Premier League Matchweek 17: Detailed analysis takes a closer look at the goals, decisions, and turning points that shaped the weekend’s results.
Saturday, December 20th: EPL Matchweek 17
Newcastle United (2 – 2) Chelsea | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Newcastle United | Chelsea
Venue: St. James’ Park📍
Newcastle United Squad | Newcastle United (2 – 2) Chelsea | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Hall
- Ramsey
- Gordon
- Schär
- Ramsdale
- Thiaw
- Tonali
- N. Woltemade – Forward (Man of the Match)
- Guimarães
- Miley
- Murphy
Substitute Players
- Joelinton
- Yoane Wissa
- Harvey Barnes
- Anthony Elanga
- John Ruddy
- Joe Willock
- Alex Murphy
- Leo Shahar
- Sean Neave
Chelsea Squad | Newcastle United (2 – 2) Chelsea | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Gusto
- Neto
- James
- Fofana
- Pedro
- Palmer
- Sánchez
- Chalobah
- Garnacho
- Caicedo
- Cucurella
Substitute Players
- Tosin Adarabioyo
- Benoît Badiashile
- Enzo Fernández
- Filip Jörgensen
- Andrey Santos
- Jorrel Hato
- Josh Acheampong
- Marc Guiu
- Facundo Buonanotte
Match Summary
Chelsea turned a losing game of (0-2) into a draw of (2-2) against Newcastle in an exciting match at St James’ Park. Newcastle got dominance in the game with their two early goals scored by Nick Woltemade in the opening 20 minutes, making up for his own goal in matchweek 16. Anthony Gordon assisted both goals, creating the chances with speed and accuracy. Chelsea responded through a superb free-kick from Reece James, and later equalized the score to (2-2) when João Pedro took advantage of a defensive slip from opponents and scored successfully. Newcastle had chances to score more, but couldn’t convert any more of their attacks, leaving both sides to share the draw points. Newcastle moved up to 11th position, while Chelsea remains at fourth rank, still six points ahead of The Magpies.
Highlights of the Game
- Newcastle took the lead early in the game after Gordon got possession of the ball, beat Chelsea’s Gusto, but his attack was saved. However, Woltemade scored the rebound.
- Gordon had also set up Newcastle’s second goal with a perfect cross that Woltemade had tapped into the net smoothly.
- Chelsea had Neto’s goal ruled out for handball, and Woltemade missed a chance for a first-half hat-trick, volleying wide.
- Chelsea’s Reece James scored a beautiful free-kick early in the second half to bring Chelsea back into the game with a (1-2) score.
- Chelsea later equalized the score with (2-2) when Thiaw slipped, letting João Pedro run through and finish neatly.
- Newcastle tried to grab a late winner, but Barnes missed a close chance, and Elanga shot wide on a counter.
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Managerial Quotes
“Difficult because we played so well today. An outstanding performance, especially in the first half. Devastated for the lads that we didn’t get the win.”
Analytical note:
Howe expressed how the game went from a smooth win to a draw with 2 scores. He acknowledged the players’ outstanding performance throughout the game and remarked that sharing draw points is “difficult” for the team.
“I think after the first half, they deserved to win the game for sure. From my point of view, after the second half, we deserved to win the game. So this is my point of view. I think after the second goal we scored, we had three or four clear chances to score one more. They also had one with Barnes, which is the only one that I remember as a real chance. But overall, I think the draw is correct.”
Analytical note:
Maresca had a balanced approach to how they turned out to be and thinks that the draw point is the fairest outcome of this match.
