This weekend’s installment of soccer saw 14 teams in the Premier League battle it out as the season enters the home straight. Chelsea still sits at the top having seemingly already got one hand on the trophy however elsewhere in the table there’s still plenty to play for. Each and every one of the 7 fixtures had some significance with regards to the Premier League table and so we look at how the outcomes of each game affect the seasons of the respective clubs.
To kick things off and perhaps the most interesting game of the day was Arsenal’s defeat away to West Brom. Some will say it’s an upset but when you look further into it, you’ll realize that many people would have been wrong to write off the Baggies before kick off. West Brom sits in 8th position only 3 places behind Arsenal which by their standards is a fantastic position to be in at this stage of the season. For Arsenal, on the other hand, it’s very concerning as they are still looking to break out from this current streak of poor form they’re experiencing. In addition to this, today’s loss opens the door for Manchester United and potentially Everton to poach a place in Europe from the Gunners. If this were to happen surely it’d be the end of Wenger’s reign?
Leicester came out on top against West Ham by 3 goals to 2. This extends their win streak to 4 since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri. Although many people including myself are disappointed at the sacking of Ranieri, it would be a shame to also see the Premier League champions relegated and so it’s great to see that Leicester is continuing their form as they look well on track to retain their Premier League status. West Ham on the other hand might start looking over their shoulder as they aren’t all that far from the relegation zone themselves.
Without seeing the Premier League table Crystal Palace against Watford could seem to be one of the most boring match ups that the league could offer. But given that both teams are flirting with the possibility of relegation this match was more important than ever. Crystal Palace came out on top thanks to an own goal by Watford captain Troy Deeney in what can only be described as comical defending from the striker.
Everton put in a fantastic performance against Hull City as they ran riot to a 4-0 victory over the Tigers. For Everton this consolidates their statement for a high position in the league but could be the start of the end for Hull as they remain 3 points from safety in the relegation zone.
Is anyone surprised that Chelsea beat Stoke? No one is. Although the Potters can often be a bogey side for a lot of the top teams, Chelsea’s confidence and organisation proved too much for Stoke City as they won 2-1 at the Bet365 Stadium. The League title is very much in Chelsea’s hands now, all they need to do is maintain playing in the way they have all season in order to be lifting the trophy come the end of the season.
Sunderland find themselves pretty much dead and buried at the foot of the Premier League table and Burnley are fairly marooned in mid table. This game turned out to be by far the most boring of the day as the fixture ended in a 0-0 draw.
The final game saw Bournemouth cruise to victory at home to Swansea. The side from the south coast had a fairly comfortable game and the 3 points puts them in a much nicer position in the league at 11th. Swansea on the other hand are only 3 points ahead of Hull, just outside of the relegation zone and so they’d better hope they can string a few wins together or else they’ll be in a lot of trouble.
