Monday Night Football Game Week 37

Crystal Palace 3 v 3 Liverpool Allen (18), Sturridge (53), Suarez (55), Delaney (79), Gayle (81,88)
First Half: Johnson has a penalty appeal turned down. Sakho heads wide of the far post from a corner. Johnson heads over the bar. Sturridge has a shot from the edge of the box deflected wide of the far post. Goal! 0-1, Liverpool take the lead through Allen who heads in at the far post from a corner. Puncheon has a low drilled shot from long range parried past the near post. Jedinak has a long range blast tipped over the bar.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Suarez has a penalty appeal turned down. Sturridge has a curling shot from the edge of the box parried onto the far post before Suarez blazes a shot over the bar. Goal! 0-2, Sturridge scores with a low shot from the edge of the box into the near bottom corner. Goal! 0-3, Suarez plays a neat one-two with Sterling before slotting a shot under the keeper at the near side. Goal! 1-3, Delaney's close range shot deflects in off Johnson into the near top corner. Coutinho has an effort tipped over the bar. Goal! 2-3, Bolasie makes a powerful run before laying the ball off to Gayle who steers a low shot into the far bottom corner. Goal! 3-3, Palace equalise as Murray chests the ball down to Gayle who slots a low shot into the near side. Lucas has an effort blocked.
Full Time: 3-3.
Palace 11th, 43>44pts
Liverpool 2nd>1st, 80>81pts



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Gayle. Palace stun Liverpool with amazing comeback. Palace were outplayed for the majority of the match and it looked like a case of how many they were going to concede. Nobody could have seen the incredible comeback that was to come as it was just extraordinary. At 3-0 down and with just over ten minutes to go, everyone expected Palace to lose. However, Palace broke away and scored through Delaney for what seemed like a consolation goal. Incredibly, Gayle came off the bench and netted a brace to level the match at 3-3. An outstanding effort in what was a brilliant short summary of their season under Pulis. 
Liverpool played so well and deservedly went three goals up and could easily have been more ahead. They knew that they had an inferior goal difference compared to Man City and thus this was a great chance to reduce that deficit. It really did seem like it was just a case of how many could Liverpool score. However, they struggled to find the back of the net after Suarez made it 3-0 and consequently pushed more and more players forward. This left them extremely vulnerable at the break and they paid a very heavy price for being so open. They should have had a rethink once Palace broke away and scored their first goal but they continued to press on which ended horribly for them. Gayle scored twice and at 3-3, Liverpool can't believe they have thrown three points away. That result puts the title firmly in City's control and it looks unlikely now that Liverpool will become champions. 

Best Goal: Sturridge, Suarez, Gayle. Winner: Sturridge

League Leaders:
1. Liverpool P37 - 81pts
2. Man City P36 - 80pts
3. Chelsea P37 - 79pts
4. Arsenal P37 - 76pts
5. Everton P37 - 69pts

Relegation Battle:
16. West Brom P36 - 36pts
17. Sunderland P36 - 35pts
18. Norwich P37 - 33pts
19. Fulham P37 - 31pts Relegated
20. Cardiff P37 - 30pts Relegated

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Monday Night Football 36

Arsenal 3 v 0 Newcastle United Koscielny (26), Ozil (42), Giroud (66)
First Half: Cazorla fires a low volley wide across goal. Goal! 1-0, Arsenal take the lead through Koscielny who converts from close range at the far side from a Cazorla free kick. Podolski sends a low effort wide across goal. Podolski has a header parried away off the line. Tiote has a long range strike saved. Debuchy fires a long range shot wide of the near post. Goal! 2-0, Giroud has an effort parried across goal straight to Ozil who converts from the rebound into the near side. Cazorla has a strike across goal really well parried away.
Half Time: 2-0.
Second Half: Cazorla volleys a shot over the bar. Gouffran has a low shot saved at the near side. Goal! 3-0, Giroud heads in an Ozil cross at the near side. Podolski strikes a low shot just wide of the near post. Gouffran has a low shot saved. Debuchy blazes a long range shot wide of the near post. Cazorla has a long range shot deflected over the bar.
Full Time: 3-0.
Arsenal 4th, 70>73pts
Newcastle 9th, 46pts