Bournemouth (1 – 1) Burnley | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Bournemouth | Burnley
Venue: Vitality Stadium📍
Bournemouth Squad | Bournemouth (1 – 1) Burnley | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Truffert
- A. Semenyo – Midfielder (Man of the Match)
- Tavernier
- Senesi
- Kluivert
- Evanilson
- Petrovic
- Diakité
- Brooks
- Jiménez
- Cook
Substitute Players
- Julio Soler
- Alex Scott
- Ryan Christie
- Adam Smith
- Amine Adli
- Junior Kroupi
- James Hill
- Enes Ünal
- Will Dennis
Burnley Squad | Bournemouth (1 – 1) Burnley | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Walker
- Laurent
- Bruun Larsen
- Ugochukwu
- Worrall
- Dúbravka
- Cullen
- Ekdal
- Flemming
- Anthony
- Pires
Substitute Players
- Marcus Edwards
- Bashir Humphreys
- Max Weiss
- Florentino
- Loum Tchaouna
- Oliver Sonne
- Armando Broja
- Mike Trésor
- Ashley Barnes
Match Summary
Burnley earned a (1-1) draw after being goalless for the majority of the game. This draw ended their seven-game losing streak in this Premier League season. Bournemouth looked in control of the game when Antoine Semenyo scored neatly after Burnley’s Josh Laurent’s slip to put them ahead in the 67th minute of the game. Burnley had an earlier goal that was disallowed, with Laurent again involved in it as he was in an offside position before assisting Jaidon Anthony with a possible scoring chance. Despite their mild attacks, Burnley’s Armando Broja, who was substituted at 65′, scored his first goal for the club in the final minute. Bournemouth had missed several chances and remained winless in eight games after matchweek 17, dropping to 14th position, while Burnley stayed at 19th rank in the League’s table but is now five points from safety.
Highlights of the Game
- Bournemouth started the game strongly but couldn’t create much threat for Burnley’s goalkeeper, Dubravka. However, Brooks had a couple of close attempts, one curling just wide.
- Bournemouth’s Kluivert and Semenyo both tried attacking with long shots, but neither of them converted their attacks.
- Burnley thought they’d scored when Laurent had set up Anthony to score, but it was ruled offside.
- After halftime, Bournemouth’s Brooks had a good chance but missed, and Semenyo also missed by firing wide.
- Semenyo finally scored Bournemouth’s first successful goal, calmly finishing after Burnley’s Laurent slipped.
- Burnley fought back at the end, with substitute Broja heading in Edwards’ cross to grab a last-minute equalizer for the team.
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Managerial Quotes
“We were feeling like we were having the best chances, but we didn’t kill it. We are conceding a lot of set plays, and it is a big punishment for us. We deserved to win.”
Analytical note:
Iraola commented on how the players didn’t benefit from the opportunities they had with the ball, and sharing a draw point is just like a punishment for that.
“We were really well organized, we denied Bournemouth space, we did that really well. Our reaction after the goal was incredible. We needed fighters today; we needed a spirit about us.”
Analytical note:
On the contrary, Parker sounded satisfied with his team’s performance in this match, as the team had delivered what was required not to lose this match.
Brighton and Hove Albion (0 – 0) Sunderland | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Brighton and Hove Albion | Sunderland
Venue: American Express Stadium📍
Brighton and Hove Albion Squad | Brighton and Hove Albion (0 – 0) Sunderland |EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Kadioglu
- De Cuyper
- Hinshelwood
- Boscagli
- B. Verbruggen – Goalkeeper (Man of the Match)
- Gruda
- Rutter
- Coppola
- Ayari
- Minteh
- Wieffer
Substitute Players
- Tom Watson
- Charalampos Kostoulas
- James Milner
- Kaoru Mitoma
- Jason Steele
- Joël Veltman
- Joe Knight
- Freddie Simmonds
- Nehemiah Oriola
Sunderland Squad | Brighton and Hove Albion (0 – 0) Sunderland | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Mukiele
- Rigg
- Xhaka
- Ballard
- Brobbey
- Le Fée
- Roefs
- Alderete
- Geertruida
- Adingra
- Hume
Substitute Players
- Anthony Patterson
- Dennis Cirkin
- Dan Neil
- Eliezer Mayenda
- Romaine Mundle
- Wilson Isidor
- Habib Diarra
- Leo Hjelde
- Harrison Jones
Match Summary
Sunderland climbed to sixth position in the Premier League table after a (0-0) draw against Brighton. Despite missing several players, who were away representing their countries in the AFCON tournament. They managed to secure their last week’s derby win over Newcastle with a solid away performance at the American Express Stadium on Saturday. Brighton showed rigorous attacking intent in the second half but couldn’t penetrate Sunderland’s defense, while Sunderland also threatened with efforts from Dan Ballard and Omar Alderete, but their shots were saved by Brighton’s goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Brighton remained at ninth position and winless in four games after matchweek 17, while Sunderland moved ahead of them in the league table. And because Crystal Palace lost (4-1) to Leeds this week, Sunderland entered the top six positions in the league standings.
Highlights of the Game
- Brighton had an early chance when Mats Wieffer met Maxim De Cuyper’s tricky corner, but Sunderland’s defender Robin Roefs was alert and cleared it.
