Premier League: Matchweek 30

Premier League Weekend Recap: Arsenal holds top spot after victory over Liverpool, while Burnley secures promotion in the Championship - read more!

The Short Corner
April 10, 2023

Hey there!

The Premier League weekend saw Arsenal hold even after losing their 2-0 lead against Liverpool to finish with just one point. Manchester City kept up the pressure on the Gunners with a comprehensive victory against Southampton, while Newcastle moved up to third with a hard-fought win over Brentford. Chelsea's struggles continued with a narrow defeat at Wolves, while Tottenham left it late to beat Brighton. Elsewhere, Aston Villa continued their impressive form under Unai Emery with a victory over Nottingham Forest, while West Ham edged closer to safety with a win at Fulham. Leeds suffered a heavy defeat at home to Crystal Palace, and Leicester's dismal run continued with a loss at home to Bournemouth.

Sideline Story: Burnley secured promotion to the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough. Former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany took over the club last summer after Sean Dyche's departure, and he recruited players who fitted his style of attacking football, with recruitment being key for the club. The Clarets are expected to require further smart recruitment in the summer before they can compete at the top level of English football, but their promotion to the Premier League is a testament to Kompany's management.

Match of the Week
Liverpool vs Arsenal (2-2)

Arsenal's hopes of winning the Premier League were dealt a blow after a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. The Gunners led 2-0 thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mohamed Elneny, but Liverpool hit back with a goal from Mohamed Salah just before half-time and then Roberto Firmino's late equaliser. The result leaves Arsenal six points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and with a trip to the Etihad Stadium still to come. Liverpool remain in fourth place, four points behind Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

(08’) ⚽ Martinelli slips and slides through Liverpool's defense for their 1sts
(19’) 🥅 Robertson gets a great opportunity to equalize but hits it wide right
(28’) ⚽ Martinelli back with a lovely cross to give 5′ 9″ Jesus an open header
(40’) 🙅 Things get heated between Trent and Xhaka but it only results in yellow cards
(42’) ⚽ Messy ball or brilliant pass? Either way Salah is there to finish it off and bring Liverpool back into the game
(45+2’) 🥅 Liverpool come charging and almost get a second but Henderson skies it
(51’) 🥅 Liverpool fans look away. Jota gets the pen but Salah hits it inches from goal
(87’) ⚽Supersub Firmino comes on and scores the equalizer for Liverpool immediately on a skillful nutmeg from Trent on Zinchenko
(90+3’) 🥅 Salah gets the perfect look in front of the net from Robertson but can’t keep his body down and skies it way over the bar….Was he pulled back though?
(90+4’) 🧤Ramsdale makes the leaping save on Salah who rips the curler to the far corner
(90+5’) 🧤 How did he save this? Ramsdale makes the save of the game with a goal line clearance on Liverpool’s roaring attack

Wolves vs Chelsea (1-0)

Chelsea lost 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first match under the returning Frank Lampard. Matheus Nunes scored the only goal of the game for the hosts in the first half, leaving Chelsea with only one shot on target for the entire match. The result leaves Chelsea in 11th place in the Premier League table, with only a few games remaining in the season. Lampard was appointed as Chelsea's interim manager until the end of the season following the sacking of Graham Potter.

(25’) 🧤 Lemina feels confident and tries the first time volley off the corner but is denied by Kepa
(31’) 🔥 Nunes with a thunderous first time GOLAZO from the corner. No keeper was saving that
(84’) 🙅 One of Chelsea’s only shots comes on a very controversial play for the Blues
(91’) 🥅 Chelsea with some great passing play but the shot at the end was horrendous by Chilwell

Tottenham vs Brighton (2-1)

Brighton played with style and created numerous chances in their match against Tottenham, but were ultimately denied by two VAR decisions and a Harry Kane goal. Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton's manager, and Cristian Stellini, Tottenham's caretaker manager, were both sent off for their involvement in a touchline altercation. Despite the loss, Brighton's performance was impressive and could be seen as an audition for De Zerbi, who is being considered as a candidate to become Tottenham's next manager. Son Heung-min scored Spurs' first goal with a stunning strike, while Lewis Dunk scored Brighton's equalizer.

(10’) 🔥 Son’s 100th goal is a very special GOLAZO from almost 25 yards out
(16’) 🙅 Dier’s error leads to a Mitoma goal but VAR rules it a handball
(25’) 🥅 Brighton keep attacking with 3 powerful attempts, Caicedo’s being the closest
(33’) ⚽ Dunk strikes back with a very powerful header in the back post off a corner
(55’) 🟥 Welbeck with a sensational turn and finish to put Brighton ahead, but it is ruled another handball which sparks both benches and leads to two red cards
(79’) ⚽ Hojbjerg serves Kane up on a platter for the smooth finish to secure 3 points for the Spurs

Brentford vs Newcastle (1-2)

Newcastle United came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 at Griffin Park, recording their fifth consecutive victory. The visitors had been outplayed in the first half and conceded a penalty to Ivan Toney, which he subsequently missed but scored after it was retaken. However, two half-time substitutions turned the game around, as an own goal from David Raya and a superb strike from Alexander Isak gave Eddie Howe's team the three points. Brentford, who had not previously lost a Premier League game after taking the lead, were left rueing their missed chances.

(08’) 🙅 Ivan Toney cleans up nicely at the back post, but wait - disallowed by VAR!
(27’) 🙅 Schade gets obliterated in the box by Botman, should it have been a red??
(29’) 🧤 Nerves were too much for Toney on a PK! Pope reads him like a book
(41’) 🙅 Another VAR check gives Toney another shot from the penalty spot
(46’) ⚽ Toney gets another chance from the spot and this time nails the side pocket
(53’) ⚽ Joelinton is able to dance like a ballet dancer to tie it up
(61’) ⚽ The Swedish Isak finds the top corner to add to his hot performance
(65’) ⚽ Wilson starts celebrating but VAR calls it back for a handball in the box
(80’) 🧤 Pope outstretched for the diving save to deny Brentford a second

Southampton vs Manchester City (1-4)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland scored his 30th Premier League goal of the season in a 4-1 win over Southampton on April 9, 2022. Haaland scored an acrobatic bicycle kick after earlier heading home the game's opening goal. City's other goals were scored by Jack Grealish and Julian Alvarez, with Sekou Mara netting a consolation goal for Southampton. The win leaves City well placed in the Premier League title race, and Haaland's 30th goal brings him closer to the all-time record of 34, held by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.

(15’) 😱 Sulemana what are you doing?! What a chance for Southampton, but Sulemana squanders it by slowing down during the counter attack
(40’) 🥅 Haaland tries to take advantage of the deflection and just heads it wide
(44’) 🥅 Lavia sets up Sulemana with the cheeky cut, but hits it off target
(45’) ⚽ Moments before halftime Haaland does what he does best and heads one in
(58’) ⚽ City’s second comes with a Grealish finish off a nice pass from De Bruyne
(67’) 🔥 Haaland’s 30th prem goal is a crafty bicycle off a beautiful pass from Grealish
(72’) ⚽ Djenepo cuts through City’s whole defense to set up Mara for the nice finish
(75’) ⚽ It doesn’t take long for City to get a pen on the other end and Alvarez buries it

Legend: What do all of the emojis mean?

⚽ = Goal
🔥 = GOLAZO!
🥅 = Missed Shot
🧤 = Notable Save
🟥 = Red Card
🙅 = Controversial Call

Full Match Highlights

Want to take a deep dive without getting carded? We've gathered the full highlights for every match in one place. Binge them all at once or come back when you need to kill 10-15 minutes before the final whistle.

Matchweek 30: