The international break didn’t seem to break many of the teams’ momentum as match week 30 and 31 saw clubs move up and down the ladder.
Arsenal kicked off their week before the international break with a trip to Villa Park, where they secured a 1-0 win over Aston Villa. It was a slow start for both teams but a goal from Saka saw Arsenal score their 2,000th Premier League goal, the third team to do so after Liverpool and Manchester United.
Aston Villa tried their hardest to equalise, but it wasn’t enough and a fifth consecutive away win pushes Arsenal to fourth place, while Aston Villa stay ninth.
Arsenal’s winning streak was broken after a 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace Selhurst Park after the international break. Goals from Mateta and Ayew in the first half put Palace two goals up at half-time. Despite the Gunners’ efforts to make a comeback, a penalty scored by Zaha saw Palace secure their 3-0 win over Arsenal, denying them of a top four spot. Arsenal drop to fifth, and Palace move up to ninth.
Spurs secured a thrilling 3-1 win over West Ham at home before the international break. An own goal from Zouma after Kane’s cross saw Spurs go ahead in the ninth minute. Son doubled their lead soon after, but Benrahma managed to pull one back for the Hammers in the 35th minute, and it was 2-1 at half-time.
Spurs continued their winning streak with a 5-1 win against Newcastle at home. Newcastle were the first to score after Schar found the back of the net in the 39th minute, but a late first half goal from Davies levelled the score before halftime. Conte’s half time goal must have sparked something within the team because Spurs found the back of the net four more times in the second half, with goals form Doherty, Son, Royal and Bergwijn. A fifth win in six catapults Spurs to fourth, while Newcastle drop to 15th.
The away side brought the heat in the second half, but it first-half goal scorer Son who found the back of the net again in the 88th minute to secure the win for Conte’s side. Spurs move up to fifth while West Ham drop to seventh.
Liverpool kicked of match week 31 with a 2-0-win hosting Watford at Anfield. The away side were close to finding the back of the net, but the Reds used the opportunity to counter the attack, and Jota scored their first goal of the game in the 22nd minute.
Watford kept the pressure on, but a penalty after a foul from Kucka on Jota saw Fabinho secure Liverpool’s 10th consecutive win, sending them to the top spot for a brief moment, while Watford stay 18th.
Manchester City regained the top spot after a 2-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor. De Bruyne found the back of the net in just five minutes after an assist from Sterling, and it didn’t take long for Sterling to assist City’s second goal of the game, which Gundogan scored in the 25th minute. Burnley tried their best to make a comeback, but Pep’s side remained resilient to secure their win, moving back up to first place. Burnley remain 19th.
Eriksen’s first goal in the Premier League since 2019, along with three others, helped secure Brentford’s dramatic 4-1 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Rudiger opened the scoreboard in the 48th minute, letting Chelsea take the lead, but it didn’t take long for Brentford to equalise as Janelt found the back of the net. Goals from Eriksen, Janelt again, and Wissa secure Brentford’s win against last season’s Champions League winners. A first defeat in seven games leaves Tuchel’s side third, while Brentford move up to 14th.
Leicester halt Manchester United’s hopes of moving into the top four after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. After a goalless first half, Iheanacho found the back of the net in the 63rd minute, but it didn’t take long for Fred to equalise for Manchester United, and the game ended levelled. Ragnick’s side drop to seventh, while Leicester stay 10th.
Other Results:
Week 30:
Wolves v Leeds – 2-3
Watford v Everton – TBD
Leicester v Brentford – 2-1
Week 31:
Brighton v Norwich – 0-0
Leeds v Southampton – 1-1
Wolves v Aston Villa – 2-1
West Ham v Everton – 2-1
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