UPDATE: Please note that all this weekend’s games, including Monday night have been postponed as a mark of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
The highlight games for this weekend’s action are FULHAM versus CHELSEA and MAN CITY versus TOTTENHAM. Our feature columnist, John Newsome previews these as well as all game week 7 matches with his unique and insightful commentary. You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at the time of publication
Game Week-7
Saturday 10th
FULHAM v CHELSEA
12.30 in England
BT Sport
Fulham suffered just a 2nd-defeat from the opening 6-games on Saturday.
The strange thing about those losses is they were against the North London rivals, Arsenal and Tottenham.
At the Chas and Dave Memorial Stadium, Marco Silva’s Cottagers conceded a goal in each half before that man Aleksandar Mitrovic pulled one back scoring from a superb strike.
Unfortunately for the West Londoners, Big Mit’s goal, his 6th of the campaign, proved to be just a consolation with the North Londoners holding on to inflict the defeat by a 2-1 scoreline.
Fulham sit in 10th place in the Premier League table, with 8-points, which is still a great return considering the teams faced, Liverpool, Wolves, Brentford, Arsenal, Brighton and Tottenham.
The dreaded VAR at Stockley Park has had a bad weekend with numerous errors, one being a late Tottenham goal that was somehow ruled out because Richarlison’s kneecap was a millimetre offside.
More on that in the Tottenham preview.
Chelsea gained a much-needed victory on Saturday at Stamford Bridge inflicting a defeat on West Ham by a 2-1 scoreline.
After a goalless 1st-half, it was the away side that took the lead on the hour mark.
Ben Chilwell equalised for Chelsea before Kai Havertz scored the vital winner in the 88th minute.
Then the controversy started with the dreaded VAR, once again becoming too busy for their own good.
What first appeared like an error by Edouard Mendy that led to the Hammers thinking they had scored a late equaliser, the Stockley Park gang deemed that Edouard had somehow been fouled, so chalked off the goal.
Obviously, Thomas Tuchel was happy and came out afterwards to say that it was a foul on his goalkeeper, however, most folk that doesn’t have an allegiance to Thomas’s Blue Engines, know that it was a bad decision by the Video Assistant Referee.
More to come throughout this week’s column.
Chelsea sit 6th in the infant Premier League table with 10-points.
The Blues travel to Croatia for Tuesday’s Champions League Group opener against Dinamo Zagreb.
It was January 2021 when Chelsea last ventured the short distance over to Craven Cottage.
At the time, there were two England Midfielders in charge of the team with Scott Parker’s Fulham hosting Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
Antonee Robinson received a straight Red Card just before the half-time whistle that allowed Ant-Double-E to put the kettle on for his mates.
Mason Mount scored midway through the 2nd-half to give the Blues the victory by a 1-0 score.
Frank didn’t last much longer and was sacked by Roman Abramovic after a defeat against Leicester in the following game.
Betfred offer Fulham at 7/2, the draw at 3/1 and slight Odds On 3/4 for Chelsea to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 13/10 that Aleksandar Mitrovic Scores Anytime and 3/1 that Jorginho Scores Anytime.
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BOURNEMOUTH v BRIGHTON
15.00 in England
Bournemouth ruined everyone’s Saturday afternoon Accas by surprisingly gaining a victory over Nottingham Forest from a 3-2 away day score.
What made the result even more special for the travelling Cherries, if that’s even possible, is Bournemouth conceded 2-goals in the 1st-half to trail at the break.
Philip Billings hit a superb strike just after the restart to pull a goal back before Dominic Solanke equalised on the hour mark.
Jaidon Anthony scored late on to complete a brilliant comeback for the Cherries, meaning the caretaker gaffer, Gary O’Neil has overseen a draw and a win since Four Stripes Scott Parker left.
That’s not saying Gary will get the job permanently but the ex-everyone Midfielder (there are too many to mention as Mr O’Neil has had more clubs than Seve Ballesteros) is doing a great job that will please the hierarchy and if it continues against the Seagulls, then whose to say the lad won’t become the full-time manager at the Vitality.
Bournemouth sit 13th in the table with 7-points from the opening 6-games.
Crisis? What crisis?
Brighton inflicted a devastating defeat on Leicester last Sunday, with Graham’s Wizards getting the victory over Brendan’s not-so-Wonderfuls by a 5-2 score.
The Premier League doesn’t often throw up a 5-2 scoreline, however, Game Week-6 has included two by that result.
Leicester scored 1st after a minute that stunned the Seagulls.
The unfortunate Foxes Defender Luke Thomas deflected a cross past his own ‘keeper to gift Brighton an equaliser 10-minutes after the opener.
Moises Caciedo, who Manchester United should have bought or at least made an offer, added a 2nd for the home team after 15-minutes.
Leicester scored an equaliser after half an hour and with no further significant action, both teams went in level at the break.
There was another controversial VAR moment early in the 2nd-half.
With the problems at Stockley Park on Saturday, it was hoped that nothing happened on Sunday.
Not so!
The girls and boys overseeing the VAR were back on form watching the fixture at the Amex.
Pause in the play!
Let’s just clear up the elephant in the room regarding the Video Assistant Referee.
VAR isn’t the problem!
It’s the imbeciles (Human Beings!) that are at fault not the concept of the Video analysis correcting wrong decisions.
It works brilliantly in Rugby and Cricket and should work in Football, however, football is a slightly faster sport and the custodians of the Premier League have a slightly different perspective on their precious game.
Firstly, the on-field referee should make the correct decision more often, as Roy Keane would say,
‘It’s their job!’
In Cricket the DRS, which means Decision Review System, is basically a VAR giving an accurate decision based on fact.
For example, an LBW decision, (Leg Before Wicket) is either out or not, it’s not subjective, if the ball is going on to hit the wicket, it’s Out, if the ball hit’s the pad outside of the line of the stumps it’s Not Out.
