Premier League Matchweek 34 Highlights 24/25
The 34th week of the Premier League finally saw the title decided as well as confirmed the three relegated teams alongside some exciting games elsewhere.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
The following game of Matchweek 34 on Wednesday night, also played early due to Crystal Palace’s FA Cup semi final on the weekend, saw Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal host Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners took an early lead in the tie thanks to yet another set piece. Martin Odegaard crossed the ball in from the left wing where Jakub Kiwior rose high to head the ball into the top left corner. Palace, the 2nd best attacking team from set pieces after Arsenal, equalised thanks to a set piece of their own. Adam Wharton played Palace’s latest corner right onto the edge of the penalty area where Eberechi Eze was located. Eze met the corner with an absolutely world class strike, hitting the ball first time on the volley and watching it bounce into the far right corner. After an even first half contest, Arsenal restored their lead moments before the break after Jurrien Timber found Leandro Trossard outside the Palace penalty area. Trossard twist and turned between the Palace defenders before he passed the ball into the bottom right corner, his 3rd goal in just two games. The score at half time stood at 2-1 with Arsenal hoping to claim all three points to ensure Liverpool don’t win the title mathematically.
The Gunners thought they’d found a two goal advantage in the 70th minute after Timber hooked the ball from the bi-line over Palace keeper Dean Henderson and to Gabreil Martinelli who was left with an easy tap. The assistant flag was then raised when Martinelli turned in celebration as he was onside but the ball had just bounced out of play when Timber volleyed it back in. Arsenal should’ve then made it 3-1 in the 80th minute, but Bukayo Saka’s acrobatic volley from Martinelli’s cross was brilliantly palmed over the crossbar by Henderson to keep his side in the game. After the Eagles had soaked up all of Arsenal’s 2nd half pressure, they then pounced on a mistake in the 83rd minute to tie the game again. Daichi Kamada chased down Arsenal centre half William Saliba, forcing a poor pass from the Frenchman which Jean-Philippe Mateta was quick to jump on. Without even looking up, Mateta showed all his striker instincts, brilliantly chipping the ball over David Raya and into the top left corner, a fabulous equaliser. The full time score finished 2-2, with both sides playing out an entertaining draw despite them having bigger competitions to focus on currently (Arsenal play PSG in the Champions League semi-finals next week while Palace play Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend). Arsenal remain 2nd on 67 points and all Liverpool need now is a win on the weekend to ensure the Premier League title. Palace showed great spirit and fight to get a point at the Emirates despite resting several key players as they remain 12th on 45 points.
Brighton Hove & Albion vs West Ham United
The following game of Matchweek 34 played on Saturday afternoon saw Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton host Graham Potter’s West Ham at the Amex Stadium. Brighton made a positive start to the game and opened the scoring after just 13 minutes thanks to a world class goal from Yasin Ayari. The Swede received the ball outside the Hammers penalty area from Jack Hinshelwood where he was given too much time by the West Ham defenders. Ayari then cracked a shot, watching as his effort curled all the way into the top right corner, the best way possible to open his Premier League account. After not creating much at all, West Ham came inches away from equalising just before halftime after Maximilan Kilman’s cross was headed into the crossbar by Tomas Soucek. Brighton then thought they’d made it 2-0 before half time after Pervis Estupinian’s brilliant volley effort was saved by Alphonse Areola. Mats Wieffer’s effort was also saved by Areola before Simon Adingra smashed the ball home but the goal was ruled out as Wieffer was offside. The score at half-time stood at 1-0 with Brighton deserving of their advantage.
West Ham came out brilliantly for the 2nd period, scoring inside three minutes. Skipper Jarrod Bowen received the ball down the right wing from Aaron Wan-Bissaka where he drilled the ball across the Brighton penalty area. Mohammed Kudus was then able to get on the end of Bowen’s pass and poke the ball through Bart Verbruggen’s legs, his first goal since the Hammers played Brighton in December. After a much better 2nd half, West Ham silenced the Amex when they scored in the 83rd minute to flip the game on its head. Bowen claimed his 2nd assist of the afternoon, whipping the ball in from the right wing where Soucek stooped low to head the ball past Verbruggen and score his 8th of the season. Brighton then managed to score in the last minute of normal time to spoil the West Ham celebrations after Diego Gomez chipped the ball over the back post from the left wing. Brajan Gruda then headed the ball back across goal to Kaoru Mitoma who headed the ball past Areola, his 2nd goal off the bench in as many games. The Seagulls then completed the impossible in the last minute of the tie after Gruda claimed his 2nd assist of the game too, playing the ball to Carlos Baleba who was about 25 yards away from the West Ham goal. The West Ham defending was pathetic as they sat back, allowing Baleba to smash the ball into the top left corner winning all three points for Brighton. The full time score finished 3-2, a classic Premier League game, with Brighton picking up a huge win as they are still fighting for the latter European places. The Seagulls sit 9th on the table with 51 points while Potter’s horrific Hammers remain 17th on 36 points.
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
The final game of Matchweek 34 played on Sunday afternoon saw Arne Slot’s Liverpool host Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Tottenham silenced the Anfield crowd early on in the game, spoiling any early Liverpool parties after ex-Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke scored in the 12th minute. James Maddison whipped in Spurs’ latest corner which was met by a bullet of a header from Solanke, superbly finding the top right corner. Despite an early set back, Liverpool scored just moments later to get back on level terms. Mohamed Salah played a brilliant ball down the right wing to Dominik Szoboszlai who immediately fired the ball across the 6-yard box. Luis Diaz was then unmarked at the back post, tapping the ball past Guglielmo Vicario to score his 12th of the season. Liverpool then completed the turnaround in the 24th minute after Ryan Gravenberch dispossessed Archie Gray outside the Tottenham penalty area before poking it backwards to Alexis Mac Allister. Mac Allister struck the ball first time, watching as his rocket of an effort rifled into the top right corner. Liverpool then made it 3-1 just after the half hour mark when the ball fell to Cody Gakpo after a Liverpool corner. Gakpo showed great skill, dancing around the Spurs’ penalty area and dodging a few challenges before placing the ball into the bottom left corner. The half-time score stood at 3-1 with Liverpool 45 minutes away from lifting their 20th ever top flight title.
Liverpool had dominated the first half and wrapped up the win just after the hour mark when Szoboszlai found Salah outside the penalty area on the right side. Salah cut in and smashed the ball into the bottom right corner with his wand of a left boot, his trademark goal. No.5 for Liverpool came in the 69th minute after Diogo Jota’s blocked shot fell to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left side of the penalty area. Trent then poked the ball across the penalty area to find Salah, but Tottenham fullback Destiny Udogie did the job for them, unintentionally putting the ball into the back of his own net. The full time score finished 5-1, with Liverpool now officially able to go into party mode after their side has mathematically won their 2nd Premier League title. It has been a brilliant campaign for the Reds, with Slot winning the league in his debut season, a highly respectable feat. Liverpool move onto 82 points, with four games left in the season. Much like United, Spurs won’t be too bothered about their result, with their focus fully on the Europa League which could prove a backdoor into next season’s Champions League. Spurs sit 16th on 37 points.
Written by Ollie Wade – Read the rest of Matchweek 34 at Premier League Matchweek 34 24/25 – Kickoff chronicles
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