Monday 3 October 2016

Premier League Picks Of The Week 7

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 7

The seventh week of the Premier League action saw

227 shots - most by Man United = 24

20 goals - most by Chelsea, Everton and Spurs = 2 each

198 fouls - most by Spurs = 20

32 bookings - most by Bournemouth = 4

0 red cards

2 penalties - 1 scored, 1 saved

What a game! Watford came back from behind twice in a four-goal thriller against Bournemouth at Vicarage Road, after the visitors had hit the woodwork three times in the second half. Captain Troy Deeney's 99th goal for the club had levelled Callum Wilson's headed opener, before substitute Isaac Success secured the point for the home side, levelling out substitute Joshua King's long-range deflected effort with just three minutes between the two goals.

What a team! Chelsea ended their slump of a run after two successive league defeats, beating Hull City in a hard-earned 2-0 win at the KCOM Stadium, thanks to Willian and Diego Costa.
James Milner's late penalty gave Liverpool a hard-fought win at Swansea, making the Reds the most prolific away side this season.
And last but definitely not least, vibrant Spurs impressed most with their thrilling 2-0 victory against City, outplaying Pep Guardiola's side throughout, making an early but clear statement regarding their challenge for the title.

What a man! After another defeat, all eyes and pressure are on Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin and whether he will keep his job past the international break. Despite a spirited performance against high-flying Liverpool, no points were recorded for the Swans, once again, leaving them hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference, having not won in the league since the opening day of the season. The owners did state before the match that the manner of the performances would have as much of a bearing on Guidolin's future as the results, so, there is still some hope for the Swansea boss.

What a goal! Dimitri Payet's wonderful equaliser for West Ham against Middlesbrough not only ended the Hammers' dreadful run of four successive league defeats and gave the Frenchman his first league goal of the season, but also showed an exemplary piece of individual play, beating five players on his way. Substitute Anthony Martial's fine sweep and curled shot which gave United the lead was a skillful effort, too. However, David de Gea's giveaway which led to Joe Allen poking in an equaliser, handed Stoke a point and spoiled the show for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

What the hell?! Arsenal left it very late at Burnley, indeed, and how Laurent Koscielny's goal counted, I cannot and do not fathom. Theo Walcott had headed the ball towards Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose effort went in off Koscielny's elbow, standing on the goal-line. So, not only was it a handball, but also offside could have been argued to chalk off that goal. Even Mister "I have not seen it" Arsène Wenger looked bemused and admitted the Gunners were lucky to have been given that goal.

My predictions - Actual results
Everton 1:0 Crystal Palace - 1:1
Swansea 0:2 Liverpool - 1:2
Hull City 1:2 Chelsea - 0:2
Sunderland 0:0 West Brom - 1:1
Watford 1:1 Bournemouth - 2:2
West Ham 2:0 Middlesbrough - 1:1
Man United 3:1 Stoke - 1:1
Leicester 2:0 Southampton - 0:0
Tottenham 0:1 Man City - 2:0
Burnley 0:1 Arsenal - 0:1

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks

All images taken from the BBC match reports

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