So, Matchday 20 of the Premier League just took place, and well, we were not prepared for the performances that we got.
Some of the results were surprising, but the performances that caused them are the thing that flipped us over.
The North London Derby gave us the results we expected, as Tottenham and Arsenal faced each other, but a big slip from the Spurs just took us by surprise.
The other derby, that of Manchester, gave us an unexpected but very welcomed upset.
Newcastle managed to give the expected result after taking a win over Fulham in controversial final minutes.
Finally, Brighton not only got upset but simply crushed Liverpool in their meeting on Saturday.
Premier League Matchday 20: Tottenham vs. Arsenal
When:
Sunday, January 15 at 11:30 am ET
Moneyline odds:
Tottenham +218
Arsenal +117
Draw Offs:
+259
Where Can I Watch it?
USA Network, Telemundo Deportes, and NBC Sports App
A horrendous own goal from Hugo Lloris and a brilliant finish from Martin Odegaard was enough to ensure the league leaders would take all three points back to the Emirates.
There were a few chances for the home side to halve the deficit in the second half but they were stifled by Mikel Arteta’s side.
From minute one, Arsenal was the better side and it wasn’t long before they took the lead. Within a quarter of an hour, Lloris somehow spilled a rather tame Bukayo Saka’s cross beyond his goal line.
Tottenham fell apart when that went in and there was a sense of inevitability about another Arsenal goal.
Thomas Partey crashed a volley onto the woodwork and Lloris kept out a great strike from Odegaard before the visitors’ captain left the opposing skipper with no chance.
He moved into acres of space 25 yards from the goal before unleashing a perfect low strike into the bottom corner to give his side a deserved two-goal lead.
Aaron Ramsdale made sure there was no danger of Tottenham’s second-half form saving them once again.
He saved excellently from Harry Kane and then Ryan Sessegnon to maintain his clean sheet and help Arsenal move another three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal has opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League after beating Tottenham 2-0 in the north London derby.
Premier League Matchday 20: Manchester United vs. Manchester City
When:
Saturday, January 14 at 7:30 am ET
Moneyline odds:
Manchester United +320
Manchester City -125
Draw Offs:
+285
Where Can I Watch it?
USA Network, Telemundo Deportes, and NBC Sports App
Manchester United staged a stunning late turnaround to come from behind and beat Manchester City in a dramatic derby at Old Trafford.
City looked to be closing the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal after substitute Jack Grealish headed them in front from Kevin de Bruyne’s cross on the hour, only for United to send their fans into raptures with a superb recovery.
Erik ten Hag’s side drew level in contentious fashion with 12 minutes left as Bruno Fernandes scored despite the presence of Marcus Rashford in an offside position, City’s protests that he had interfered with play ignored despite the flag going up.
Rashford was the central figure again four minutes later when he swept in substitute Alejandro Garnacho’s cross at the Stretford End to move United to within one point of City, who is now 8 points adrift of Arsenal.
City’s players were left with a mixture of emotions at the final whistle following this tumultuous defeat.
The Premier League champions looked in control following Grealish’s goal after a shaky first half, only for United to turn the tables on them amid chaotic scenes late on, landing a 2-1 victory.
Premier League Matchday 20: Newcastle vs. Fulham
When:
Sunday, January 15 at 9:00 am ET
Moneyline odds:
Newcastle -198
Fulham +522
Draw Offs:
+342
Where Can I Watch it?
USA Network, Telemundo Deportes, and NBC Sports App
Newcastle had dominated the game aside from one early spell and the penalty, controversially awarded in the first place, and Callum Wilson’s close-range chip to Isak was nodded home just after the clock read 90:00.
Fulham won a second-half penalty almost completely against the run of play when Bobby Decordova-Reid came together with Kieran Trippier on the right edge of the box.
Initially waved away by referee Robert Jones, VAR asked Jones to head back to the screen for another look and the referee saw a penalty this time.
Ex-Newcastle forward Mitrovic slipped while taking the VAR-awarded penalty and clipped his shot off his plant leg and into the goal, the double touch eventually spotted and nullifying the visitors would-be lead.
With Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty goal taken off the board and Alexander Isak scoring in the first minute of stoppage time, Newcastle United found a way past Bernd Leno in a 1-0 win over Fulham at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
Premier League Matchday 20: Brighton vs. Liverpool
When:
Saturday, January 14 at 10:00 am ET
Moneyline odds:
Brighton +217
Liverpool +115
Draw Offs:
+270
Where Can I Watch it?
USA Network, Telemundo Deportes, and NBC Sports App
Liverpool was largely controlled for the first hour of the match, conceding two goals in the first eight minutes of the second half in a manner that was entirely befitting of their performance.
There are excuses for the Reds with injuries and fixture congestion but they weren’t excuses they were taking in previous years.
Given their spending, losing to Brentford by two, drawing Wolves, and losing to Brighton by three consecutively just shouldn’t happen to this club.
The Seagulls exposed Liverpool with pace, electricity, and effort. The tactics were there too, as De Zerbi flexed his depth without wantaway Leandro Trossard and with 18-year-old Evan Ferguson continuing to make a bright case in the attack.
Ultimately, though, Alexis Mac Allister continues to show the brilliance of Brighton’s talent identification.
Brighton and Hove Albion roasted Liverpool 3-0 on Saturday in a score line that only began to tell the tale from the Amex Stadium on Saturday.