MATCHWEEK 28 of the Premier League is full of blockbuster action!
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City kicked off the weekend as the top four rivals clashed in the early kick off.
Callum Hudson-Odoi would break the deadlock between the two sides with a near-post strike on the 83rd minute.
The standout 3pm match sees Prem leaders Liverpool welcome struggling Southampton to Anfield – with the Saints taking a shock lead at Anfield.
This evening, Brentford face Aston Villa before Wolves vs Everton caps off Saturday’s action.
- Kick off times: 12.30pm/3pm/5.30pm/8pm GMT
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Dan King on Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
From hero to zero, Alisson has gifted Southampton the lead with an horrendous mix-up with Virgil Van Dijk.
And you can’t say Saints don’t deserve it, really.
Yes the Reds have dominated possession and territory but they look like a side tired after chasing PSG around the pitch on Wednesday.
Darwin Nunez has just escaped a red card for a wild kick on Kyle Walker-Peters by the skin of his teeth after a long VAR look resulted in upholding the initial yellow card.
From Neil Silver at Selhurst Park
Ipswich defended well enough in the first half against in-form Palace, who maybe had one eye on Monday’s trip to Marbella for a warm weather training camp.
Eddie Nketiah and Eberechi Eze missed decent chances for Palace, whose goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved efforts from Jaden Philogene and Julio Enciso.
Time for pie and a pint
It’s half-time in the Premier League’s 3pm kick-offs. Do what you need to.
- Brighton 1-1 Fulham
- Crystal Palace 0-0 Ipswich
- Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
Frustrations are growing in the Liverpool ranks, and now Darwin Nunez has gone full Darwin Nunez.
Kyle Walker-Peters is going nowhere as he retreats to the halfway line, but that doesn’t stop the striker having an almighty swipe at the defender’s legs.
Nunez is yellow carded but there is a lengthy check as VAR consider firmer action.
Eventually, the striker breathes a sigh of relief as the officials stick with the on-field decision.
45+1 – GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Southampton
Well, well, well…
Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were Liverpool’s heroes in Paris on Wednesday, but they’ve blundered their way into a massive mix-up here that has allowed Will Smallbone to score his first Premier League goal.
The centre-back tries to shepherd the ball back to his keeper but with Smallbone and Mateus Fernandes in pursuit, they only succeed in clattering into each other.
With the ball running free, Southampton’s midfielder quickly pivots to send the ball into the empty net in front of a stunned Kop.
The team adrift at the foot of the table lead at the runaway leaders. Football, bloody hell!
41 – GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Fulham
Fulham’s lead at the Amex did not last long!
Jan Paul van Hecke was caught napping for the opener, but he’s made amends with a fine header.
Mind you, he’s helped out by some incredibly lazy defending that leaves the Dutchman completely unmarked to meet Yasin Ayari’s free-kick from the left.
It’s a great connection though, which sends the ball swerving back beyond Bernd Leno and in off the far post.
35 – GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Fulham
Raul Jimenez gives Fulham the lead!
It’s an excellent goal by the Cottagers, who work the ball from back to front.
Alex Iwobi drives down the right and sends a cross over Jan Paul van Hecke, who is caught out of position.
What follows from Jimenez is sublime; a chest down and shot on the slide that powers past Bart Verbruggen.
It could be time to renew your passports, Fulham fans.
From Neil Silver at Selhurst Park
Nketiah should have made his mark within 120 seconds after being released by a brilliant pass from Adam Wharton.
With just Alex Palmer to beat, Nketiah delayed pulling the trigger and shot straight at the Ipswich goalkeeper.
Wharton was clearly motivated by stories linking him with Real Madrid and the fact that Thomas Tuchel set to name his first England squad this week.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
Darwin Nunez has a couple of sighters, the most recent of which he strikes straight at Aaron Ramsdale.
Liverpool have had 80% of possession but are so far being frustrated by Southampton – which should be a familiar feeling for Saints, who made a habit of dominating the ball and doing nothing with it earlier in the season.
Dan King on Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
Southampton barely got out of their half for 20 minutes yet it’s Liverpool’s Paris hero Alisson who has made the only two saves so far.
Neither was particularly difficult, mind, but the Saints are coming into this in a way that is making the home crowd uncomfortable.
The home side have not threatened since Curtis Jones failed to hit the target with a very good chance inside six minutes.
The visitors have lost captain Jan Bednarek after a clash of heads with his own full back, Ryan Manning.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
Southampton have shown some attacking intent in the last few minutes, testing Alisson from distance and winning a couple of corners.
It’s a good response from the Premier League’s bottom team, who lost their captain Jan Bednarek to a head injury.
Armel Bella-Kotchap is on in the centre-back’s place.
Best league in the world
And I thought the first half between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground was dull.