- Another chance for Brighton came in the 41st minute when Georginio Rutter sent Yankuba Minteh down the wing, and Minteh’s cross just missed De Cuyper.
- This led to a busy spell: Sunderland’s Dan Ballard, Brian Brobbey, and Trai Hume were blocked by Brighton’s defense and keeper Verbruggen, while Brighton’s Minteh’s shot went over the crossbar in first-half stoppage time.
- After the break, Brighton’s goalkeeper Verbruggen made a great save to stop Sunderland’s Alderete’s header.
- Brighton’s Ayari had gotten two good chances to score, but his shots went over the goal, and he didn’t score.
- Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee missed his header, and Romaine Mundle (substituted at 63′)’s shot was saved by Verbruggen.
- At the end, Brighton’s Rutter and Ayari made shots but were easily saved by Sunderland’s goalkeeper Roefs, keeping the score at Nil throughout the game.
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Managerial Quotes
Brighton and Hove Albion (Fabian Hürzeler)
“We have to realize that there are big opportunities in the game. The first half was not great to watch, and in the second half, there were enough chances to win the game.”
Analytical note:
Brighton’s manager analyzed the game as a match that had opportunities in it and hinted at how those opportunities were not converted.
“It is not easy for the new lads in the squad to step up, but they need time and experience to improve… Our centre-backs were very good, as usual, but the squad is always connected to defend together.”
Analytical note:
Le Bris remarked how his squad needs time to adjust and find their place in the game. He also acknowledged the unity among the players when it comes to their defensive side.
Manchester City (3 – 0) West Ham United | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Manchester City | West Ham United
Venue: Etihad Stadium📍
Manchester City Squad | Manchester City (3 – 0) West Ham United | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- O’Reilly
- Silva
- Foden
- Gvardiol
- Donnarumma
- González
- E. Haaland – Forward (Man of the Match)
- Dias
- Cherki
- Reijnders
- Nunes
Substitute Players
- James Trafford
- Nathan Aké
- Savinho
- Abdukodir Khusanov
- Charlie Gray
- Divine Mukasa
- Rico Lewis
- Stephen Mfuni
- Reigan Heskey
West Ham United Squad | Manchester City (3 – 0) West Ham United | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Walker-Peters
- Magassa
- Bowen
- Kilman
- Paquetá
- Potts
- Areola
- Summerville
- Todibo
- Fernandes
- Scarles
Substitute Players
- Mads Hermansen
- Igor Julio
- Callum Wilson
- Konstantinos Mavropanos
- Guido Rodríguez
- Tomás Soucek
- Andy Irving
- Mohamadou Kanté
- Ezra Mayers
Match Summary
Erling Haaland became the star of the game in matchweek 17 as Manchester City beat West Ham with a 3-0 score. In this game, Haaland scored twice and assisted on their third goal to secure the club’s fifth Premier League win. Haaland opened the scoring in the 5th’, then assisted Tijjani Reijnders to score City’s second goal, and got his 19th Premier League goal of the season in the second half. West Ham struggled to create chances, and City’s goalkeeper Donnarumma made key saves that gave the Hammers a clean sheet. The win keeps City in second place, while West Ham gets into the bottom three of the League’s table.
Highlights of the Game
- Man City took the lead in the 5′ of the game when Phil Foden’s cross found Haaland. Areola saved Haaland’s first shot, but Haaland successfully scored the rebound.
- Rayan Cherki sent in two good passes, but Haaland and Josko Gvardiol missed their headers, keeping West Ham mostly under pressure.
- City scored again in the 38th minute: Reijnders successfully scored after Cherki’s run and Haaland’s clever pass.
- West Ham started the second half better, but Donnarumma made a double save to stop Summerville and Potts. Bowen also missed two good chances.
- Haaland sealed the win in the 69th. Haaland used the side of his foot, sending the ball past West Ham’s goalkeeper, Areola, after Rico Lewis (substituted at 67′) set him up to score his second goal of the match.
- Donnarumma stopped another shot from Summerville, and Areola kept Foden from scoring the fourth goal.
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Managerial Quotes
Manchester City (Pep Guardiola)
“We are happy to win, but the way we are with the ball, we have to improve otherwise it will not be enough to be title contenders in March, April, and May.”
