There’s something about Ajax playing against London clubs that makes for can’t-miss television. Whether it’s Tottenham’s remarkable last-gasp win in the Champions League semifinals last season or Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic teeing up Michy Batshuayi late in the group stage a couple weeks ago, Ajax has provided English fans with more than a few memorable moments.
If you’re a goalie, the only thing worse than giving up an Olimpico goal is giving up a goal that deflects off of you and into the back of the net. Kepa Arrizabalaga got to experience both on this Hakim Ziyech goal vs Chelsea on Tuesday.
After a stupid foul by Chelsea in the corner in the 35th minute, Ziyech curled in a beauty over the stretched arms of Kepa. The ball struck the post before bouncing off Kepa’s nose for an embarrassing own goal, giving Ajax a 3-1 lead at halftime of their Champions League match. Technically it was an own goal, but we think Ziyech deserves credit.
Jamie Vardy became the first Premier League player to reach 10 goals this season following his late strike in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, taking the Foxes up to third in the table following Match Day 11. The last time Vardy became the first player to reach 10 PL goals? The 2015-16 campaign, when Leicester captured the title.
After being booked for diving in the first half, Sadio Mané sparked Liverpool to a yet another dramatic, come-from-behind victory. The Liverpool winger set up the equalizer and scored the winner in the closing minutes of a 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday at Villa Park.
Almost immediately after, he was being attacked for diving by the manager — of next week’s match.
Christian Pulisic finally opened his Premier League account last week with a perfect hat trick against Burnley in his seventh league appearance with Chelsea. He couldn’t wait to add to it on Saturday.
After being denied by a ridiculous save in the first half, Pulisic made no mistake in the second, netting the winner in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road.
The Carabao Cup inspires hatred from many soccer fans who would rather be watching the Champions League at midweek and Premier League coaches who don’t care enough to play any of their regulars. Your dad would probably call it the “Don’t Carabao Haircuts Cup” because of all the shaggy haired teens taking the field in EPL uniforms.
But the Carabao Cup has some redeeming qualities — they were all seen Wednesday in the ridiculous match between Arsenal and Liverpool
Manchester United looked like a different team when it traveled to Norwich this past weekend. Despite the club’s lack of good penalty takers, the Red Devils put three goals away on a Norwich side that is struggling but is better than what the league table shows.
United has been missing Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic for quite some time, and United’s midfield looked weak recently with the pairing of Scott McTominay and Fred with Andreas Pereira ahead of them. Anthony Martial has also been out for some time but returned to start the match.
We’re almost a third of the way through the 2019-20 European club season, giving us an ample enough sample size to analyze this year’s current statistics in a somewhat meaningful way. There’s one giant caveat to it all and that’s Lionel Messi’s restricted start to the campaign due to a calf strain followed by an abductor muscle injury. He’s only started three of Barcelona’s nine league games thus far, so he's yet to dominate every statistical category.
It’s a mutiny, folks. It's a mutiny.
Arsenal blew a two-goal lead to Crystal Palace on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium, settling for a 2-2 draw despite early goals from centerback pairing Sokratis and David Luiz. While manager Unai Emery has come under intense criticism for Arsenal’s recent displays and for his standoff with the increasingly beloved Mesut Özil, supporter fury today was aimed at club captain Granit Xhaka.
Another start, another full 90, another match without a significant contribution from Newcastle United’s Miguel Almirón. After arriving from Atlanta United for a club-record fee of $27 million last January, it’s now 20 Premier League appearances for the 25-year-old Paraguayan without a single goal or assist.