A Caught Behind has Snicko,(Snickometer) which detects if the ball has hit the bat.
In Rugby, it’s the same, either right or wrong.
In Football, the decisions are subjective.
Subjective means,
‘A decision that is based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions, as in,
‘Their views are highly subjective.’
So if the on-field referee misses an incident, then VAR can alter things.
That means that there are several subjective views.
Has the referee not given the decision because he’s not seen the incident or does he not think it was worthy of blowing the whistle?
Subjective.
Then the girls and boys at Stockley Park, looking at the Video (supposedly ‘Assisting’) have a different opinion.
Again, subjective.
In Cricket, it’s either Out or Not Out.
In Football, it’s not as clear as that.
In this fixture at the Amex, the excellent Alexis Mac Allister scored a superb goal, 2-minutes after the restart.
Note the 2-minutes comment meaning that was 47-minutes into the game.
The idiots at Stockley Park deemed that a Brighton player was offside, not Alexis but a player in the area when the initial free-kick was taken.
The Brighton player didn’t even touch the ball when the Leicester player then headed out to Alexis who smashed the ball from 25-yards into the top corner.
It took the dreaded VAR, four and a half minutes (count them!) to decide that was offside.
Firstly the Brighton player didn’t touch the ball so despite the Sky Sports commentary stating that it didn’t matter, it does, the Leicester Defender headed the ball out to Alexis who scored a perfectly good goal.
A horrendous decision by VAR.
The Video Assistant Referee was brought in to clear up horrendous errors that have been missed, not marginal decisions that become subjective.
Also, a player should be deemed offside if his foot is in front, not an elbow, kneecap or armpit hair.
VAR 1 Football 0
Leandro Trossard did add a legitimate 3rd before Alexis Mac Allister converted a penalty to make it 4-2.
The excellent Argentinian, then scored a superb free-kick in the final minute to seal Brightons’ victory by the 5-2 score.
It was a convincing display, however, without taking anything away from Graham Potter’s Seagulls, the Foxes were rubbish and it won’t be too long before Brendan Rogers is down the concrete.
Graham’s Wizards sit 4th in the table with 13-points out of the opening 6 fixtures.
Brighton last headed the short distance West along the South Coast to the Vitality back in January 2020 before the Coronavirus situation changed the World as one knows it.
The short distance is 100 miles by the way.
A Pascal Gross own goal after Harry Wilson had opened the scoring gave Eddie Howe’s Cherries a lead at the break.
Callum Wilson added the 3rd midway through the 2nd-half before Aaron Mooy pulled a goal back for the Seagulls that ultimately was just a consolation meaning the home team got the victory by a 3-1 scoreline.
Aaron is a decent little player who left the Amex and headed to China for the copious amounts of Dollars on offer.
The Australian has made his way back to these shores, currently plying his trade for Celtic in the Pub League.
Betfred offer Bournemouth at 19/5, the draw at 5/2 and slight Odds On 4/5 for Brighton to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 12/5 that Alexis Mac Allister Scores Anytime and 9/5 that Brighton Win To Nil.
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LEICESTER v ASTON VILLA
15..00 in England
It’s fair to say that Leicester are struggling.
This column will go to print probably on Tuesday the 6th if not Wednesday the 7th, so it’s quite conceivable that the hierarchy at Leicester have decided to relieve Brendan Rodgers of his position at the King Power Stadium.
If not, this could progress into an early relegation battle that sees Brendan’s not-so-Wonderfuls take on Stevie G’s not-so-great Villa at the King Power.
It’s quite possible that the loser of this Midland Derby could find themselves at the Job Centre.
Scott Parker has already offered both managers advice on how to fill in a Job Seekers Allowance form.
Brendan had a forlorn look on his face at the end of the game against Brighton on Sunday.
Maybe the little Irish fella knew what was heading his way over the next few days.
Leicester suffered their 5th loss in succession on the South Coast, succumbing to a defeat by a 5-2 away day score.
The Foxes took the lead after a minute of the game starting with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the early goal.
Kelechi was in for Jamie Vardy in a change in Brendan’s starting lineup.
Brighton then scored twice, the 1st being credited as a Luke Thomas own goal.
Patson Daka equalised with a 2nd Leicester goal after half an hour which should have seen Leicester push on in the 2nd-half.
Unfortunately, the Seagulls were too good and scored 3 more after the break to inflict the defeat on a sorry set of Foxes.
There was a stat saying that the Leicester goalkeeper, Danny Ward saved 23-shots from the Brighton players.
Twenty-three times that the Leicester players allowed the opposition to have a pop at goal.
Losing Wesley Fofana and Kasper Schmeichel are big losses but Brendan needs to quickly regroup his players and get them back on track otherwise the Championship beckons.
Leicester sit rock bottom of the Premier League table with 1-point from the opening 6 fixtures.
Aston Villa put in a strong performance against Man City in the late Saturday afternoon kickoff.
Whilst the result of a draw by a 1-1 score is great for Steven Gerrard and his Claret and Blues, to the neutral out there, City were the better team but just couldn’t score more than one, despite several clear chances.
After a goalless 1st-half and falling behind to a goal by Erling Haaland, Jacob Ramsey scored for Villa to equalise.
With no further goals, both shared the points.
There was another VAR decision that Stevie G questioned but in truth the referee was correct.
The linesman flagged for offside so the referee blew the whistle and then Philippe Coutinho hit a great strike that ended up in the net.
The offside decision turned out to be incorrect, so Steven said that the referee should have played on but once the flag goes up, the on-field ref, Simon Hooper had to blow his whistle and once that happened everyone stops so it’s irrelevant what happens subsequently.
Aston Villa sit in 17th place, just above the relegation zone with the same 4-points as Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Everton.
In last season’s affair towards the end of the campaign, there were no heroes or Villains in a humdrum Derby stalemate with both teams failing to trouble the scorers meaning the game ended in a draw by a 0-0 score.