Analytical note:
Guardiola commented on how he is happy with this win, but also highlighted that there’s a lot of room for improvement in the way his team plays the game. He emphasized the team’s strategic improvement rather than celebration at this point.
West Ham United (Nuno Espírito Santo)
“We try to have a game plan, the way we want to do things, and improve our team. It’s difficult to control and contain Manchester City. It’s not the moment to judge, but at the same time, we have to realise that we need to be much better.”
Analytical note:
The Hammers’ coach had a softer approach for his players by justifying that their opponents were indeed a much stronger team to go up against. He also highlighted how the game plan can improve from here for the team.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (0 – 2) Brentford | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Wolverhampton Wanderers | Brentford
Venue: Molineux Stadium📍
Wolves Squad | Wolverhampton Wanderers (0 – 2) Brentford | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Møller Wolfe
- Krejcí
- Gomes
- Hee-Chan
- Sá
- Bueno
- André
- López
- Strand Larsen
- Doherty
- However
Substitute Players
- Jhon Arias
- Tolu Arokodare
- Enso González
- Sam Johnstone
- Mateus Mané
- Jackson Tchatchoua
- Alfie Pond
- Saheed Olagunju
- Luke Rawlings
Brentford Squad | Wolverhampton Wanderers (0 – 2) Brentford | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- K. Lewis-Potter – Forward (Man of the Match)
- Yarmoliuk
- Kayode
- Collins
- Thiago
- Janelt
- Kelleher
- van den Berg
- Schade
- Jensen
- Henry
Substitute Players
- Aaron Hickey
- Ethan Pinnock
- Jordan Henderson
- Hákon Valdimarsson
- Kristoffer Ajer
- Mikkel Damsgaard
- Yunus Konak
- Gustavo Nunes
- Romelle Donovan
Match Summary
Winning with a (2-0) score at Molineux Stadium. Brentford drove Wolves towards their 10th straight Premier League loss. Keane Lewis-Potter scored both goals in the second half, ending Brentford’s four-game away losing streak. Wolves, watched by new interim chairman Nathan Shi, played the match that continued their winless start to the season with 17 games. This record matched the 17 games that Sheffield United went without a win from the start of the 2020/21 season. In this encounter, a defensive mistake from the Wolves’ side conceded the first goal, and Lewis-Potter’s late volley sealed their victory with a clean sheet. Wolves also missed a late penalty from Jorgen Strand Larsen. Wolves stayed at the bottom with two points, while Brentford moved up to 12th position.
Highlights of the Game
- Brentford had most of the ball in the first half, but Wolves nearly scored in the 22nd when a deflected cross forced Brentford’s Kelleher to tip it over.
- Brentford’s Lewis-Potter fired a strong shot that was saved by Wolves’ keeper Jose Sa.
- After the break, Brentford pushed hard. Sa made two quick saves from Kevin Schade’s header and volley.
- Lewis-Potter eventually opened the scoring after Wolves’ defenders were slow to react to Janelt’s pass.
- Damsgaard (substituted at 64′) missed a shot but later set up Lewis-Potter’s second goal in the 83rd minute.
- Wolves had a late chance from a penalty, but Brentford’s Kelleher saved it, leaving them with another clean sheet loss.
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Managerial Quotes
Wolverhampton Wanderers (Rob Edwards)
“We were not in too much of a dangerous position, and we should deal with the ball that came in, and I can’t believe they’ve scored from that situation. The first goal is so important in games. Then after that, we tried to open up more, made some changes, and again we should deal with the second.“
Analytical note:
In his post-match conference, Edwards admitted that the team’s attacking position is vulnerable at this point and needs improvement. He defended his players’ efforts to stay in the game and dominate the play by creating different chances. The coach reflected on how the team had made another mistake that led to a second scoring from their opponent’s side that could have been avoided.
“The clean sheet was really important for the group today. It’s not rocket science; you keep a clean sheet, and you have a better chance of winning a game. We want to be more attacking, but we have to get the balance right, and today we did that.“
Analytical note:
Andrews explored how the possibility of a win maximizes by keeping a clean sheet. He seemed content and revealed how his team managed to achieve the right “balance” of play during this match.
