NFL
By: Ty Reeves
After a long week of Premier League matches, the league table has shaken up. Manchester United continue to slip in the table after tying Arsenal at Emirates, while Liverpool got their feet back underneath them after back to back wins. Thomas Tuchel secured his first win as manager of Chelsea with a dominant performance against Burnley.
Manchester United: 0 Arsenal: 0
Manchester United and Arsenal played to a draw in a game where both teams needed the win. After a shocking loss to Sheffield United, a win for United would’ve put them one point behind Manchester City for the top spot in the league. A win for the Gunners would’ve continued their quick ascendence up the table and put the club in 8th place. Arsenal was without Captain Pierre Emmerick-Aubameyang, who has been missing for family reasons, while Bukayo Saka and Kieran Tierney were sidelined with injuries.
It was a cold game in the North London stadium, but the weather didn’t stop either team from having their fair share of chances during the game. The first real chance of the game came in the 16th minute when Manchester United midfielder Fred gave the ball away around midfield. Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli picked up the ball and played a quick pass into striker Alexandre Lacazette. Lacazette then drove forward with pace at the United defense with winger Nicolas Pepe scampering down the right-hand side of the field. The Frenchman would try his luck from 25 yards out but it ended up being a comfortable save for United keeper David De Gea.
A golden chance for the Red Devils came in the 20th minute. Defender Luke Shaw whipped in a corner kick that was poorly dealt with by the Arsenal defense. The ball fell to Fred on the top of the 18-yard-box with nothing but space around him. The Brazilian hit the ball with the inside part of his foot, looking to place the ball in the top right corner of the net. The shot looked all but in the net when keeper Bernd Leno made an incredible save to tip the ball around the post to keep the game level.
⛔️ Seven clean sheets from eight
💪 A spirited team display
1️⃣ But just one point📺 Relive the action from #ARSMUN 👇 pic.twitter.com/XIgExPfpZm
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 30, 2021
The second half was more of the same as each club had chances to take the lead in the match. In the 58th minute, Manchester United had a quick combination play on the top of the Arsenal box that landed the ball at the feet of Shaw. The defender whipped the ball across the 6-yard-box which was met by striker Edinson Cavani, who put the ball wide. Arsenal then had an opportunity off a free kick in the 65th minute. The freekick was taken quickly by Lacazette as the striker’s shot rattled the crossbar. After the ball was cleared away, Arsenal would get possession and cross the ball into the United box. The ball would fall to midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe and the 20-year-old would whack the ball towards the near post forcing De Gea to make a save.
The last real scoring chance of the game would come at the hands of the Red Devils in the 89th minute. United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka crossed the ball into the Arsenal box. The ball was just behind Cavani who put the ball inches past the Arsenal post. The game would go on to end 0-0. Manchester United continue their great away form as the Red Devils are now undefeated in their last 18 premier league games. Arsenal continues to improve as the Gunners are undefeated in their last seven Premier League matches.
Liverpool: 3 West Ham: 1
Liverpool continues their climb back up the table after dominating West Ham away from home. The Reds have now won their last two premier league games and now third place in the table while the Hammers sit at fifth.
Throughout the first half, each team had their respective chances to create goal-scoring opportunities, but none of them were very threatening. The sides went into the half level but the second half brought the excitement. Liverpool started off the half on the upper hand rattling off multiple shots in the opening five minutes. The Reds would finally breakthrough in the 57th minute when winger Mohamad Salah danced in between defenders and curled the ball into the left corner of the net.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 68th minute when winger Xherdan Shaqiri played an over the top through ball to Salah. The Eqyptian would then place the ball past the goalkeeper into the back of the net to give him his second goal of the day and Liverpool a 2-0 lead.
Pick one:
✅ The counter overall
✅ That first touch from Salah 😱#WHULIV pic.twitter.com/caXvpzqn0m— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 31, 2021
Liverpool would add another goal to their tally in the 84th minute after a clever combination play. Striker Bobby Frimino and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain linked up quickly on the corner of the 18-yard-box. The ball would end up at Firmino’s foot who passed the ball to a wide-open Gini Wijnaldum who had an open goal tap in. West Ham would get a goal back in the 87th minute off a corner kick. The ball was met by defender Craig Dawson, who finished the volley to get the Hammers on the score sheet. The game would finish 3-1 with Liverpool taking all three points.
Chelsea: 2 Burnley: 0
Chelsea and new manager Thomas Tuchel hosted Burnley at Stamford Bridge. The Blues dominated an injury-ridden Burnley, outshooting their opponents 19 to 1. Chelsea would cruise to a comfortable 2-0 win moving them up to 7th in the table while awarding Tuchel his first win as manager of the club.
Chelsea had multiple shots before breaking through the Burnley defense in the 40th minute. The Blues counterattack started with midfielder Jorginho who passed the ball to midfielder Mason Mount. Mount then sprayed the ball out wide to wingback Callum Hudson-Odoi. While Hudson-Odoi drove at the Burnley backline, defender César Azpilicueta made an overlapping run behind the wingback. The ball would be laid off to the defender who smashed the ball into the top of the net to give Chelsea the lead.
In the second half, Hudson-Odoi had his opportunity to get on the score sheet in the 58th minute. The 20-year-old would drive the ball down the right side of the field and into the 18-yard-box. He had a shot that took a slight deflection and struck the post. In the 67th minute, Hudson-Odoi whipped in a low driven ball into the Burnley 6-yard-box. The ball was met by an outstretched Burnley defender, Ben Mee, who almost put the ball into his own net. Goalkeeper Nick Pope was able to palm the ball away and keep the game at 1-0.
Chelsea would score their second goal of the match in the 84th minute when winger Christian Pulisic chipped the ball to wingback Marcos Alonso. The Spaniard brought the ball down with his chest, took a touch with his knee, and fired the ball on the volley into the back of the net. The game would end 2-0 with Chelsea taking a crucial three points.
Thomas Tuchel had Chelsea flying today in victory, and Christian Pulisic helped seal the deal with this sweet assist. 🇺🇸 #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/3XFhjia04z
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 31, 2021