Betfred offer Leicester at 6/4, the draw at 12/5 and 9/5 for Aston Villa to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 6/5 that Jamie Vardy Scores Anytime and 19/10 that Ollie Watkins Scores Anytime.
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LIVERPOOL v WOLVES
15.00 in England
Another 3.00 PM Saturday kickoff for the Scousers, the 2nd in a fortnight after the destruction of Bournemouth 2-weeks ago.
Liverpool were held to a goalless draw at Goodison Park in the early Saturday afternoon kickoff with the game against Everton finishing in a draw by a 0-0 score.
Despite there not being any goals it was a great game for the spectators with the away team working Jordan Pickford throughout the 90-minutes.
Liverpool sit 7th in the infant Premier League table, with the same 9 points as Brentford from the opening 6 fixtures.
Jurgen’s Reds face Napoli in Italy on Wednesday in the Champions League before hosting Wolves at the weekend.
Wolves gained a great victory against Southampton on Saturday with a single Daniel Podence goal on the stroke of half-time being the difference between the two teams.
With no further goals in the 2nd half, Bruno’s Gold and Blacks inflicted the defeat on Wreck-Its Saints by a 1-0 score.
Wolves sit 14th in the table with the same 6-points as Crystal Palace from the opening 6-games played.
The ex-Chelsea brute, Diego Costa has been signed by Wolves this week, after the Transfer Window closed, due to him being a free agent.
The new boy Sasa Kalajdzic lasted 45 minutes of his debut then sustained a serious knee injury meaning the £15 Million man will be out of action for a while, so Bruno has turned to Diego.
The Lage Louts were all in the Black Country boozers after the game drinking pints of Lager.
In last season’s fixture at the home of Liverpool, this was the final game of the campaign with Klipperty’s Klopp’s knowing that if a victory was achieved married with Man City failing to win against Aston Villa then Liverpool would be Premier League Champions.
With both games kicking off at the same time, it was Wolves who scored 1st out of the 4-teams, with Pedro Neto getting the opener after 3-minutes.
City were struggling themselves at the Etihad, conceding a Villa goal before the break to go in at half-time trailing.
Sadio Mane had equalised for Liverpool meaning both teams in that fixture were level at the interval.
As it stood whilst the pie and pints were being purchased, both Liverpool and Man City had 90-points apiece.
After 70-minutes of both games, City had conceded a 2nd, meaning Jurgen’s Reds had to score to become Champions.
Pep’s Blues pulled a goal back in the 76th, then equalised in the 78th, before scorings a 3rd in the 81st, meaning it was back in Man City’s hands.
Mo Salah and Andy Robertson scored late on for Liverpool to inflict the defeat on Wolves by a 3-1 scoreline.
Unfortunately for the Anfield Rappers, it wasn’t enough as Pep’s High Flying Blues held on for their victory and got the title with 93-points, with Liverpool in 2nd on 92.
Betfred offer Liverpool at Odds On 1/4, the draw at 5/1 and 11/1 for Wolves to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 14/5 that Mo Salah Scores First and slight Odds On 20/21 that Liverpool Win To Nil.
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SOUTHAMPTON v BRENTFORD
15.00 in England
Southampton suffered a 3rd defeat of the season following Saturday’s fixture against Wolves at Molineux.
The home team scored on the stroke of half-time and with no further goals, got the victory by a 1-0 scoreline.
Che Adams did have a beautiful opportunity to equalise, firstly heading the ball against the crossbar then secondly when it appeared easier to head into an open goal, the Scottish Striker, reminiscent of the great Diego Maradona and the legendary Kobe Bryant, armed (yes his arm!) the ball into the net.
The dreaded VAR has had a bad weekend but even the Stockley Park gang couldn’t allow that one.
Southampton sit 12th in the table with the same 7-points as Newcastle and Bournemouth.
The first of the 5-2 scorelines came at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday, with Thomas Frank’s Bees getting the victory by a 5-2 score against Leeds United.
Ivan Toney scored a superb hat-trick starting with a penalty that Ivan converted on the half-hour mark.
Mr T has a unique style of taking a spot kick, that being, the lad doesn’t have a run-up, Ivan just stands next to the ball and kicks it into the back of the net.
Mr Toney then added a 2nd just before the half-time whistle but that wasn’t the end of the 1st-half scoring with Leeds pulling a goal back before the referee blew for the interval.
After the break, the Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier went on a Walkabout outside the area that allowed Ivan to nick the ball and chip into an empty net to complete the hat-trick.
The away team scored soon after to reduce the deficit but Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa added a couple more for Brentford to give the Bees the victory over the Whites in the West London sun.
There’s an International Break coming up with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions facing Italy and Germany in the UEFA Nations League.
It would be good to see Gareth give Ivan a ring on the Nokia to at least give the lad a call-up to the England squad.
The ex-Newcastle youth player is fondly remembered at Oakwell where the Striker was part of the Barnsley team that gained promotion to the Championship back in 2016, inflicting a defeat on Millwall by a 3-1 score in the playoffs at Wembley.
All the best Ivan.
Brentford are 8th in the Premier League table with the same 9-points as Liverpool.
A great start for Thomas Frank and his Brentford Boys.
Wreck-It Ralph’s Saints hammered Thomas’s Bees at St Mary’s in January.
Jan Bednarek opened the scoring for the home team before Vitaly Janelt scored for Brentford to equalise but then saw his mate Alvaro Fernandes credited with an own goal to give Southampton the lead at the break.
Following a long-range shot by Brian Mbeumo, the ball hit the post and rebounded off the unfortunate goalkeeper Alvaro.
Armando Broja added a 3rd just after the restart before Che Adams completed the scoring to give Southampton the victory over Brentford by a 4-1 scoreline.
This was a period before Christian Eriksen came into the team and at the time, Thomas Frank’s team were going through a rough patch.