Tottenham Hotspur (1 – 2) Liverpool | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Tottenham Hotspur | Liverpool
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium📍
Tottenham Hotspur Squad | Tottenham Hotspur (1 – 2) Liverpool | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Spence
- Gray
- Bergvall
- Kolo Muani
- van de Ven
- Vicario
- Romero
- Bentancur
- Kudus
- Simons
- Porro
Substitute Players
- Radu Dragusin
- Kevin Danso
- João Palhinha
- Richarlison
- Mathys Tel
- Brennan Johnson
- Wilson Odobert
- Antonín Kinsky
- Ben Davies
Liverpool Squad | Tottenham Hotspur (1 – 2) Liverpool | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Bradley
- Szoboszlai
- Gravenberch
- Konaté
- Becker
- H. Ekitiké – Forward- (Man of the Match)
- Mac Allister
- van Dijk
- Wirtz
- Jones
- Kerkez
Substitute Players
- Alexander Isak
- Federico Chiesa
- Giorgi Mamardashvili
- Andy Robertson
- Jeremie Frimpong
- Trey Nyoni
- Calvin Ramsay
- Rio Ngumoha
- Wellity Lucky
Match Summary
Liverpool defeated nine-man Spurs with a 2-1 score at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Substitute Alexander Isak came in at 45′ and opened the scoring, but went off injured early in the second half at 60′. Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike added a towering header that became his fifth goal in three games. Spurs fought back through Richarlison (substituted at 80′), but a second yellow for Cristian Romero sent him off the ground, and that helped Liverpool hold on to their victory. The win lifts Liverpool to fifth position, with Tottenham sitting at 13th place.
Highlights of the Game
- The first half was slow and cautious, but Spur’s Simons’ bad tackle on Van Dijk got him a red card after VAR changed the original yellow.
- Liverpool made the extra player against 9 men Spurs count 11 minutes into the second half. Spurs defender Romero made an error that allowed Wirtz (Liverpool player) to get the ball to Isak (substituted at 45′) and score calmly.
- Isak got hurt in a clash with Van de Ven and had to be helped off the game, so he couldn’t celebrate his goal.
- Liverpool scored their second goal when Ekitike headed in a deflected cross from Frimpong(substituted at 60′). Kolo Muani of Spurs made an “almost goal” earlier when his shot had hit the crossbar instead.
- Spurs got their first goal through Richarlison, who scored just after getting substituted at 80′.
- Spurs’ Romero got a second yellow in the 93rd minute. Liverpool held on to their dominance until full-time of the game.
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Managerial Quotes
Tottenham Hotspur (Thomas Frank)
“The crowd was excellent, and the fans were excellent today. I think they kept us going throughout the game, and especially the last, let’s say 20, they almost sucked the second goal into the net as well. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. It would have been an excellent comeback.”
Analytical note:
Frank addressed the crowd in his closing remarks while praising his players’ commitment to keep trying, which had gotten the crowd to support them beautifully.
“Three points away at Spurs is very nice. It is a difficult stadium to go to, and a good team to play against. Of course, they lost last week, so today they wanted to make it up in front of their fans. For us, the aim was to win again because we need wins to let the league table look better for us, and eventually that’s what we did.”
Analytical note:
While recognizing the challenging venue and opponents of this encounter, Slot beamed with joy over his team’s close victory of (2-1). He simplified their victory as something they needed to go higher up in the League’s table.
Sunday, December 21st: EPL Matchweek 17 Highlights
Everton (0 – 1) Arsenal | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Everton | Liverpool
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium📍
Everton Squad | Everton (0 – 1) Arsenal | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Mykolenko
- Grealish
- Garner
- Keane
- Pickford
- Alcaraz
- Barry
- Tarkowski
- Iroegbunam
- McNeil
- O’Brien
Substitute Players
- Nathan Patterson
- Beto
- Mark Travers
- Tyler Dibling
- Tom King
- Merlin Röhl
- Adam Aznou
- Reece Welch
- Elijah Campbell
Arsenal Squad | Everton (0 – 1) Arsenal | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Saka
- Ødegaard
- Timber
- Saliba
- Raya
- Gyökeres
- Zubimendi
- Hincapié
- Trossard
- D. Rice – Midfielder (Man of the Match)
- Calafiori
Substitute Players
- Gabriel Jesus
- Eberechi Eze
- Gabriel Martinelli
- Kepa Arrizabalaga
- Christian Nørgaard
- Noni Madueke
- Ethan Nwaneri
- Mikel Merino
- Myles Lewis-Skelly
Match Summary
Arsenal got its position at the top of the Premier League table with a hard-fought win of score (1-0) over depleted Everton. Viktor Gyokeres scored a penalty shot after a VAR confirmed Jake O’Brien’s handball stance in the 27th minute. This was Gyokeres’ first goal in five matches. Arsenal had twice hit the woodwork while attacking and had another chance cleared off the line, while Everton felt they deserved a penalty themselves. However, the one goal sufficed Arsenal to lead the League table around the holidays. Whereas Everton sit at 10th position.
