Premier League gameweek 26 review part two

Updated On Feb 5, 2018 by David Nugent

Sunday afternoon’s Premier League games produced stalemates at both ends of the table. However, there was no shortage of drama in the two games. If you missed what happened in Saturday’s games there is a recap here.

However, if you want to know what happened in Sunday’s games read on:

Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle

Two relegation-threatened teams fought it out at Selhurst Park, in a game that neither could afford to lose. In the end, honours were even.

The visitors took the lead on 22 minutes. Kenedy fired in a corner kick from the right that bounced in the six-yard box and found its way to Magpies midfielder Mohamed Diame at the back post and the former Hull star poked home.

Palace were back in the game ten minutes into the second half. Wilfried Zaha attempted to find Christian Benteke. However, Ciaran Clark pulled the striker to the floor in the penalty area. Captain Luka Milivojevic stepped up and made no mistake with the resulting spot-kick.

The result did little to ease either club’s relegation worries. Palace are 14th place in the table, but just three points clear of the drop zone. Meanwhile, Newcastle are 16th place in the table and just a point above the bottom three.

Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham

Harry Kane celebrates scoring his 100th Premier League GoalIn Sunday’s other game, there was drama and controversy, as two of the league’s top-four contenders finished all square.

The home side took the lead after just three minutes. Tottenham’s Eric Dier produced a terrible back pass that Mohamed Salah seized up before firing past Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The home side held the lead until the 80th minute when Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama struck a superb long-range half volley.

With just five minutes left on the clock, Tottenham were awarded a penalty kick after Kane went down under a challenge from Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius. Replays showed there was minimal contact with the ‘keeper on the striker. However, Kane stepped up and hit his penalty straight down the middle of the goal and Karius saved the effort.

The Reds looked to have won the game in the first minute of stoppage-time. Salah picked up the ball beat two Tottenham players superbly before poking the ball past Loris, cue pandemonium from the home side.

The drama was not over yet, though. In the fifth minute of stoppage-time, Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have brought down Erik Lamela in the penalty area. Referee Jon Moss needed a discussion with his lineman’s before awarding the spot-kick. Kane stepped-up and scored his 100th Premier League goal and net his team a point in the process.

Liverpool remain third and the Reds are still one of the favourites to claim a Champions League spot this season. However, fifth-place Tottenham are just a point behind fourth-place Chelsea and two points behind the home side. They will still be highly confident of claiming a top-four spot this season.

Watford v Chelsea preview

On Monday night, reigning Premier League champions Chelsea head to Vicarage Road to face Watford. The game is a crucial one for both sides.

Watford have slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League table after winning just one of their last 12 league games. The Hornets drew 0-0 with Stoke last time out.

The home side have been poor defensively, conceding at least two goals in four of their last five league games. A record of just one win in their last six league outings at Vicarage Road is a worrying one for the Hornets. The Hornets poor recent form has seen them slip to 11th place in the table, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Chelsea heads into this game on the back of a shock 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth last time out. The defeat ended an eight-game unbeaten run in the league for the Blues, five of which Antonio Conte’s side had won. The visitors will be confident of getting back to winning ways in this clash.

The visitors are unbeaten in four away games in the Premier League, winning twice and drawing twice in their last four league games on their travels. The Blues have also scored two or more goals in three of their last four away games in the league.

Will Chelsea get back to winning ways at Watford?

David Nugent Author

First off, I want to say hi and wish a warm welcome to all gambling aficionados out there! My name is David Nugent and I am editor-in-chief of LegalGamblingAndTheLaw.com. I have always enjoyed various sports, primarily soccer, as I am a die-hard Everton fan.

Over time, I learned more about sports betting and discovered the fascinating online gambling industry. Eventually,...

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