Betfred offer Southampton at 11/8, the draw at 12/5 and 2/1 for Brentford to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 23/10 that James Ward-Prowse Scores Anytime and 7/5 that Ivan Toney Scores Anytime.
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***Premier League Team of the Week***
GOALKEEPER- Jordan Pickford- Everton
RIGHT-BACK- Nathan Patterson- Everton
CENTRE-BACK- Rafael Varane- Manchester United
CENTRE-BACK- Lisandro Martinez- Manchester United
LEFT-BACK- Tyrell Malacia- Manchester United
MIDFIELDER- Leon Bailey- Aston Villa
MIDFIELDER- Marcus Rashford- Manchester United
MIDFIELDER- Antony- Manchester United
FORWARD- Alex Mac Allister- Brighton
FORWARD- Richarlison- Tottenham
FORWARD- Ivan Toney- Brentford
STAR MAN- Ivan Toney- Brentford
MAN CITY v TOTTENHAM
17.30 in England
The Battle of the Heavyweight Goal Scorers as absolutely no one is billing this fixture.
Erling Haaland v Harry Kane.
Who can score the most?
Man City were surprisingly held to a draw in the late Saturday afternoon kickoff at Villa Park.
That Boy Erling did score for City, getting his 10th goal of the campaign just after the break but Aston Villa pulled a goal back midway through the 2nd-half and with no further legitimate goals, both shared the points from a draw by a 1-1 score.
‘Legitimate’ as Philippe Coutinho looked to have given Villa the lead when his shot found the back of the net but the on-field referee Simon Hooper had blown the whistle for an offside.
The dreaded VAR were excused on this occasion as, because Simon had blown the whistle before the strike from Mr Coutinho, the Stockley Park gang couldn’t get involved.
In truth, it was just one of those games for the Champions that although the players had chance after chance to score more, one was all that could be mustered.
Pep’s High Flying Blues sit 2nd in the Premier League table, with 14-points now just a point adrift of Arsenal who sit at the summit.
Despite being 2nd, Man City and Tottenham are the only teams that are unbeaten so far from the 6-fixtures completed.
Someone’s O has got to go (unless this game finishes in a draw!)
Pep 1 was straight on the phone to Pep 2, stating a line from Rambo,
‘I’m coming to get you!’
Man City face Seville in Spain in the Champions League on Tuesday before this visit from Spurs, who themselves face Marseille on Wednesday at home.
Tottenham got the expected victory against Fulham on Saturday, however, did have to work for the win as the Cottagers are not the pushovers of previous seasons in the Premier League.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored for Spurs just before the half-time cup of tea with Harry Kane adding a 2nd midway through the 2nd-half.
Fulham did halve the deficit but Tottenham held on for the victory by a 2-1 score.
There was an incident in the 90th minute that defies logic.
So how does this work then?
Richarlison scores a late goal, in the 90th minute, his 1st for Tottenham since signing.
In the excitement of scoring, the Brazilian takes his shirt off and gets the obligatory Yellow Card, fair enough, however, the dreaded VAR rule out the goal because Richy’s knee is offside yet the Yellow Card still stands.
That just doesn’t make sense.
If the goal gets ruled out, rightly or wrongly, then what happens consequently should be ruled out too, surely?
VAR 2 Football 0
Tottenham did the double over Man City last season with Antonio’s Spurs inflicting defeat on Pep’s Low Flying Blues at the Etihad by a narrow 3-2 scoreline.
It would be easy to say that Antonio Conte has the wood over Pep Guardiola but it was actually Nuno Espírito Santo that was in charge of Tottenham for the first victory at the Chas and Dave Memorial Stadium in the 2021/22 season opener.
The phrase ‘got the wood on someone’ means that a person constantly has the advantage over someone else.
At the Etihad, Dejan Kulusevski opened the scoring for Spurs after 4-minute with Ilkay Gundogan equalising for City half an hour later.
Harry Kane restored Tottenham’s lead on the hour mark before Riyad Mahrez once again equalised for the home team in the 92nd minute that looked like it would earn City a point.
Not so, as that man, Harry Kane went up the other end and scored the winner giving Tottenham the victory and knocking the stuffing out of the home faithful.
Betfred offer Man City at Odds On 4/11, the draw at 9/2 and 13/2 for Tottenham to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 2/1 that Erling Haaland Scores First and 19/10 that Harry Kane Scores Anytime.
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Sunday 11th
ARSENAL v EVERTON
14.00 in England
The Mikel Arteta Derby.
Arsenal suffered their 1st-loss of the campaign on Sunday, suffering a defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford by a 3-1 scoreline.
The Gunners thought Gabriel Martinelli had scored after 12-minutes but the goal was ruled out by the dreaded VAR following a foul in the buildup by Martin Odegaard.
Although the Stockley Park gang were needed to clear up the incident and most (the Manchester United haters out there!) think this was another error by the VAR, it wasn’t and in truth, the on-field referee Paul Tierney should have blown for the incident when it happened.
It was a clear foul on Christian Eriksen by Martin.
United then scored the opener to give the home team a lead at the break.
Mikel Arteta got into his Young Guns at half-time that inspired Arsenal in the 2nd-half, who were the more dominant team resulting in Bukayo Saka scoring an equaliser on the hour mark.
Unfortunately for the travelling Gooners, their idols conceded 2-further goals to suffer the defeat.
Arsenal do remain at the top of the Premier League table with 15-points from the opening 6 fixtures, however, the gap to Man City in 2nd is reduced to 1-point after the weekend results.
The Gunners will all be hoping that their North London rivals Tottenham can draw against City on Saturday, with neither gaining 3-points.
Arsenal face FC Zurich in Switzerland in the Europa League on Thursday before the visit from Everton.
Frank Lampard’s Everton gained a creditable point from a draw by a 0-0 score against Liverpool on Saturday.