Highlights of the Game
- Gyokeres had the first chance but headed wide and felt he was pushed by O’Brien, though the referee waved it away.
- Arsenal then got a penalty after VAR saw O’Brien handball from a Declan Rice corner.
- Gyokeres stepped up and calmly hit the penalty shot past Pickford.
- Arsenal’s Saka missed a big chance early in the second half when his soft shot was cleared off the line.
- Everton thought they should have had a penalty after Barry went down, but nothing was given.
- Arsenal had hit the post twice. However, Everton couldn’t break through their strong defence.
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Managerial Quotes
“We’re trying to make all that better. Things are better – better results, better performances, players are doing well. So we want to try to keep that positive feeling up.”
Analytical note:
Moyes concluded his post-match conference on a positive note. He commented on how he felt the players had made “big progress” in a relatively short space of time after “four or five really poor years here”. And wishes to keep up the optimism in the group.
“I’m very happy to win here. In the first half, we had some moments where we were very dominant without really creating much, but we scored the goal… In the second half, we had two or three big open chances, which, if you want to be more relaxed at the end, you should score in the Premier League.”
Analytical note:
Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the game. However, as the team got their goal because of a penalty shot, his words hinted at how the team should score goals to have a relaxed outcome in the end.
Leeds United (4 – 1) Crystal Palace | EPL Matchweek 17
xx | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Leeds United | Crystal Palace
Venue: Elland Road📍
Leeds United Squad | Leeds United (4 – 1) Crystal Palace | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Gudmundsson
- Struijk
- Stach
- Okafor
- Perri
- Bijol
- Ampadu
- Aaronson
- D. Calvert-Lewin – Forward (Man of the Match)
- Rodon
- Bogle
Substitute Players
- Joël Piroe
- Jack Harrison
- Ao Tanaka
- Sebastiaan Bornauw
- James Justin
- Sam Byram
- Karl Darlow
- Wilfried Gnonto
- Ilia Gruev
Crystal Palace Squad | Leeds United (4 – 1) Crystal Palace | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Clyne
- Richards
- Nketiah
- Hughes
- Mateta
- Lacroix
- Henderson
- Wharton
- Pino
- Guéhi
- Mitchell
Substitute Players
- Jefferson Lerma
- Christantus Uche
- Romain Esse
- Jaydee Canvot
- Borna Sosa
- Kaden Rodney
- Walter Benítez
- Justin Devenny
- Joél Drakes-Thomas
Match Summary
Leeds United had what seemed like a smooth, dominant win over Crystal Palace with a score of (4–1). The club was led by Man of the Match Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored 2 goals in his fifth consecutive Premier League games with a goal. Leeds players, Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach, also scored goals in this encounter, moving the club six points clear of the relegation zone.
On the other hand, Palace had their European game just two days earlier, and rotated their line-up, due to which they struggled defensively, especially against Ethan Ampadu’s long throw-ins, which they failed to deal with properly, resulting in Calvert-Lewin’s 2 goals. Ampadu later scored his first Premier League goal himself, and although Palace pulled one back through a late penalty, Stach sealed the win with a superb free-kick. The result lifted Leeds to 16th, while Palace slipped to eighth.
Highlights of the Game
- Leeds took the lead in the match early in the 38th minute when Ampadu’s long throw caused confusion, and Calvert-Lewin scored after his first shot was saved.
- Just before half-time, the same move worked again. Another long throw from Ampadu found Calvert-Lewin at the far post, and he headed it in to make it a (2–0) score.
- Leeds stayed on the front foot after half-time when Ampadu quickly capitalized on a loose ball from a corner because Crystal Palace’s defense didn’t react fast enough. The score was (3-0) on the scoreboard at this point.
- Later, Justin Devenny (Palace’s substitute of 77′) scored a penalty for Crystal Palace in stoppage time, briefly reducing the score margin.
- However, Anton Stach quickly responded with a brilliant free-kick, putting the home team three goals ahead of Crystal Palace.
