Premier League: April Round-Up

The charge for the title is now a two horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City – with the latter in poll position – as Liverpool’s result went up and down. The first relegation has been confirmed as Sheffield United make an immediate return to the Championship. Let’s recap a busy month of Premier League action.

Sean Dyche’s Everton continued to gain results despite all the attention off the pitch as they recorded a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. Bournemouth’s positive season continued as Kluivert netted in a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Burnley appear to have kick-started their survival campaign as they drew 1-1 with Wolves. Spurs somehow managed only a 1-1 draw at West Ham despite having 68% possession – four shots on target though says a different story. Arsenal beat Luton Town 2-0 with the Hatters having a whole team out injured.

There were high scoring games involving some of the top three sides as Manchester City beat Aston Villa 4-1 with Phil Foden grabbing a hat-trick, whilst Liverpool beat Sheffield United 3-1 thanks to a thunderbolt strike from MacAllister. Chelsea beat Manchester United 4-3 with Chelsea behind in that game up until the 90+10thminute.

Alexis MacAllister thunderbolt strike against Sheffield United (Dhaka Tribune)

Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 4-2 whilst Brentford came from 2-0 behind to draw 3-3 with Aston Villa. Burnley’s Muric made a costly mistake as Everton beat them 1-0 whilst Newcastle United shrugged off Fulham 1-0. Luton’s hopes of survivals widened as they beat Bournemouth 2-1. West Ham secured the three points over Wolves as Ward-Prowse netted directly from a corner. Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0 with the 1000th league goal of the season.

Manchester United and Liverpool drew 2-2 whilst Sheffield United and Chelsea also shared the same score-line. Spurs beat Notts Forest 3-1 with strikes from defenders Van De Ven and Porro. These defenders were practically invisible in their next game as they were thrashed 4-0 away at Newcastle as the Magpies boosted their European hopes. Brentford beat Sheffield United 2-0 whilst yet another mistake from Muric costed Burnley points as they drew 1-1 with Brighton.

Luton Town were battered 5-1 against Manchester City whilst Notts Forest drew 2-2 with Wolves. The title race turned as Arsenal and Liverpool both lost to Villa and Palace respectively, leaving them two points behind City.

Bournemouth were left reeling in their 2-2 draw with Manchester United as a late penalty claim was waved by VAR despite an apparent rugby style tackle in the box. Chelsea embarrassed Everton 6-0, with Cole Palmer netting four of the goals. The match will be remembered for though for the Chelsea players arguing over a penalty despite behind 4-0 up already. Brentford beat Luton 5-1 whilst Burnley earnt an important three points with a 4-1 victory over Sheffield. Arsenal shrugged recent results aside as they beat Luton Town 2-0 whilst there was heavy controversy in Everton versus Notts Forest as the Toffees’ won 2-0 with Forest angry over three potential penalty decisions. Villa beat Bournemouth 3-1 whilst Palace secured a 5-2 victory over fellow Londoners’ West Ham.

Captain Gallagher puts Chelsea teammates in order as they argue over whose taking a penalty (Firstpost)

Liverpool reversed their poor form with a 3-1 win over Fulham with Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch and Jota amongst the goals. Ben White and Kai Havertz both netted braces in Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing over Chelsea. Bournemouth and Palace both won over Wolves and Newcastle before Everton humiliated Liverpool in the Merseyside derby with goals from Englishmen Jarrod Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin. Manchester United beat Sheffield United 4-2 whilst De Bruyne netted his first PL headed goal in City’s 4-0 victory over Brighton.

De Bruyne's goal against Brighton was his first headed Premier League in 68 appearances (The Sun)

Liverpool’s rollercoaster form continued as they could only manage a 2-2 victory over West Ham on the final weekend of April, with the result all but removing them from the title race. Fulham drew 1-1 with Palace, with a thunderbolt strike from Schlupp. Burnley’s survival hopes again widened as they drew 1-1 with Manchester United. Sheffield United were officially relegated as they lost 5-1 to Newcastle.

Wolves beat Luton Town 2-1 whilst Everton guaranteed their safety with a 1-0 win over Brentford. Chelsea felt they should have taken all three points at Aston Villa as a VAR check overruled a last gasp winner for an apparent foul in build-up. Bournemouth recorded their highest points tally in the top flight (48 points) as they secured a 3-0 victory over Brighton. A fight back from Spurs wasn’t enough as Arsenal beat their rivals 3-2 whilst Manchester City continued their inevitable title push with a 2-0 victory over Notts Forest.

It means the tables have turned again at both the top and bottom of the table. Arsenal currently sit in poll position with 80 points but Manchester City are hot on their tails with a game in hand and one point gap. Jurgen Klopp’s farewell season looks set to end with only an EFL trophy to hand as their poor run of form in April proved costly. The race for the last champions league place is set to go to the wire with Aston Villa on 67 points and Spurs on 60 points, but the latter having two games in hand. As mentioned, Sheffield United are now officially relegated. Everton’s positive form has seen them guarantee safety whilst Brentford look set to miss the drop. That leaves Notts Forest, Luton Town and Burnley in the mix with just two points between the three teams. With three games remaining for most teams, will there be more twists and turns?