The Red half of Merseyside were the dominant team but the Toffees, inspired by some great saves from Jordan Pickford held on for a point and were unlucky not to get the victory with Conor Coady having a goal ruled out because his armpit was deemed offside.
The dreaded VAR started the disastrous weekend display in the first game at Goodison Park by ruling out Conor’s tap-in.
The lad is not allowed to score with the arm so that doesn’t make sense.
VAR 3 Football 0
At the Emirates last season, this fixture was the final game of the campaign with Arsenal needing a victory to try and secure a Champions League spot.
Frank Lampard’s Everton were safe so had nothing to play for being on the beach so to speak.
It did show in the performance with Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah scoring to give Arsenal an early lead.
Donny Van De Beek pulled a goal back for Everton before the break.
Cedric Soares added a 3rd just after the restart with Gabriel making it 4-1 soon after.
Martin Odegaard added a 5th with time running out to inflict the defeat on Everton by a 5-1 score.
As it turned out, Tottenham got a victory in their final fixture to keep 4th-place and the Champions League spot having 2-points more than the North London rivals.
Betfred offer Arsenal at Odds On 1/3, the draw at 4/1 and 8/1 for Everton to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 11/4 that Gabriel Jesus Scores First and 19/4 that Anthony Gordon Scores Anytime.
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WEST HAM v NEWCASTLE
14.00 in England
Sky Sports
West Ham suffered their 4th loss of the season at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Thomas’s Blue Engines inflicting a defeat on David’s Hammers by a 2-1 scoreline.
After a goalless 1st-half, Michail Antonio opened the scoring giving the away team a lead on the hour mark.
Chelsea then scored twice before the dreaded VAR became busy again.
In the 90th minute, Jarrod Bowen won the ball off Edouard Mendy that rebounded to Maxwell Cornet who slotted home thinking he had scored an equaliser.
The on-field referee, Andy Madley, who had one of the best views of the incident whilst in live play gave the goal but was asked by the Stockley Park gang to check the pitch side monitor and as everyone knows, once this is done, the original decision is usually overturned.
That meant, what appeared a perfectly good goal was ruled out meaning West Ham suffered a defeat instead of gaining a draw.
David Moyes was apoplectic afterwards and Declan Rice stated that ‘it was the worst VAR decision he’d seen!’
The PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) have come out afterwards and stated that the decision was wrong by the VAR.
Cheers!
The defeat leaves the Hammers in the relegation zone with the same 4-points as Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Everton.
VAR 4 Football 0
West Ham face the Romanian team FCSB, which does sound like a Bank, at the London Stadium in the Europa Conference League on Thursday with John Newsome still having no idea what that competition is about.
The SB of the club is Steaua Bucharest, with FC meaning the Football Club.
There have been name changes and conflicts with another Steaua Bucharest team but the politics are too complicated for this EveryTip contributor to explain so just go with FCSB.
There’s a rumour Bram Stoker is upfront but those are unfounded.
Newcastle gained a point from a draw by a 0-0 score on Saturday.
In the fixture at St James Park against Crystal Palace neither team could find the net, however, the dreaded once again made a wrong call.
In an incident just after the half-time interval, Newcastle thought they had scored when a cross was headed into the goal.
The on-field referee gave the goal but was advised by the Stockley Park gang to have a look at the monitor.
The replays looked like they showed that the Crystal Palace goalkeeper was fouled in the lead-up to the goal so the referee, Michael Salisbury ruled it out.
What the replays didn’t show was the Newcastle player, being shoved by the Palace Defender into the goalkeeper and then the ball coming off the Palace player into the net.
If the referee had seen that angle, the decision should at worse have been that a penalty was awarded to the Magpies.
Unfortunately for the watching Toon Army, the notch was ruled out and with no other goals on show in the Newcastle Sunshine, both shared the points.
The PGMOL have stated that the decision was incorrect, however, although admitting that a mistake has occurred, it doesn’t change the result of this fixture or the Chelsea v West Ham fixture.
Newcastle sit 11th in the table with the same 7-points as Southampton and Bournemouth.
VAR 5 Football 0
Joe Willock scored in 1st-half injury time to cancel out Craig Dawson’s opener taking both teams in level at the break when these two met last season at the London Stadium.
With no more significant action in the 2nd-half, both shared the points from a draw by a 1-1 score.
Betfred offer West Ham at 29/20, the draw at 12/5 and 19/10 for Newcastle to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 9/4 that Jarrod Bowen Scores Anytime and slight Odds On 10/11 that there are Under 2.5 Goals.
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CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER UNITED
16.30 in England
Sky Sports
Crystal Palace could consider themselves lucky to gain a point from Saturday’s visit to St James Park.
As mentioned in the Newcastle preview, the dreaded VAR made an error by cancelling out a perfectly good goal by the home team and with neither able to find the back of the net, the travelling Eagle Ultras saw their idols get a draw by a 0-0 scoreline.
Crystal Palace sit in 15th place with the same 6-points as Wolves.
Probably the result of Game Week-6 was Manchester United’s victory against Arsenal by a 3-1 scoreline.
Whilst not emphatic, as Arsenal did put up a fight, putting the ball into the back of the net, ultimately defines a football game, regardless of how the game goes.
The win ended the Gunners’ 100% record and despite the possession stats, those being 61/39 in Arsenal’s favour, the goal attempts, 10/16 in Arsenal’s favour, the significant stat is the goals column, 3/1 in United’s favour.
Out of those 16 goal attempts, only 3 were on target.
The Red Devil faithful both in attendance at Old Trafford and watching on the 55-inch at home (pub!) thought Arsenal had scored in the 12th minute, however, there was a clear foul on Christian Eriksen by Martin Odegaard that the VAR advised the on-field referee Paul Tierney to check the monitor.
Whilst the Gooners were annoyed with the decision to cancel the goal, in truth, the dreaded shouldn’t have had to get involved as Mr Tierney should have blown straight away for a foul.
It was a foul!