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Managerial Quotes
“A great night for us, to see the scoreline and most importantly the three points. The best away team in the Premier League, and we knew we needed a special plan, and the lads have delivered, top class.“
Analytical note:
Farke beamed with utmost joy after the win against Crystal Palace with a dominant score of (4-1). He acknowledged that they went up against one of the strongest teams of the Premier League and that they had prepared and delivered accordingly.
Crystal Palace (Oliver Glasner)
“We couldn’t match their physicality. Conceding four set-play goals is embarrassing… They had almost no chances from open play, but every set play was dangerous.”
Analytical note:
Glasner, on the other hand, found such a defeat embarrassing. He praised the physical form of the Whites in this encounter and the way they dominated the set plays of the match easily.
Aston Villa (2 – 1) Manchester United | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Aston Villa | Manchester United
Venue: Craven Cottage📍
Aston Villa Squad | Aston Villa (2 – 1) Manchester United | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Maatsen
- M. Rogers – Midfielder- (Man of the Match)
- Detano
- Onana
- Lindelöf
- Martínez
- Konsa
- Tielemans
- Watkins
- Kamara
- Cash
- Getano
- McGinn
Substitute Players
- Emiliano Buendía
- Lucas Digne
- Andrés García
- Donyell Malen
- Lamare Bogarde
- Evann Guessand
- Marco Bizot
- George Hemmings
- Leon Routh
Manchester United Squad | Aston Villa (2 – 1) Manchester United | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Dalot
- Yoro
- Mount
- Ugarte
- Sesko
- Lammens
- Fernandes
- Heaven
- Cunha
- Shaw
- Dorgu
Substitute Players
- Altay Bayindir
- Lisandro Martínez
- Joshua Zirkzee
- Tyrell Malacia
- Tom Heaton
- Tyler Fredricson
- Jack Fletcher
- Shea Lacey
- Bendito Mantato
Match Summary
Aston Villa narrowly defeated Manchester United with a (2–1) score, thanks to Morgan Rogers for his 2 goals for the team in this match that helped the Villans move to just three points behind the Premier League leaders, putting them in a strong position after this matchweek. Rogers opened the scoring just before half-time, and United had equalized through Matheus Cunha following an error by Aston Villa’s Matty Cash. However, he restored Villa’s lead early in the second half. Despite creating several potential scoring chances, United couldn’t find another goal, especially after losing Bruno Fernandes to injury. The win marked Villa’s 10th straight victory in all competitions and their seventh consecutive league win, marking this as their best run in 36 years. The win keeps them third in the table, close behind Arsenal and Manchester City. While Man United sit at seventh position.
Highlights of the Game
- United started the game strongly, with Cunha shooting wide and Ayden Heaven making two key saves from Watkins, while Lammens kept out McGinn. Rogers also almost scored when his deft flick shot had hit the post instead.
- Villa opened the scoring when Rogers cut in from the left and curled a beautiful shot into the net.
- United quickly equalized after Villa’s Cash lost the ball to Utd’s Dorgu, and Cunha calmly finished past Martinez. The score was (1-1) at this point.
- Bruno Fernandes went off the field at half-time with a hamstring injury, replaced by Lisandro Martinez at 45′, who came close with a long-range shot.
- Early second-half pressure from United was ended by Rogers again, who pounced on a loose ball and scored a stunning second goal, making the score (2-1)
- United had more chances. Villa’s Martinez saved Utd’s Dalot’s shot, and Cunha also headed wide. Nevertheless, Villa held on to their dominant score to claim victory at full-time.
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Managerial Quotes
“It’s massive. Every game is important, against no bigger team than United. They are a tough team to play against, and we have not had a good record against them recently, so we wanted to put it right, and we are just really happy with the three points.”
Analytical note:
Emery highlighted the way his team has defeated one of the strongest teams in the EPL. He admired the players’ performances to grab three winning points.
Manchester United (Ruben Amorim)
“I think we were the better team today. We were unlucky, even with the injury to Bruno, but during the game, even without him, we were the better team. We blocked the transitions quite well, and they did really well.”
Analytical note:
Amorim believed that they got unlucky in this match. He believed that his team gave a good performance even with the absence of their key player, Bruno Fernandes.
