By Yobel Petros ‘24
Brighton vs Norwich
- Brighton & Hove Albion were held to a goalless draw by bottom club Norwich City when Neal Maupay missed a penalty, wasting a chance to become the club’s all-time greatest Premier League striker. After a handball by Sam Byram, Brighton was awarded a penalty on 28 minutes, but Maupay blazed his spot-kick over the bar. Early in the second half, Graham Potter’s team came near again when Joel Veltman’s header was wonderfully pushed over by Tim Krul. Maupay then squandered a chance to equal Glenn Murray’s Premier League goal count by firing into the side-netting, before Lewis Dunk’s header brushed the post. Late in the game, Norwich’s Milot Rashica fired over on the counter-attack, but neither side could find a way through. Brighton is 13th in the table with 34 points after their seventh game without a win. Norwich has lost their last eight games and is in last place with 18 points, seven points below 17th-placed Everton despite having played three more games.
Chelsea vs Brentford
- Brentford stunned Chelsea 4-1, their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1939, thanks to three early goals, including Christian Eriksen’s first in the Premier League since 2019. Chelsea seized the lead at 48 minutes when Antonio Rudiger scored a fantastic goal from 35 yards. Vitaly Janelt hammered in a shot from the outside of the box to equalize for Brentford just 100 seconds later. After a counter-attack, Eriksen tucked in Bryan Mbeumo’s cross from close range to put the visitors ahead after 54 minutes. Janelt scored his second on the hour when a through-ball from Ivan Toney was deflected over Edouard Mendy, and replacement Yoane Wissa added a fourth with three minutes remaining. Brentford has moved up to 14th place with 33 points after winning their third game in a row. Chelsea is in the third position with 59 points after suffering their first defeat in seven games.
Wolves vs Aston Villa
- The Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Molineux Stadium, thanks to an own goal by Ashley Young, to keep their European ambitions alive. Jonny scored for the second match in a row at 7 minutes, shooting into the top corner after Daniel Podence and Fabio Silva both saw their attempts stopped. The Wolves extended their advantage nine minutes before halftime when Young, who had replaced the injured Lucas Digne, headed Marcal’s cross into his own net. In the second half, Villa looked for a way back, and Ollie Watkins curled just wide when one-on-one with Jose Sa. After being fouled by Sa, the Villa striker pulled one back from the penalty spot four minutes from time, but Wolves held on to the three points, bringing their season total to 49. Bruno Lage’s club is in the seventh position, two points behind Manchester United in sixth place, despite having played one more match. After a third consecutive defeat, Villa is in 10th place with 36 points.
Everton vs West Ham
- West Ham United defeated Everton 2-1 thanks to a fantastic Aaron Cresswell free-kick and Jarrod Bowen’s goal. Cresswell’s magnificent looping goal into the top corner put West Ham ahead after 32 minutes. Richarlison had a golden chance to equalize eight minutes later, but his shot flew past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and the crossbar with the outside of his boot. Mason Holgate got Everton back on level terms after 53 minutes. Holgate, a late replacement to the starting lineup due to a warm-up injury to Donny van de Beek, deflected a shot past Fabianski to knot things up 1-1. After Michail Antonio’s opening attempt was denied by Jordan Pickford, Bowen restored West Ham’s advantage barely five minutes later. Everton was reduced to ten men on 65 minutes after Michael Keane was sent off for a second bookable offense, and West Ham comfortably won the game. West Ham has moved up to the sixth position in the rankings with 51 points, three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with one more encounter. Everton sit 17th in the Premier League, three points above the relegation zone and four points ahead of second-bottom Burnley.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
- Crystal Palace won 3-0 at Selhurst Park to deny Arsenal a return to the top four in the Premier League for the first time in 2022. At 16 minutes, Conor Gallagher’s free-kick was headed back by Joachim Andersen for an unguarded Jean-Philippe Mateta to nod beyond Aaron Ramsdale. With a fantastic ball eight minutes later, defender Andersen supplied his second assist of the game, setting up Jordan Ayew, who hammered home to make it 2-0. After halftime, Arsenal searched for a reaction, but Wilfried Zaha struck the third goal for the Eagles from the penalty spot with 16 minutes left. Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith both shot wide as the Gunners attempted to respond. Marc Guehi’s goal line clearance prevented Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah struck the crossbar, but there was no way through. Arsenal remains in the fifth position, tied on 54 points with Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place, but with a game in hand. With 37 points, Palace has moved up to ninth place.