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Ozil. Arsenal cruise past Newcastle at Emirates. It was a very strong performance from the Gunners who deservedly took all three points after a comfortable night's work. There was only one team who looked like scoring and that was Arsenal. In the end they scored three but it could have been more as Cazorla and Podolski both had good chances in front of goal. The class of Ozil and Ramsay shone as Newcastle just couldn't stop either of them pulling the strings in midfield. With two games to go now, Arsenal look set to seal 4th place as should win their remaining fixtures.
Newcastle were poor and didn't get going at all throughout the game. Tiote, Debucy and Gouffran all threatened but there was a clear difference in class between the two sides in front of goal. Things are not getting any easier for Pardew and they need this season to end sooner rather than later. They need to replace Cabaye in the summer whilst Remy is rumoured to be leaving. Gloomy times for the Toon Army. 

Best Goal: Giroud - Watch the Goal here

League Leaders
1. Liverpool P36 - 80pts
2. Chelsea P36 - 78pts
3. Man City P35 - 77pts
4. Arsenal P36 - 73pts
5. Everton P36 - 69pts

Relegation Battle
16. Aston Villa P35 - 35pts
17. Sunderland P35 - 32pts
18. Norwich P36 - 32pts
19. Fulham P36 - 31pts
20. Cardiff P36 - 30pts

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Monday Night Football 35

Manchester City 3 v 1 West Bromich Albion Zabaleta (3), Aguero (10), Dorrans (16), Demichelis (36)
First Half: Goal! 1-0, City take an early lead after Aguero has a volley parried to Zabaleta who heads into the far side from the rebound. Aguero fires a shot just over he far side. Goal! 2-0, City double their lead as Aguero scores with a low strike from long range into the far bottom corner. Sessegnon fires a long range shot just wide of the far post. Dzeko fires wide of the near post. Goal! 2-1, West Brom half the deficit as Dorrans controls the ball beautifully and using some quick feet slots past Hart into the near side. Brunt has a free kick spilled by Hart. Goal! 3-1, City restore their two goal lead as Kompany flicks a header across goal from a corner which Demichelis touches in at the far post. Sessegnon has an effort deflected over the bar.
Half Time: 3-1.
Second Half: Zabaleta has an effort deflected wide. Nasri has a low effort blocked behind at the near post. Amalfitano has a low shot from long range pushed away from the far side. Jovetic strikes a low shot from the edge of the box wide of the near post. Dzeko curls a shot wide of the far post. Milner has a low shot saved at the near post.
Full Time: 3-1.
Man City 3rd, 71>74pts
West Brom 16th, 33pts



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Nasri. City started the game really well, scoring twice within the opening ten minutes. Their lead was halved six minutes later but Demichelis was in the right place at the right time to tap in from close range to restore their two goal advantage. The job was pretty much done by the end of the first half and the win never looked in doubt during the second half as City cruised to three points. They are still six points behind Liverpool with a game in hand but this result keeps the pressure on their rivals as they hope Liverpool slip up during the run in. 
West Brom got off to a terrible start which saw them fall two goals behind very quickly. Dorrans scored a great goal to half the deficit but they conceded another before half time which saw their hopes taking a point diminish. At 3-1 down, they game had gone and they struggled to pose much of a threat in the second half, instead doing rather well to hang on at 3-1 until full time. They will be desperate to pick up another victory before the season ends as it could make all the difference to them staying up. It looks okay for the Baggies right now with their game in hand but a few more points would certainly not go amiss. 

