There was another round of Premier League action on Saturday 18 January 2020, as eight fixtures took place in a pretty full afternoon.
Official highlights provider, Sky Sport, put the following out on their YouTube channel. I’ve collected them together into one fast loading page, for fans like me to enjoy.
Table of Contents
Man City v Crystal Palace (2-2)
City dropped more points in their forlorn-looking title challenge, thanks to a last minute Fernandinho own goal. Ouch. Palace are still picking up points from losing positions – Roy Hodgson has instilled some belief in his side, and they maintain their push for a top half finish.
Watford v Spurs (0-0)
I keep saying Watford are showing too good form to go down, and they nearly bagged three points against out-of-sorts Spurs, but Troy Deeney had a penalty saved in the day’s early kick-off match. A point shared is a point away from the bottom three, though. Tottenham need to find an odd goal now Kane is out of action.
Norwich v Bournemouth (1-0)
Another side who have been playing okay, but failing to pick up points, has been Norwich – in stark contrast to today’s opponents, Bournemouth, who have been enduring awful form recently. This one went to recent form, as Norwich got a 1-0 win thanks to a penalty from their top scoring player, Timo Pukki. Cook was sent off for the visitors for an inexplicible instinctive hand-ball. Clear red. Game over, really. Bournemouth need a change in form, and fast.
Arsenal v Sheffield United (1-1)
Arsenal are still stuttering this season, while Sheffield United continue to show why their top-half position is more than just a honeymoon. Today Blades came from behind as the Gunners failed to put away a match winning position, and not for the first time.
Brighton v Aston Villa (1-1)
Both of these sides are struggling in the bottom half of the table, so this was well and truly a relegation battle. As so often this season, Villa needed Grealish to get anything from this match. A point a piece doesn’t really help either team, but it could have been much worse for Villa, who stay in the bottom three, but remain in touch. It’s tight down there.
West Ham v Everton (1-1)
Another match where both sides will have targetted three points, but had to share one each was this West Ham v Everton clash. This was a tight match, which West Ham, having opened the scoring, perhaps had the best of in terms of shots, but honours were very much otherwise even. With their experienced managers at the helm, both look good enough to ease away from trouble, and towards the top half of the table… at present.
Southampton v Wolves (2-3)
Match of the day for sure was at St Mary’s, where Saints’ impressive run of recent form came to an end as Wolves’ season-long run of solid performances continued.
Newcastle v Chelsea
Newcastle scored a remarkable late winner deep in stoppage time to pinch three points from a visiting Chelsea who looked nailed on to win this one at the time. Pressing hard, and with most of the possession, the Geordies got a smash and grab winner which is what football is all about, really. You’ve got to take your chances when they come, and the Magpies did exactly that. Excitement, on Tyneside, late on Saturday evening.
