Almanac Soccer: Premier League Matchweek 14 Highlights

 

Premier League Matchweek 14 Highlights 24/25

 

Premier League Matchweek 14 featured exciting moments everywhere you looked with Newcastle taking 2 points off Liverpool as well as Arsenal and Chelsea tightening the gap at the top with strong wins. Here are my highlights.

 

 

Newcastle United v Liverpool

 

The 3rd game of matchweek 14 saw Eddie Howe’s underperforming Newcastle host Arne Slot’s 1st placed Liverpool at St. James’ Park. After a fairly even first half hour in the highly anticipated tie, the Magpies took the lead after Alexander Isak conjured up what football pundits would know as a screamer. Bruno Guimaraes played the ball to Isak who took a couple of touches before lining up a shot. His strike was quite magnificent, thundering the ball into the top right corner and leaving Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with no chance of keeping it out. At half time the score finished 1-0 with Arne Slot in threat of dropping some of his 9 point gap at the top. 

 

The Reds made the perfect start to the 2nd period when they levelled the game just 5 minutes in. Mohamed Salah played a lovely trivela pass from the right wing, into both the penalty area and path of Curtis Jones who smashed the ball over Nick Pope and into the roof of the net. Newcastle restored their advantage in the 62nd minute, sending St. James’ into a state of disbelief. Isak played the ball into Anthony Gordon inside the Liverpool penalty area. The ex-Evertonian cut the ball back around Joe Gomez before placing the ball into the bottom right corner, with Kelleher left with egg on his face after he let the ball fly through his wrists. Liverpool equalised 6 minutes later when Salah scored his 12th goal of the season. Trent Alexander-Arnold received the ball on the goalline down the right wing where he immediately cut it back. Inside the penalty area was Salah who very delicately passed the ball into the bottom left corner, with the score now 2-2 and this game shaping up to be a Premier League classic. Liverpool then took the lead for the first time on the night when Salah became the top soccer of the league in the 83rd minute. It was the same duo that combined to score the previous goal, Trent to Salah, when the English full back received the ball down the right wing after a series of intricate passes around the penalty area by Liverpool. Salah took the ball well on his left foot, before spinning around Newcastle centre half, Dan Burn, and drilling the ball into the bottom left corner. In the final minute of normal time, Newcastle levelled the game for the 3rd time. Guimaraes whipped in a free kick from the right wing where Kelleher made his 2nd error of the night, deciding to let the ball travel out for a goal kick. Unfortunately for the Irishman, lurking at the back post was Fabian Schar who somehow slid in and rolled the ball over the line from a ridiculously impossible angle. The full time score finished 3-3, with this tie turning out to be one of the games of the season. Liverpool remain 1st but allow Arsenal and Chelsea to tighten the gap on them. Newcastle drew again and jumped into the top half of the table, 10th.

 

 

Southampton v Chelsea

 

The next game of Matchweek 14 saw Russell Martin’s rock bottom Southampton host Enzo Maresca’s free flowing Chelsea at St. Mary’s Stadium. The Blues found the lead inside 10 minutes when Axel Disasi headed home Enzo Fernandez’s inswinging corner delivery. It was a dream start to the game but their opener was soon cancelled out when the Saints levelled the tie in the 11th minute. Kyle Walker-Peters showed brilliant skill to dance his way around Fernandez on the goal line before passing the ball onto the penalty spot for Joe Aribo to slot home. Only 6 minutes later, Chelsea restored their lead after the Saints gave yet another goal away due to an error from trying to play the ball out from the back. Goalkeeper Joe Lumley played the ball right into the path of Noni Madueke who then knocked it to Christopher Nkunku. Nkunku was then left with the easy task of passing the ball into an empty net, scoring his 12th of the season in all competitions. After Chelsea had hit the bar twice in quick succession, they found their 2 goal cushion when Madueke added his name to the score sheet. He dribbled down the left wing before cutting into the penalty area and eventually slotting the ball into the bottom left corner, making for a superb individual goal. Things then got even worse for the Saints when Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 39th minute. It was a clear send off and a ridiculous action from Saints captain Stephens. At half time the score stood at 1-3 with Southampton left with no route back into the game after going down to 10 men.

 

After coming so close to a 4th goal that would seal the victory, Chelsea finally found it in the 76th minute when “Cold” Palmer scored his 9th of the season. Fernandez played Nkunku into the Southampton area where he chopped onto his left foot before scraping a shot away after being fouled. It was hard to tell if the ball would have made it over the line, but Palmer put any doubts to bed when he passed the rolling ball into the back of the net. No.5 came in the 87th minute when Jadon Sancho finally scored his first Premier League goal for the Blues after registering 3 assists already this season. The Manchester United loanee received the ball inside the right area of the 18-yard box before drilling it into the top right corner, putting the cherry on top of a dominant Blues performance. The full time score finished 1-5 with Chelsea putting out quite the statement, taking them into 2nd place only 7 points shy of leaders Liverpool. Southampton stay rock bottom, conceding 5 goals as well, leaving them with just 5 points this season.

 

 

Arsenal v Manchester United

 

The next game on Wednesday night was the most anticipated of the week with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal hosting Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium with both teams fresh off big wins last weekend. The first half was a very closely fought battle of tactics and possession, with United dominating the ball but Arsenal clearly creating more chances. At half time, it finished 0-0 with either side capable of snatching all 3 points in an even game in North London

 

Arsenal finally scored the opener in the 54th minute when they bagged their 21st set piece since the start of the 23/24 season. Declan Rice’s delivery was pin point and all Jurrien Timber had to do was apply the littlest of touches to guide the ball past travelling keeper Andre Onana. After more domination in the second half, Arsenal scored yet again from the corner in the 73rd minute when Bukayo Saka crossed in their latest from the right flag. Thomas Partey powerfully headed the ball back across goal from the back post where the ball actually deflected in off the backside of Gunner’s centre half, WIlliam Saliba. Arsenal saw out the remaining quarter of an hour successfully, proving defensively too strong for Amorim’s United who had asked no meaningful questions of the host’s backline. The full time score finished 2-0 with Arsenal picking up a huge 3 points taking them within 7 points of the summit. Mikel Arteta’s side have now also earnt the name “Set Piece FC” given the amount of crucial goals they are scoring now from corners and free kicks. Manchester United failed to score for the first time under Amorim as they dropped into 13th place in the table with the Portuguese manager still left with major work to improve the Red Devils.

 

 

Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 14 at Premier League Matchweek 14 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles

 

 

To read more from Ollie Wade click HERE.

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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