Best Goal: Aguero - Watch the goal here

League Leaders
1. Liverpool P35, 80pts
2. Chelsea P35, 75pts
3. Man City P34, 74pts
4. Arsenal P35, 70pts
5. Everton P35, 69pts

Relegation Battle
16. West Brom P34, 33pts
17. Norwich P35, 32pts
18. Cardiff P35, 30pts
19. Fulham P35, 30pts
20. Sunderland P34, 29pts

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Monday Night Football Game Week 17

Arsenal 0 v 0 Chelsea
First Half: Ramires heads over the bar. Lampard hits the bar with a volley following a through ball from Hazard. Willian has a tame low shot saved.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Ivanovic has a tame shot saved. Lampard has a long range low shot saved. Giroud slices a shot wide of the near post. Giroud has a close range effort parried over the bar. Sagna has a header cleared off the line.
Full Time: 0-0.



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Lampard. Goalless draw played out at the Emirates. It would be fair to say that Arsenal didn't get many decisions go in their favour from the referee. However, they struggled to create many chances and shots on goal as Chelsea put up a stubborn defence. Chelsea looked the team more likely to score the winner as they produced more chances on goal. Lampard came closest but his volley came back off the bar. It was a point gained for both teams with neither contemplating defeat at all.

Mondat Night Football Game Week 15

Swansea City 1 v 1 Hull City Graham (9), Chico (65)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Graham scores against his former club with a left footed volley at the far post from close range. Pozuelo fires over the bar from the edge of the box.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, Chico levels for Swansea after a Shelvey cross hits him and goes in from close range. Sagbo has a long range driven shot well saved by the keeper. Michu has a shot saved.
Full Time: 1-1.

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Shelvey. Swansea fought back well from a tough position to take a point from the game. Hull looked the more likely to win the game but were unable to hold on during the second half. It was good to see Graham score against his old club too.

Best Goal: Graham

Monday Night Football Game Week 12

West Brom 2 v 2 Aston Villa Long (3, 11), El Ahmadi (67), Westwood (76)
First Half: Goal! 1-0, Long controls the ball perfectly before firing low into the far bottom corner. Goal! 2-0, Long beats a defender before chipping the ball neatly over the keeper. 
Half Time: 2-0.
Second Half: Goal! 2-1, El Ahmadi dinks the ball over the keeper from close range. Goal! 2-2, Westwood strike from long range finds the inside of the near post. 
Full Time: 2-2.



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Long. West Brom were brilliant in the first half and deservedly led at half time. However, a poor second half display cost them two vital points. Villa got off to a slow start but fought back valiantly during the second half. Overall, a draw was a fair reflection of how the game developed.

Best Goal: Long

Monday Night Football Game Week 8

Fulham claim important win over Palace



Crystal Palace 1 v 4 Fulham Mariappa (7), Kasami (19), Sidwell (45), Berbatov (50), Senderos (55)

Two wonder goals sink Palace. Palace started the game well as Gayle went close with a low strike saved from close range before Mariappa put the home side ahead in the opening ten minutes after climbing abover Hangeland to head in at from close range. O'Keefe put a dragged shot just wide of the post before Fulham equalised in spectacular style. Kasami levelled with one of the goals of the season after chesting the ball up before volleying with his right foot into the far top corner, similarly to Van Basten. Sidwell scored another brilliant goal just before half time to put Fulham ahead with a stunning volley into the top corner. Palace were still stunned from the first half as Fulham pressed early in the second. Bent had a low shot well saved before Berbatov headed in at the far corner to double Fulham's lead. A rare goal for Senderos put Fulham 4-1 ahead after a close range volley at the far post. Gayle had a goal ruled out for offside before O'Keefe had a long shot easily saved. Thomas hit a free kick wildly over whilst Kasami had a long range strike tipped over the bar late on. 

My Opinion:

My man of the match was Sidwell who dominated midfield. Palace started well but were simply left shell shocked by two wonder goals. Fulham needed that victory so badly and Jol will have two magnificent strikes from his players to thank.

Best Goal: Contenders: Kasami, Sidwell. Winner: Kasami

Monday Night Football Game Week 6

Lukaku scores twice as Everton beat Newcastle



Everton 3 v 2 Newcastle Lukaku (5,37), Barkley (25), Cabaye (51), Remy (89)

Everton produced a magic first half to beat Newcastle. It was a great start for Everton who went ahead in the opening five minutes as Lukaku scored from close range. Barkley then put Everton 2-0 up after scoring with a low shot. Newcastle were struggling defensively against Lukaku and they paid the price again before half time as Lukaku controlled a long ball from Howard and coolly rounded Krul to score. Newcastle came out a different team in the second half and Cabaye produced a spectacular long range strike to beat Howard. Newcastle pulled another goal back with a minute to go as Remy poked home from close range but Everton held on to win 3-2.