Following incidents like that one, the usual comments of, ‘Games gone soft!’ made by puddings, some on holiday in Boston, (the USA not Lincolnshire) come to the fore.
More on the loveable OzScot later on.
It was a foul!
Erik Ten Hag once again resisted the urge to bring back Harry Maguire, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fred, sticking with 10 of the starting eleven that have been excellent against Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester, bringing in the new boy Antony, in place of Anthony Elanga.
Manchester United are a better team without those 3 and Erik The Red has finally realised.
John Newsome has stated the failings at United for the past 2-years so doesn’t need to go over old ground.
It’s just satisfying to finally see the problems given by John are starting to be eradicated.
Remember, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralph Rangnick had the chance to rectify the problems but refused to do so, constantly choosing Fred and Scott McTominay as their go-to Midfielders.
Granted, at the minute Scott is playing well and again this EveryTip column has stated previously that Young McTominay is a better player without his Brazilian mate at the side of him.
John Newsome does think that once Casemiro comes into the team and he will because Scott is closing in on 5-Yellow Cards, (4 at the minute!) meaning a 1-game ban, United will become even better than currently.
Antony got off to a great start on his debut, scoring the opener against Arsenal in the 35th minute.
The ex-Ajax lad did blot his copybook though by ‘kissing the badge!’ after the goal.
Whilst it might endear Ant to some of the faithful, he only arrived in Manchester on Thursday.
Arsenal scored an equaliser just after the restart and for long periods, were the better team until Bruno Fernandes hit a great pass to Marcus Rashford who scored a 2nd-United goal.
Christian Eriksen was then put clear from another brilliant pass by Bruno and although could have easily scored himself in a one-on-one with Aaron Ramsdale, squared the ball to Marcus who tapped home, adding a 2nd for himself and a 3rd for the team.
It was a brilliant display by United who were clinical in front of the goal and hit Arsenal on the break, which appeared to be the perfect game plan.
Erik Ten Hag is slowly getting across his tactics, keeping the team narrow against the Gunners so that Mikel’s men had to go on the outside to get any joy, with nothing coming through the middle.
United sit 5th in the table, with 12-points, 1-behind Brighton, 2-adrift of Tottenham and Man City and 3-away from Arsenal at the summit.
The opening 2-fixtures are a distant memory, with 4-straight victories in a row.
Don’t rule out a 5th today at Selhurst Park.
Manchester United host Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday.
It’s wondered what Cristiano Ronaldo thinks about that when his old mate Lionel Messi is playing in the Champions League for Paris Saint-Germain, especially when PSG take on Cristiano’s old team Juventus on Tuesday.
It’s rumoured that CR7 has cancelled BT Sport, just like the Serg has.
VAR 5 Football 1
The 2021/22 fixture at Selhurst Park was once again the final one of the campaign with Manchester United’s sorry season coming to an end with a defeat against Crystal Palace by a 1-0 scoreline.
Wilfried Zaha with the solitary winning goal giving Patrick’s Eagles the victory over Ralph’s Roadsters.
Betfred offer Crystal Palace at 5/2, the draw at 5/2 and 11/10 for Manchester United to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 7/5 that Wilfried Zaha Scores Anytime and slight Odds On 4/5 that there are Over 2.5 Goals.
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Monday 12th
LEEDS UNITED v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Sky Sports
20.00 in England
‘Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again, Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again.’
The wheels certainly came off the track on Saturday at the Brentford Community Stadium, which saw Leeds United suffer a defeat by a 5-2 away day scoreline.
Added to that, Jesse Marsch, who is becoming a Drama Queen on the sidelines, was shown a Red Card and banished to the stands after a few choice words to the officials.
New boy, Luis Sinisterra scored his 2nd in the Premier League for Leeds on the stroke of half-time to halve the deficit following Brentford’s 2-early goals that left the away team trailing at the break.
Brentford added a 3rd soon after the restart before Marc Roca pulled a goal back for Leeds United, which was watched from the stands by Jesse.
Brentford then scored 2-more to get the convincing victory by a 5-2 score, with the travelling Yorkshire puddings straight into the local off-licence to purchase alcohol for the long trip back up the M1.
After a great start to the season for Jesse’s Whites that saw 2-wins and a draw, Leeds have 2 losses and a draw from the last 3 fixtures leaving them in 9th place with the same 8-points as Fulham.
Marching On Together!
A question was asked to a few of John Newsome’s mates on Saturday which was,
‘What have Nottingham Forest and Derby County got in common?’
After several replies that didn’t make sense and the obvious one being Sir Brian Clough has managed both, the actual answer from Saturday’s football is, that both Forest and Derby were leading by 2 goals to nil at half-time and then both suffered a defeat by a 3-2 scoreline.
As the brilliant Chris ‘Kammy’ Kamara would say,
Unbelievable Jeff!
At the City Ground in the Saturday Sunshine, Cheikhou Kouyate scored the Forest opener after 33-minutes before Brennan Johnson converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time to give Steve Cooper’s Tricky Trees a 2-goal lead at the break.
At the same time in League 1, Derby County also had a 2-goal lead against Plymouth.
A note regarding the penalty awarded to Forest.
The on-field referee, Michael Oliver who is the Premier League’s best official (unless he’s wearing a dodgy Del Boy watch!) pointed to the spot straight away following the Cherries Defender, Lloyd Kelly, nearly catching the ball.
The dreaded VAR wanted to get involved again and informed Michael to have a look at the pitch-side monitor.
As everyone knows, this usually means the original decision is changed, however, on this occasion, Michael was happy that he had made the right call and informed the Stockley Park gang that the penalty stood.
A great call by Mr Oliver as it was handball and was a penalty and didn’t need the interference of the Video Assistant Referee.
VAR 5 Football 2
Bournemouth scored 3, 2nd-half goals to inflict the defeat on Nottingham Forest by a 3-2 away day scoreline.
