Premier League Round 26 review – Saturday
We are now past the two-thirds of the 2018/19 season in the Premiership. Teams competed in round 26 with seven games on Saturday, one on Sunday and one on Monday. The game between Everton and Manchester City took place earlier in the week.
We will have a look at some Nigerian born players who performed for their teams on Saturday.
Bottom of the table Huddersfield Town welcomed Arsenal at the John Smith’s Stadium. The Terriers haven’t won in more than 10 matches while Arsenal were also looking to bounce back from the defeat in the last round. Super Eagles wing Alex Iwobi was in the starting eleven for the Gunners.
And it was he who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute of the game. Iwobi latched onto a bad Huddersfield cross and took a shot at goal. The ball had a slight deflection but was enough to go past the goalkeeper and end up in the net.
Just before the break, Alexandre Lacazette doubled Arsenal’s lead after a second-chance cross from Maitland-Niles. The score at the break was 2:0 as an Arsenal win looked inevitable.
The Terriers responded strongly in the second half and had a couple of good looks at the start. But they couldn’t convert any of them. Iwobi was substituted in the 88th minute by Joe Willock.
Philip Billing – Player of Huddersfield Town – YouTube/OfficialHTAFC
Huddersfield did manage a consolation goal in the third minute of stoppage time through Sead Kolasinac who put the ball in his own net after a cross from the side. The final score was 2:1 Arsenal. Philip Billing was on the bench for Huddersfield and didn’t come in.
Bournemouth continued their bad form away from home, this time in Liverpool, at Anfield Road. The home side scored a couple of goals in the first half. Sadio Mane got the first one in the 24th minute while Gini Wijnaldum got the second ten minutes later.
Jordon Ibe was in the starting line-up for Bournemouth and had some good touches in the first half.
Mohamed Salah scored three minutes after the restart to confirm the win for the Reds. Dominic Solanke, an ex-Liverpool player, came off the bench in the 59th minute for the Cherries. The final score was 3:0 to Liverpool.
Watford played hosts to Everton at Vicarage Road. Neither team have won in their last couple of games. A single goal by Andre Gray in the second half was enough to give the Hornets a welcome triumph.
Isaac Success Ajayi is still injured for Watford, while Ademola Lookman set out the game on the bench for Everton.
Brighton lost at home to Burnley, after a good performance in the FA Cup a few days earlier. The visitors were 3:0 up before Shane Duffy got the consolation goal for the home side. Chris Wood got two goals for Burnley and Ashley Barnes added the third from the penalty spot. Leon Balogun wasn’t in the 18-man squad for Brighton.