My Opinion:

My man of the match was Lukaku who terrorised the Newcastle defence. Everton fully dominated the first half and deservedly went 3-0 up before half time. Newcastle were awful in the first half but came back a better team in the second. They managed to pull two goals back but Everton deserved to win. 

Best Goal: Cabaye 

Monday Night Football Game Week 4

Michu salvages point for Swansea


Swansea 2 v 2 Liverpool Shelvey (2), Sturridge (4), Moses (36), Michu (84)

 Jonjo Shelvey had a game to remember after being involved in all four goals. It was the perfect start to his and Swansea's game as Shelvey provided a good finish to give Swansea the lead inside the second minute. However, Liverpool equalised almost straight away after Shelvey's back pass was picked up by Sturridge who coolly slotted home. Before the first half ended, Moses picked up Shelvey's misplaced pass and brilliantly smashed home from long range to put Liverpool ahead. Shelvey managed to make up for his poor passes in the first half by giving the ball to Michu, with only six minutes to go, who scored to level the match at 2-2. 

My Opinion:

My man of the match has to go to Jonjo Shelvey as he was involved in all four goals. It was a fairly even game but Shelvey cost Swansea both goals in the first half. Luckily for Swansea, Shelvey managed to provide an assist for the right team as Michu deservedly levelled the match.

Best Goal: Victor Moses scored a fierce shot to the near post.

Monday Night Football Game Week 2

Chelsea hold Man United to goalless draw



Manchester United 0 v 0 Chelsea

Chelsea played defensively and got the draw they came to get. Oscar had the first chance of the game but his shot was saved. United created chances but could not find a breakthrough as Van Persie fired into the side netting before Rooney's tame effort was saved. Cleverly saw his wild shot blast high and wide before Oscar could only produce a tame effort as the game went into half time at 0-0. The second half produced much more of the same as Welbeck fired high and wide before Cahill had his long range rocket saved by De Gea. There was a brief moment of real excitement as Schurrle smashed his shot onto the crossbar but the German was given offside. Rooney tried to force the issue towards the latter stages of the game but his long range shot was saved before seeing another effort saved by Cech as the game finished 0-0.

My Opinion:

The man of the match goes to Wayne Rooney who outshone everyone else. Mourinho set his side out for a defensive draw by playing Schurrle in the lone striker role. United really went for the win but neither Van Persie or Rooney could find the net. United really lacked the creative influence needed from a creative midfielder and will look to address that problem.

Performance of the Day: The Chelsea defence coped well with United's attacking threat. 

Monday Night Football Week 1

Man City run riot as they thrash Newcastle



Manchester City 4 v 0 Newcastle (Silva 6, Aguero 22, Yaya Toure 50, Nasri 75, Steven Taylor sent off)

It was a great start to the new campaign for new manager Manuel Pellegrini and Man City as they romped to victory over Newcastle. David Silva opened the scoring in the sixth minute after heading in Dzeko's cross. Aguero doubled city's lead after converting a Zabaleta through ball. It was much of the same in the second half as City dominated. Yaya Toure made it 3-0 after scoring a brilliant free kick from the edge of the box. Samir Nasri completed City's rout as the Frenchman slotted home. The night got worse for Newcastle when Steven Taylor was shown a straight red card for what looked like a clothesline on Sergio Aguero.

My Opinion:

My man of the match was Yaya Toure who not only scored but dominated the midfield. City looked in great shape and will be looking to add many more performances like this one to their season. Not pretty stuff from Newcastle who looked very poor. Steven Taylor got very frustrated and stupidly lashed out on Aguero and deservedly got a red card.

Goal of Game: Sergio Aguero