Now we’ve got three of them to endure.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Ipswich
“You know, Ipswich are still in this,” ponders Clinton Morrison on Soccer Saturday.
Well, it is 0-0, Clinton.
Liam Delap did fire one wide for the Tractor Boys, who have also had Jacob Greaves booked.
Brighton 0-0 Fulham
Joao Pedro has scored.
Unfortunately for Brighton, it’s not the one leading the line for the Seagulls.
Instead, the Brazilian’s namesake has put Hull a goal up at Bristol City in the Championship.
From Isabelle Barker at the Amex
Fulham are that bogey team for Brighton. The Seagulls have never beaten the Cottagers in the Premier League in nine attempts. They’ve lost five and drawn four.
Both teams are flying high though with three wins and one loss away to Manchester City for Fulham while Brighton have turned a corner since that humiliating 7-0 loss at Nottingham Forest winning their last three league games.
Chris Eubank’s son Harlem was paraded around on the pitch after dropping Tyrone McKenna last night at the Brighton Arena, with Fulham fans serenading him to a rendition of “who the f***ing hell are you”. Let’s hope both these sides pack a punch this afternoon.
Liverpool 0-0 Southampton
Saints have navigated the early minutes an Anfield without too much trouble. Perhaps there’s no need to fear another heavy defeat.
A couple of Curtis Jones attempts are as good as it’s got so far for the hosts.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Ipswich
Eddie Nketiah is making a rare start in the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta – and he could have already made his mark.
Put through by a textbook Adam Wharton pass, the former Arsenal man really should score.
He just doesn’t look confident though, and the subsequent shot is dealt with by Alex Palmer.
And they’re off!
This afternoon’s Premier League games at Anfield, the Amex and Selhurst Park are now underway.
Strap yourselves in. It could be a big afternoon at the top, bottom, and in the race for Europe.
Dan King on Liverpool versus Southampton
They’ve just played Sit Down by James at Anfield and the home fans will be hoping that rock bottom Southampton lie down for Liverpool.
Kop boss Arne Slot has made only three changes to the team that started the Great Parc des Princes Heist on Wednesday night.
Darwin Nunez’s reward for teeing up Harvey Elliott’s winner against PSG is a start in place of Diogo Jota, with Kostas Tsimikas and Curtis Jones also coming into the team.
Saints boss Ivan Juric has made six changes from the side pumped 4-0 at Chelsea in their last game, with only one member of the five-man defence that night, Kyle Walker-Peters, keeping his place.
Today’s Premier League games
It’s wall-to-wall action in the top-flight today.
We’ve already seen Nottingham Forest take care of Manchester City and now eyes turn to a trio of three o’clock games – with more to come later.
- Nott’m Forest 1-0 Man City
- Brighton v Fulham (3pm)
- Crystal Palace v Ipswich (3pm)
- Liverpool v Southampton (3pm)
- Brentford v Aston Villa (5.30pm)
- Wolves v Everton (8pm)
European race intensifies at the Amex
Two in-form sides meet on the South Coast this afternoon as Brighton take on Fulham.
The Seagulls have won their last five in all competitions since they were hammered 7-0 at Nottingham Forest, while the Cottagers have been victorious in the last three on the road.
With FA Cup quarter-finals to look forward to, their campaigns can still promise so much and a win for either today will go a long way to enhancing their European ambitions.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC on X Credit: @FulhamFC on X
Darwin up top for Liverpool
The Uruguayan striker is one of three changes made by Arne Slot following the midweek smash and grab in Paris.
Also in are Kostas Tsmikas and Curtis Jones with Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota dropping out
It’s 11 days since Southampton last played. We will wait to see if Ivan Juric has been able to use that time to prepare his young side for a trip to the runaway leaders.
Credit: @LFC on X Credit: @SouthamptonFC on X From Neil Silver at Selhurst Park
Eddie Nketiah starts for Palace in the Premier League for the first time since November 2nd, hoping to make his mark in the absence of injured top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta.
If results go against opponents Ipswich, the Tractor Boys will be eight points from safety.
Credit: @CPFC on X Credit: @IpswichTown on X Full time – Nott’m Forest 1-0 Man City
The champions are beaten, and Forest are closing in on a season among Europe’s elite.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was the matchwinner with a late goal that now has Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-placed side four points clear of their opponents.
With 10 games remaining, the Tricky Trees remain on course for the Champions League – and it seems little can throw them off, especially on the banks of the Trent.
Nott’m Forest 1-0 Man City
90+3. This is ideal injury time for Forest with the ball stuck up by the corner flag.
Can City get out? Can they launch one last attack?
They eventually do, and whip the ball into the box…
…where the safe hands of Matz Sels takes hold.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
