton soon equalised just after the half hour mark with a spectacular team goal of their own making. Danny Welbeck received the ball from Adam Webster with his back to the Liverpool defence where he quickly laid it off to Brajan Gruda. Gruda played a perfect first time ball over the defence and into the path of Yasin Ayari where the Swede took a couple of touches before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner. The Reds restored their advantage moments before the interval after Elliot played Liverpool’s latest free kick short to Dominik Szoboszlai down the right wing. It was unclear if Szoboszlai was attempting to cross the ball in or saw Verbruggen off his line when he chipped the ball over to the back post, watching as it floated over Verbruggen and into the top left corner. The half-time score stood at 2-1 with Brighton needing to make a huge 2nd half comeback if they were to jump into 8th place.
Both sides had chances to score early on in the 2nd half, with Danny Welbeck’s curling free kick beaten away by Liverpool keeper Alisson before Mohamed Salah missed an open goal from a couple of yards out, a very rare mistake from the Golden Boot leader. Brighton then scored a 2nd equaliser of the tie when Kaoru Mitoma threaded the ball through to Welbeck in the Liverpool penalty area. Welbeck’s initial effort was saved by Alisson, only for Mitoma to acrobatically volley the ball back into the top corner, the Japanese international’s 10th of the campaign. The Seagulls then completely flipped the script in the 85th minute when they scored to make it 3-2. Matt O’Riley fizzed the ball across the Liverpool penalty area where local lad, Jack Hinshelwood, was unmarked at the back post to tap the ball past Alisson. The full time score finished 3-2, with Hurzeler’s side picking up a huge three points, taking them into 8th on the table with 58 points, knowing all they require is one point in the final matchweek to secure European football for next season. Liverpool will be disappointed they lost from a winning position but won’t be too fussed as they have already secured 1st place.
Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
The first game played on Tuesday night in Matchweek 37 saw Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace (The newly crowned FA Cup Champions) host Vitor Pereira’s Wolves at Selhurst Park. Despite a promising start to the game from the cup winners, Wolves took an unexpected advantage in the 24th minute after Pablo Sarabia’s corner was floated over to the back post where Jorgan Strand Larsen was able to head the ball back across goal. Emmanuel Agbadou then headed the ball at goal where Eddie Nketiah thought he’d cleared it off the line. Unfortunately for the hosts, referee David Webb had a quick glance at his watch and the ball had clearly crossed the line. Palace conjured up the perfect response to Wolves’ opener, scoring just three minutes later. Romain Esse made a quite brilliant run down the left wing, taking on three Wolves players before cutting the ball back to Nketiah. Palace’s no.9 let the ball roll onto his right boot before thrashing it into the bottom right corner, leaving Dan Bentley with no chance of saving his strike. Nketiah then made it two goals in five minutes after Daniel Munoz made a brilliant interception down the right wing. The fan-favourite played a superb ball into the path of Ismaila Sarr who drilled the ball across the 6-yard box. Unmarked at the back post was Nketiah who tapped the ball past Bentley for his 3rd of the season. The half-time score finished 2-1 with the Eagles leading thanks to two goals from Nketiah.
Palace made the perfect start to the 2nd half, scoring five minutes after the restart to make it 3-1. Chelsea loanee, Ben Chilwell, stood over Palace’s latest free kick from 25-yards out where his effort caught a huge deflection off the Wolves’ wall, tricking Bentley as it rolled into the bottom left corner. Wolves then gave the Eagles something to think about in the 62nd minute when they scored from another corner. This time Jean-Ricner Bellegarde whipped the corner in, watching as Strand Larsen rose high to head the ball past Palace keeper Dean Henderson, his 14th of the campaign. Palace put to bed any hope of a Wolves’ comeback when substitute and Crystal Palace hero Eberechi Eze scored in the 86th minute. Justin Devenny played the ball across the Selhurst turf to Eze who was down the left wing. Eze cut into the penalty area onto his favoured right boot before successfully taking on the two Wolves’ centre halves and smashing the ball into the bottom left corner. The full time score finished 4-2, with Palace fans left in a state of disbelief, with such a brilliant win after winning their first ever major trophy last weekend. Fans will hope Glasner can take this season’s form into the next, with Palace guaranteed Europa League football after the FA Cup triumph despite sitting 12th in the league on 52 points. Wolves concede four on the road, but won’t be too bothered as they will hope to bring their 2025 form into the next season as they sit 14th on 41 points.
Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth
The final fixture of Matchweek 37 played on Tuesday night saw Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City host Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. After losing the FA Cup final on the weekend and going trophyless since Pep’s first season at the Etihad in 2016/17, they made a brilliant start to the game, scoring inside a quarter of an hour. Omar Marmoush, who missed a crucial penalty in the 0-1 loss to Palace on the weekend, redeemed himself in the perfect manner, picking the ball up from Mateo Kovacic on the halfway line before progressing up the field. From 30-yards out, Marmoush released a bullet of a strike, watching as his effort flew through the Etihad stadium before dipping into the top left corner at the last second, most definitely a goal of the season contender. City should have made it 2-0 in the 25th minute after Marmoush played a teasing ball across the Cherries’ 6-yard box. City captain, Kevin De Bruyne, who was playing his final home match for the Citizens after his confirmed departure in the summer, missed an absolute sitter, smashing the ball against the crossbar from two yards out with the goal gaping. City soon scored a deserved 2nd in the 38th minute. Kovacic played a quick ball into the path of Ilkay Gundogan who took the ball deep into the Bournemouth penalty area. Gundogan then played an intelligent backheel to Bernardo Silva. Silva slotted the ball confidently past Kepa into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0 just before the break. City went into half-time brandishing a 2-0 lead, with Bournemouth needing a 2nd half miracle if they were to keep their European aspiration alive going into the final matchweek.
City made the 2nd period much harder than it needed to be for themselves after Kovacic was unaware of Bournemouth striker Evanilson who would’ve been left one-on-one with Ederson if Kovacic had not pulled him to the ground. It was a clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity as Kovacic saw red in the 67th minute. Moments after gaining a one-man advantage, Bournemouth threw it away after Lewis Cook saw red as well. He made a horrific challenge on City midfielder Nico Gonzalez, diving in with two feet and taking out the Spanish international. The Citizens wrapped up all three points in the 89th minute after Gonzalez scored his first ever Premier League goal. Matheus Nunes played a brilliant ball over the Bournemouth defence and into the path of Gonzalez who was onside. Gonzalez progressed with the ball until he was just outside the penalty area before perfectly placing the ball into the far right corner of Kepa’s goal. Bournemouth made sure their supporters who had made the long journey up didn’t leave with nothing, scoring a consolation with the final kick of the game. Nunes played a weak pass back to Ruben Dias where the ball was intercepted by Canadian forward Daniel Jebbison. Jebbison took the ball into the City penalty area before attempting to smash the ball through Ederson, getting very lucky as the ball fortunately deflected off the Brazilian keeper before bouncing over the line. The full time score finished 3-1, with City putting themselves into a perfect position going into the final day to secure Champions League football. Pep’s side move into 3rd on 68 points. Bournemouth drop to 11th on 53 points with their European aspirations now over despite such a successful season.
Written by Ollie Wade.
Read the rest of Matchweek 37 at Premier League Matchweek 37 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles
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