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Gameweek 27: The Headlines

Gameweek 27: The Headlines
Photo by Nicholas Green / Unsplash

If you need proof that the EPL really is — to borrow a turn of phrase from our former, beloved "Bachelor" host Chris Harrison — THE MOST DRAMATIC LEAGUE EVER, well, look no further than Gameweek 27.

This week was all about the late, late goals, some of them controversial, some not. Fun fact: A football game is 90 minutes long (excluding extra time), and most goals are scored after 75 minutes of play or more. In this week’s round of matches, there was at least one goal in every match scored after 80 minutes of play ... excluding the Arsenal game, that is.

Oh, and also, Manchester is (still) blue. Let’s begin.

Chaos at the City Ground

This week, league leaders Liverpool traveled to The City Ground to play 17th-place Nottingham Forest. Forest did a great job of parking the bus and frustrating Liverpool for 98 minutes of play. 

Now, because Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal are all locked in a tight battle, a slip up by any one of them has significant ramifications for the ~TitLe rAcE~.

Naturally, City and Arsenal were gleefully rubbing their hands at the prospect of a 0-0 draw between Liverpool and Forest. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you support), Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez headed the ball home in the 99th minute. Cue maniac celebrations from Klopp’s side of the fence. VAAAMOOOS!

A 99th minute winner is a headline in its own right, but this story gets better. As detailed by Sky Sports, Forest was furious because they felt wronged in the circumstances leading up to Nunez’s goal. 

In the 97th minute, Forest had possession of the ball in Liverpool’s own half, when referee Paul Tierney halted play to check Liverpool player Ibrahima Konate for a possible head injury. When play resumed, Tierney didn’t give the ball back to Forest. Instead, he allocated a drop ball to Liverpool goalie Caoimhin Kelleher. It was this build-up of play that led to the Liverpool goal, meaning Forest had to go from attacking to defending in the dying stages of the game.

Now, don’t ask me about the ref’s decision. I’m just a girl who likes football and sometimes usually can’t tell you whether a ball is on or offside. But in my inexpert opinion, it seems a little unfair to me.

AND BOY DID FOREST THINK SO. First team Forest coach Steven Reid was red carded for getting in the ref’s face.

The Forest players promptly fell to their knees in defeat. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stood on the touchline looking like a mob boss ready to go full “Godfather” on Tierney, before following him into the tunnel.

Happily, no shanking occurred.

The icing on the cake was Mark Clattenberg — a former FIFA referee whom Forest hired on a consultancy basis to look into refereeing decisions they felt had done them dirty — addressing the media.

Needless to say, this isn't like, a common thing to happen.

Poor Chelsea

Moving right down the list of disgruntled fans, we arrive at Chelsea FC. This latest saga of the love-hate relationship between Chelsea fans and manager Mauricio Pochettino falls squarely on the “hate” side of the spectrum.

In Chelsea's game against Brentford, fans began chanting offensively against Pochettino when Yoanne Wissa put Brentford 2-1 up. The game ultimately finished 2-2, and Pochettino said in his press conference that he didn’t hear the slurs. I guess that's a good thing, but who knows if he was just saying that to preserve the peace.

On a brighter note, and with International Women's Day approaching, it feels apt to note the Chelsea Women's FC squad is currently top of the table. On a sour note, Instagram thinks we should just sub out the current men's starting XI for the ladies' team.

Poor Sheffield

Oy. I truly feel so bad for Sheffield. They’re on the wrong side of Premier League history, having conceded more goals than any other team at this point in the season.

I stopped watching the Monday game after Arsenal had scored three goals against them within 15 minutes. Eventually, defender Ben White made it six. As a Benny Blanco stan, I’m happy for him, even though there’s no honor in a 6-0 thrashing.

Gosh, it’s so demoralizing for Sheffield. I wonder if it’s better to be playing in the Championship (one league down) and doing well, or suffering every week in the Premier League. 

When you’re losing by 5 or 6 goals every week, where’s the incentive to try? For those wondering, bookies have the odds at -1400 for Sheffield to be relegated.

Phil we love you, Phil we do

Last but not least, we come to the weekend’s headlining Manchester derby. Or, as I like to think of it, the battle of the turtlenecks.

United's Marcus Rashford scored a bullet within the opening ten minutes to put the Red Devils ahead, but a comeback from Pep's men always felt inevitable.

Indeed, in the second half, sniper Phil Foden scored two beautiful goals. Kudos to you, Mr. Foden, but someone needs to tell you that the assault rifle celebration is not it.

Then, everyone's favorite Viking, Haaland gave the win some gloss with a third goal in extra time. Cue the post-game press conferences from both managers, which were interesting for different reasons.

Ten Hag expressed his belief that City had only won the game by small margins. If, he argued, United was awarded the foul when Rashford had been taken down by Kyle Walker as he'd gone to goal, they might have scored to make it 2-0 and changed the trajectory of the game.

Well, he and his turtleneck might be the only ones who think so.

Meanwhile, Pep waxed poetic about his side, calling them "legendary" and branding Foden "the best player in the Premier League today."

That is subjective, sir.

From big chances created, to goals/assist numbers, to consistency, there's so much nuance when it comes down to who can be considered the GOAT.

Here, FPL's The Scout eloquently breaks it down. Alongside Foden, the big names thrown around were Arsenal's Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and Bukayo Saka, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, Tottenham's Son Heung-min, Brighton's Pascal Gross, and more.

We'll see you next week for what's already getting hyped up as the match of the season, when Manchester City travel to Anfield to play Liverpool in a potentially title-defining fixture.

When asked to describe the match in one word on "Premier League Live," pundit Robbie Mustoe said, "emotional."

Can't wait.