Plymouth also scored 3, 2nd-half goals to inflict the defeat on Derby County by a 3-2 away day scoreline.
The great man was sat upstairs, with a glass in hand, scratching his Old Big ‘Ead as to what had just happened at the home of his 2-famously managed clubs.
Nottingham Forest sit in 19th position with the same 4-points as West Ham, Aston Villa and Everton.
There’s a long way to go but the Greek Shipping Magnate, Evangelos Marinakis won’t be happy after forking out a boatload of money for the 20-odd new signings Steve Cooper has brought in, just to see Forest lose and sit in the relegation zone, especially when having a 2-goal to nil advantage at half-time.
This fixture is legendary, that evokes memories of the great man, Mr Clough’s 44-day tenure as Manager of Leeds United back in 1974.
Yes, 44-days!
After getting the sack at Elland Rd, Nottingham Forest came calling and the rest as one says, is history.
There have been plenty of games between these two teams over the past 23 years but it was in April 1999 that the pair last competed against each other in the Premier League at Elland Rd.
David O’Leary was in charge of Leeds United after the sacking of George Graham, 6-months earlier.
The team put out by David was,
Leeds United-
Nigel Martyn, Ian Harte, Jonathan Woodgate, Lucas Radebe, David Weatherall, Lee Bowyer, David Hopkin, Bruno Ribeiro, Harry Kewell, Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink and Alan Smith.
Substitutes-
Matthew Jones for Harry Kewell 89th minute
Ron Atkinson’s starting lineup,
Nottingham Forest-
Mark Crossley, Richard Gough, Stale Stensaas, Steve Chettle, Christian Edwards, Alan Rogers, Thierry Bonalair, Andy Johnson, Carlton Palmer, Dougie Freeman and Marlon Harewood.
Substitutes-
Neil Shipperley for Dougie Freeman 66th minute
Hugo Porfirio for Stale Stensaas 81st minute
The Whites got the home victory by a 3-1 scoreline, with goals from Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink, Ian Harte and Alan Smith.
Alan Rogers had scored to equalise Jimmy’s goal but Leeds then got 2 and 3.
Leeds United went on to finish 4th in the Premier League that put the Elland Rd outfit into the UEFA Cup the following season.
Nottingham Forest finished rock bottom of the table and relegated to the Championship, not to return for 23-years.
Betfred offer Leeds United at Odds On 4/5, the draw at 11/4 and 10/3 for Nottingham Forest to come away with all 3-points.
Betfred offer 15/8 that Patrick Bamford Scores Anytime and that 9/4 that a Penalty Is Awarded.
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Game Week-7 (1997/98)
Saturday 20th September 1997
EVERTON v BARNSLEY
Goodison Park
15.00 in England
As mentioned previously, John Newsome worked nights at the local Motorway Services but after becoming a dad in August 1997, life in the Forecourt had to come to an end due to needing extra cash for Pampers nappies and Farley’s Rusks.
A new executive position at a local Plant Hire company was sought, which is a posh way of saying, ‘my mate got me a job as a driver where he worked’.
John’s last shift at the Services finished on Saturday 20th September and a couple of hours later, was on the coach, heading West on the M62 bound for Merseyside.
Barnsley were on Game Week-7 of life in the Premier League, with Danny Wilson’s Red and White Army set to watch their idols take on Howard Kendal’s Toffees.
Everton-
Paul Gerrard, Slaven Bilic, Andy Hinchcliffe, David Watson, Craig Short, Gary Speed, Graham Stuart, Danny Williamson, Nick Barmby, Danny Cadamarteri and Duncan Ferguson.
Substitutes-
Gareth Farrelly for Danny Williamson 60th-minute
John Oster for Danny Cadamarteri 72nd-minute
Barnsley-
David Watson, Peter Shirtcliffe, Adie Moses, Arjan De Zeew, Darren Bernard, Matty Appleby, Eric Tinkler, Darren Sheridan, Neil Redfearn, Andy Liddell and Ashley Ward.
Substitutes-
Georgi Hristov for Ashley Ward 58th-minute
Clint Marcelle for Matty Appleby 74th-minute
Martin Bullock for Eric Tinkler 85th-minute
From the outside, as a football fan, Duncan Ferguson was regarded as a big tough Scottish Centre-Forward who was good with his head.
The lad came down to Merseyside from Rangers, where it’s fair to say that the spell at Ibrox was, let’s just say, interesting.
The ex-Teddy Bears striker became the first and only professional player in Britain to be jailed for an on-field offence after he headbutted John McStay, the Raith Rovers Defender, during a match at Ibrox in 1994.
Although the on-field incident happened in April 1994, whilst wearing a Rangers Blue, it was in October 1995, that Big Dunc was convicted and given the 3-month jail term.
Duncan spent 44-days in Glasgows Barlinnie prison before being released in late November 95’, returning straight back to Goodison Park.
That was just 5-months after winning the FA Cup with Everton against Manchester United in 1995.
On seeing Big Dunc at Goodison Park, back in September 1997, John Newsome’s opinion of the Big Lad changed dramatically.
Duncan ran the show, not only up front but in midfield too, constantly being on the ball and providing assists for his fellow Toffees.
The dreadful phrase ‘a good touch for a big fella’ should never be used when referring to a footballer who just happens to be taller than others.
The ‘taller’ men, such as Big Duncan or Peter Crouch should just be respected for being talented footballers, which Dunc was, to the detriment of the Barnsley team on show that day.
Whilst Mr Ferguson didn’t score against Barnsley, Dunc was instrumental in the goals scored by Gary Speed, who notched twice, Danny Cadamarteri and John Oster.
Neil Redfearn had equalised Gary’s opener but Danny added a Toffees 2nd to give the home team a lead at the break.
Everton were then awarded a penalty which Mr Speed converted, with Darren Barnard reducing the deficit within a minute of Everton’s 3rd, giving the Red and White Army, hopes of a comeback.