Tuesday, December 9th: EPL Matchweek 17 Highlights
Fulham (1 – 0) Nottingham Forest | EPL Matchweek 17
Club Reports: Fulham | Nottingham Forest
Venue: Craven Cottage📍
Fulham Squad | Fulham (1 – 0) NottinghamForest | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Robinson
- Kevin
- Berge
- Cuenca
- Leno
- Smith Rowe
- Jiménez
- J. Andersen – Defender- (Man of the Match)
- Lukic
- Wilson
- Tete
Substitute Players
- Harrison Reed
- Tom Cairney
- Adama Traoré
- Jonah Kusi-Asare
- Timothy Castagne
- Benjamin Lecomte
- Josh King
- Issa Diop
- Seth Ridgeon
Nottingham Forest Squad | Fulham (1 – 0) Nottingham Forest | EPL Matchweek 17
Starting XI Lineup
- Savona
- Hutchinson
- Luiz
- Milenkovic
- Jesus
- Gibbs-White
- Victor
- Murillo
- Anderson
- Hudson-Odoi
- Williams
Substitute Players
- Morato
- Taiwo Awoniyi
- Arnaud Kalimuendo
- Nicolás Domínguez
- James McAtee
- Matz Sels
- Dilane Bakwa
- Oleksandr Zinchenko
- Zach Abbott
Match Summary
Raul Jimenez’s early penalty became enough for Fulham to bag the victory of the last game of Matchweek 17 against Nottingham Forest with a 1-0 score. Kevin was fouled inside the penalty area, so a penalty kick was awarded to the Cottagers. However, both teams struggled to create chances throughout the game, with Forest’s Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White missing opportunities to score. The result leaves Forest at 17th position, which is five points above the relegation zone, while Fulham sit at 13th and are 10 points clear of the bottom three.
Highlights of the Game
- Fulham had possession for the majority of the game from early on, but Forest got the first real chance when Jesus missed after Gibbs-White set up Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
- Fulham wasted a couple of chances too. When Lukic’s shot went wide, and Jimenez’s header went beside the goal rather than in it.
- Just before half-time, Douglas Luiz fouled Kevin in the box. After VAR confirmed it, Jimenez calmly scored the penalty shot.
- After the break, Forest tried to fight back with Neco Williams, who forced a routine save from Fulham’s Leno, and Gibbs-White’s bicycle kick went wide.
- Murillo shot straight at Leno, and another attempt from Gibbs-White went just past the post.
- Fulham didn’t need a second goal but almost scored again when Jimenez narrowly missed from Tete’s cross, thanks to good work from substitute Josh King, who came at 78th minute.
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Managerial Quotes
“It’s always a good result, and if you can [win] with a good performance, it’s always the best way.“
Analytical note:
Silva responded to this encounter as a good performance of his team that got them the three victory points, and how it’s the best way to play any game.
Nottingham Forest (Sean Dyche)
“It has been a case of ‘so far so good’, but it is just ‘so far’ and there is still a lot of work to be done. I keep reminding the players about that.”
Analytical note:
Dyche analyzed the situation carefully and reflected on how his team still needs to improve in their performances.
FAQs | EPL Matchweek 17
Q1. Which team is at the top of the Premier League table after Matchweek 17 of EPL ‘25/’26?
Arsenal sits at the top of the Premier League standings after Matchweek 17 of EPL ‘25/’26. Viktor Gyökeres’ penalty kick in the 27th minute gave them a slim 1-0 victory over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, keeping them ahead of Manchester City. This is Arsenal’s fifth Christmas in top spot, despite the fact that they have not won the championship in any of the previous four seasons (most recently in 2023–2024).
Q2. Which game included a “nine-man” battle and two red cards?
The Tottenham vs. Liverpool match was the most chaotic. After Cristian Romero (second yellow) and Xavi Simons (straight red in the 33rd minute) were sent off, Spurs were down to nine men. Spurs nearly hung on despite the deficit, but goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory.
Q3. Who is now the Premier League’s “form man”?
At the moment, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is impenetrable. He became the first Villa player since Dion Dublin in 1998 to score two or more goals in consecutive Premier League games when he scored twice in Villa’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
Q4. Has Wolves’ losing run finally ended after Matchweek 17 of EPL ‘25/’26?
No, and for the wrong reasons, they have now made history. Wolves have tied the record for the longest Premier League season without a victory after losing 2-0 to Brentford (with a brace from Keane Lewis-Potter). With just two points from 17 games and a goal differential of -28, they are at the bottom of the table.
