Gameweek 16 would provide some superb entertainment for Premier League fans as we saw a day of goals on Saturday. This featured a clash between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth that both sides will have wanted to win. Elsewhere, Chelsea were firm favourites as they travelled to the Olympic Stadium to face a struggling West Ham United side. The late kick off saw Leicester make the journey North to face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park. Sunday began with Arsenal travelling to Southampton, before we witnessed derbies of both Merseyside and Manchester in the two later kick offs. Anyway, here’s the Gameweek 16 FPL Review…
Goalkeeper
Asmir Begovic – Not for the first time this season we feature Bournemouth shot stopper Asmir Begovic, as he produced the decisive moment in what was a superb performance for the Bosnia international. With the scores locked at 2-2 Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty two minutes into injury time to surely win the match. As Christian Benteke stepped up Begovic reached low to his right to deny the former Liverpool and Aston Villa man. He soaked up the praise of both his teammates and manager following the match, as he preserved what may be a good point. It left Palace cursing their luck, as they remain two points from safety.
Defenders
Christopher Schindler & Zanka – After a poor recent run of form Huddersfield Town ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against a Brighton & Hove Albion side that will be bitterly disappointed with their performance. Chris Hughton’s side failed to even register a shot on target until the last ten minutes, by which point the game was seemingly gone. There were a couple of outstanding performances at centre-half for Town, as both Zanka and German Christopher Schindler stood out for the Terriers. The result leaves David Wagner’s side in twelfth place in the Premier League with 18 points.
Nicolas Otamendi – The last match of the gameweek would be a Manchester derby, as Pep Guardiola’s City side made the short journey to Old Trafford knowing that a win may well mean one hand on the Premier League, and an eleven-point lead at the top. David Silva volleyed home at the end of the first half after a scramble in the box, before a mistake from Fabian Delph presented Marcus Rashford with a chance to level proceedings, and he slotted past Ederson to do so. Nicolas Otamendi restored City’s lead less than ten minutes into the second half, however the talking point was a late double save from Ederson to brilliantly deny both Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata from point blank range.
Angelo Ogbonna – Few would have given David Moyes’ struggling West Ham United side a chance as they hosted Chelsea at the Olympic Stadium in Saturdays early kick off. However, they stunned both Antonio Conte and the away support as they took the lead just five minutes in when some neat interplay on the edge of the area found Marko Arnautovic who worked a yard to shoot and curled in past Thibaut Courtois into the bottom corner. Despite Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard both having chances to level in the second half the Hammers held firm to secure a monumental three points in front of their home fans.
Midfielders
Heung-Min Son – Spurs had been unconvincing at best when at Wembley in the Premier League this season, however they swept Stoke City aside on Saturday, putting five past their opponents on the way to a 5-1 victory. Ryan Shawcross put through his own net to give Spurs the lead after twenty minutes. A goal from South Korean forward Heung-Min Son doubled the advantage before a Harry Kane brace put the game beyond doubt for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Christian Eriksen made it five, before Stoke pulled one back. It was Ryan Shawcross, this time at the right end, who would deny Hugo Lloris a clean sheet as he beat the Frenchman to the ball from a corner to head in.
Scott Arfield – Burnley are renowned for their home form, and they proved why as they beat one of the league’s best away sides in Watford at Turf Moor. In a tight first half that offered little for either side Watford would be reduced to ten men when Marvin Zeegelaar was sent off for a two-footed lunge, to the disappointment of Marco Silva, who labelled the decision of the referee as “harsh.” Just as Watford looked to get in at the break level, Scott Arfield drilled the ball into the bottom corner low past Heurelho Gomes. Despite Ashley Barnes having a late strike ruled out, Arfield’s goal would prove decisive as Sean Dyche took all three points against his former side.
Mo Salah – It’s seemingly every week that we speak about Mo Salah’s performances for Liverpool this season. He produced a moment of magic as his side were frustrated to take just a point against rivals Everton in a Merseyside derby at Anfield. In a match Liverpool dominated, Salah gave the Reds the lead when he shrugged off Cuco Martina before passing a couple of Everton players and curling a brilliant effort into the top corner past Jordan Pickford. Sadio Mane shot wide when he should have passed in the best chance of the second half. On a rare attack a magnificent pass from Wayne Rooney found Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was adjudged to have been brought down by Dejan Lovren. Rooney stepped up and slammed home from the spot to score his first goal in a Merseyside derby. It would mean Sam Allardyce’s side left with a point.
Forwards
Steve Mounie – When Huddersfield travelled to Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season, record-signing Steve Mounie looked to be a shrewd purchase as he scored a brilliant brace. He had since failed to register a single Premier League goal, until Saturday when he put two past Brighton and Hove Albion at the John Smith’s stadium. His first came when a ball into the box was flicked on by Christopher Schindler into the path of Mounie, who kneed home at the back post. His second came on half time, when his tame header crept past Mat Ryan into the far corner. Tom Ince was unlucky not to add a third before being substituted.
Jermain Defoe – England forward Jermain Defoe grabbed his second and third goals of the season in a thriller of a contest at Selhurst Park, which saw Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth play out an entertaining 2-2 draw, with late drama. Defoe opened the scoring when he met Andrew Surman’s cross. Palace turned the match on it’s head through Luka Milivojevic and then Scott Dann. However, Defoe wasn’t finished as he levelled. As the ball dropped over his shoulder the former Sunderland forward volleyed superbly into the far corner. He nearly had a hat-trick, but he could only steer wide from the edge of the area, meaning both sides were forced to settle for a point.
Dwight Gayle – Newcastle United went down in heroic defeat as they lost 3-2 to Leicester City at St. James’ Park on Saturday night. After Joselu had put the Magpies ahead from close range, the Foxes hit back with goals from Riyad Mahrez and then a deflected Demarai Gray strike. Dwight Gayle equalised for Rafa Benitez’s side, and both sides would have chances to take all three points. It would be Leicester, as Ayoze Perez flew back, only to divert the ball into his own net. It was a game that could have gone either way, but Claude Puel’s side would run out victors.
Written by Ryan Nevin (@RNevin7)