Unfortunately, that hope was dashed 5-minutes later when John Oster who had only just been introduced by Howard, scored the Toffees’ 4th, to give Everton the victory over Barnsley by a 4-2 score.
Gary Speed had just celebrated his 28th birthday on the 8th of September, with the Welsh Legend born a day after this EveryTip contributor.
For those who are unfamiliar with Duncan Ferguson, firstly, Big Duncan is so-called because Big Duncan is Big.
Secondly, Duncan is an Everton legend, scoring countless goals for the Toffees.
If Duncan says ‘tomorrow is Wednesday’ then tomorrow IS Wednesday, irrelevant as to what day it actually is.
A few years back and this is a fact, not fiction, a burglar decided to break into Big Duncan’s home on the Wirral.
What the plucky thief didn’t envisage was that Duncan was asleep upstairs.
Most, when confronted with a burglar downstairs and the partner is digging in the ribs saying ‘there’s someone downstairs’ would freak out and be looking for the phone to call the police.
Not Big Dunc!
The legend did look for his phone and dialled 999 but only after he had gone and battered the living daylights out of said burglar.
When the operator at the emergency services asked what Dunc wanted,
‘Police, Fire or Ambulance?’
Big Duncan simply replied in his quiet Scottish accent.
‘Police, Oh and you’d better send an ambulance too hen’
It’s definitely Wednesday tomorrow!
The Super Reds had no answer for Duncan Ferguson, Gary Speed and the rest of the Toffees in the late September Sun of 1997 but the Red and White Army had a great day out on Merseyside with a few alcoholic beverages partaken, then back to the Town for a Saturday Night session.
It was a rare meeting between the two teams, the first since an FA Cup tie at Oakwell back in February 1989 (there was a Zenith Data tie in 1991 but the girls and boys don’t like to talk about that, Zenith Data!)
John Newsome was part of the 32,551 crowd in attendance for the FA Cup game with the majority standing as no seating back then.
This was one of the highest attendances ever for a home fixture at Oakwell.
One memory from that day back in 1989 was that the legendary Everton goalkeeper, Neville Southall got loads of abuse from the Barnsley faithful regarding the infidelity of his wife.
Nowadays, such abuse is common with the likes of Twitter and Facebook supplying unsavoury personal information about players but in 1989, there were no such sources and most of the information was classed as tittle-tattle, so as a 20-year-old, it was novel to hear such inventory banter.
Everton went on to inflict a defeat on Barnsley by a 1-0 scoreline, with Graeme Sharp scoring the solitary winning goal.
There were slightly fewer in attendance for the Zenith Data Cup game a couple of years later but still, the faithful came out with around 10,000 on the terraces to witness another victory for the Toffees by the same 1-0 away day score.
Tony Cottee with the goal.
Everton suffered a defeat against Crystal Palace in the Final of that particular competition in April 1991.
The Barnsley faithful refused to purchase a Zenith Data computer and stuck with a ZX Spectrum to play Football Manager on.
Whilst another good day out was had by all, it was a 3rd-defeat in a row and the 5th from the opening 7 fixtures of life in the Promised Land, with 2-victories and none drawn.
Happy Birthday, Gary Speed.
Gary would have been 53 on the 8th of September, the day after John Newsome’s 53rd.
Happy Birthday, JB!
Home Win 4-2
‘Gers, Gers a falling apart again, Gers, Gers are falling apart again!’
That was the song wailed by the Green side of Glasgow on Saturday afternoon, following Celtic’s devastating victory over the Blue arch Glasgow rivals Rangers by a 4-0 scoreline.
Ange Postecoglou’s Green and White Hoops sit proudly at the summit of the Scottish Pub League, with 18-points from 6-wins, no draws and no losses, with Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s Teddy Bears sat in 2nd, now a massive 5-points adrift of the rivals.
Surely the season’s already over?
Sir Roderick and Lennon the Puppy are happy.
The loveable OzScot was aghast after watching the dismal display by Rangers in the Old Firm Derby and felt a little silly, dressed as Mel Gibson in the Blue and White war paint, singing Kylie Minogue’s famous ditty,
‘I’m spinning around, move out of my way, cause Rangers are rubbish, I know you’re feeling me ’cause Rangers are rubbish,
I’m having a breakdown, I’m not the same
I know you’re feeling me ’cause Rangers are rubbish!’
The Kylie song was a big hit back in 2000, the Teddy Bears were something similar sounding against Celtic on Saturday.
Kylie will be watching his beloved ‘Gers when Rangers travel over to the Netherlands on Wednesday for the Champions League Group opener against Ajax.
Some of the Ibrox faithful are still in the Land of the Tulips after not returning home following the fixture against PSV Eindhoven, that took place a couple of weeks ago.
The Teddy Bears are all partaking in the local ‘herb’ so to speak, with some of the Jocks getting jobs trying to chase Mice in the Windmills in Old Amsterdam.
One of the faithful stated,
‘I saw a mouse.’
‘Where?’ came the reply,
‘There on the stair.’
‘Where on the stair?’
‘Right there!’
The Green and White Hoops face the current holders, Real Madrid at Celtic Park on Tuesday.
One of John Newsome’s old mates passed away on Saturday.
The Cowboy Steve Nixon was 60-year old and after battling, the legend finally said goodbye to this life and hello to the next.
Nikki was called Cowboy, due to always wearing a Denim Jacket, Jeans and a pair of Adidas Samba as wheels.
The Samba were like Triggers Broom, Steve wore the same pair for 30 years.
The lad was an ardent Barnsley FC fan as well as a good footballer and cricketer and John had a few battles with the Cowboy on a Sunday morning, hours after leaving the Nightclub with a Kay Bab in hand.
Steve could be found most nights on the corner of the dance floor at the famous Japanese Whispers putting the World to rights with his forthright opinions.
The Cowboy was a battler until the end!
Rest in Peace Steve Nixon.
Once a Red, always a Red!
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